Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

xtremekinetix · Nov 23, 2004, 05:38 PM

Considering getting one in the next few days to use at the library and stuff with my AlBook (built-in BT). I like the ergonomic aspect of the Kensington BT mouse over the Apple BT and the MacMice BT mice, the rubber grips on the sides, and that it has two buttons and a scrollwheel. Anyone have any experience with it? Would you recommend it?

Things that I potentially don't like about it: not smooth scrolling and only two buttons. It would be nice to have other buttons that I could configure to activate Expose and Konspose (if this is even possible�I don't know). Any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any info/feedback.

OAW · Nov 23, 2004, 08:32 PM

I have this mouse. It works as advertised is the best multi-button BT mouse for OS X on the market IMO:

Advantages

- Multi-button

- Scroll Wheel

- Software Drivers that allow all the mouse buttons to be programmed. No other BT mouse on the market for OS X has this. Not Logitech, not Microsoft, no one!

- Even though it is 2 buttons and a scroll wheel the latter can be clicked and clicking the left and right button simultaneously (called "chording") can be programmed to yet another command. This essentially makes this a 4 button mouse w/ a scroll wheel.

- Very responsive. Not "laggy" at all.

- Full size mouse. Very ergonomic. Works for lefties just as well as the rest of us.

Disadvantages

- The mouse will generate a warning message at least once daily about the batteries getting low. Just ignore it because it is completely bogus. Look for the scroll wheel on the mouse itself to glow red to determine a low battery condition.

- I typically get about 3 weeks out of a fresh pair of batteries. I don't think this is out of the ordinary for BT mice since they are known to suck the juice out of batteries like a 2 dollar ... well you get my point. Then again, I use my laptop at work ... 8+ hours a day 5 days a week so it gets heavy usage. You can set your expectations based upon your usage patterns accordingly.

- The scroll wheel is not "smooth" like MS mice. Having said that it is not ridiculously loud and "notchy" like the scroll wheel on other Kensington mice (i.e. PocketMouse).

Hope this helps ...

OAW

xtremekinetix · Nov 24, 2004, 12:47 PM

OAW,

Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate the info and that you took a moment to write all of that. THANK YOU

MikeD · Nov 26, 2004, 08:58 PM

Does it have an on/off switch?

OAW · Nov 29, 2004, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by MikeD:
Does it have an on/off switch?

No.

Short Explanation

The power preservation functionality of this mouse is designed in such a way that an on/off button is not necessary.

Long Explanation

If there is an BT connection the mouse will shut down after 20 minutes of inactivity. If there is not a BT connection (from shutting down or sleeping your machine) the mouse will shut down immediately. Once the mouse has shut down it will not awaken simply by moving the mouse. You must click a button to wake it up. If that occurs it will try to re-establish a BT connection for a couple of seconds. If none is available, it will immediately go back to sleep. So unlike other BT mice without an on/off switch, this mouse will not constantly suck battery life simply from being moved around in a laptop bag. As long as it's placed in the bag in a manner where the buttons aren't being pushed (which you shouldn't be doing anyway) it will not be a problem. The bottom line for this mouse is that an on/off switch isn't really necessary given its design.

OAW

MikeD · Nov 29, 2004, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the detailed response! I would also like to add that kensington has a pocket (portable) bluetooth mouse as well! I'm really considering getting this version! Hopefully an xmas present!

Mike

OAW · Nov 30, 2004, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by MikeD:
Thanks for the detailed response! I would also like to add that kensington has a pocket (portable) bluetooth mouse as well! I'm really considering getting this version! Hopefully an xmas present!

Mike

Great. While I don't have the PocketMouse BT it is my understanding that everything I've said about the PilotMouse BT applies to the smaller mouse as well. Hopefully Santa will be kind to you this year!

OAW

MikeD · Dec 25, 2004, 05:45 PM

Whoo hoo!! I got the Kensington Pocket BT mouse for XMas!! It works just as you said! To turn it off, I just turn off my bluetooth form the pull down menu. To turn it on, (When bt is turned on again on my computer), I just push a button and it instantly connects again! Mouse is great and I get the same great features from the mouseworks software!

Mike