I now and then report hardware in Mac Gems , and two of my favorite such mathematical product have been portable mouse : Back in September 2004 , I reviewed RadTech ’s BT500 Bluetooth model , and the next month I cover BenQ ’s releasing hormone - base M310 . If reader electronic mail is any denotation , I ’m not the only one who prefers a mouse to a trackpad if space allows , and both the BT-500 and M310 fulfil my demand for a travel - well-disposed pointer : low size , multiple buttons , and wireless functionality .
Both products have lately see updates that should make them even more appealing to route warriors . The new $ 40M310 Plus ( ) fixes a bizarre problem with the original M310 — noted in my brushup — that prevented it from working with Tiger ( Mac OS X 10.4 ) . But beyond that , both the M310 and the new version of Radtech’sBT500 (; $ 60 ) offer a welcome melioration : the ability to easily recharge their batteries .
Like their precursor , the M310 Plus and BT500 each runs off 2 AAAs ; you could apply received alkaline battery if you like . However , the raw models each include a pair of NiMH rechargeable shelling and a cable that tolerate you to charge those battery via your laptop computer ’s USB porthole .
possessor of Bluetooth - fit out laptop computer will wish the fresh BT500 . At just over 3 inches farseeing and just a few oz. in weight , the BT500 take up little space in — and adds little weight to — your laptop traveling bag . Yet it provides a two - button , 800dpi black eye with a clickable scroll wheel and a prosperous ( for the size ) conception . Radtech approximate battery life at 75 hours via the included NiMH batteries ; I used the black eye for about a week without needing to reload . When the battery do run out , you simply plug one end of the include cable into a USB port on your laptop computer and the other end into a small larboard on the front of the computer mouse ; you may continue to work while the stamp battery charge . ( The BT500 ’s scroll wheel includes blue , red , and unripe lights to indicate battery and connection condition ; when the light turns green , you know the mouse is fully charged . )
Although the BT 500 works as expected without driver — as with any multi - button mouse , you may assign Exposé / Dashboard natural action to the second mouse button and the coil bicycle release — Radtech also provides their own computer software driver , RadMouse , downloadable from the company ’s vane situation . With RadMouse installed , you may set custom computer mouse cursor speeding and acceleration , as well as assign custom actions to each button and the coil steering wheel . action let in modify computer mouse dog , keystrokes , keyboard shortcuts , peculiar key ( volume , brightness , eject , and the corresponding ) , scroll , and launching applications or opening files . you may even set up different configurations for different applications , so , for model , the roll wheel button can open a link in a new tab in Safari but fill up the current windowpane in the Finder .
As I mentioned in my review of the original BT500 , a pocket-sized complain I have is a consequence of a worthy feature : To preserve stamp battery life , the BT500 enters sleep manner after a few minutes of inactivity , and it engage a few seconds to wake up when you use it again . I also happen that I had to enclose Radtech ’s included USB / power cable firmly into the mouse to get a well connection ; the mouse ’s indicator lights were quite utile in this deference , as I was able to easily tell when the shiner was really getting power .
If your laptop does n’t have Bluetooth , or if you prefer to keep Bluetooth disabled to keep your laptop ’s battery living , BenQ ’s M310 Plus is the way to go . Like its predecessor , the M310 Plus uses wireless - frequence technology instead of Bluetooth , which means that it requires you to connect an RF receiver to a USB port on your laptop computer . But unlike most RF wireless mice , the M310 ’s liquidator fits inside the soundbox of the shiner for storage : Press a button on top of the shiner to crop up out the receiving system ; when you ’re quick to tamp down up and go , the pass catcher slides back in . A dongle can be a hassle with any hardware accessory , but the M310 ’s dongle aim is about as convenient as it could be , and it means the computer mouse does n’t take up any more place in your traveling bag than the BT500 — and you ’re less potential to accidentally leave the receiving system behind .
In fact , the M310 Plus is almost on the nose the same size of it as the BT500 — the main difference in conformation is that the M310 is ellipse - mould , whereas the BT500 has a more contoured design . ( I in reality prefer the M310 ’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe for extended enjoyment , as the slightly all-embracing front makes make it a better fit for my fairly big hands . )
Like the BT500 , the M310 Plus runs off 2 AAA barrage fire ; although BenQ does n’t provide barrage fire estimates , I ’m presently pass on a calendar week of off - and - on use of goods and services without recharging . give how easy it is to charge the M310 , that seems plenty good enough to me . And how you charge it is almost exactly how you charge the BT500 : A cable — this one a USB - to - mini - USB — plugs into your laptop computer and the front of the M310 ; the scroll wheel glows red to designate appoint . However , the BenQ pop the question suffers from one major drawback here : Because the M310 Plus uses a USB receiver to connect to your laptop computer for mousing , charging the mouse think of you must either take uptwoUSB ports — one for the recipient and one for the charging line — or do without the mouse while it charges . ( The BT500 plainly does n’t have this limitation since it connects via Bluetooth . ) It would have been utilitarian if the M310 was able to connect to your estimator via USB while charging . That said , give the M310 Plus ’s farsighted battery life story , as long as you charge it when you ’re at home , it should last for the duration of most trip-up .
Both mice include a computer hardware On / Off switch that lets you become the black eye off completely to preserve battery life — important when your computer mouse is bouncing around in your laptop computer bag . On the other hand , both also fare with the same caveats for role : First , as with most “ travel ” mice , although their pocket-size size are great for conserving space in your travelling bag , those dimensions also mean that these mice are n’t the good for regular , day - to - solar day economic consumption ( unless you have lilliputian deal , of course)—use them for too long and your hands will long for a full - size manikin . Second , although the ability to charge a wireless mouse via your laptop ’s USB port is a great feature article , keep in mind that doing so drain your laptop computer ’s barrage if your laptop is n’t plugged in . So it ’s best to shoot down the mouse at home or once you ’ve reached your address — not in the middle of a transatlantic flight .
These caveats aside , the BT500 and M310 Plus are enceinte options for the laptop user who prefers to use a black eye but wants to keep their loading Christ Within .
