Computer Mouse » Mouse Gadgets

Cool Computer Mouse

MouseArena — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:59:13 +0000

I guess we all think of one thing or another as being “cool”, but I guess it depends a lot on our tastes and our definition of cool. I consider a thing as being cool if it is unusual, but at the same time stylish and useful, something that was made with a purpose , not for the sake of being out of the ordinary and with no obvious utility. A cool computer mouse is, from my point of view a very out of the ordinary computer mouse, but still very functional and rare. It has to be a bit shocking, to leave me breathless when I see it for the first time.

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When i first saw these two computer mice ( I did not know at first what they were, believe me) I could not help staring and wondering: what on Earth is that? The extraterrestrial “thing” in the first picture turned out to be Trioc 3D Pro, produced by a Swedish company called Trioc AB. It can be used as a computer mouse and also as a laptop accessory. This mouse is capable of 3D navigation, allowing you to pan, zoom and rotate. It looks like a giant rubber ball that got trapped inside an iron clam or something similar. Apparently this ball is the most important piece of the ensemble, as it must be rotated three ways in order to get the cursor move on the screen, zoom or whatever else you can do with it. It is in fact a 3D controller and a very 3D optimized mouse and it is used mainly for CAD software. You know this kind of applications need a lot of accuracy and precision and this mouse is there to offer them. Oh, need I mention that it was awarded at Product Design 2008? Well, then i must mention the price that comes with the performance: $580.

This gadget showed in the second picture could be considered anything but a computer mouse when you see it transformed. I took it for a toy, those transformer robots my boy likes so much. It does transform , but not in a car or a ball: it turns into a perfectly operable and cool computer mouse.

It is called a Trypticon and is in fact a competitive laser mouse. When you see it on the desk is a kind of bully, but otherwise normal computer mouse, having some oranges stripes on. But if you know what buttons to push and what to twist, you will transform it into a bizarre dinosaur with purple feet and hands and a long beak or mouth with sharp teeth.

This cool computer mouse is, as funny as it may seem, for adults use only, recommended only for those collectors that are over 16, as the younger ones may get hurt while transforming it or operating it. So now there are officially toys made only for men ( I don’t know any women that would like to have it on their desk at home). It is an optical mouse with 800 dpi resolution and it can easily be connected to the USB port if you plug a cord in it and in the USB, too. It needs some additional software that is compatible with Windows 98 and later editions and also with Mac OS.

In case you may be interested, you can order one here for the cost of $69.99.

Computer Mouse G1

MouseArena — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:19:12 +0000

Logitecg G1 computer mouse is an optical mouse , corded, meant mainly for gaming and that is also sold for an affordable price, around $20-25. As you can see from the pictures, this mouse has a nice design with dark blue and black margins and also black buttons and scroll wheel. Just below the scroll wheel you can see the Logitech logo.
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The design is not very ergonomic, but it’s comfortable when you use the mouse. It can be used by all people, left or right handed people altogether and, even if it really is a gaming mouse, it does not have extra buttons, but only three, plus the scroll wheel.

It is at the same time simple and complex, with very few buttons, but a lot of qualities. For example this Logitech G1 computer mouse has an optical performance of 800 dpi and the processing speed of 5.8 megapixels per second. It is very fast and offers a lag-free mousing , having an acceleration of up to 15 gs. The G1 mouse is connected to the USB or PS2 port of your computer and communicates instantenously with it thanks to the amazing speed of data transfer which is eight times higher than that of regular computer mice. This mouse is also very light, weighing only 80 grams, so it is perfect to be used with notebooks and laptops and its weight allows a veryfast movement, too. Its moves are smooth and fast and this is due partly to the Teflon feet that make the mouse move like a feline.

