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Kensington Wireless Optical StudioMouse

Kensington Wireless Optical StudioMouse

List Price: $89.95
Your Price: $52.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Keep a backup corded mouse
Review: I agree with the other reviewers that the scrollpad is tricky to use -- unlike a mouse wheel, you really can't predict how far it's going to scroll. And I also had problems with clicks not registering. If you push it too lightly, the mouse still makes a definite clicking noise, but doesn't send a click to the computer.

But the worst problems were with not fitting well in the cradle, not charging while it sat there, not staying charged, and then not even working at all when it claimed to be fully charged. I found myself having to plug in the old broken mouse that I had meant to replace with this mouse, because the new mouse sometimes just would not work.

After two months with this mouse I went out and bought a corded Microsoft optical mouse that cost half as much, and I'm much, much happier with it. The Studio Mouse Wireless was almost a daily hassle to use.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Great customer srvice, poor product
Review: I bought one a few years back and had to have it replaced after 6 months.

The replacement I received needed to be replaced 8 months later.

Today the replacement is needing a replacement.

The only fun thing is calling Tech Support and hearing someone named "Steven" speaking English with a Indian accent. They are however very professional and quick to fix the problem.

The problems were mainly bad battery time, loss of tracking ability, inability to work off a USB hub, and a handful of other hardware issues.

Knowing what I know I'd give it a pass!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: I don't really understand all the bad reviews here on this mouse. It puzzles me because I have had 0 problems with mine. It's asthetically pleasing & functionally brilliant. I have both the wired and wireless versions of this mouse and love them both. The only reason I give this 4 stars is because it is not great as a portable due to the power adapter for the base. For desktop use, or for laptops in their main area of use (i.e. office or home, but not for travel) it is perfect.

I love the satisfying click it gives and the amazingly comprehensive programming (via mac system preferences pane). You can make this mouse do anything, design configurations for specific programs (I particularly find the button under the scroll pad to be useful for double click function and left+right buttons for "find"). You can set different speeds for slow or fast movement (!) and scrolling speed.

The scroll pad is NOT a touch pad, as mentioned by other reviewers, but it does not require you to press hard (come on folks, I am a scrawny 130lbs and it doesn't require "effort"). It scrolls as you drag your finger down and if you press either end it continuously scrolls. Very cool.

I also have had no problem (as others have mentioned) with installing software, getting it to work perfectly, optical tracking, clicking, etc. Again, I am completely puzzled because I love this mouse!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: I don't really understand all the bad reviews here on this mouse. It puzzles me because I have had 0 problems with mine. It's asthetically pleasing & functionally brilliant. I have both the wired and wireless versions of this mouse and love them both. The only reason I give this 4 stars is because it is not great as a portable due to the power adapter for the base. For desktop use, or for laptops in their main area of use (i.e. office or home, but not for travel) it is perfect.

I love the satisfying click it gives and the amazingly comprehensive programming (via mac system preferences pane). You can make this mouse do anything, design configurations for specific programs (I particularly find the button under the scroll pad to be useful for double click function and left+right buttons for "find"). You can set different speeds for slow or fast movement (!) and scrolling speed.

The scroll pad is NOT a touch pad, as mentioned by other reviewers, but it does not require you to press hard (come on folks, I am a scrawny 130lbs and it doesn't require "effort"). It scrolls as you drag your finger down and if you press either end it continuously scrolls. Very cool.

I also have had no problem (as others have mentioned) with installing software, getting it to work perfectly, optical tracking, clicking, etc. Again, I am completely puzzled because I love this mouse!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Ergonomic? Whats that?
Review: I got this mouse for free from a hardware vendor I buy tons of stuff from. The price they want for it here is insane considering what you get. So I'm glad I got it for free.

This is possibly the ugliest mouse you can buy in the price range. As for ergonomics, take a look at it. This mouse has the design of a flipflop missing straps and two buttons added. The upside is that the design is completely flat so it might be the best choice in cordless mice for a left hander. If you prefer using your right, get one that is made to fit your hand. The right click button is awkward and the scrolling pad in leu of wheel is plain goofy.

The charging base has two really bright LED's on it that I put tape over because the constant flicker of green light in the corner of my eye was just annoying. Plus the frequency they use to transmit the signal gets picked up by the speakers I have on my work computer. So every time I move the thing I can hear a mosquito like sound comming out of my speakers. Maybe the boss didnt buy me the greatest speakers in the world with adequate shielding but I'm just calling it as I see it.

