The most recent articles from Computeract!ve

Review: Microsoft Explorer Mouse

Paul Allen — 2008-10-08T12:23:00.000Z

Paul Allen, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 8 October 2008 at 12:23:00

A more precise mouse – but is it worth the money?

Most of us will have had problems with our mice before, such as poor tracking, where mouse movements the user makes are not reflected by the pointer on the screen.

Modern 'optical' mice use a beam of light or an invisible laser to track movement. With mouse mats now largely out of fashion, more people are using their mice on desks or tables, and woodgrain, along with any surface flaws, can cause the light to deflect away from the mouse's sensor, leading to erratic pointer movements.

Such mice have solved many of the problems caused by dirt accumulating on the balls of the old-style mice, but some remain, and Microsoft clearly hopes its Explorer Mouse will finally consign such issues to the dustbin of history.

The Microsoft Explorer Mouse uses a technology called Bluetrack, which uses a larger beam of laser light than current mice and some enhanced optics, the upshot of which is that Bluetrack devices are less sensitive to the surfaces on which they are used.

We tried it on a wide range of materials, including a leather jacket, a jumper, a carpeted floor, a colleague's head and some foam padding, and we have to say the Explorer was up to the challenge. The only surfaces you won't get a response from are very reflective ones such as glass and mirrors.

It's comfortable to use, wireless, comes with a small and neat charger and a USB wireless receiver for the computer. The buttons, like most mice, can be set up according to the user's preference using the supplied software, which is easy to install and use.

So if you currently have mouse problems, the Microsoft Explorer Mouse is probably worth the price – if not, a cheaper laser mouse will suit you just as well.

Review: Logitech V550 Nano mouse

Mark Wilson — 2008-09-09T11:04:00.000Z

Mark Wilson, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 9 September 2008 at 11:04:00

A mouse to use on the move with a laptop

Logitech's new mouse is aimed at notebook users and aims to help overcome the problems that many notebook owners have with using the built-in trackpads, which can be small and fiddly.

Designed to be used in either hand, the Logitech V550 Nano mouse uses laser technology for enhanced pointer precision and has a unique means of transportation. After attaching a small self-adhesive clip to the notebook's lid, the mouse can be clipped into place so it does not have to be carried separately.

When docked, the wireless mouse is automatically switched off to preserve battery life and is held securely in place. Being wireless, a USB receiver is required, and the one supplied is tiny. Barely protruding from the USB port, it can be left plugged in at all times, reducing the risk of loss.

The mouse itself is an excellent size and weight, and the buttons feel good to use. The scroll wheel moves very freely and allows for quick and easy navigation of long documents.

Although the price may seem high for what is just a mouse, it is money well spent.

Review: Logitech Wave Keyboard

Tim Smith — 2008-08-15T14:30:00.000Z

Tim Smith, Computeract!ve, Friday 15 August 2008 at 14:30:00

Is there still a place for wires on the desktop?

While wireless keyboards are very popular for reducing desktop clutter there are still good reasons to buy a wired keyboard.

For a start, there are no batteries to run out at inconvenient times and no chance of interference from other devices. The Logitech Wave Keyboard is a wired keyboard with a slight curve to it that makes typing more comfortable.

Installation is as simple as plugging the keyboard into an available USB socket and Windows does the rest (it's Mac-compatible too). It is worth installing the supplied Logitech Setpoint software as this gives better control over what the various shortcut keys do.

The function keys have a second function that's accessed by holding down the Fn button, which is something commonly found on notebook computers. We prefer this to the idea of switching between different modes as used by Microsoft keyboards because there is less chance of getting the wrong function.

The main keys of the keyboard are very comfortable to type on, being springy but without requiring too much effort. The curved layout is not the only ergonomic feature: the keys are at different heights to compensate for finger lengths. It takes a couple of hours to get used to that but after a while it isn't noticeable. It is worth pointing out that these adjustments worked well for us, being able to touch-type; the two-fingered typists out there might prefer a flatter keyboard design.

Another layout decision unique to Logitech is to double size of the Delete key in the centre block between the main and numerical keypads, and moving the Insert key off to the top of the keyboard. This again takes a little getting used to but we tend to rarely use the Insert key, so it's no great loss.