The mouse does not need any additional software, but works perfectly from the moment you plug it in. However, if you want to change the standard settings and assign new functions for the mouse buttons, you can download the latest version of drivers from the Logitech official website. With Evoluent Vertical mouses you enjoy a relaxed hand position and eliminate arm twisting. All these features show us the intended purpose of releasing a gaming mouse: first there’s the incredible speed and accuracyhelped by the sensitive optical sensor and the Teflon feet, then there’s the light weight that helps is move like the wind and also the fact that it is corded, as wireless mice are seldom good for gaming, as they may loose signal any time and have lag, which is really bad for the addicted gamer.The Teflon feet are guaranteed for 250 kilometres and the buttons for 3 million clicks .

The left and right click buttons do exactly what their names say they do: click left and right with the subsequent commands coming from this.The scroll wheel can be used to move more quickly between game fields or leaf the pages of a very long document looking for specific information. The small button situated just below the scroll wheel works as a “back’ button, but you programme it to perform another operation as you wish.

In conclusion, if you want a simple, yet very effective computer mouse for gaming sessions and you also want not to spend a fortune on it – you found the perfect candidate from my point of view: it’s the Logitech G1 computer mouse.

Micro-trak Computer Mouse

MouseArena — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:47:58 +0000

Have you ever needed a computer mouse that occupies as little space as possible? It can be useful especially when you are travelling and still you need to work on your computer , but you lack space, so you need the tiniest computer mouse possible. It would be even better if you could find one to hold in your hand, one that does not need a flat surface, because you rarely find one when you are driving or working on your laptop in airports, cars, trains and so on. Or maybe you are one of the people who want to have all kind of gadgets at home, just for fun or because you are a technology freak. You know, the kind of person who has more than one Sim card as they get all the latest phones as they come out on the market. In all the above mentioned cases, I found the perfect solution for you: it is the Microtrack finger computer mouse.
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This little guy is a very sensitive three button computer mouse that you can use simply putting it round your index finger. It is actually a track ball mouse even if the track ball is very small in dimensions – only one and a half centimetres in diametre. Any way it is perfect for people who lack space, for those who make presentations and need something really small to control the computer in front of an audience or for people who suffer from repetitive strain injury and can’t move their hands properly, but still can move their fingers. So, from the point of view of ergonomics, this computer mouse is perfect for people suffering from any illness that is related to computer and computer mouse overuse. When you use this Microtrack computer mouse you don’t have to put your hand in the position “palm down” which can affect your wrists and blood vessels and tendons. On the contrary, you can hold your hand in a natural position, you can move your hand and even wave it in the air. This mouse does not need a surface to work on, as it is a track ball mouse, so you benefit from both the ergonomics of the mouse and of the precision and sensitivity of the track ball.

This little Microtrack computer mouse is delivered together with its USB cord, as it is connected to the USB port of your computer. It is most likely used for laptop computers, as it is easy to store and does not need a flat surface to work on. It is also perfect as size. It does not need any additional software: you just plug it and use it. Besides the track ball that is operated by the thumb, there are also three buttons that you can programme to do whatever you may think necessary and appropriate. The mouse can be used by both right handed people and left handed people , as the design allows it and it does not have a special form according to the hand that uses it. It is very comfortable to use , being like a trigger and the most important button, the one acting as a left click, is placed right under your index finger which also operates it. Even if it is pretty small in size (its sizes are 5 by 8 by 5 centimetres)you can hold it firmly due to the lateral rubber indentations. They allow a firm grip on the mouse and not to slip when it is used. It is compatible with all computers and with Windows 98 and later versions of this operating system.

Because it is so small ans it only has three buttons and the track ball, I will try to present them and their funtions. The most important button of this computer mouse is the trigger button, the one that is situated inside the mouse “hole”. You can operate it with your index do drag or highlight or place the cursor of the mouse in the place that you desire. Then there is the left mouse button, situated on top of the mouse and on its left. This button is used to activate and diactivate the funtion of the track ball, that is scrolling the web pages or the written documents. When you press the left button, you lock the web page you will then explore in all idrections with the help of the track ball. When you finish scrolling press the left button again and it will disingage this function. The right mouse button has the same functions as on a regular computer mouse. When you press it, it will disply a menu with many variants of functions and operations to choose from (copy, paste, cut, etc). If you are not satisfied with the sensitivity and speed of the mouse, you can always adjust them from the Control panel, in the mouse menu.

