Kensington Ci75m Wireless Notebook Mouse

[Chris Gohlke]

<p>I'd recently been shopping around for a wireless optical mouse when I stumbled upon the most wonderful little mouse on a clearance rack at Target. I had been looking at the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/digitalhomethoughts-20/detail/B000TKHBDK/105-7945683-3861258">Logitech VX Nano</a> [Affiliate] which seemed to be an outstanding little mouse, but at over $50, I'd been holding off. That is when I found the <a href="http://us.kensington.com/html/13313.html">Kensington Ci75m</a> for under $20.</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1216090078.usr1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Let me show you around and let you see why I think this thing rocks. <MORE /></p><p>To start of, this mouse has the standard features you'd expect of a cordless mouse, optical sensor, scroll wheel, yada, yada, yada... It is also thin at approximate 0.65" thick.</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1216171168.usr10.jpg" border="1" /><br /><em>Figure 1: Side view.</em></p><p>Now here is where it starts to get interesting. Like most travel mice, the receiver pops into the base of the mouse for storage. On this one, popping the receiver into the base covers the optical sensor for protection and automatically powers off the mouse to save battery power.</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1216171182.usr10.jpg" border="1" /><em>Figure 2: Bottom view.</em></p><p>Here is the really neat part. Not that it happens frequently, but chances are the batteries in your mouse will go dead at the absolute worst time. With this mouse, no problem. Pop off the magnetically attached cover and unwind the built in USB cable and plug it into the receiver dongle: instant wired mouse. This feature is also useful on airplanes when you can't technically use wireless.</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1216171190.usr10.jpg" border="1" /><br /><em>Figure 3: Mouse guts view.<br /></em></p><p>I've only been using this mouse for a few days, but so far I'm finding it pretty cool. If you think it might be an interesting addition to your travel arsenal, you can pick one up from <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/digitalhomethoughts-20/search/105-7945683-3861258?node=0&amp;keywords=Kensington+Ci75m&amp;x=17&amp;y=13&amp;preview=">Amazon [Affiliate] starting at $17.15</a> depending on the color you choose.</p><p><em>Chris Gohlke is a Contributing Editor for Digital Media Thoughts. He loves Sci-Fi and loves to get his hands on real-life tech gadgets. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida, USA with his wife and three cats.</em></p>

[Hooch Tan]

Very nice! While the USB cable is plugged in, does it charge the batteries as well?

I used to use an iogear bluetooth mouse that came with an USB cable that you could plug in when the batteries went dead, and it also charged the batteries. Unfortunately, I ended up giving up on that mouse as I found that one way too small. I mean, I've seen ****roaches bigger than it.

[Chris Gohlke]

Nope, does not recharge them. I just had a thought this morning though. I wonder if the cable is actually carrying the data or is just powering the mouse for wireless. Their site says the cable make is good for use in wireless restricted environments, but I wonder if it is still using wireless for the data and the wire just for power.

I'll try to figure a way to test this weekend.

[Hooch Tan]

Presumably, if the receiver isn't plugged in, that could help verify things, but then again, they could embed another receiver in the plug. An interesting thought though, since if they're promoting it for wireless restricted areas, it should stop transmitting.

[Chris Gohlke]

The review could have probably used another picture to illustrate this better. The USB cord on the mouse is one of the mini-usb variants and it plugs into the receiver and then into the USB port. I think I have an adapter that will let me plug it in directly.

[Hooch Tan]

Thanks for clearing that up.

As most all the mice I have offer 5+ buttons, I've a question. Do you find yourself missing the "back" and "forward" buttons at all?

[Chris Gohlke]

Nope, but I don't really ever use them on the mice I have that do have them.