There are shortcut buttons for Widgets and Gadgets, and image editor, media player and for starting Media Center, along with the near-standard playback and volume controls.

One nice touch is the ability to route your headphone cable beneath the keyboard to help reduce clutter. It does work, and does help, and is one more clever feature of this clever keyboard.

Vista compatible: Yes

Review: Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 keyboard

Andrew Zarkesh — 2008-07-18T16:53:00.000Z

Andrew Zarkesh, Computeract!ve, Friday 18 July 2008 at 16:53:00

A keyboard that's not afraid of water

Replacement keyboards are not the most exciting of PC purchases. However, a good quality keyboard that suits your style of typing can make you more productive as well as making your PC more pleasant to use, and cutting down on potential hand injury. This is especially true for users of notebook computers without numeric keypads.

The first thing we noticed about the Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 is that its keys are skewed upwards and outwards and that its letter keys are not all equally sized. This is intended to provide a more ergonomic experience for touch-typists. This sounds like a good idea in theory, but its design meant that the return key was positioned further to the right than usual, making it harder to reach with the little finger. Typists who only use two fingers may also find themselves missing keys and looking down at the keyboard more frequently due to the layout.

The notebook-style keys have a low profile, meaning they don't travel far when pressed – whether you like this or not is down to personal preference, although we find this style uncomfortable for long periods. This design means they don’t make the traditional clatter of a conventional keyboard, something we noticed during use. However, some of the keys – such as the shift and control keys – are much smaller than on a conventional keyboard which could be a problem for those with larger hands.

In addition to the standard keys there are several extras such as a volume control, forward and back buttons for web browsing, and with three programmable shortcut keys, but there’s no software included – you'll need to download the Microsoft Intellitype software to do so. The Comfort Curve uses a wire and a USB connection, making it compatible with all computers including notebooks.

It's also resistant to spills: the keys are rubber sealed so they're designed not to let in liquid. We tested this by pouring water onto the keys and, sure enough, it channelled out of the four outlets on the base of the keyboard, without causing any problems.

Vista compatible: n/a

Review: Logitech Dinovo Mini keyboard

Paul Lester — 2008-05-17T10:00:00.000Z

Paul Lester, Computeract!ve, Saturday 17 May 2008 at 10:00:00

A stylish way to control your music and video

Logitech made quite a fuss over its release last year of the Dinovo Edge keyboard, saying it was the most advanced keyboard in the world. It was admittedly an impressive keyboard, so how does the new Dinovo Mini fare in comparison?

The Mini is a small keyboard that's compatible with Bluetooth 2 devices, so it would be suitable for use with modern phones and handheld computers, although Logitech appears to be aiming it more at users of media PCs and the Playstation 3.

Also included with the keyboard is a replaceable battery and the USB adapter (handily, this can be stored inside the battery compartment when it's not in use). If you use the dongle provided, setup is simply a case of pressing the connect buttons on the keyboard and the adapter and waiting for the green all-systems-go light to appear.

The supplied Setpoint software can adjust the sensitivity of the trackpad and configure the operation of the various shortcut keys, so it’s worth spending a bit of time here to get it behaving as you would like.

As well as the usual typing, you can switch the Dinovo Mini to a media-remote mode for music and video, lighting up the dedicated media keys to make them easier to find at a glance. There shouldn’t be much of a problem here anyway, since an ambient light sensor, which measures light levels in the room, will fire up the backlight automatically when it gets dark.

Of course keyboards, particularly mini-keyboards, are all about usability, and this is where the Dinovo Mini falls down. The keys are quite firm and require a fair amount of pressure, but the fact that they're so close together reduces potential typing speeds considerably, at least if you don't want to spend half your time correcting mistakes. The touch-sensitive pad is also rather small and doesn’t really offer enough space to comfortably move the pointer around.

The Dinovo Mini is easy to set up, and certainly looks stylish, but taking into account the price and its flaws as a keyboard it is more like a luxury purchase for music and video fans.

Vista compatibility: Yes

Review: Logitech MX5500 Revolution keyboard and mouse

Cliff Joseph — 2008-04-30T15:30:00.000Z

Cliff Joseph, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 30 April 2008 at 15:30:00

A keyboard with a screen in it? Why?

