Landscape Scroll
Landscape Scroll
What’s in a Mouse? - the Latest and Greatest in Innovation
As we engage more and more with the digital landscape, the computer is becoming ubiquitous in our daily lives. We are consumed by pro computer zeal; embracing them at work and at home equally, inviting it into our inner most sanctums. Shopping is done on E-bay, community groups are formed on Face Book and art galleries equate to online sites such as Flicker.
Further, the technology of personal computers is changing rapidly. Not only are they becoming cheaper, smaller and faster (look at the EeePC), PC’s are also able to accomplish new things, processing fantastic amount of data into all new information formats. These circumstances have driven me to quest for a tool which matches my needs to the ever expanding capabilities of PC innovation. That is to say, I started looking for a new mouse.
Why a mouse you ask? The mouse is the obvious tool of choice for it is an integral part of almost every operating system and application. Yes, computer mice were once about as exciting as a bar of soap, but as computers evolved so too did mice. They were augmented with new button, cosmetic redesigns, lights and lasers. Yet these changes were only evolutionary upgrades, I needed a mouse that made a quantum leap from its predecessors. I wanted a mouse which gave me a whole new way of navigating around my computer interface. So I turned to products that are truly PC innovative; from Logitech the Air Mouse and the Mx Revolution, from Apple the Mighty Mouse, from Microsoft the 3D Connexion Space navigator and from Cyber-e-Sport the new Orbita mouse.
The Air Mouse is a duel use gyroscopic cordless laser mouse that works on similar principles to that of a Wii. This mouse is fantastic for media systems, but as a conventional desk mouse is slightly over engineered and cumbersome to hold. You have to ask, unless you are a serious home theatre aficionado craving versatility, is it a help or a hindrance?
The Apple Might Mouse’s best feature is undoubtedly the new breed of scroll ball, offering 360 degree scrolling capabilities. Unfortunately, as I know from personal experience, the scrolling ball gets very gunky after a period of use and is virtually impossible to clean.
The 3DConnexion Space Navigator is a 3D motion controller, which I can only describe as a cross between a mouse and a joystick. Since 3D seems to be the way of the future in computers, this way of navigating makes sense as it can fully understand the 3D space. But currently, unless you spend a lot of time 3D applications such as Google Earth or SketchUp, this mouse has limited use.
The Logitech Mx Revolution sports free-spin scrolling capabilities which enhance the user’s ability to scroll through document, websites and the like. This mouse has fantastic mechanics, but the free scrolling is hard to control. When trying to move down a few pages you may well find yourself at the end of the document or page.
The Cyber Sport Orbita mouse, a freestyle round mouse, is in my mind the epitome of innovation, breaking all conventional limitations and fully utilising the recent advances in PC innovation. This wonder-mouse features revolutionary continuous scrolling abilities and true 3D movement. You can check it out at www.orbitamouse.com. Other mice may represented major evolutions, but the Oribita mouse is a revolution. I have already placed on order for one and can’t wait to get my hands on it. Watch this space; I will be reviewing the Orbita mouse soon.
About the Author
Jae Wright
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