This innovative piece of hardware is produced by Fellowes company and you can find more about it on the web page of the producer. The appealing colours, the light material and the small dimensions make it a perfect travel companion for a busy businessman or businesswoman and a valuable asset as it offers all the sensitivity and precision you might want, but everything wrapped up in a small size design. It is very easy to use and transport; you can even put it in a pocket and get it out when you need it. It does not need a surface, batteries to charge or a receiver; it does not need much space either and in return it offers ergonomic design and high quality functioning. Coming to think about it I can see only advantages when you use this computer mouse.

If there are any disadvantages, I can’t see them. It may look like a toy, but it surely works like a real professional, even though it can be operated by a child with the same ease as if playing with a toy. In conclusion, if you can find one in store on to order online, do not hesitate to purchase this Microtrack Computer mouse, as you will not regret it.

Two Mice One Computer

MouseArena — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:51:45 +0000

Everybody’s question is if they can control their computer if they would have two mice connected to it. The two mice one computer theory is very doable and many have thought and already used this concept because you do not need a home bar to have two monitors connected to your computer PC or if you will have two mice connected to it. This kind of technology is mostly built into your day to day use Windows and we shall tell you just what you need to do to get it going.

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There are some easy steps and the first one would be to remember that any kind of computer PC, old or new, would support two mice because it is quite logical it would have at least two USB slots (that is if you are using USB connected mice). When you will plug them into the computer you shall see that they will both work and will control the cursor (the pointer) on the screen. This you would normally do to prank somebody at your office or a friend, making them think that the computer mouse that they use is broken or even worse that the computer he or she is using might have a virus. You can also use this feature for helpful things too you know because its fun and all to make fun of other people, but be careful so that the prank is on you because at any time you can have yourself a cursor battlefield. You just plug one in front and one in the back of the computer and the war is on.

Microsoft MultiPoint is being developed for school children, being a new software that has its foundation of the fact that in many developing countries there are not enough computers at school for each child so kids will have to share.

This software will improve people skills as it is shown into a research made by specialist, acknowledging the fact that there are many situations were its more useful to have a second mouse plugged in for instance when you want to hear an explanation and you want to point on the screen what do you or do not understand, without touching the monitor screen, for many ambidextrous people out there this software will be like a blessing this helping them to use the computer mouse with much more efficiency and with both hands, for fun Microsoft helping you to get customized your computer system even to the last feature, the cursor or for the workaholics that depend on a mouse and are left in the middle of work or their presentation without a mouse, you can have now one to the rescue without having to interrupt your process not for split second.

There are many uses for this kind of software and it does not depend if you really need one or it is purely just for fun, the two mice one computer feature is used all over the world, by normal people, at work or at home because technology is now a very big part of our lives and we depend on every new feature that it is developed.

How A Computer Mouse Works

MouseArena — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:47:50 +0000

With the introduction of the Apple Macintosh in 1984, mice also broke into the public market stage and since then, they changed completely how people use computers and their purposes. You use your mouse every day when you work, play or surf the net on you computer and it responds to the movements and clicks that you make so that you may work properly. It is very interesting how effective and simple the computer mouse really is and how long from the apparition of the computer devices became a part of the computer everyday life.

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It is surprising it took so long because of the natural feature of people for pointing before speaking. Firstly conceived in the 1960, the mouse became a indispensable part of the computer many years later. Using crude interfaces like punch cards for data entry or teletype machines; there was no need at the beginning for computers to have a pointing device. Using the screen to replace the paper, the first text terminals emulated a teletype so it will be many years after this, almost ten, before an arrow key will be found in many terminals. The first thing to take advantage was the full screen editors of the cursor key thus they have offered people the first pointing device.

