CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 11/21/2003
- Released on: 08/05/2003
Iogear's lightweight and tiny Memory Mini Mouse 800 is a perfect complement to the mobile lifestyle. More precise than the typical notebook's trackpad or pointer stick, this mouse also has 32MB of built-in memory, allowing you to store your important files and documents directly on it as you would on a floppy disk.
Weighing just 1.6 ounces, the Memory Mini Mouse 800 is small enough to slip into your laptop bag, your purse, or even your pocket. Plus, its fake-leather carrying case and retractable cord keep wire clutter to a minimum.
On our Windows XP machine, setup was as gratifyingly simple as plugging in the mouse to the USB port (PC or Mac). Neither software nor drivers are needed for installation, and we had the mouse working in seconds. Also, it automatically appears as "Device with removable storage" under My Computer in Windows, so you can save files to its 32MB of memory as easily as you would to your hard drive or floppy. Unlike other flash-memory devices we've tested, however, you can't password-protect your data.
The Memory Mini Mouse has an 800dpi resolution, making it very precise. However, its slim form and plastic casing don't fit well beneath your hand, so you need to grasp the mouse with your fingers for the best precision. Also, we had trouble highlighting blocks of text in our tests; the mouse would skip and transpose text instead.
Nevertheless, road warriors with work to do will find that the Memory Mini Mouse 800 provides a better mousing experience than most trackpads and pointing sticks. Plus, the added advantage of its built-in memory means that you can carry your data wherever you go--and possibly leave your notebook behind.