Paying more than £120 for a keyboard and mouse package seems a bit steep to us.

However we can’t deny that Logitech has packed a lot of clever features into the MX5500 Revolution to try to justify that price. A fair chunk of that is down to the fact that the MX5500 uses the latest Bluetooth 2 wireless technology to connect to the computer.

This provides a wireless range of up to 10m, so it could be handy for those who have to make presentations as it will allow them to control a presentation from the back of a conference room or another fairly large room. The mouse is one of Logitech’s MX Revolution models, a rechargeable unit that provides high-speed scrolling through long documents.

However it’s the keyboard that really catches the eye – not least because it’s one of the few keyboards we’ve seen to have its own screen. Most of the time this simply displays the date and time, but if you slip in a CD or DVD the panel displays track or chapter information, as well as allowing the user to control playback using the various buttons on the keyboard.

We wonder how useful this really is, as you can generally see this information on the computer screen anyway. Like most modern keyboards the MX5500 is packed with programmable buttons that can be used to launch programs and control CD and DVD playback.

And if you’ve got Windows Vista on your PC there are buttons specifically designed to control Vista-specific features such as the Gadgets sidebar. Installation is straightforward thanks to the Setpoint software included with the MX5500, which does a good job of setting up the wireless connection between the PC and the mouse and keyboard.

To be honest, though, the on-keyboard display seems like a bit of a gimmick, and doesn’t provide any really practical advantages over less expensive keyboards. As a result, the MX5500 Revolution is probably most suitable for business users who want a fancy keyboard and mouse set for their plush offices.

Also consider the Logitech Cordless Desktop Comfort Laser.

Review: Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 v2

Dinah Greek — 2008-04-20T00:00:00.000Z

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Sunday 20 April 2008 at 00:00:00

Mouse design goes ergonomic

Microsoft’s latest wireless laser mouse has a slightly smaller wireless transceiver than its predecessor but if you are used to the way that worked don't worry, the controls are the same.

It's designed more with ergonomics in mind, with a nice shape that fits the hand well without any awkward curves. But although the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 v2 looks elegant and moves smoothly across the desktop, it is a bit heavy once the batteries are fitted. So if you are in the habit of constantly picking up your mouse it may not be to your liking.

Although it is a bit big to be considered a mobile mouse, it is possible to store the USB receiver in a slot in the bottom of the device so you don’t misplace it. This also turns off the mouse which means you save battery life. The scroll wheel rotates easily and clicking on it brings up a pair of arrows on screen, which will allow scrolling up and down by turning the mouse left or right.

In addition the mouse has two buttons located on the right side which can be used for flipping back and forth between internet windows. We did notice an initial lag, which was annoying but intermittent. The mouse, which has a battery life of six months, will work on Windows Vista or XP and even on newer Mac computers. Despite the weight, the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is a good device that's easy on the hand.

Buy the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 v2

Review: Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 7000

Anthony Dhanendran — 2008-04-20T00:00:00.000Z

Anthony Dhanendran, Computeract!ve, Sunday 20 April 2008 at 00:00:00

Make sure your mouse is always charged

The Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 follows the elegant lines of its non-rechargeable counterpart, the 6000. That means that's it's really only suitable for right-handed users, but for them it's an excellent design. The curves mean that it sits comfortably in the hand, and should help to reduce strain – particularly important for heavy-duty mouse users.

It comes with a small charging plate that plugs into the mains and refills the mouse's batteries. There's also a tiny receiver that goes into the PC's USB port. The software, which is optional because the mouse works without it, can be used to customise the mouse's function buttons and make other changes to its settings.

There's a scroll wheel, which is standard on modern mice (and allows motion in four directions), as well as a special button to access Windows Vista's flip-3D function (which shows running programs graphically). This mouse costs more than most but the design and the custom buttons make it worth the price if you use a mouse for long periods each day.

The only problem is that left-handers need not apply.