On a variety of machines, light pens were also used for graphics tablets, pointing devices, joy sticks and many other devices that were also popular in the 1970s for many years to come. However none of these devices really could took the place of the future mouse and when it hit the market it had an instant success. It is completely natural and very inexpensive when you compare them to a graphics table, taking also very little desk space. Because of the lack of support, mice took longer to gain ground in the computer area but once Windows made a Graphical User Interfaces, GUIs a main standard, mice became people’s choice everywhere.

Every mouse’s goal is to translate the movement from your hand into signals to the computer so you may perform tasks on it. When you think of the mouse and how a computer mouse works you must take into consideration the tracking ball inside the mouse that will touch the desktop and will roll when you will move the mouse.

Inside the mouse there will be two rollers that will touch the ball and one of the rollers will be oriented so that it will detect motion in the x direction and the other roller is 90 degrees oriented from the first ball so that it will detect motion in the y direction. These rollers rotate when the ball rotates as well, each of them being connected to a shaft that will spin a disk with many holes in it. When the roller will role its shaft and disk will spin. An infrared sensor and an infrared LED will be on both sides of the disk, the holes from the disk breaking the light coming from the LED so that the sensor will see pulses of light. The distance that will travel for the rate of pulsing will be directly related to the speed of the mouse.

The majority of mice today use a USB connector to attach them to the computer this being a very standard way to connect many devices nowadays. You must acknowledge the importance of the mouse in you computer system and also that there are many models on the market for ergonomic use.

NGC V8 Bullet

Bogdan Alex — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:20:28 +0000

Time to leave gaming and ultra-portable mice alone for a bit and concentrate on the latest vehicular rodents. Ever wanted a fast American muscle car, but couldn’t afford it? Now you can try one of NGC’s latest Shelby-like mice that’s guaranteed to give you adrenaline rushes every time you use it.

The Novelty Gift Company prepared the V8 Bullet with an authentic retro shape based on Ford Shelby’s design. It comes complete with front and rear blue LED lights and you can use the provided decals to further customize the looks.

On the functional side, the car-mouse is ergonomically designed to fit your palm and comes with a decent 800 DPI optical sensor that is suited for browsing and office stuff. The mouse has 5 buttons and a scroll wheel and is available in wired or wireless versions. The wireless model includes rechargeable batteries charged via a petrol nozzle styled USB cable and the wireless transmitter has been cleverly hidden in the form of a starter key. Unfortunately this is just an RF transmitter that allows only for a 1,5 m range.

In case you don’t like the Cherry Red color, NGC also have this model available in Diamond Black and Racing Green.

More info and pricing details on the NGC official website.

Logitech SpacePilot 3D Mouse

Bogdan Alex — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:35:09 +0000

I was getting tired of the curvy, ergonomic shape of today’s mice and went looking for some interesting concept. What better place to look for weird concepts than Logitech’s garden? Weird, but pretty handy, I rekon. Check out what they came up with.

Dubbed the SpacePilot 3D Mouse, this interesting piece of hardware reminds me of a gizmo placed in the cockpit of a spaceship (something like a “Push in case of emergency” button that triggers some atomic devastation weapon). Snap out of that! Right, where was I? Yes, this mouse concept integrates the Natural 3D navigation system. We’re talking about some serious sensing stuff here that makes the SpacePilot 3D mouse a virtual extension of your body. It’s also based on the SpaceNavigator concept, presented a while ago here.

Logitech assures us that using the SpacePilot is highly intuitive and totally natural. Push, pull, and rotate the control cap to simultaneously adjust altitude, speed, and direction on the fly—without stopping to press keys or choose commands. Radical flying, Swiss dudes!

