Just the other day we were introduced to a company called A4Tech when presented with their tiny yet surprisingly comfortable Easy Go laptop mouse. Today we have a slightly more exciting product: the BatteryFREE wireless optical mouse. Although none of the technology used here is new, the implementation is the first of its kind.
The mouse and pad arrived in the retail package shown above. A4Tech makes it clear at every turn that its flagship critter is wireless, yet at the same time requires no batteries. As we'll see shortly, this is achieved by cross induction and RFID. Unfortunately you have to use the mouse with its designated pad, otherwise it won't function. Aside from the two pieces, there's nothing else in the package. The kit is entirely Plug & Play, but if you need drivers for some reason you can download them here.
This is not your average mouse and pad. Inside both are rings of copper wire which generate an electric charge. That power moves from the pad to the mouse and vice versa through induction (in layman's terms, electricity "jumps" from one charged object to another nearby object). Hence the lack of batteries. The benefits are twofold: first, you don't have to spend money on batteries. Second, even mice with rechargeable packs are still heavier than the corded variety and are therefore slightly harder to move around. This way you get the best of both worlds: the light weight of a corded mouse with the freedom of a cordless one (albeit limited freedom).
The mouse itself is a bit similar to Logitech's MX510 in button design. Instead of using separate buttons, a single black top cover is present. It's split down the middle with each side acting as a button. In the center is a thick, ribbed, translucent scroll wheel. Overall the mouse is black with clear areas revealing some silver beneath. The bottom has 4 small, Teflon coated feet for smooth gliding, the optical sensor, and a model sticker.
At the top of the pad is the "control panel". Here we have a couple LEDs. First is a green "run" LED which lights up whenever the mouse is in motion. Needless to say, it's not very functional. The second is a red power LED which stay lit as long as the USB mouse pad receives power from the computer. The "tune" button below that needs to be pressed before you start using the mouse so it can select a working frequency. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is similar to plain RF, but superior it the fact that because it uses a specific short range frequency, no interference with nearby devices occurs.
The back of the pad has 6 rubbery feet to help it stay put. They do a decent job, but on slicker surfaces the pad may slip a bit since they are relatively small. The usable area measures a scant 6" x 8" which is not enough for gamers, enthusiasts, and most professionals. While it is possible to get by if you increase your mouse sensitivity and enable/increase acceleration, having to change your preferences due to a small pad is not the way to go. That's really the only major issue with this execution.
