The HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse connects to Windows notebooks over Wi-Fi, so users can leave dongles and adapters at home without giving up a good mousing experience.

Until HP introduced the Wi-Fi Mouse users had two options for wireless mice – connect via USB dongle or Bluetooth. I prefer Bluetooth, but using both a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios diminish battery life. USB dongles take up ports and drain battery life as well.

I haven’t found a Windows notebook with a touchpad I want to use full-time because they all stink, so I always carry an extra mouse. For the past few weeks that mouse has been the HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse.

Wi-Fi Connection

Because HP uses your computer’s Wi-Fi radio to connect, you have to install their proprietary software. That means two things. First, you can’t just connect this mouse to any computer. Second, you can’t connect it to any Mac.

I installed the software and the mouse connected without a hitch using the configuration steps. It also reconnects quickly after you shot down or put your computer to sleep. Reconnecting is faster than my Bluetooth mice connect to the Samsung notebook used for testing.

I didn’t notice any interference between the mouse and my network connection. It just works like you’d expect your mouse to work. You will notice a new Wi-Fi connection listed in Windows. In fact I could see the Wi-Fi as a network on my iPad and MacBook too, but it won’t let anything other than the mouse connect to the network.

Comfort and Design

The concept of the X7000 screams for mobility. You don’t need a USB dongle and you can turn off your Bluetooth, both of which preserve battery life. Unfortunately, the mouse is huge. I have big hands, so I like the size. But it takes up a  lot of room in your computer bag. HP offers the HP WiFi Mobile Mouse for about $20 less. The X7000 works better as a desktop mouse for people with big hands. If you use a spacious computer bag, you may have room for the X7000. If you don’t, or if you have small hands the Mobile Mouse is a better fit.

The mouse has four buttons – the typical right and left click buttons and a thumb button. There’s also a smaller button on the top left corner next to the primary button. You can customize the buttons to perform many functions using the included driver software.

The “touch” part of the Wi-Fi Touch Mouse comes from a strip between the two main buttons replacing the typical scroll wheel. It performs the same function without the moving parts. You can slide your finger up or down to scroll or zoom. You can even tap on the strip to use it as another button.

The touch strip works fine, but I prefer a wheel. It will likely last longer than a wheel with moving parts, but I haven’t had trouble with the scroll wheels breaking on any of my mice. Give me a wheel, like the smaller version has, and I’d be happier.

The shape of the mouse fits right handers only. I’m okay with that, but if you’re a lefty move along. Nothing to see here.

Value and Recommendation

HP charges $59.99 for the X7000. That’s not too pricey for a large mouse with the unique features included in this mouse. The technology works so well, that I suspect this will catch on and become the primary method of connecting a wireless mouse. If it does, the price will drop.

Since the mouse feels comfortable and connects so well, I recommend the HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse without too many reservations. As I said above, I wish it had a wheel like the cheaper mobile version that fits better in a computer bag. I also hope Apple adds support to OS X because I’d love to use this mouse full-time when my MacBook Pro sits on my desk at home.

The Wi-Fi connection may be a cool feature, but alone it won’t make me buy a mouse. The HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse works so well so you won’t have to compromise to get the cool new feature.

You can get the X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse from HP directly or at Amazon for only $37.95.

HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse Review: Go Wireless, No Dongle or Bluetooth is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The HP WiFi Mobile mouse is a new portable mouse from HP that doesn’t need a dongle or Bluetooth to connect to your computer. Instead, it connects directly to your computer over WiFi. Not only does this mean you don’t need to plug in a USB dongle, but you also don’t have to deal with finicky Bluetooth pairing procedures.

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse retails for $49. 99 and is available starting today from HP.

Connection Process

Instead of figuring out how your notebook’s specific version of Bluetooth pairing software works, or messing around with a dongle and multiple connect buttons, the HP WiFi Mobile mouse is a set it and forget it mouse. HP was able to make the WiFi pairing process simple to set up and best of all, once we set it up, we didn’t have to do it over and over again, like you do with many Bluetooth mice.

When you hear WiFi mouse, you might be worried you can’t use the mouse when you aren’t connected to the Internet, but don’t. The mouse connects directly to the WiFi card on your notebook, so you can use it anywhere as long as you have your notebook WiFi card turned on.

Design

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse fits nicely in the palm of a standard size hand for comfortable use. You wouldn’t want to use it for 8 hours every day, but it is just right for use on the go.

The mouse has more buttons than we normally see on a mobile mouse with a total of 5, including dedicated forward and back buttons on the left and right now.

Usability

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse handled well in our monthly of testing with several notebooks. The mouse is accurate and if you need to make a change, you can increase the resolution of the sensor to handle different surfaces and sensitivity needs.

The buttons can be customized to handle numerous tasks. You can’t set button customizations on a per program basis, but there are plenty of options to set the button actions to.

The scroll wheel is also decent and customizable in terms of how many lines each movement should scroll on screen.

Conclusion

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse is a great choice for users sick of pairing and repairing Bluetooth mice and dealing with lost dongles on their portable mice. The connection process is straightforward and unlike Bluetooth, it’s hard to find a notebook without built in WiFi.