If you're looking for a cordless mouse, I highly recommend the Logitech MX 700. My 2nd pick would be the new Microsoft "blue" with tilting scroll wheel. The DPI, which is the accuracy of mouse tracking in the Logitec is the highest of any cordless (even most corded) mouse made today.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Ergonomic? Whats that?
Review: I got this mouse for free from a hardware vendor I buy tons of stuff from. The price they want for it here is insane considering what you get. So I'm glad I got it for free.

This is possibly the ugliest mouse you can buy in the price range. As for ergonomics, take a look at it. This mouse has the design of a flipflop missing straps and two buttons added. The upside is that the design is completely flat so it might be the best choice in cordless mice for a left hander. If you prefer using your right, get one that is made to fit your hand. The right click button is awkward and the scrolling pad in leu of wheel is plain goofy.

The charging base has two really bright LED's on it that I put tape over because the constant flicker of green light in the corner of my eye was just annoying. Plus the frequency they use to transmit the signal gets picked up by the speakers I have on my work computer. So every time I move the thing I can hear a mosquito like sound comming out of my speakers. Maybe the boss didnt buy me the greatest speakers in the world with adequate shielding but I'm just calling it as I see it.

If you're looking for a cordless mouse, I highly recommend the Logitech MX 700. My 2nd pick would be the new Microsoft "blue" with tilting scroll wheel. The DPI, which is the accuracy of mouse tracking in the Logitec is the highest of any cordless (even most corded) mouse made today.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: All the lights were on, but...
Review: I have the wired version of this mouse, and I am a fan of Kensington's mice--heck, besides Apple's, I have never used another brand. But I digress...

I was disappointed by this mouse for a couple of reasons:

1. Instead of charging via USB--which could be done--the dock for the mouse has an AC adaptor which plugs into the USB plug. It just looks awkward.

2. The mouse is not very responsive. Often, I would have to click twice for a menu or dock item to be selected. Scrolling long menus was a joke since the mouse would disengage before scrolling the entire menu.

I was disappointed, and I returned it immediately. I love the design of the Studio Mouse, so I am using the wired version again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow!!! This is the greatest mouse EVER!
Review: I love this mouse! This is the best wireless mouse that I have ever used - bar none. I have the Studiomouse connected to my Apple eMac and it works like a champ... (gotta love right-click function on the mac!) Unlike other wireless mice, you don't have to change the batteries every month... just stick it on the wireless receiver/charging dock every once in awhile and you're good to go!

This product worked "plug and play" on my Win98 and Win2K machines too, but it seems much more at home next to my Macintosh; cooler tools for cooler machines!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: big tracking delay
Review: I was warned by someone that a friend had bought one of these and returned it because of the delay. I went ahead and bought it thinking I could adjust the tracking speed to something I liked...it didn't work. The pointer is behind all movements, and at the fastest settings, once it does get moving, it jumps and hops. I'm taking it back. Don't waste your time.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not quite as cool as you think
Review: I'm using it now after just installing it on Mac OS X. Installation of the software (which adds a pane to your System Prefs) requires a restart.

Configuring it is simple enough.

Now, for the things I found different or unexpected.

01) The "Scroll Sensor" that white area between the two buttons isn't like a laptop's touchpad. It's rubbery and you must press down on it in order to use it. Think of the old membrane keyboards of yore and you have a pretty good idea of how this works. Only, there is no soft spongy pop like there is on membrane keyboards. There's a definate space between the top rubber portion you touch and the "buttons" underneath. I thought it would be like a touchpad and since it's not and therefore tricky to use I'm dissappointed in that. You'll end up using the Scroll Sensor as scroll buttons, one at the top and one at the bottom. You CAN scroll with it but the movement is so limited as to be useless.

02) This was a big unexpected thing. It comes with a power adapter which must be plugged into an outlet and then (get ready) into the USB PLUG ITSELF! Then the USB plug goes into your keyboard or any usb port. HASSLE, I had no extra power outlet for it at first.

03) It recommends you discharge the batteries 1-2 times a year. Fortunatly it's easy to do.

04) For me I guess I click too fast for it because if I click at my normal speed it won't register. If I click and hold it always works. Maybe fully charging the batts will help.

Just be consciousness of those things before buying. Otherwise so far it's not bad at all.


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