Mouse Reviews

This was my first wireless mouse. To start off, physically, I didn't really like how the base station was so oddly shaped, hard to fit in somewhere. The mouse seemed a little big. Installation was super quick and easy. I had my mouse running in less than 10 minutes. No problems functioning except when it is low on battery life which seems quite often. It is a quality product, but changing the batteries annoy me. I have to replace my batteries every 3 months or so it seems. Overall, perfermance is excellent, just didn't like how it used up batteries so fast.

That's about it! No more wires all over the place, the wireless joysticks are great for playing away from the chairs! the keyboard never skips a bit! and the mouse is super accurate, best investment in wireless I ever made! Did I mention NO WIRES?!?! The mouse use to need a battery change every 5 or 6 months, then I changed to alkalines... they are still kickin'!

The base station does its job. It doesn't run on batteries as the mouse and gamepad does, but on an ac adapter like most electronics, so no need to worry about the battery dieing on you. The range on this is far, so I have it behind my computer where it doesn't get in the way and frees up desk space.
You only really need in front of you when setting up the wireless mouse, gamepad and/or keyboard for the first time.

I have given numerous public speeches and found this device very handy for controlling my PowerPoint slides. I hate being isolated to a podium, so this is great for freedom to move around a stage.

The trackball is difficult to get used to if you use a mouse, but does the job well. The three buttons allow you to move around in your PowerPoint easily and the molded design is great for right handed people. I found I could easily move a fair distance from my laptop and still be able to control the presentation.

I've tried number of cordless pointing devices and dumped lot of them except for this one. This one is a keeper. Smooth, quick and accurate make this one stands out from the rest. I've been using this with my pctv for quite a quite. I miscounted how many time I dropped it. But it still works just fine. Very durable. On the downside, the button lay out is a bit scrambling and hard to use at first. But once you get used to it (1-2days), it feels better. This is an 2-3 year model. Logitech has not come out with any new cordless trackball. It is still expensive. But it worths the $$$. I gave it 5 stars because it is the best and there is no competitor out there. I was lucky to find this in an open box at a flea market ...It is still working after 2 years. A friend of mine came to my house and used it. He likes it so much that he got one for him ...in the store. Get it before they discontinue.

I've always had a liking for Logitech products, and this seems to have lived up to my standard, very nicely as a matter of fact.

The device itself is very professinal looking, and works *great* with Powerpoints, and other presentation software that I use on a regular basis. The installation was very fast, just had to install Logitech's mouse software for it to be configurable.

In large, open auditoriums, I have gotten a bit over 30 feet distance, does get a bit chopy after that, but performs as it should within it's advertised distance. The receiver is fairly small, small enough to fit in my briefcase, along with a nice length serial cable. This device has an extra feature that many over look, and that many devices do NOT have. That is, being able to use multiple handsets with the same receiver. This is extremely handy for presentations with many people, without the need to hand-off the device to the next person.

The only minor problem with it, is that the trackball is a bit jerky. I do not use it at all during presentations, so it is no problem for me, but it may be for something that might find it of use. The problem here is that the trackball is based on magnets, not optical, which would probably make the device a bit bigger.

Overall, I rate it 5 stars for its outstanding performance, distance, sleek and professional design, and functionality.

This is one of the best keyboards on the market for a reasonable price. the good thing is it size. It's small enough to fit in your lap as you send messages to your friends with the control in your hand. It works great with online titles such as socom2 and resident evil outbreak. I highly recommend this product if you play on-line a lot.

This keyboard is basically the same kind you use for school. If you like that then by all means purchase the keyboard. I use a different one for computer but this one is still pretty nice.

The only problem is that this keyboard can't be used in that many games. RPG Maker is the big one. Maybe some online games will utilize it though.

This keyboard is perfect for any online PS2 game. I bought it for Final Fantasy XI and have been very happy with it. If you can afford it, though, I would recommend the Logitech Netplay thing that has the keyboard and controller in one unit so you don't have to switch between the keyboard and the controller.