The HP WiFi Mobile mouse may be more expensive than some Bluetooth competition, but the easy setup, pairing that doesn’t quit, small comfortable size and 5 mouse buttons make it well worth the premium.

Pros:

• Long battery life
• WiFi connection means no dongles
• No need to re-pair on each connection
• Comfortable size

Cons:

• Pricier than entry level mice

HP WiFi Mobile Mouse Gallery

HP WiFi Mobile Mouse Review: No Dongles or Re-Pairing Needed is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Father’s Day is just around the corner and rather than ties and the odd gift boxes offered at department stores we suggest you get dad one of these awesome Father’s Day gifts. These tech gifts for Father’s Day 2011 aren’t just for geeks. We have all types of consumer electronics, thumb drives, eBook readers, tablets, smartphones and more that are sure to impress.

21 Awesome Tech Gift Ideas for Dad

If you order within the next week most of these gifts will arrive in time for Father’s Day 2011 which is on Sunday June 19th.

Verbatim Tuff N Tiny USB Flash Drive – $10 and up

The Verbatim Tuff N Tiny USB Flash Drive has become our go to drive for two reasons. It is tough and as you can guess, it is tiny. We have it attached to the our key ring and so it is always there. Because of its size we barely notice it. Because of how tough it is we don’t worry about breaking it. We tested this drive and really beat it up. Our data was safe despite dunking it in water, stomping on it, and plunging into dirt. The drives start at $22 for a 2GB model and range on up to $158 for the 32GB model. But you can find them cheaper on Amazon.

Mimobots – $22 and up

If you are looking for a thumbdrive that shows off dad’s love for comics or science fiction, then you need to check out the licensed Mimibot thumb drives. These incredibly detailed drives don’t just carry your documents, they show off your geeky side with licences from Star Wars, Marvel and more.

We’ve been using several of these drives over the past few weeks and everyone we show them to loves the fun look of the Mimobots. The drives look as good in person as they do on the Mimibot website and with a large collection of characters you have a good chance at finding dad’s favorite comic book hero. The backside of the drive is flat enough we could use it with the MacBook Air, which sits close to a table, but if you are trying to plug into the recessed ports on some desktops you may have trouble.

iPhone, Android & iPad Protection – $30 and up

Some of our favorite cases for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices come from Speck and OtterBox. These two companies offer a range of solutions for multiple Android devices and the every popular iPhone. Speck offers a collection of colorful and fun cases mainly focused on Apple products, offering all types of looks and protection.

OtterBox on the other hand is known for their incredible protection for devices including drop protection. For fathers who work in construction, like to go outdoors or are just rough with their phones, an OtterBox case is the perfect gift.

ScotteVest Travel Vests and Jackets – $25 and up

It wouldn’t be a Father’s Day gift guide without ScotteVest travel vests, jackets and shirts. We’ve been big fans of the ScotteVest gear for a while now because it allows dad to carry all of his gear from cameras to the iPad without looking like a dork. Seriously, the pockets in these devices will accommodate all types of gear for around town or heading off on an adventure.

ScotteVest is having a Father’s Day sale right now, that allows you to get jackets, hoodies and shirts at 30% off. The standard ScotteVest Travel vest isn’t on sale, but is well worth the $100 price tag.

LightScoop – $30

If Dad is a shutterbug, the Lightscoop is a great choice. This handy little DSLR accessory will snap on to his camera and bounce the flash off the ceiling or the wall for better photos. Rather than washing out the image or delivering a deer in the headlights look, the Lightscoop bounces the photos off your surroundings for better lighting.

The Lightscoop is probably a better fit for budding photographer dads, rather than a pro photographer who likely has a full lightbox and studio setup on hand.

Eye Fi – $49.99 and up

Another good Father’s Day gift is the Eye-Fi X2 SD card which connects to wireless networks and iPhone or Android devices to upload your photos to your computer and to the web without any wires.

We really like the ability to upload our photos automatically to our computer and to the Eye Fi Center which allows us to share them with family members on the iPad rather than the small screen of our camera. Dad can choose to selectively upload photos to Facebook and many other websites to automatically share. We like the control, which keeps unwanted photos from going public. Check out our Eye Fi Review.

WetCiruits 4 Outlet Water Resistant Rugged Power Strip – $70

This is not an ordinary power outlet. Sure it is a little expensive but how many power strips from WalMart will withstand pouring water into them or having Junior stick a pair of metal tweezers in one of the outlets and survive without even a shock? With the WetCircuits power strip pouring water on it while it is plugged in and in use has no effect. The water is kept out of the actual circuit. Putting a set of tweezers down into the outlet will not shock anyone. We know because we tested it. Check out the video below.

This thing is great for plugging in a number of things like a laptop, a video projector, and your cell phone while you are working at a table with people drinking coffee or while outdoors at a beach or park.

Razer Orochi Bluetooth Laser Mouse – $79.99

There might be a better mobile mouse out there, but after testing a bunch of Bluetooth mobile mice, we don’t think there is a better Bluetooth mobile mouse available. Designed primarily for gamers in mind, this mouse is also great as an everyday mouse. In fact, we use it that way with the notebooks we use most o the time. You can view our full review and video and decide for yourself. Dad will love this mouse whether he’s a gamer or not.

