Posts Tagged slimblade

The built-in pointing devices on laptops are handy for quick use. But when I’m setting up my “command post” in a hotel somewhere, I want a real mouse in my hand. And I want one that doesn’t take up a lot of room or weigh down the computer case.

Kensington has put everything I’m looking for into just the right package with the SlimBlade Mouse with Nano Receiver. One of the most unique features of this wireless laser mouse is the tiny size of the Nano receiver that plugs into to the USB port of the laptop. It’s tiny. So tiny that it can stay plugged in to the computer and not get in the way—or get lost.

The Kensington SlimBlade Mouse is also smaller and slimmer than the Targus wireless mouse I’ve been toting for the last couple of years. The receiver on the Targus mouse is larger—too large to leave it in the computer during  transport. So after comparing the two side by side, I prefer the Kensington for my future travels.

Setting up the SlimBlade is a breeze. I just plugged the tiny receiver into my Windows 7 laptop (it’s also compatible with other PC operating systems and Macs), the drivers loaded automatically and the mouse was working. Painless.

The laser sensor on the mouse will work on just about any surface. And the mouse fits well in my hand. The four-way tilt and scroll wheel works great for surfing the Web. And the mouse includes the standard right and left buttons.

The only other control on the mouse is an on-off switch to conserve the batteries when it’s not being used.

The mouse runs on two AAA batteries and transmits on the 2.4 GHz band, the same frequency range used by some cordless phones.

A light on the top side of the mouse will also show an alert when the batteries are running low.

It would be difficult to suggest any improvements to this mouse. It’s simple, sets up easily and it just works.

The $39.99 retail price is reasonable and discounts can be found on Amazon. Kensington backs it with a two-year warranty.

I’m pretty picky about what goes in my standard carry-on bag that I’m schlepping on most trips. The Kensington SlimBlade Mouse with Nano Receiver earns a place there.