My sole purpose of owning a graphic tablet has been in order to make some of my own graphics for the small web firm I run. I'll normally hire a graphics person because, ultimately they can do a better job than myself. But for the quick drawing of a neat, unique little control button or to make a sketch from an existing gif or jpeg, this is it. I tried the AIPTEK HyperPen pad thinking that it would be the same quality for a cheaper price. It seems though to be a cheaper quality pad as well. I've looked for reviews that compare Wacom with AIPTEK but have found none. Here's my 2 cents worth. Where the Wacom was smooth in drawing the lines that I wanted, the AIPTEK was jittery and would absolutly not produce a good smooth line. Although the Graphire2 doesn't offer pressure sensitivity I've found it to be quite versitile. The 4x5 size is comfortable on my desk and certainly useable for modest projects. I succumbed to the temptation of buying the AIPTEK 8000 which has a larger area of 8x6 and prices similarly to the Wacom Graphire2(4x5). Don't go that direction, the extra size does not make up for the loss of quality and control found with the cheaper version. The pro's seem to go with Wacom now I see why.
Only downside with Wacom and it's not that bad: Wacom claims that the cover sheet on its pad allows you to trace photos right on the pad and onto your screen. This doesn't work. Their support staff even told me to avoid this and just scan the pictures in and then use a new layer as a tracing paper(ie, as in photoshop)

I had an old serial Wacom Pen Partners table, and decided to get this tablet primarily because it had a USB connector. The tablet itself is same as the Pen Partners table, and also includes the plastic overlay so you can trace small paper drawings.

The pen holder is detachable if you don't care to have it attached to the tablet. The included mouse is a basic cordless mouse, but you can use your "normal" mouse without disconnecting/reconnecting anything. The Wacom "control panel" allows you to change both mouse and pen settings such as mapping speed, tablet positioning, finger wheel properties, eraser feel, double-click and pop-up menu settings.

The tablet comes with two CD's. One CD is for the tablet drivers and the "control panel". Included drivers are Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP drivers and OS 8.5, 9 drivers. I installed the tablet on XP which was truly pain free. The other CD includes Photoshop LE and Painter Classic.

The only thing I did not like about the package is that it does not come with any additional nibs (the plastic piece that makes contact with the drawing pad). ...Other than that the tablet is excellent.

This is one of the best graphics tablets around. It has loads of FREE software costing over [$$$]! You can't beat the price on this one either. They supply a mouse, but most people say the pen's easier anyway. (I agree.) If you're thinking about buying it, buy it! Great for beginners, great for pros, great for the price!

I've enjoyed my Logitech Action gamepad, but I agree with the other reviewer who found the D-Pad to be less than 100% accurate. Even having used it for a while, I still have times when I'm trying to go exactly up, down, left, or right, and my character on screen will be trying to move in one of the diagonal directions instead. This can be very frustrating if you need precise motion.

That said, everything else about the pad is great. The size fits well, and the pad's configuration is pretty equivalent to that of a PS2 controller. It's not bad for the money, but if you need real precision or are a hardcore gamer, you might look at a different model or brand instead.

I bought this gamepad to replace my old Microsoft Sidewinder Gameport Gamepad that was the original version made for Windows 95. It got the job done, but I wanted something better. I've had great experiences with Logitech in the past, so I decided give the Action gamepad a try.

Well, I've had this thing only a couple days, and I can honestly say I love it! It's obviously got a USB connection, so it's very convenient to be able to plug it into my computer's front-side port. It is built very sturdily and the controls are quite responsive. I mainly use it for Need for Speed Underground and the Action Gamepad works perfectly with it.

If you're looking for a gamepad, get this one! It's built with quality and won't break the bank.

I have used this extensively for sports games (my favorite is currently FIFA world cup 2002,) and been amazed with the customizablility of this keypad. Firstly, the feel is similar to the original Sony Playstation controller, but it offers much more functionalilty. If you are interested in a light, balanced, and responsive control pad, this is the one for you!

I bought this mouse earlier this year when it was exclusive to Best Buy and before the blue one was out. I've been very happy with it so far. Very quick & responsive. Best mouse for gamers and quicker and more reliable than wireless, with no need for batteries or recharging!! Set-up was a breeze. I like the forward/back buttons on the side and the customizable buttons on top, makes surfing the net easier and more fun. My sole complaint is it lacks the little red LED my old microsoft mouse had, but that's just a cosmetic/design issue. The MX 510 is very smooth and fits my hand comfortably. Amazon has a great price w/ free shipping too! Highly Recommended.