Cadence 4-bit Binary Watch – $90

This is less a tech gift and more a gift for a techie. If your dad is a geek he will love this binary watch. From a distance it looks like any casual analog watch. Up close you realize that instead of Latin or Roman numerals each hour is represented by a four digit binary number.

Fitbit – $99

If dad is a data geek, tracking and analyzing anything he can put into a number, he may like the fitbit. This small device clips onto his pocket or belt and tracks steps, miles walked, activity, calories burned and can even track his sleep habits. The fitbit is $99 and includes access to the fitbit website for tracking fitbit stats and can log eating habits(he’ll have to do this manually though). If he wants to go deeper into the data and gain comparisons to other people in his age group he can upgrade to the premium account for $49 a year.

We’ve been using a fitbit for the past few weeks and we really like that the fitbit can handle being worn day to day at the office, in the yard or out on a long walk without any worries of it falling off or breaking. The fitbit battery lasts a whole week and uploads data to the fitbit website whenever you get within 15 feet of the base station which is attached to your computer. The fitbit isn’t waterproof, but it can handle being washed off and reportedly can survive a drop into the toilet. Below you’ll see just a snippet of the data fitbit records.

One of our favorite uses has been to monitor our sleep habits. With the included armband dad can wear the fitbit while you sleep and it will monitor how often he wakes up and moves during the night.

Booq Bag Computer Backpack – Starting at $129.95

We think Booq makes some nice computer bags and backpacks. They have almost any style you prefer, but we like the backpack style the best. The Boa Squeeze is their least expensive backpack bag. They sell sizes that fit anything from a 13″ up to a 17″ computer. They offer great protection and will look cool doing it. Dad will be very happy with this bag or any of the other styles. Maybe he likes a something more like a messenger bag with a flap, a simple sleeve, or a briefcase style bag. They have them all. We also like the Cobra Courier which is a messenger style bag with a sleeve to protect your notebook. It comes it at $195.

Plantronics Voyager Pro UC 2 Bluetooth Headset – $199

Bluetooth headsets are for the most part poor performers when you actually start to use them, but not the Plantronics Voyager Por UC 2. This headset is the smartest Bluetooth headset we have ever used and the only one we have stuck with for more than a few weeks. It’s so good, we gave it an Editor’s Choice award at GottaBeMobile.com.

The reason we love this bluetooth headset so much is that it is smart enough to know when you want to use it and when you don’t. With a normal Bluetooth headset, audio will be sent to the headset even if it is in your bag or out in the car. The Plantronics Voyager Pro UC 2 knows when you have it on your ear and when you don’t, allowing it to route the audio to the right place. The headset will even auto answer calls when you put it on your ear. This model includes a Bluetooth adapter so that you can use it with your PC or Mac as well.

Android Phone – Various Prices

As popular as the iPhone is, we think an Android phone might be a nice way to reward dad this year. They are easy to use and have a lot of powerful features. Recommending just one is hard since not all phones are available with all carriers. So here are our recommendations for the carrier that old dad is using. These come from our sister site’s list of the top 5 phones for May 2011.

LG G2x – T-Mobile – $200

It has a fantastic 4-inch LCD display, HSPA+ 4G speeds and it has the ability to capture 1080p which is something most top of the line smartphones aren’t able to do.

HTC Droid Incredible 2 – Verizon – $80

We recently previewed the HTC Droid Incredible 2, the successor of the wildly popular Droid Incredible, and came away very impressed. The increase in display size from 3.7 to 4-inches works well and doesn’t add any additional bulk.

Its single-core 1GHz processor is quick and it comes with almost an identical form factor to the original Droid Incredible.  Add in all the other bells and whistles and you have yourself a fantastic 3G phone.

Motorola Atrix 4G – AT&T – $99

The Motorola Atrix is the flagship Android device on AT&T and like the G2x, it can be considered a superphone because of the fantastic specifications it has on board. It packs a high-resolution display, dual-core processor and a massive battery to boot.

HTC Thunderbolt – Verizon – $249

The ThunderBolt is essentially an HTC EVO with 4G LTE speeds, which as you’ll see in a second, isn’t a bad thing whatsoever. The hardware is solid, the software as well and with an upgrade to Gingerbread coming in the not-so-distant future, the ThunderBolt is worthy of this list.

Amazon Kindle eBook Reader – $114, $139, or $189

There are a number of good eBook readers available, but the best one for the simple task of reading books is still the Kindle. The iPad is the premium do-it-all device. The Nook Color wants to be. But if all you want is an eBook reader cheap, the ad-supported Kindle is the best option. It is only $114 and the ads are not that intrusive. It requires a Wi-Fi signal to shop, download books, and sync things like bookmarks, highlights or notes, but can be read anywhere.

