It is no secret notebook users have been plagued with a string of poorly
designed input devices since the inception of graphical user interface. We have
witnessed many great failures, ranging from poorly engineered integrated
trackballs to useless miniature mice that slide from the notebook casing. Only when the
touch pad debuted did the consumer market finally have an acceptable input
mechanism that could withstand daily abuse while offering the convenience
required by professionals on the go.
While notebook touch pads are great for surfing the web or scrolling through
documents, they leave much to be desired when gaming or working with multimedia.
It is for this reason most notebook owners still have a conventional mouse in
their system carrying case. Enter the I-Rocks IR-7100 Optical Mini Mouse - a
mouse designed specifically for the mobile computing environment. TechIMO would
like to thank ioCombo for
providing an IR-7100 for review purposes.
The I-Rocks IR-7100 Optical Mini Mouse
arrived in a standard plastic retail package. Included within the bundle is the
mouse, an installation disk, a USB/PS2 adapter, and a condensed user manual. As
with most peripheral devices, feel free to toss the poorly authored manual.
Just as advertised, I found the IR-7100 to be a great mouse for travel and notebook use. The small mouse can literally
be stored anywhere - even a shirt pocket! The 800DPI optical sensor provided
smooth tracking, while the 50-inch cord allowed for a wide range of motion. More
importantly, the IR-7100 successfully operated on a variety of surfaces: mouse
pads, manila folders, and even directly upon a polished table.
The
only detracting aspect is the lack of additional buttons for dedicated tasks,
such as a third button or horizontal scroller. However, that is hardly a fault considering the diminutive
size of the IR-7100. Overall, I would have no problem recommending the I-Rocks IR-7100 Optical Mini Mouse
to those seeking a competitively-priced, entry-level mouse to stow away in their
notebook carrying cases.
|
Pros:
- Small Footprint
- Low
Retail Price
- Long 50in. Cord
- Multiple Colors
Cons:
- Small Footprint
- Traditional Design
|
|
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 (higher
is better)
Vendor Info:
|