I mean, I've been comparing Logitech MX 510 Performance Optical Mouse and the Microsoft tilt mouse, but this mouse recovers the fact that it can't tilt, but only on spreadsheets do u need t hat ability.. u can change between documents without using Alt+Tab!! wow

Having been a computer gamer and user most of my life, I've come in contact with many different mice. The mx510 is the best.

The design is the same as the mx500, mx700, and mx900 series, a somewhat tried-and-true style. The forward and back buttons (on the left side of the mouse) are close enough to use easily, but aren't in danger of being accidentally clicked. The up and down buttons (positioned above and below the scrollwheel) take some getting used to, but are useful enough to outweigh this. The up button *isn't* the most natural button, but I'm able to click it with my forefinger easily (despite reviews to the contrary), and my hands are average sized.
The switch application button seems to be the only downfall of the mouse. It isn't as easy to reach as the other buttons and its usefulness is questionable. A friend of mine with the mx700 (same design, just a little older and wireless), however, swears by that button and says he couldn't be happier that it was included. Even in the case of someone who doesn't like it, it really doesn't take away from the mouse; you'd don't have to use it if you don't want to.
Note: I would not recommend this to anyone that uses a mouse with their left hand.

The optical engine is newer and supposedly better than the older mx500s and mx700s. I, however, haven't really noticed a difference, having used an mx700 before. Despite that, it's amazingly smooth. I have heard people online and in person complain that it "jerks" or is "twitchy," but I'd venture a guess that most of those people either do not have quality mousepads or have incorrect sensitivity settings in their OS. One person who mentioned the twitchiness to me in person showed it to me, and then was surprised when I fixed it easily by turning on "Enhance pointer precision" and lowering the sensitivity. The mouse will track on virtually anything: fabrics (if you're using a laptop while sitting on the couch), just about any hard shiny surface (that traditional trackball mice have difficulty with), plastic, paper, metal, you name it.

The software included is easy to use and has never had a compatibility issue that I've seen. Remapping *any* of the buttons to a variety of different controls is easy. For example: I was able to map the up and down buttons to "next song"/"last song" in Winamp, which is one of the coolest things I've seen a mouse do.

Overall it is a wonderful product and a great deal for someone looking for a new, stylish, light, and feature intensive corded mouse.

The keyboard and mouse work well and are reasonable ofr the price but beware!!!!! They are not USB compatible and require ps-2 connections. If your laptop does not have the old ps-2 connectors then you will end up buying an adaptor which costs almost as much as the keyboard-mouse combo itself!

Also, my understanding was that the mouse was an optical device: it is NOT! it works fine but has the usual limitations of the mice using the old rolling ball technology.

So, buy it with your eyes open!

If we are indeed reviewing the KB985W Multimedia Keyboard/Optical Mouse bundle (Black keyboard, silver 5 button mouse) I have one small complaint that may in fact cause a return of the product.

SET-UP: 5 stars - so easy I was sure I missed something

KEYBOARD: 5 stars thus far, quiet & responsive, decent layout too

MOUSE: 3 stars. While set-up was a breeze, the sleep function of this battery powered marvel is a bit annoying. The reaction time is a bit weird too, but this may be due to my being used to the old world Ball And Socket mouse once so en vouge. I would like to know if there are plans for a more detailed control GUI for the Micro Innovations 5 button mouse that came with this set. I would also like to know if the over sensitive pointer function can be fixed in a way I may have over looked. Yes, I went through the control panel/mouse thing but with only limited success. Wait, there's more: It's loud. Unlike the keyboard, this mouse sounds like some sort of hot-wheels launcher. Boing, clik, tak & scrape.

Over all the bundle is a good deal for what I paid ($39.00) but if I cannot acclimate to the mouse it might have to go back.

I would NOT recomend the bundle for anyone working with minute selections like sample-points or graphics needing 'down to the pixel' fixes. If you are simply surfing to find the next Pam Anderson vid, have at it. This baby will more than please you for the investment!

this is a very good keyboard/mouse. the mouse is just like a normal mouse no delay at all! the key board is also very good (as you can tell from all the reviews)over all this is very good for its price! i reccomend it

I love this type of keyboard. Having been born with large hands and wide shoulders, regular keyboards just cramp up my hands trying to type, not so with this model. My hands can type for hours. I agree there is an initial time period during which the user will be adjusting to the split keyboard layout, but once this is over you will never want to use another. Is greatest gift to large handed people ever.