What other miracles can it perform? Well, it’s not a divine instrument of justice but it can dynamically map functions to those special keys you see in the upper part, putting the commands you need at your fingertips. Even more so, it’s got an LCD panel, which lets you see which functions are currently assigned to the six programmable soft-buttons at the top of the pad.
Here are some more features:

o 6 degrees-of-freedom optical sensor
o 21 programmable function keys
o Dedicated function keys for view, keyboard modifiers
o Application detection
o Weight: 1.875 lb. (0.85 kg)

Kind of cool, but what about the price? $399.99? C’mon Logitech, what, do you think we are starship captains and money were abolished hundreds of years ago?

Saitek Photo Mouse

Bogdan Alex — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:00:21 +0000

While Saitek is well-known for their beasty gaming-grade mice, the UK manufacturer seems to be into serious mouse customization, as well. Check out the Saitek Photo Mouse. It is said to be the first of its kind and combines a compact design with a mobile picture frame.

You only have to print out your favorite photograph, cut it to the right size using the template provided in the package, position it under the Photo mouse’s transparent cover and secure it by closing the cover. In order to provide maximum exposure for your photo, Saitek included an integral white spotlight, so when you plug the mouse into the USB port the pictures colour’s pop up as vivid as ever. Tired of that picture? Simply print out another, cut and insert it.

The mouse itself is not that impressive but it is nonetheless a decent pick. Packing an optical sensor, three standard buttons and a simple scroll wheel, the mouse is at least comfortable and highly durable. Hmmm, I wonder what they put in its case… titanium? How durable can it be?

Anyway, being a plug&play piece of equipment, Saitek recommends this product as an ideal gift/impulse purchase for your kids and family. It’s only £12.99.

3DConnexion Space Navigator

Bogdan Alex — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:50:05 +0000

Here’s an interesting design from 3Dconnexion. It’s called the Space Navigator, a mouse that looks like a stylish door knob at first sight. OK, the analogy is a bit far-fetched. Anyway, 3Dconnexion claims their proprietary pressure sensing technology allows the controller cap to become a virtual extension of you.

It is specifically designed for 3D applications. Imagine you can push, pull, twist or tilt the cap a fraction of inch to simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate 3D imagery. The pressure sensitive cap can detect the slightest moves, allowing for intricate adjustments, or on the contrary, large-scale changes if you put more pressure.

3Dconnexion took care of all compatibility issues as SpaceNavigator works with a large selection of entry level and professional 3D applications. For example, it could be used to conduct elaborate 3D presentations using Adobe Reader or DWF Viewer. Want to unleash the designer in you? No problem, the mouse works swell with Autodesk Inventor or Solidworks. You can even fly through rich 3D worlds like Google Earth, Nasa World Wind or Microsoft Virtual Earth, tilting around with the “knob.”All in all, SpaceNavigator is compatible with over 100 popular 3D applications and 3Dconnexion is proud its ever-growing compatibility list. The mouse is available for about $47.

Moldable Mouse

Bogdan Alex — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:00:19 +0000

Yo lefties, having problems with those right handed mouse designs? You need the Logitech MX610, you say. Not that cheap in my opinion. How about a ‘Moldable Mouse’ for lefties and large/small handed individuals?

It’s still a design concept, but Lite-On promises it could get into your hands sooner than you expect. Looks to me like Lite-on is taking the eco road with this mouse, because it’s made of non-toxic lightweight modeling clay, covered with nylon and polyurethane blend fabric, while the base is made out of 100% recyclable PC/AMS plastic blend and houses the PCB, laser optics and batteries.

Lite-On claims that the mouse body can be molded into any shape a user defines, shapes being is self retaining. OK, you mold the body, but what do you do with the buttons? These, along with the touch sensitive scroll wheel are also stick-on parts which have an integrated RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device). So you can come up with some interesting layouts.

A pretty customizable device, I’d say, but Lite-On is also emphasizing that this design flexibility encourages users to adopt different hand positions which helps to minimize Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

No word on any pricing, but my guess is it will be quite cheap, as you can’t compare it with a gaming-grade mouse.