HP dm1z Notebook Computer – $449

Not quite a netbook, the diminutive HP dm1z series of notebooks is a great choice for an ultra-portable budget notebook for the mobile dad who needs a business notebook that can handle almost any basic task you throw at it. More powerful than a little netbook, he will be more happy too. It is an 11.6″ system with a dual-core AMD Fusion processor. The AMD Radeon 6310 graphics makes this little system a lot more powerful than you would think. The 1366×768 display makes it 720p HD capable, great for watching HD videos downloaded from one of the various video buying or rental sites. For an extra $129 you can get dad an external Blu-ray drive too. HP promises 9.5 hours from the battery. If you only get the typical two-thirds of the promised battery life that it still around 6 hours. It has VGA and HDMI output for presentations or hooking up to a TV.

Apple iPad 2 – $499 – $829

This is likely one of the number one requested tech gifts this Father’s Day. It is still the standard for tablet devices despite all that people are trying to do to unseat it with Android-based devices. The huge app ecosystem and accessories market make it the number one device. It is dead simple to use and one of the most versatile computing devices ever made.

Our sister site did a very comprehensive iPad 2 review if you want to read up before taking this big a plunge. Just know that if you can afford it, dad will be extremely happy with you. We suggest a sweet spot of 32GB with 3G if you can afford it. That model is $729. Take one step back and go with the 32GB wi-fi only model for $599 if possible.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 – $1399

Not officially ready till May 24, this business class notebook is one of the nicest we’ve seen this year. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 was give the editor’s choice award by our editor, Josh Smith. He said:

The ThinkPad X1 shows a now look for Lenovo and includes a collection of features and design changes which exciting and new. Lenovo has been able to add to the ThinkPad features we love, like durability and an amazing keyboard, without compromising on why businesses choose to equip their employees with ThinkPads. The ThinkPad X1 shows that the company can adapt and bring consumer features like high-end audio and backlit keys to the traditional ThinkPad line. Lenovo may still need a bit more time to perfect the mousepad, but the ThinkPad X1 is without a doubt the best ThinkPad we have had a chance to use.

The ThinkPad X1 we looked at had a 2.5GHz 2nd generation Intel Core i5-520M processor. It also included 4GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The display is powered by Intel 3000 HD integrated graphics. The glossy 13.3″ screen is made with a gorilla glass wich makes it durable and particularly scratch resistant. The computer is 3.73 pounds and between .65″ and .84″ in thickness. The 6 cell battery gives you over four hours and the optional slice adds another four hours. Please read our comprehensive review for more detailed information.

Additional Reporting by Josh Smith

Father’s Day 2011: 21 Awesome Tech Gift Ideas for Dad is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 is a very simple mobile bluetooth mouse that works on both Windows and Mac. It has been around for quite a while, but we decided to review it in our quest to find the perfect Bluetooth mouse for your notebook computer. Sadly, this entry falls short due to problems with comfort and accuracy.

Design and Comfort

The Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 is a small mouse designed to not take up too much room in a computer bag. It is small enough that you could just carry it in your pocket if you keep your notebook in a sleeve instead of a computer bag. Unfortunately, because of the size, it is not the most comfortable or accurate mouse to use.

The two top buttons are shaped so that your fingers rest nicely on them. However, the length of the mouse from the front to the back means that you cannot really rest your hand on the mouse while using it unless you have very small hands. I found myself having to grip the mouse between my thumb and ring finger to move it around. This is fine for short mousing stints. After more than fifteen to twenty minutes I found myself subconsciously using the trackpad on my MacBook Pro or MacBook Air instead of reaching  for the mouse.

The weight of the mouse is also a problem. For precision mousing a heavy mouse makes it hard to move to just the right spot. A light mouse makes it too easy to accidentally mouse past the button you want to click or the edge of the window you want to drag. This mouse is just too light. You can fix this by adjusting the speed of the cursor in the settings of the computer, but that slows things down too much the rest of the time. I like my cursor to dart across the screen. A properly weighted mouse makes this possible while still hitting the target.

Buttons and Features

This mouse has the basic right and left click buttons, but there is also a side button the left side that your thumb can hit. It is a back button for use in a browser or in Windows it goes back in your Windows Explorer history. This function is unavailable in Mac OS X Finder windows. The button is also easy to accidentally click while mousing.

Because there is only one side button, it would be a little awkward for left-handed users. Ultimately the mouse would be better if there was a button on both sides.

The scroll wheel works well and is not too stiff or loose. We prefer a smooth scrolling wheel, but for a clicking scroll wheel it is not bad. The wheel can also serve as another button. The problem is, without a supported software driver it cannot be configured. On a Mac there is no special driver. The Microsoft web site has a link to a special Mac driver but the link leads to a Japanese language site with a “not found” 404 error page.

The Windows software is adequate and can be used to configure the buttons. We turned off the thumb button and made the scroll wheel also behave as a double click button. You cannot do this on Mac.

The mouse has an indicator light which will glow red when the batteries are drained. It will flash green and red when the mouse is ready to be paired with your Bluetooth enabled computer. It turns off when it is connected.

If you don’t have Bluetooth on your computer, then you will have to either buy a USB Bluetooth dongle or find a different mouse. Microsoft doesn’t provide a USB dongle with this mouse.

The mouse can be turned off via the switch on the bottom to save battery life. The pairing button is also on the bottom.

Pricing

The retail price is $49.99, but you can find this mouse much cheaper if you search around the web. We bought ours from an Amazon third-party seller for under $20. At that price it is a pretty good deal, if you are going to be using it only occasionally. For $50 it is overpriced and we cannot recommend it. If you spend that much, add a little more and get the great Razer Orochi. Logitech’s v470 Bluetooth mouse is also a better deal for under $40.

Conclusion

If money is no object, get the Razer Orochi as we recommended above. If you are on a tighter budget go with Logitech’s v470. The only reason to choose the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 is you have really small hands or just really prefer Microsoft branded hardware and want to stay consistent. The other two mice mentioned above are so much better that we cannot recommend the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000.

Pros

• Takes little room in a bag or your pocket
• Good scrolling wheel
• Connects well to Bluetooth

Cons

• Uncomfortable
• Not suitable for left-handed people
• Too light for precision mousing

Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 Offers Basics [Review] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Verbatim Touch Mouse brings the touch a functionality of the Apple Magic Mouse to the Windows universe, but is that a good thing? In our testing, the Verbatim Touch Mouse offers mixed results.

The Apple Magic Mouse does not have a great reputation, even among some Apple fans who find it awkward and uncomfortable to use. This hasn’t stopped Verbatim from trying to bring the touch enabled mouse to the PC world, but the company has a hard time making the mouse stand out as Microsoft has recently launched their own Touch Mouse.

Apple Magic Mouse on left and Verbatim Touch Mouse on right

Design

The Verbatim Touch Mouse is a wireless mouse that comes with its own 2.4Ghz USB receiver. The entire top of the mouse is both a button and a touchpad, just like the Apple Magic Mouse. Unlike the Magic Mouse it is black and instead of a rounded top, the front and back are rounded while the sides are squared. Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Touch Mouse will work on Windows and Mac.

On the bottom, the Touch Mouse comes with a small USB receiver that is housed in a hole in the bottom of the mouse when not in use. It also has an on/off button which saves conserves battery life while not in use. Most mice with a self-housed USB receiver will turn on and off automatically when you push the receiver into its compartment, but the Verbatim Touch Mouse does not.

Ergonomics

The most important questions with any mouse are comfort and functionality. Because of its size and shape it is slightly more comfortable than the Magic Mouse. The back of the mouse is raised giving your palm somewhere to rest. The front is a little lower making it easier to touch than the Magic Mouse.

Touch Gestures

To scroll up and down you swipe one finger either up or down. The on-screen reaction is slower with this mouse than with most other mice or the built-in trackpad of on laptops. To go back and forward in your browsing history on the Internet or in your folder viewing history in Windows Explorer, you swipe up or down with two fingers. This is unintuitive since most of the time we want to swipe left or right for history browsing, like you do on the Apple Magic Mouse or on a trackpad.

The problem with the Touch Mouse is the whole touch concept. What we hate most about mousing is having to use a touchpad. Most laptops have horrible touchpads and the primary reasons are size and sensitivity. The Touch Mouse has a tiny touch surface and is only moderately sensitive. We do not recommend it as a replacement for the notebook for this reason. If you really like a touchpad and want one for your desktop, this might be a good compromise.

Buttons and Clicking

The other big problem with the Verbatim Touch Mouse is the button. A typical left click, which is what you do with a mouse the majority of the time, is no problem at all. Just like the Apple Magic Mouse it is hard to consistently get a proper right-click. To do so you push on the right side of the mouse surface instead of the left. However, most of the time this engages the entire button and causes a typical left click to be sent to the computer. The key is not getting too close the right edge of the mouse while clicking, and it got easier over time, but a right click isn’t something you should need to think about.

Pricing

The Verbatim Touch Mouse lists for $54, but is available at Amazon for a much more reasonable $31.62.

Conclusion

We think this mouse is a good choice only for those who really wish they could use something like the Apple Magic Mouse with a Windows machine. It is a unique idea with only a  few mice like this one, but there is a reason. The scroll wheel just works better.

Pros:

• Small and easy to carry around
• USB receiver has storage compartment in mouse
• More comfortable than Apple Magic Mouse
• Windows and Mac compatible

Cons:

• Touch surface not responsive
• Hard to consistently right-click
• Glossy so attracts finger prints

Verbatim Touch Mouse Brings Apple Magic Mouse Feel to Windows [Review] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

We began looking for replacements to the Apple Magic Mouse, which is a decent Bluetooth mouse but not the most comfortable. We found an oldie but a goodie – the Logitech V470 Cordless Laser Mouse for Bluetooth. This is getting a little long in the tooth and we expect there will be an upgrade soon since Logitech just discounted the $49.99 price down to $39.99. At Amazon it is even less. If all you want is a simple Bluetooth mouse to use with your notebook on the road, we have only found one that beats it at nearly twice the price – the Razer Orochi.

Mouse Look and Build

The Logitech V470 is not as cool looking as the Razer and it is also not as good for gaming. What it does have is the right size and feel for a traditional mobile mouse. The striking blue color might clash with some notebooks, but it looks fine next to our Apple MacBooks or the Acer Aspire One 7552G we just reviewed.

The mouse is comfortable and has the weight is okay. We wish it was slightly heavier for more precise pointing. Despite the weight, It is almost as accurate as our favorite Razer Orochi when pointing.Thanks to the Bluetooth radio inside there is no need for a USB receiver if you have Bluetooth built into your notebook, which most do these days.

The included pouch was quickly discarded. If you want to protect the mouse, the pouch is useful for that, but we usually just put these included pouches on the desk at home and throw the mouse in the computer bag by itself. The mouse feels sturdy enough that we don’t have to worry about it being broken in our bag from impact from other devices or our computer.

Functionality

The wheel is a clicking scroll wheel and button. We prefer smooth scrolling wheels, however. Despite that fact it doesn’t click so hard while scrolling that it took a long time to scroll down a long page to the end. Smooth scrolling wheels are faster. The wheel also scrolls side-to-side for those documents or web pages that are too wide for your display.

Battery Life

The On/Off switch on the bottom helps preserve battery life when not in use. We’ve used the mouse for over a month now without having to change batteries. So that doesn’t seem to be a problem. It takes 2 AA batteries, which are provided and fit in the mouse through the slide off hatch on the bottom.

Set up is simple. Install the driver software (Mac and Windows compatible) and pair the mouse using the OS Bluetooth interface after pushing the Connect button on the bottom of the mouse for a few seconds. The mouse pairs withe the computer quickly and stays connected most of the time. We did have a problem reconnecting the mouse a couple of times, but that was solved by repeating the pairing process which worked every time.

Driver Software

The driver software lets you configure the two buttons as well as the button integrated into the scrolling wheel. It also lets you set the mousing sensitivity.

Value

The V470 is a very nice inexpensive Bluetooth mouse. While we still think the Razer is the best Bluetooth mouse for mobile computing, the price alone makes the Logitech V470 a close second. For non-gaming mobile computing on a tighter budget the Logitech V470 is the best choice.

Pros:

• Good size and feel
• Comfortable
• Good weight
• Accurate pointing
• Setup is simple
• Good price
• Good battery life

Cons:

• Ordinary looking
• Blue might clash with some notebooks
• Clicking scroll wheel instead of smooth wheel
• Restarting computer forced us to re-pair the mouse sometimes

Logitech V470 Still a Great Bluetooth Laser Mouse is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

For gaming on the go, the Razer Orochi Bluetooth laser mouse is as good as it gets ($79.99). If you are not a gamer, you will still love the size, weight and functionality for use as an every day mobile mouse.

Size and Weight

For gaming or just general use, the size and weight of a mouse is important. Too small and your hands are uncomfortable. Too large and it is hard to carry around in your computer bag. Too heavy or light and it is hard to get precise movement. The Razer Orochi is great on all counts. With my large hands it is hard to find a mobile mouse that fits well. This one has a nice shape and feels good in your hand even after long use. It is also ambidextrous so lefties aren’t left out.

Functions

I’m a man of simple needs when it comes to mice. I like three buttons and a scroll wheel. The wheel on the Razer Orochi is a button wheel that also clicks as you scroll. It is functional as a third button. If you like thumb buttons, this one has four of them with two on each side and they are customizable. To put the mouse into Bluetooth paring mode so it can be connected to a PC, just hold down all four of the side buttons at once till it shows up in the computer’s Bluetooth devices list.

I prefer smooth scrolling wheels in my mice, but I’ve gotten used to the clicking wheel on this mouse. It is perfect for scrolling through documents and long web pages. For gaming, a clicking wheel is actually better so you can precisely switch between weapons or whatever you are switching via the wheel in your game of choice.

Look

You will either love or hate this mouse’s looks. It is all black with a rubberized feel on the top. The Razer logo is barely noticeable where your palm rests, but it is there if you like it. It has both sharp corners on the front and smooth curves  on the sides and back where your palm touches it. The front scroll wheel reminds me of the Batmobile in the latest Batman movies. Not sure why, but it does. The Razer Orochi has a very industrial design and look that will appeal to gamers. Razer’s mice are distinctive.

If you want a boring looking business mouse, look elsewhere. I love the mouse and when I showed it to my teenage sons they simultaneously gave me that satisfied look and said, “Cool!” With all that said, the thing collects dust more than any mouse I’ve ever used. Not sure what it is, but it begins to look gross and I am forever trying to clean it. There are so many nooks and crevices for gunk to get stuck in. Compressed air helps, but who wants to keep cleaning their mouse. My basement, where I use it a lot, is dustier than usual environments. The Razer collects more dirt and dust than other mice in the same environment.

Connectivity

If a gaming mouse doesn’t work smoothly, it is useless. Bluetooth inherently has troubles with connections, which is likely why we don’t see more Bluetooth mice and also why we are now seeing a Wi-Fi mouse from HP. However, I’ve had almost no problems with the Razer Orochi dropping its connection. After initial installation through the included USB cable, you reconnect it by turning the on/off switch on the bottom to the on position. Pair it with your computer by holding down all four side buttons, as we said earlier, and you are ready. Turn it off to store it and then turn it back on to reconnect. Just start moving the mouse and after a second or two it will be recognized every time.

Even if you do have problems with it dropping connections or not behaving smoothly during games, it comes with a USB cable that will connect it to the computer so you can run tethered when you absolutely must have a connection during frag sessions or million dollar business presentations. To configure the mouse’s functions you will have to hook it up via USB to get it to configure correctly in the driver software. After that you can run it via the USB connection or via Bluetooth. Notice below how the USB cable is rounded on the top to fit the contour of the scroll wheel.

Battery Life

I’ve had this mouse for two months and have yet to change the batteries. Enough said!

Well let’s say a couple more things. The mouse runs on two AA batteries and comes with Energizer batteries. I haven’t swapped them out yet. They are installed under the lid which pops off by prying it off using the slot on the back of the mouse.

Driver Software

The driver software is very good. There are a lot of features especially for gamers. To configure the mouse, connect it to the computer via the USB cord. Set all the settings to your liking. It will update the memory of the mouse and save it so that you can use it with the settings even when it is not connected via USB.

You will notice the sliders along the left of the image above. This sets the sensitivy of the mouse to make it more or less precise. This can be adjusted on the fly using the default function of the two right side buttons. Also notice that I configured the scroll wheel to also behave as a double-click button. You can choose from many options by changing the drop down list for each button.

There is also an option to turn on or off the scroll wheel light. I turned mine on, but I am guess this will eat away at the battery faster so I am planning to turn it off soon.

Razer Orochi Bluetooth Gaming Mouse Video Review

Value

The Razer Orochi Bluetooth Gaming Mouse is a top of the line mouse that is comfortable and works great. I absolutely love this mouse. It is the best mobile mouse I’ve ever used and one of the mice of any category. At $79.99 you may balk because that is a lot for a mobile mouse. But Amazon has it for about $15 less. Trust me. At either price it is worth it. It is so good that we are going to include it in our Father’s Day Gift guide coming soon, and I am tempted to get a second one so I can leave one on my desk and carry one in my computer bag.

Pros

• Perfect size/weight
• Feels good in the hand
• Looks cool
• Consistent Bluetooth connectivity
• Feature rich driver software for both Mac and Windows
• Fits both left and right-handed people
• Long battery life
• Clicking scroll wheel is just the right tension for both gaming and office scrolling
• Accurate mousing

Cons

• Collects dust and dirt in the many crevices worse than most mice

Gallery

Razer Orochi Bluetooth Gaming Mouse Review: Close to Perfect is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

When the weather gets nice, don’t you wish you could ditch your desk and go outside to get your work done? If you’ve ever answered yes to this question, you need to check out our list of must have notebook accessories for working outdoors. These tools and accessories will help you stay connected and get your work done while you enjoy the beach, forest or just your own backyard.

A Nice Day at the Office

Must Have Notebook Accessories:

Available for Tablets, Notebooks and Gadgets

Antiglare Screen Protector: One of the biggest challenges with working outdoors is the lighting. Most consumer notebooks come with incredibly glossy screens that make it difficult to work in the sunlight. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have a work notebook hat has an anti-glare display, you can get one to fit your screen from NuShield. We have been testing one, and it does make reading your notebook easier in outdoor conditions.  We’ll have a full NuShield review up soon, but our first impressions are positive. You can also get these screen covers for your various other gadgets. You can save 10% with the coupon code KPR%10.

Good Backpack: If you’re going to be out of the office, a good backpack is a must. While I have always been a carry it all type, it’s interesting to see a friend come over to the carry it with me side, after he upgraded to a proper backpack when his doctor told him that a sling backpack could be causing some health issues. Look for padded straps and a very good notebook compartment. Specifically, find one that has padding along the sides and bottom. Many notebook bags skimp on padding on the bottom, which can lead to cracked notebook casings. We like Mobile Edge, Booq, Tom Bihn and Level 8.

MiFi or USB Modem: If you plan to work from the park, you’ll probably need an Internet connection. We recommend picking up a MiFi or USB modem, but you could also use your phone as a hotspot. Keep in mind that battery life can be an issue with the MiFi and phone as a hotspot routes so you’ll want to keep a cable nearby. If you are an occasional work outside kind of person, you may want to look at Virgin Mobile’s MiFi and USB modems which don’t require a contract. You can also get a MiFi or USB modem for less than $50 from your favorite cell phone carrier with a 2 year contract; plans typically start around $30-$40 a month.

Wrapsol gadget protection prevents scratches

Protection for your Gear: If you are going to be outside for a long time with your notebook, iPad or other gadgets, you may want to look into a protective film like those from Zagg, Wrapsol and Gelaskins. These gadget covers and wraps keep your items looking like new and make it easy to wipe off any dirt you pick up while working outdoors.

AViiQ Notebook Stand

Notebook Stand: If you are working away on a picnic table, you’ll probably want a notebook stand to give your notebook a better typing angle. We really like the AViiQ because it folds down practically flat and weighs next to nothing, but if the price is too high you can find other options like the Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad which has a built in USB powered fan. Check out our AViiQ review for more details.

