Gyration Air Mouse
Starting at: $113.42
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: Travel-size gyroscopic mouse; works as a regular optical mouse as well.
The bad: Not as comfortable to use as previous Gyration mice; feels cheap and insubstantial; occasionally spotty response.
The bottom line: Gyration's new travel version of its excellent gyroscopic mouse falls a bit short, but anyone with wrist or arm pain should seriously consider something from the company's line.
Using a gyroscopic mouse is a lot like driving a stick shift. It's like second nature to those who do, while everyone else is either scared away or has a steep learning curve ahead of them. That said, we've been using gyroscopic mice regularly for more than five years, and anyone with persistent hand and arm pain caused by poor ergonomics or repetitive motion will likely find some relief with a device like the $99 Gyration Air Mouse, which is held in the hand like a remote control--a much more natural position for the wrist. The genius part ... Expand full review
Using a gyroscopic mouse is a lot like driving a stick shift. It's like second nature to those who do, while everyone else is either scared away or has a steep learning curve ahead of them. That said, we've been using gyroscopic mice regularly for more than five years, and anyone with persistent hand and arm pain caused by poor ergonomics or repetitive motion will likely find some relief with a device like the $99 Gyration Air Mouse, which is held in the hand like a remote control--a much more natural position for the wrist. The genius part is that most gyroscopic mice automatically switch over to regular optical mouse mode when you place them on a flat surface.
Gyration's standard mouse, the Gyration Go, has been a favorite (and remained largely unchanged) for years. This new version is a travel mouse take on it, squeezing down to about two-thirds the size of the Gyration Go.
For added ease of transit, the RF receiver now slides into a handy slot on the back of the mouse, although we're disappointed that the receiver is an old-fashioned bulky USB stick, rather than the super-slim receivers that only stick out a few millimeters from the USB port we've seen recently in mice such as the Logitech V550.
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New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and Men's Journal. He hosts the weekly CNET Labscast show (Mondays at 2pm ET) and his most recent album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now.
User Reviews
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"Nice portable air-mouse, with standard AAA batteries" By pmarshall
Pros: The AAA batteries (you can use NiMH) make it independant of a charging base. The scroll button and special feature buttons are nice.
Cons: The ergonomics are imperfect. Even if you have small hands the trigger button makes for an akwardly small grip. Pushing the trigger requires slightly more force than should be necessary (on release it's hard not to have the cursor jump).
Summary: Overall, this is a good wireless mouse that can use standard or rechargeable AAA batteries. This is a very nice feature for travelling, since you can carry spare batteries and don't have to haul around a charging base. The ergonomics are acceptable, but the air motion trigger button is ... Expand full review
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Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Compatibility: Mac PC
- Battery size: AAA type
- Interface required: USB
