 |
Whether you find today's item useful or not has a lot to do with your approach to technology. If you're closer to the "I can barely program my VCR" end of the user spectrum, Kensington's new Internet Mouse may not be for you. If you like to customize your computer interface a lot and find yourself compulsively trying to eliminate mouseclicks and keystrokes, you'll likely appreciate this versatile mouse. Its specialized-sounding name not withstanding, basically what we have here is a four button programmable mouse that can handle a wide variety of tasks: from regular mouse clicks to sending command shortcuts and special text strings, launching applications, closing windows, popping up custom menus of Web addresses, etc. This is all accomplished through a special "Internet Edition" of Kensington's popular (and for good reason) MouseWorks Software. The software also lets you save different button assignment sets (for different applications) and even program a "get up and stretch" message.
The Internet Mouse itself is a nice design. It's got a very...well... mouse-like shape, with a low tapered front and a somewhat high, rounded back. The sides have a gray rubberized surface that allows you to gain a good grip. The top has an extremely smooth finish that feels great under your hand. The regular left-click/right-click buttons are on the front tip of the mouse with a second row just behind. These second buttons come programmed to scroll up (left) and scroll down (right). Pressing the front two together pops up a menu of launchable applications and/or web addresses. Pressing the back two together triggers auto-scrolling (as you move the mouse up and down a page, it scrolls in the direction you're moving). All of these functions can be customized to your liking. I tend to teeter on the fence when it comes to user-friendliness vs. the need for customization/programmability. I vacillate between seeing myself as a power user who needs a customized interface and someone who just wants things to be reliable and fairly brainless. I've had other programmable mice in the past and have usually kept the button assignments the way they were. I doubt I would go out and buy this mouse if I didn't need to replace a dead one, but if you're out mouse shopping and think more buttons are better, check out the Internet Mouse. Did I mention the smooth silky finish? - Gareth Branwyn [11/7/97]
|
