Labtec mini optical glow mouse. Excellent mouse that glows in the dark. (Labtec Mini Optical Glow Mouse)

Member Name: Markh5682

Product:	Labtec Mini Optical Glow Mouse
Date:	28/04/09 (232 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good build quality, Accurate and responsive, coloured lights look good

Disadvantages: None

This is a review of the 'Labtec mini optical glow mouse'.

Introduction..........

Most of my online work is done on my laptop computer, but I cannot get along with the built in touch-pad and decided to use a mouse instead, after trying the normal sized mouse borrowed from my desk-top PC, I found that it was too big for the available space that I had, so I bought a mini mouse which was ideal.
After using and breaking several unbranded mini mice bought cheaply from my local computer supplies shop I decided to see what was available on line, and after seeing the Labtec mini optical glow mouse, and read some positive reviews on it, I ordered one.

What is it?..........

The Labtec mini optical glow mouse is a small wired optical mouse with a USB connector, it is designed for use with laptops and notebook PC's.

The cable..........

The cable is approximately 70cm long with a ratcheted spool in the middle, so that the cable is stored neatly on this spool when not in use, when you pull out the cable the ratchet then holds the cable at the desired length, pull it again and the cable is rolled back into the spool again, I have found that this works very well, with the ratchet having a positive action with no slippage, the USB connector is well made and does the job it is supposed to do.

The Mouse..........

The mouse body itself is a sealed unit and it is quite small (Approx 87 x 48mm), it has a slightly narrower section in the middle making it easy to hold.
It is a standard two-button design with a single scroll wheel in-between, it has a mainly black plastic body with a translucent panel on either side and a translucent scroll wheel, which light up in ever changing colours when in use via a set of coloured LED's on the inside, the colour change is a slow transition from one colour to the next, there are seven different colours, there is a switch on the underside to enable you to switch the lights off if not wanted.
This is an optical mouse, so there is no ball to get dirty and it can be used on any solid surface.

Build quality..........

It feels quite solid and well made in use, there is no give in the plastic body, the scroll wheel has a positive motion, and does not wobble about, unlike the previous ones I have had, the mouse buttons do not need a lot of pressure to operate and when you press them there is a reassuring click, the cable, connector and ratchet wheel, are all well made and work as they should, the cable on here is slightly thicker than the other mice I have had before, so it should last longer.

Ease of use..........

It is a plug and play device and there is no software to install, once it is plugged in windows will install it automatically, usually within a few seconds.
It is an easy mouse to use, the shape means that it is easy and comfortable to use, although it is quite small, it can still be used by anyone with big hands (like mine).
The optical sensor works well and interfaces with windows as it should, the mouse pointer on screen is very accurate and precise and moves smoothly making it very easy to locate and click on any on-screen buttons and links, there is no freezing of the pointer on screen or the pointer suddenly jumping across the screen for no apparent reason (a very annoying problem I had with a wireless mouse in the past), there is no time lag between moving or clicking the mouse and the action on-screen.
It can be used either left or right-handed with ease, and because it is small it does not need as much room to operate it.

Packaging..........

It comes in a sealed clear plastic blister pack, with a cardboard insert and instructions on the inside, these blister packs can be a nightmare to open but it is well protected, as the plastic bubble is quite rigid.

The technical stuff..........

· Connector: - Wired - USB
· Movement detection: - Optical
· Movement resolution: - 1000 dpi
· OS required: - Microsoft windows Vista / 2000 / XP
· Manufacturer warranty: - 2 years warranty

Price..........

At the time of writing this mouse is available for £7.99 from Amazon, which is a good price for what you get.

And finally..........

This is an excellent small mouse for use with a laptop or notebook PC, it is easy to use and accurate, it works well and does everything that it should do, the coloured lights make it look good especially at night, but if these become annoying they can be switched off, although they are not so bright as to become distracting.
I have been using mine for about three months now and has worked perfectly so far with no problems whatsoever.

Recommended

Summary: An excellent mouse for a laptop or notebook PC

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Speed:
Variety of features:
Precision: