retroremakes
March 3rd, 2010, 22:05
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow1.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow1.jpg)This Fit-U mouse (http://gizmodo.com/tag/fitumouse/) from Spanish peripheral designer Rainbow has a neat idea. Its top is a detachable plate, allowing you to switch back from a desktop-sized mouse and a travel-sized mouse easily. Too bad the mouse is so bad.
The Price:
TBD
The Verdict:
Bad mouse, but great idea. The concept of being able to take a regular-sized mouse (the Large plate, in their terms), swapping on another cover and turning it into a travel-sized mouse is a neat idea. Some days you want a large, ergonomic mouse like Logitech's (http://gizmodo.com/5340410/logitech-performance-anywhere-mouse-mx-review), but some days you want a smaller one to shove into your bag.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow2_01.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow2_01.jpg)The downside is how bad this mouse is at mousing. I placed it on two different mousepads and a desk, and it was never able to track half as well as the Logitech Performance MX mouse. Chunks and stutters were common, and most of the time I was fighting it like an old man new to computing in order for it to do what I wanted. The button presses were hard and clacky instead of being smooth and easy. Overall, bad times.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow3_01.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow3_01.jpg)On the other hand, the top plate is easy to pop off and easy to swap, which is a plus. Its only plus. You have to ask yourself what kind of bag you have that can fit a travel-sized mouse but not a slightly bigger mouse, and what kind of mousing surface really demands a compact device, and that extra 2 inches just won't do. My feeling is that it's really rare.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow5.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow5.jpg)So it if weren't for the fact that this mouse doesn't function very well as a mouse, it'd be a great mouse. But in the meantime, you should go with a Microsoft or a Logitech or a Razor; one of the people that have perfected mice sensors. [Fit-U (http://www.fit-u.eu/)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/gizplus.jpgInteresting idea for a customizable mouse
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/giznormal.jpgLarge size plate not that comfortable for a desktop mouse
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/giznormal.jpgTravel size plate is about the same as other travel mice
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/gizminus.jpgBad at mousing
http://ads.pheedo.com/img.phdo?p=1 (http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?p=1)http://a.rfihub.com/eus.gif?eui=2226http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=H0mrP-F8Qgo</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:H0mrP-F8Qgo) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=yIl2AUoC8zA</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:yIl2AUoC8zA) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:D7DqB2pKExk</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:D7DqB2pKExk) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:V_sGLiPBpWU</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:V_sGLiPBpWU)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/vWpIeLTXwGM
More... (http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vWpIeLTXwGM/rainbow-wireless-laser-convertible-fit+u-mouse-review-neat-idea-lousy-mouse)
The Price:
TBD
The Verdict:
Bad mouse, but great idea. The concept of being able to take a regular-sized mouse (the Large plate, in their terms), swapping on another cover and turning it into a travel-sized mouse is a neat idea. Some days you want a large, ergonomic mouse like Logitech's (http://gizmodo.com/5340410/logitech-performance-anywhere-mouse-mx-review), but some days you want a smaller one to shove into your bag.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow2_01.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow2_01.jpg)The downside is how bad this mouse is at mousing. I placed it on two different mousepads and a desk, and it was never able to track half as well as the Logitech Performance MX mouse. Chunks and stutters were common, and most of the time I was fighting it like an old man new to computing in order for it to do what I wanted. The button presses were hard and clacky instead of being smooth and easy. Overall, bad times.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow3_01.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow3_01.jpg)On the other hand, the top plate is easy to pop off and easy to swap, which is a plus. Its only plus. You have to ask yourself what kind of bag you have that can fit a travel-sized mouse but not a slightly bigger mouse, and what kind of mousing surface really demands a compact device, and that extra 2 inches just won't do. My feeling is that it's really rare.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/500x_rainbow5.jpg (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/03/rainbow5.jpg)So it if weren't for the fact that this mouse doesn't function very well as a mouse, it'd be a great mouse. But in the meantime, you should go with a Microsoft or a Logitech or a Razor; one of the people that have perfected mice sensors. [Fit-U (http://www.fit-u.eu/)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/gizplus.jpgInteresting idea for a customizable mouse
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/giznormal.jpgLarge size plate not that comfortable for a desktop mouse
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/giznormal.jpgTravel size plate is about the same as other travel mice
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2010/03/gizminus.jpgBad at mousing
http://ads.pheedo.com/img.phdo?p=1 (http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?p=1)http://a.rfihub.com/eus.gif?eui=2226http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=H0mrP-F8Qgo</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:H0mrP-F8Qgo) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=yIl2AUoC8zA</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:yIl2AUoC8zA) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:D7DqB2pKExk</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:D7DqB2pKExk) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:V_sGLiPBpWU</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=vWpIeLTXwGM:-kl62slyjNQ:V_sGLiPBpWU)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/vWpIeLTXwGM
More... (http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vWpIeLTXwGM/rainbow-wireless-laser-convertible-fit+u-mouse-review-neat-idea-lousy-mouse)