The revolutionary design of the Microsoft Arc Mouse combines the comfort of a desktop mouse and the portability of a notebook mouse. It will take you a few minutes to realize what Microsoft Arc Mouse is all about. The collapsible design at first suggested that it’s both a full-size mouse and a notebook mouse in one product. You might be confused as to who would want such a thing. Upon playing with it, you will realize that there’s actually some smarter design going on here. The unique shape and button layout does present some usability issues, but overall, the Arc Mouse may be the best solution for those looking for a full-size, travel-friendly mouse.
The benefit of the Arc Mouse is not that it works as a “notebook mouse” when you fold it in half. Indeed, the power to the mouse cuts out when it’s folded, so it won’t work in that mode at all. Instead, folding the Arc Mouse makes it more generally travel-friendly. First, it reduces the size of the device, cutting its length by more than a third. But there’s also a small, magnetic cradle on the underside of the tail portion that folds in, to hold the mouse’s thumbnail-size USB receiver. When the mouse is collapsed, the tail portion secures the receiver, ensuring that you’ll have all of the necessary pieces together when you take the mouse out of your bag.
The core “mousing” functionality works as you’d expect it to. I personally like the fact that setting up the Arc Mouse is so simple. After you insert the three, Microsoft-provided AAA batteries, you plug in the USB receiver, wait for Windows to recognize the mouse, and reboot. Mac setup is even easier, as Mac OS X found the mouse as soon as we plugged the receiver in. For its intended purpose as a travel-friendly input device, the Arc Mouse does exactly what it’s supposed to.
Product Features of the Microsoft Arc Mouse:
- Mouse folds to 60% of its fully expanded size
- Micro-transceiver snaps into the bottom of the mouse
- Folding motion turns mouse on/off
- Laser tracking for precision
- 2.4 GHz wireless with up to 30-foot range
Technical Details of the Microsoft Arc Mouse:
- Brand Name: Microsoft
- Model: ZJA-00001
- Hardware Platform: PC, Mac
- input_device: Mouse
- form_factor: External
- Connectivity Technology: Wireless
- Movement Detection: Laser
- Color Name: Black
- Warranty: 3 years warranty
Check out the Microsoft Arc Mouse and other cool gadgets offered on our specials page.
Get great deals and discounts in offers that can only be found here on mrgadget.com.au.
Tags: Arc Mouse, Best Buddy, laptop, microsoft, Microsoft Arc Mouse, mouse, notebook, specials
I’ve seen a lot of weird and crap gadgets in my life looking at Japanese electronics (gadgets by Thanko included, of course). This one’s lies somewhere in the middle. A similar gadget by Thanko surfaced earlier this year, albeit a bit more subdued.
I don’t know about you but I can go on and on complaining about aching wrists and fingers. Of course there’s nothing to do about it but rest my hands, but to minimize the discomfort, there are always computer peripherals with ergonomic designs.
