Wireless Wonder (Logitech Cordless Mouseman Wheel)

Name: Ian Ford

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Product:	Logitech Cordless Mouseman Wheel
Date:	27/08/00 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: wonderfully snug fit for right-handers, freedom from wires, programmable buttons

Disadvantages: not suitable for left-handers, necessity to make sure you always have a spare set of batteries

The first mouse I used for any length of time was the rather peculiar oblong-shaped one which came with my Acorn Archimedes back in 1989. Despite it's un-ergonomic shape it seemed comfortable enough at the time. In the years since, designs have moved on somewhat and I've used various nondescript PC mice, trackballs and the Microsoft ergo mouse. Up until a year ago I found the most comfortable to be the latter, with its slight kidney shape and straightforward to use two buttons. Having become aware of the existence of wireless keyboards and mice, I was all set to buy the Logitech Cordless Desktop iTouch keyboard and mouse when I happened to spot the Cordless Mouseman Wheel in PC World. With its somewhat lumpy looking appearance, I wasn't all that taken with it at first glance, but wrapped my hand round it all the same and at last discovered a mouse which seemed to have been designed to fit my hand perfectly. Now no other mouse will do and I use one both at home and at work. The lack of a wired connection to the PC gives complete freedom of movement and I am not really aware of using a mouse at all, it's so much like a part of my body.
It has the usual two buttons on top at the front, nicely spaced for ones fingers, as well as the ubiquitous scroll wheel. The latter also doubles as an extra button, which I've chosen to simulate a "sticky" shift key press. This is handy when extending the highlighting of an area of text, for example, as it allows you to click with the wheel button and then use the select button to extend the highlighted area without having to use the keyboard. Position the pointer, click the wheel button and then the select button and the highlighted area is extended. There is a further button on the right-hand side of the mouse which I've set to simulate pressing control. This is great for tiling a couple of windows under Windows 98. Left click a document task bar button then control (using the button) left click
another, right click a blank part of the task bar and select your tiling option and have just the two windows you selected tiled side by side however many windows were originally open on the desktop, all without using the keyboard. You can program either of the extra buttons to simulate a wide range of key presses, such as Page Up, any of the function keys, window resize etc. A very handy feature and easy to use and remember.
One major negative point for left-handed people is that the mouse is only suitable for right-handed people, as, although you can reprogram any of the four buttons to any of the possible functions, it does not sit snugly in the left-hand.
The only minor negative point is that you need to keep a spare set of batteries, but they are the fairly common AAA so it's hardly an inconvenience.
You can buy the Cordless Mouseman Wheel for £37.60 online and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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