Backup Battery: While the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro may last all day in optimal settings, they, like many Windows notebooks won’t last a full day with the screen set to maximum brightness outdoors. We suggest getting a secondary Notebook battery. For most notebooks, you can get one right from the manufacturer. For Apple, you need a solution like the HyperMac external Mac battery.

Remote Access: To appear like you are in the office, we recommend a tool like LogMeIn to connect to a computer back in the office or to ask for VPN access so that your computer thinks it is still on your corporate network. A VPN allows you to run programs that need to be on the network from any internet connection. Your IT department would usually need to set this up for you.

Versatile Mouse: Unless you have a MacBook, you probably don’t want to use a mousepad all day long. Instead, look for a mouse like the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX which can mouse on pretty much any surface or the small SwiftPoint Mouse that mouses right on your notebook palmrest. Check out our SwiftPoint Mouse Review.

Laptop Lock: While you won’t use this all of the time, a Laptop Lock is a nice accessory to have in your notebook bag for occasions when you want to walk around your work area or if you need to walk over to a pop machine in the park. There are plenty of options at your local Best Buy or Staples.

Laptop Shade: If an anti glare screen protector is out, try the Laptop Sun Shade which gives you a focused sun free work area without the need for a giant hooded sweatshirt. This may not be as elegant as the screen protector, but could be a must have if you don’t want others looking over to your screen.

Keyboard Skin: When you work outdoors there’s a chance that all types of things will fall into the keyboard cracks on your machine form a raindrop to a dead bug or a crunched up leaf. Keep your notebook keyboard tidy with a keyboard cover like iSkin keyboard covers. Sony also makes silicon keyboard covers for VAIO models and you can Google your notebook model and silicone Keyboard cover to find one that fits your notebook.

USB Cooler: If you’re working in the sun all day, you need a nice cool beverage to keep you going. Why not pick up this USB powered drink chiller which will keep your iced tea nice and cool while you work and soak up the rays.

11 Must Have Outdoor Notebook and Laptop Accessories is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

If you’ve been looking for a way to get the latest gear from Logitech, but don’t have enough cash in your account to cover the Logitech MX Mouse or a new Harmony remote, head over to see what you can get for your old gear in the Logitech Trade in Program.

The good part about the Logitech Trade in program is that it’s free and no matter how old your Logitech items, all Logitech cares about is what types of items you are sending in. The other nice thing is that you get your reward instantly.

The bad part is that your reward is a 20% off coupon, not a price for your specific item. This means that you are getting a steal if you recycle a broken or older accessory, but not so much if you just have an extra Harmony remote or MX mouse that still works.

Our advice is to use this program with older items, or those things you really want recycled and sell the other Logitech accessories at a gadget recycler, Craigslist or eBay.

What happens to your Logitech trade ins? According to the program’s website,

CeXchange, our recycling partner, provides a service that meets the highest environmental standards. When possible they will refurbish the products so they can be repurposed and reused. For items where that is not possible they will be recycled in accordance with all state and federal environmental regulations

Restrictions on Logitech trade ins:

• This program only applies to Logitech products.
• It is currently valid for private individuals living in the U.S.
• This offer can be changed or discontinued at any time.
• This offer does not replace any of the on-going recycling and environmental compliance initiatives in which Logitech participates

have you participated in teh Logitech Trade in program? What do you do with old accessories? Personally we like to have a backup mouse around the house.

Logitech Trade in and Trade Up Program Offers 20% Off New Logitech Gear is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Microsoft announced a collection of new accessories today which will meet the video and mousing needs of many users without breaking the bank. The new accessories include a trio of mice and an affordable HD webcam that is part of the LifeCam family.

The LifeCam HD-3000 delivers an HD video conferencing solution as well as the ability to capture HD video for your movies. The resolution is capped at 720P, but for many home users that is more than adequate and a welcome increase over the old built-in cameras that graced budget notebooks a year or two back. The LifeCam HD-300 webcam retails for $39.95.

Next up is the Microsoft Express Mouse which comes in Hibiscus Red or Dahlia Pink and will set you back $19.95. The budget mouse has an offset cord which looks like it could be handy for righties sick of mouse cords that head straight instead of towards our computer, but a source of eternal frustration for southpaws.

Next up are the Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000 and the Comfort Mouse 600, a duo of delectable mice designed to offer a bi more, without upping your price too much. The Comfort Mouse 3000 is similar to the Express Mouse, but looks more suited to a business environment. It’s also priced at $19.95.

The Microsoft Comfort Mouse 6000 adds an ergonomic shape and a few buttons to deliver a 5 button mousing experience and only adds $10 to the price. At $30 this mouse is likely higher than the two button variety that ships with most computers, but if companies invest a little bit in their accessories they can be surprised by the productivity gains achieved by users who have mice and keyboards that aren’t designed to inflict pain, but rather to allow for shortcuts and longer use.

Via ChipChick

Microsoft Unleashes Budget Friendly Accessories: LifeCam HD 3000, Comfort and Express Mice is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.