|
Statistics
Visitors: 864038
Advertisement
Notebook Computers
For the best deals on laptop computers visit www.Geeks.com.
|
|
H3003 Super Mini Optical Mouse |
|
|
|
|
Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
|
|
Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
|
Thanks to Card Cooler for the product sample.
Computer mice are here for the long haul, just like the keyboard. Some things are reinvented while others manage to carry on for decades. Microsoft's IntelliMouse Optical has managed to stay on top for several years. Now Logitech is gaining ground with their MX series. But this is the desktop market, so what about notebooks? The sole idea behind the laptop is mobility. Needless to say, few lug around full sized mice to compliment inch thick computers. Most opt to either use the built-in pad or the much loved/hated eraser head. But there are some who just can't do without a mouse.
And that's where the Super Optical Mini Mouse comes in. Not that there's anything super about it aside from the size. The package is pretty standard blister fare. The wires are tucked into the protrusion above the mouse. There's no manual or drivers (not that it's needed) and the only valuable information on the back is the model number, H3003. After some searching it appears that this particular mouse is made by Focus Electronic, a somewhat generic manufacturer out of Taiwan (since the package made no mention of its creator). However, it appears that this is in fact the HW3003 model, as the listed H3003 is a full-sized version. The only identical image can be found can be found here.
That little mystery aside, it's time to have a look at the actual mouse. You can't see it yet, but this thing is small. Anyone with medium-large fingers may encounter some issues in usage. It's about the size of a USB flash drive and a couple in height. Because of this you can't wrap your hand around it comfortably and neither can you rest your palm on it. So while you hold it like a normal mouse, essentially your fingers are hovering above. In terms of features there's nothing particularly interesting.
The connector is very small USB plug accompanied by a wire several times thinner than that found on most mice. Aside from left and right click is a scroll wheel which makes a soft but audible clicking sound when rotated. The bottom piece is tinted black plastic, so it is possible to see a red glow emanating from the mouse at night, though it's not very luminous. There are four plastic stubs that act as feet on the bottom, all of which is held together by a pair of tiny phillips head screws.
For size comparison I put it next to a TX50 USB drive and the aforementioned IntelliMouse Optical. I for one could fit several of these in my hand. Installation is effortless, as WinXP detects it as an HID (Human Interface Device) compliant mouse. While it is ergonomic by design, the H3003 is so small that it really doesn't matter. One thing to keep in mind is that it's not meant for everyday desktop use and you'd be crazy to try it for several reasons.
For one thing, no matter the size of your hand (unless you're a genius toddler) it will hurt after a good half hour of usage since most of the weight of your hand ends up resting on your palm, which in turn sits on whatever you happen to be using for a mouse pad. Furthermore, the buttons, partially because of their size, are a bit stiff so extra effort is required especially on the right clicks. As if the resulting pain from prolonged browsing and office work wasn't enough, I decided to fire up CS and see how good of a game could be had. And therein I discovered a problem, serious for some, trivial for others: the mouse has sub-par tracking, most likely due to a low DPI resolution.
Any fast movements (like 180 degree turns) and you'll end up staring at the sky or the floor, or better yet, not going anywhere. Initially I thought it was the mouse pad, but after trying several surfaces I arrived at the same conclusion. But most people won't be gaming on their laptops to begin with. LCD screens (at least on my 8200) still have ghosting issues on laptops. Furthermore, those equipped with capable video cards are usually bulky anyway, so packing a normal mouse won't make much of a difference. However, every now and then the mouse stalls when scrolling, though I'm not sure if that's to do with tracking or not. Sensitivity is about the same as a regular critter but feels more so because of its size.
Pros
- Small, good for mini-notebooks
- Plug & play, no software
- Relatively easy to get used to
Cons
- Poor tracking (fast paced gaming impossible)
- Occasional glitches during scrolling
- Stiff buttons
- Hands hurt after prolonged use
The mini optical mouse isn't very hard to get used to. Interestingly enough, it is hard to get use a normal mouse after this one. For normal browsing and office work on the go, especially for the size/weight conscious commuter, the Super Mini Optical mouse is an ok replacement for the pad/eraser. But when it comes to hours of use or any sort of past-paced gaming, you better look elsewhere. And then there's the occasionally glitch. Once again I'd like to thank Card Cooler for sending over this mouse and if interested you can get yours here. Thanks for reading and enjoy the site!
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 13 July 2007 )
|
|
|