Buy the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 7000

Gallery: Make your notebook PC easier to use

Matt Andrews — 2008-03-17T00:00:00.000Z

Matt Andrews, Computeract!ve, Monday 17 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Review: Mogo X54 Bluetooth mouse

Anthony Dhanendran — 2008-02-05T00:00:00.000Z

Anthony Dhanendran, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 5 February 2008 at 00:00:00

Mouse aimed at notebook users

We looked at the original Mogo Mouse back in 2006, and the new version - designed for users of notebook computers with Expresscard/54 slots, hence the name - shares the original's rather strange design.

What at first appears to be an extremely uncomfortable mouse actually turns out to be surprisingly pleasant in use.

The X54 fits in the Expresscard slot on the side of the computer for charging and storage, and the stand pops out when the mouse is in use. It uses Bluetooth to connect to the computer - no other software is required but of course you'll need a notebook with Bluetooth in order to use it.

The auto-off switch saves on battery life, and you should be able to work for a day without charging it. This innovative mouse is a real space-saver, and it's not overly expensive either.

Vista compatibility: Yes

Review: Saitek Photo Mouse

Tim Smith — 2007-12-10T00:00:00.000Z

Tim Smith, Computeract!ve, Monday 10 December 2007 at 00:00:00

A good mouse with no distracting gimmicks

Mouse design now tends to favour gamers who want mice with lots of shortcut buttons and fast speeds.

The Saitek Photo Mouse, on the other hand, makes a rather good present for home users, with the ability to use your own picture inside the transparent case.

As a mouse it is comfortable to use and the blue light shining from behind the wheel is unobtrusive. It uses a wired USB connection but that means there are no battery problems. No drivers are required - for once 'plug and play' really worked, with Windows detecting it automatically.

The photo is held in place behind a clear panel at the back of the mouse and there is a white light to illuminate it. A small button releases the clear cover to change the photo.

There is a cut-out template in the manual to fit a photo in place, and a slightly more polished look is possible by downloading a template file from the Saitek website. The template is in a variety of formats but does still require some knowledge of using image editors.

We like the Photo Mouse and found ourselves using it for day-to-day tasks, a refreshing change after trying some of the more gimmicky gaming mice.

Vista compatible: Yes

Review: Microsoft Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 peripheral

Andrew Zarkesh — 2007-12-08T00:00:00.000Z

Andrew Zarkesh, Computeract!ve, Saturday 8 December 2007 at 00:00:00

Good wireless mouse but let down by a couple of niggles

This mouse's USB receiver also functions as a 1GB memory key. It's also supplied with a cleverly detachable cable so it can be recharged while in use as a wired mouse.

The mouse certainly looks the part with sweeping lines and aluminium buttons, but its stunted shape means users with larger hands will find it difficult to hold. It is also moulded for a right hand, so left-handed users won't be happy.

The receiver is nearly as long as the mouse itself, making it slightly bulky, but it does mean you don't have to carry a USB memory key as well. It works over Bluetooth or standard RF wireless but annoyingly, it's only possible to use the memory if the mouse is connected over Bluetooth or the wire - if it's in RF mode, the memory can't be used.

The mouse does feel sturdy and the laser sensor means the pointer glides smoothly and accurately. The four-way scroll wheel is smooth and effective, but the position of the two programmable buttons under the user's thumb means it's too easily to press them by accident. We also found that both the mouse and receiver are too chunky to be easily transportable, which with the other flaws makes the mouse's price seem high.

Vista compatible: Yes

Review: Logitech MX Air mouse

Anthony Dhanendran — 2007-11-28T00:00:00.000Z

Anthony Dhanendran, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 28 November 2007 at 00:00:00

Wave goodbye to your tabletop mouse

Like the controller from the Nintendo Wii, the MX Air contains a gyroscope that allows it to tell its position even when not on a desk.

That makes it useful as a remote control for Powerpoint enthusiasts, but it's also very handy for those of us using Windows Media Center.

Installation was easy, and the receiver (which plugs into a USB port) is small and inconspicuous, and the mouse comes with its own charging cradle.

Although it looks odd, it fits reasonably well in the hand. The design is quite useable in practice, but we wouldn't recommend it for long periods of mouse use (in an office, for instance).

