aaa batteries

Feb 14 2006

RadTech BT500 Mini Mouse

Wires suck!! I hate wires, cords and cables. They are surely some kind of relative of the zoomorphized serpentine evil that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. If you leave two or more wires alone together for any length of time unsupervised, they will braid. If you have a cable anywhere close to anything in motion, it will get snagged by that mobile thing and cause catastrophe. Wires are bad.

Given my aversion to conductive lines that transmit signals between input devices and computers, it should not be the least bit surprising to you that I love “wi-fi,” radio frequency, Bluetooth or even infrared gizmos that free me from being tethered to my computer. It is my love for this freedom that brought me to test out the RadTech BT500 Mini Mouse.

Not only is this a Bluetooth wireless optical mouse–which you know I love–but it’s also a mini mouse. It’s only about 3 inches from front to back, but it fits nicely under my hand. It glides smoothly and clicks responsively using the left, right or middle mouse buttons. The scroll wheel has that satisfying “click” feedback that lets you know it’s working. And the LED and 800dpi optics have not failed me yet–tracks like a trooper.

The free RadMouse software on RadTech’s website allows you to configure the mouse and all its buttons to function however you wish. You can even configure special keystrokes and actions on a “by application” basis. Very nice.

The mouse takes 2 AAA batteries (I recommend getting some nice rechargables) and only weighs a couple of ounces. I also recommend springing for the RadPak Travel Case when you order–it will save you USD$4 if you buy them together and if you’re going to be toting this little mouse around, you’re going to want to keep it safe in your backpack and you’ll also have a place to stash a replacement pair of batteries.

Now I must admit, when I first went shopping for a Bluetooth mouse, I was on my way to the coffee shop where I often do my writing and I was in a bit of a hurry. I stopped in at a department store with a computer department and got the salesman to show me where they kept their Bluetooth mice…if in fact they had any at all. They did, as it happened, but no name brands. No one I had heard of anyway. But I was in a rush and bought one that looked just like the RadTech BT500 Mini Mouse. It looked just like it to be sure…but that is where the similarities ended. The buttons were not as responsive as my new RadTech friend’s and there was no Mac software at all. A disappointing purchase to be sure. Instant buyer’s remorse.

Long story short (I know, “too late”), the RadTech BT500 Mini Mouse is a winner. I have no problem expressing my love for a product when it truly answers the call and this little mouse is just that kind of treasure. For USD$54.95 for the blue one or USD$55.95 for the silver, the RadTech BT500 Mini Mouse is an excellent choice for a mouse to take on the road. Except no substitutes.

UPDATE:

A MacMerc.com reader wrote in with a comment that I think bears mention:

By admin • Reviews • Comments Off • Tags: aaa batteries, aversion, Bluetooth, bluetooth mouse, bluetooth wireless, braid, coffee shop, computer, department, frequency, garden of eden, kind, little mouse, love, middle mouse, mini mouse, scroll wheel, time, wireless optical mouse, Wires