Entered CNET Catalog: 01/25/2005
SKU: 0085896723141
Manufacturer: ACCO Brands, Inc.
Manufacturer description
The Kensington Mini Pilot 27MHz Optical Wireless Mouse is your perfect travel companion. This wireless and optical wonder unleashes you from cables and mouse pads, freeing you to work and roam anywhere you want. Just plug in the Mini Pilot and go. When you're done, the USB micro receiver clips to the bottom of the mouse so it's always at hand. The mouse automatically shuts off whenever the receiver is stowed, saving your batteries for when you really need them. Add programmable buttons, a scroll wheel, and integrated rubber grips, and the Mini Pilot is as easy to use as it is to carry.Product summary
The good: Great performance; stowable receiver; three programmable buttons; comfortable grip.
The bad: Uncomfortable to use for long periods; no sleep shut off; small scrollwheel.
The bottom line: This travel-size mouse isn't the most comfortable, but its operation is flawless, and its receiver is stowable, making it one of our favorites.
Average user rating: 
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/29/2005
It's easy to set up the PilotMouse Mini--press the slightly raised button toward the base at the back of the mouse, and the cover to the battery compartment pops off. Insert the two AA batteries (included) and plug the receiver into your USB port. If your mouse doesn't work off the bat, press the small, black connect buttons on the receiver and the mouse to sync them up (this process is described in Kensington's brief user manual). Kensington doesn't include a software CD with the PilotMouse Mini Wireless, but a few utilities are available on Kensington's Web site; the utilities let you program the mouse's three buttons and adjust cursor acceleration.
Weighing 4.16 ounces (including two AA batteries), the PilotMouse Mini Wireless is heavier than other mice in its category, but it won't add to your back strain. The mouse has the standard two-button one scrollwheel design, and the buttons are programmable using the MouseWorks software. The scrollwheel is smaller than others, requiring a few additional finger strokes to get to the bottom of the page. With the MouseWorks software installed, the scrollwheel takes on extra functionality; click it once to scroll horizontally, click it again to return to a normal vertical scroll. This feature is a plus for going through Excel documents or for perusing Web sites.
The PilotMouse Mini's ribbed rubber sides and smooth rubberized grip are attempts to add comfort, but they come up short. We found the mouse rather uncomfortable to use for an extended amount of time--typical for a travel-size mouse. We do like how the receiver attaches to the bottom of the mouse for safekeeping, however. Unlike most other mice with this feature, you can switch the mouse off manually by flipping the power switch on the bottom of the mouse.
In a month of near-constant use, we found the 800dpi optical mouse's performance flawless; we didn't experience any jumps or stalls in the cursor. And unlike with many other wireless mice, we never had to reset the connection between the PilotMouse Mini's receiver and mouse.