There are some clever design touches, such as the vertical trackpad instead of a scroll wheel (run your finger up and down the pad to scroll). When playing music or video, holding down the Vol button and swinging the mouse to one side will change the volume. It's surprisingly accurate in the air, and while we won't be doing any digital painting with it, it's perfectly able to hit the buttons on Media Center.

Vista compatible: Yes

Review: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 keyboard and mouse

Andrea-Marie Vassou — 2007-11-20T00:00:00.000Z

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 20 November 2007 at 00:00:00

Keyboard and mouse with unorthodox looks

Microsoft’s Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 is a keyboard and mouse set that's made for those with Windows Vista.

The keyboard comes with the new Vista logo Start button and with control buttons for Vista's Media Center software, including play and pause, which can be useful for controlling music and video on the PC from a distance.

Those who do not have Vista can still use the keyboard and mouse, of course, and the Start button will still access the Start menu, but the play and pause buttons are redundant.

Despite the ergonomic people-friendly design of mouse and keyboard, the packaging wasn't at all friendly, with a small fight required to get the thing unpacked.

Once we’d battled with the box, setting up the keyboard was extremely easy - all that was necessary to get it working was to put in the supplied batteries - and likewise the mouse began working as soon as we’d plugged in the USB receiver.

Ergonomic keyboards are designed largely to help prevent repetitive strain injury (also known as carpal tunnel syndrome) by raising the user's wrists a little and causing them to use more natural hand movements. Typical keyboards don't do this, and so provide poor support for the hands and wrist.

Unlike standard keyboards in which the keys lie flat, those on the 7000 are raised and are split down across the centre of the keyboard. In theory the keyboard should be raised so the typist doesn't straining their wrists, but plastic bar that attaches straight to the bottom of the keyboard to raise it also makes it quite uncomfortable, so much so that we had to remove it.

We found the rubber wrist rest, permanently attached to the keyboard, more useful at first. It is cushioned to support the wrists, but after sustained periods of typing we found that we were getting close to friction burns as the pad gets warm very quickly.

The 7000 mouse uses a laser to locate itself on the desk, meaning it is more accurate than a standard optical mouse. Despite its odd looks, it was very comfortable to use, something we put down to the large dent on the left-hand side in which the thumb sits easily. As well as a standard scroll wheel, the offers four-way scrolling making it very easy to scroll in-between documents. The mouse buttons are nicely responsive.

Although we were impressed with the mouse, the keyboard is the poorer half of this double act. The split design works as well as it has done on all of Microsoft's Natural keyboards, but the addition of the height adjustment bar didn't work for us.

Vista compaatible: Yes

Review: Genius Slimstar 820 Solargizer keyboard

Tim Smith — 2007-10-29T00:00:00.000Z

Tim Smith, Computeract!ve, Monday 29 October 2007 at 00:00:00

Escape the reliance of batteries with a solar powered keyboard

Wireless keyboards have become so commonplace it is easy to forget that they have a big weakness, how to power the keyboard.

Most keyboards use batteries and even though they might last several months on a fresh set, it is still annoying, not to mention a problem for the environment.

The Genius SlimStar 820 Solargizer is a keyboard with a solar panel paired to a built-in rechargeable battery. Ordinary batteries can also be fitted to ensure the keyboard keeps working if there is not enough light and the fixed battery runs out.

There are plenty of shortcut keys on the keyboard, including the all-The important volume and media player controls. There shortcut buttons for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Messenger, Internet Explorer and email. Copy, Paste, Save and Print shortcuts are very useful.

As much as a good selection of shortcut keys is important, other descisions have not benefited the keyboard. The Function keys are much smaller then ordinary keys, which we did not like. Sadly the keyboard was not as comfortable to type at as we would like.

The mouse is not rechargeable and so has no environmental benefit. It has a laser sensor and a sideways scrolling wheel so is likely to be an upgrade from the basic batteries supplied with computer. The only other extra is a button for locking the computer. A useful tool but not much faster than just pressing the Windows key and L. The USB adapter clips into the mouse

If you take away the solar charger there is not that much point buying this keyboard rather than, say, a Logitech keyboard set with a solar-powered battery charger. This would have the advantage of using rechargeable batteries for the mouse as well.