Kensington Pocket Mouse Pro, and why it sucks
:: Wednesday, December 31st, 2003 @ 3:29:04 pm
:: Tags: Computers
I’ve been looking for a little travel mouse for a long time. I finally settled on a Logitech MouseMan Traveler, which I like a lot (I’ve always liked their mouses). Before the Logitech, I had a Kensington Pocket Mouse Pro — the one that has a retractable USB cable, which I thought was a nifty feature. My Dad uses a Kensington as well. Unfortunately, there is a fatal flaw in the Kensington mouses I’ve tried that makes them impossible for me to use: the Windows XP driver makes the cursor jump to the default button on popups — possibly one of the most annoying features in Windows computing today (a couple more: 1) modal dialog boxes that force their way to the top, grabbing focus, and 2) the lack of a Windows key on IBM Thinkpads). I can’t tell you how many times I cancelled things on accident. With the Kensington mouse and Windows XP, you can’t change this behavior for some reason. So… no more Kensington mouses for me. Anyone want it? :)
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Does it jump to the default button even if you go into the mouse control panel and de-select that feature? (I actually like the feature).
there is no cpanel for that feature. the mouse options shown in the cpanel (i believe) are for the local trackpad and trackpoint that already exist on the notebook.
i don’t like the feature because as soon as I kick something off i’ve already tabbed over somewhere else and am doing something else. the sudden mouse jump interrupts multitasking. :)
I know it’s not the easiest key-combo around, but ctrl+esc is equivalent to the windows key if that helps :/
Yay for jacked up key combos! :D
Happy New Year bub ;)
I’ve been eyeing that Kensington mouse for some time. Let’s talk when you’re back in the Bay Area!
Yeah, but try the windows-key shortcuts with your Control-Esc combo. I use Windows Key-E like… every 5 minutes. :)
Eric, I’ve got the wireless version and I love it with XP (the Windows trackpad is so horrible, a mouse is needed). You have to download and install the Kensington Mouseworks software, then you’ll have the option to ‘not jump to the dialog box’.
interesting. i’ve been too afraid to install the kensington software. in the past, i’ve had problems because it has made trackpad use horrible. does the software only affect the kensington mouse?
I haven’t noticed any change in the trackpad - but I got the mouse w/ the computer so I didn’t give it much of a run before I installed the software. I like setting up pressing the scroll wheel to do a double-click so I always install the Kensington drivers. :)
computer mouses? or computer mice? hmm …
Check out the IBM mini travel mouse for laptops- usb/optical works very well.
I’ve heard that debate “mouses” vs. “mice” a lot. Last I heard “mice” was for the little mammal. But who knows. :)
I just remembered another reason I don’t like the Kensington mouses. The clicks are delayed on my Windows XP box. I get the same behavior on my machine on on my Dad’s notebook. If you are used to responsive clicks, you will have to slow down a bit (e.g. click & drag, but the click will have missed and will take place during the drag, instead). The logitech mouse I use now doesn’t have that problem.
I had this same problem because I let Windows Update install the driver for the mouse instead of the Kensington Utility. Installing Kensington Mouseworks and disabling the snap-to option there works.
-Justin