I've been using this keyboard for 4 years. While typing at work with it, it allows my wrists to stay in their natural position and my carpal tunnel from acting up. Though at home, I have a regular keyboard and hurts my wrists after typing for hours. Now, I am buying one for home since I've started typing more at home. Granted, it takes some getting used to it but, your wrists will thank you and you will become a better typist. It forces you to use the correct fingering for those number keys. No cheating! I can never go back.

As for the mouse, the scroll wheel is the greatest advancement in mouse design. Keeps you from banging around and wearing out your arm. Though, the mouse itself is poorly shaped and ... (That's why its packaged w. the keyboard). My advice, if your wrists are important to you, buy any mouse with a high back design (e.g., Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer) which is more natural for your hand. If you don't believe me, try keeping your wrists bent upwards for 10 minutes.

is microsoft the only manufacturer that realizes this keyboard design takes a lot of pressure off the hands and wrists. You would think the others would be smart and start selling similar keyboard. Unless other manufactures start putting out keyboards of this design, microsoft will be the only people i purchase my keyboards from.

I actually have 2 reviews, one for Windows XP, and one for Linux (Fedora Core 1)

Microsoft XP:
GOOD:
- **easy** to install
- software bundles are fabulous, in my opinion, and
also easy to install

BAD: small active space, no printed manuals for the software
applications. There are manuals on the disk, though.

UGLY: if you stink with pen and paper, you'll stink with this
gadget, too. In fact, you'll stink even more in the
beginning, because you'll have to get used to the
quirks of the pen.

LINUX (Fedora Core 1)

GOOD: EVERYTHING WORKS! Pressure sensitivity, the eraser,
the rocking switch. Worked with The Gimp like a champ.

BAD: You have to download the latest package from the Linux
Wacom Project http://linuxwacom.sourceforge.net/

UGLY: You're comfortable installing your own kernel drivers,
right? Getting this bad boy to work is Not For The
Squeemish, but neither is it Mission Impossible.

ON THE WHOLE: I really, really love this gizmo. The $100 price point made this something worth trying out (I draw for fun, not professionally). The bundled software is (dare I say this?) more powerful than the Open Source programs I usually use. Painter Classic was extremely nice, even if the pressure sensitivity is broken.

The best advice I can give you is pick an application and work with it. Like anything else in life, you'll get better with practice. A cheap scanner might be a good secondary purchase (sorry, no recomendations on this point).

The Graphire3 is quite good as a Tablet, it's only downer is the small 4x5 drawing space, tought you get used to it after a while, it's still a limitation, you actually forget the mouse, must be on the tablet to work.

As a begginer on digital painting, this is a God send to me. I can paint as I always wanted, and at an affordable price.

Ok, first of all- want to comment Amazon shipping. Guys, they are sooo great!!!! I placed an order on Friday with free shipping and my tablet was delivered Wednsday!!!!! I think it's great!!!!
Now, I have my very first WACOM tablet. Already got used to it- wondering how did I live without it before????!!!! Because my working space is really small- it is just perfect for me for right now. I already can see, that if it would be bigger I could do something esle, but did not figured out what exactly! ;) So, for now, WACOM Graphire 3 4x5 bundeled with painter is just great to learn the basic of CG.
If you had some more practise in art( which I did not)- you probably should get a bigger one ( 6x8)- but trust me- you'll love it, as soon as it will come out from the box and you'll see how great it is with photoshop, painter and your hand.
My reccomendation- before trying it in that software- try to do just ordinary things- like browsing the net, your folders and staff like that..then, open Painter, take the brush you like and just try it- pressure levels are so great!!! You can feel that you're painting, not that you're coloring on the PC.
If you have a chance to try it- before buying- do that also. But I garantee you'll go crazy after trying it and will get one!!!!

This Mousepad smells. What's worst is that the smell gets onto your hand after a while. It works though...I mean it's a mousepad...it would be hard for it to not work. It looks pretty cool with all the water drops but...man...that smell...

BTW, I've had two...they both smell.

without the extra cost. I bought a bunch of these mouse pads for my lab, and everbody loves them, however, none have told me they smell. Man, you've forgot to wash your hands after #2.

Finally! I can't find the green one anywhere in stores! (-: