Buy Now...

One of the first things I noticed on receiving the Kensington PocketMouse Pro was the claim that it was “the first mobile optical mouse with a retractable cord.” This made me wonder just what kind of device I had been using on my laptop for the past several months. My original mouse used optical technology and had a USB lead that was definitely retractable. I suppose semantics could play a part in the confusion as the USB lead on the Kensington mouse retracts into its body whereas with my other mouse the lead retracts into an external storage container but it is a very fine distinction all the same.

Popular articles

more

The Kensington PocketMouse Pro has a metallic blue tinged top and a translucent base. As mentioned earlier the mouse USB lead retracts into the body of the mouse in a container at the side when not in use. The lead is kept in place by a drop-down flap that can be released by pressing a silver button positioned towards the left side of the top of the mouse’s body. Once pulled out, the USB lead can expand to 75cm which should be ample for most notebook users. An exit slot allows the lead to be positioned away from the storage flap so that it can be closed.

The design of the mouse, with its two buttons and rubberised wheel, is such that it would be suitable for both right and left handed users. No problems were encountered when using the mouse. It felt comfortable in the hand but had a distinct flimsy feel to it. Fortunately this did not seem to affect performance and you do get the advantage of optical technology for precise tracking. The mouse worked fine on all the non-reflective surfaces used during testing.

While the idea of a mouse consuming and then regurgitating its umbilical cord on demand has some initial appeal, it is not really enough to make me change from my current device. Whether the lead is stored internally or externally is hardly a big enough reason to part company from a device that has served me well and will continue to do so. The Kensington PocketMouse Pro will operate on Windows 98 or later and Mac OS9/0SX with a spare USB port. Pricing has been set at £21.35.

http://www.kensingtonuk.co.uk/mice_trackballs/product.asp?subsection=26&id=696