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There are of course literally dozens of wireless computer mice on the marked, but Targus pitches these units as something special, with genuinely new and innovative engineering.
The marquee feature of the new Targus mice is indeed unique as far as I am aware; at least I've never encountered any others that incorporate technology like Targus's Touch Scroll four-way wheel-less optical scrolling and quick scroll functions.
The Wireless Mouse and Bluetooth Laser Mouse are identical in size, shape, and share large proportion of their engineering, with the main distinction being that one communicates with the computer via a 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency (RF) through a micro receiver that plugs into a USB port, while the other connects via Bluetooth, obviating the need for a receiver dongle.
As with more and more USB RF wireless receivers these days, the Targus Wireless Mouse 's unit is low profile, so in most instances it will be possible be able to leave it plugged in a laptop USB port when the computer is carried or stored in a computer case or sleeve. If that's not convenient, there's a handy slot inside the mouse's housing for storing or transporting the RF receiver securely when it's unplugged from the computer.
I should note that while the Wireless Mouse for Mac's low-profile receiver is a specifically laptop-friendly feature, these two mice are not undersized "notebook mice," indeed perhaps a bit larger than average by current standards (exterior dimensions: 2.51" x 1.45" x 4.64"). That suits me just fine, as I like largish mice for use with either laptop or desktop computers. Your hands don't get any smaller when you travel
Styling-wise the two mice are very similar, the main difference being that the Wireless Mouse for Mac's housing is entirely the Targus for Mac's signature glossy "Lunar Gray" plastic, the Bluetooth Laser Mouse for Mac is two-tone with a darker gray bottom case housing. Personally, II prefer the look of the all Lunar Gray unit, but that's just me.
Being cordless mice, this units are both powered by on-board batteries, happily standard AA cells which are cheap and easy to find almost anywhere. AA cells are fairly heavy, making these mice likewise, but Targus has done a good job of making them smooth, well-balanced, slick trackers. Estimated battery life is up to six months, and the Touch Scroll optical scanner will blink when less than one hour of battery life remains.
Both mice have a manual power button on their undersides so you can positively power them down when idle.
So what about this four-way optical Touch Scroll optical sensor technology that replaces the usual scroll ball or scroll wheel? Well, it's activated by moving your fingertip directionally across the optical sensor, which is quite intuitive once you get used to it, and which works quite well. I did have to dial down the scrolling speed in the OS X preferences from where I had its set for my usual, scroll-wheel equipped mouse. I found that scrolling in small increments for precision tasks isn't quite as easy to modulate as it is with a really good, sensitive, weighted scroll wheel, but it's better than some scroll wheels I've used. Especially convenient is the quick scrolling function that facilitates rapid scrolling up and down through lengthy documents with a quick swipe of your fingertip
With 1200 dpi tracking resolution optical and laser sensors respectively, both of these mice are fast and accurate for precision pointing tasks, with a qualification on that for the Bluetooth unit that I'll get to in greater detail in a moment. Both mice have a wireless range of up to 33 feet, which might be helpful for making presentations with your laptop, although I would recommend checking out the Targus for Mac Bluetooth Presenter (which also incorporates the optical Touch Scroll technology) if you do a lot of that.
As has become the standard with contemporary computer mice, the front part of the top housing is split in order to let it flex under finger pressure so to do double duty actuating the left/right click functions. I found that the Targus mice have a very pleasant tactile feel for clicking - smooth and positive with just the right amount of effort required -- not too stiff and not too light on the trigger. Full marks in that department.
Basic click and scroll functions work just fine with OS X's default mouse drivers, but a download and install of Targus's proprietary driver software, which installs a System Preference panel, is required in order to use the two programmable third and forth click buttons which can be configured for individualized one-click access to favorite functions, programs or toggling AppleScripts. These buttons are located on the left side of the lower housing in a low-profile rocker switch configuration that is out of your way when you're not using them, but is fairly conveniently accessible for your thumb if you're right-handed or your middle finger if you're a lefty. However, allowing them to protrude just a bit more would have made them easier to actuate, due to the inward taper of the lower housing.
While as I've noted, these mice are virtually identical in form factor and most features, I do have a distinct preference, and not by just a little bit. I am not much of a Bluetooth mouse enthusiast, and that applies to all Bluetooth mice I've ever used.
I appreciate Bluetooth's several advantages: no RF receiver dongle to plug in, use up a USB port, and potentially get lost or misplaced. As an Apple laptop user exclusively, the no need to use a USB port issue should for me be fairly compelling given Apple's port stinginess.
However I find Bluetooth's shortcomings outweigh these advantages to a degree that I've never found a Bluetooth mouse that I would want to use on a daily basis, and that regrettably goes for the Targus for Mac Bluetooth Laser Mouse too. First there is the necessity of Bluetooth configuration - device seeking and pairing. OS X's Bluetooth Setup Assistant does a good job of making this relatively straightforward, but it's still time-consuming and unwelcome extra hassle. There is also the standard Bluetooth wake-up lag while connection is restored after the computer and mouse have been asleep.
However, the most egregious thing about Bluetooth, IMHO, is cursor latency, that microsecond of lag between moving the mouse and cursor response. I find this so annoying and frustrating that giving the increasing popularity of Bluetooth mice I'm surprised more people don't complain about it, but I guess many find latency more tolerable than I do. It makes me overshoot pointing targets and makes precision pointing tasks frustrating and tiresome. In fairness, I keep the tracking speed turned up fairly high, indeed a faster than the maximum provided for by OS X, thanks to a little freeware preference panel add-on called MouseZoom. However, I don't find latency a problem non-Bluetooth mice.
Happily with the for Mac series Targus gives you the option of essentially the same cool feature set save for Bluetooth connectivity and a laser sensor in the less-expensive Wireless Mouse for Mac. Notwithstanding the minor inconvenience of having to the use a USB receiver dongle, I much prefer RF connectivity mice. Actually, I used to find that RF wireless mice had a latency lag as well, but the latest 2.40 GHz RF technology used by Targus and other major mouse makers like Logitech and Kensington, has evidently pretty much eliminated it as an issue, so perhaps eventually there is hope for Bluetooth mice in that department as well, but we're not there yet. Consequently, the Targus Wireless Mouse for Mac would be my hands-down pick between these two rodents for my personal use, but if you're a Bluetooth fan, the Bluetooth Laser Mouse is no worse for latency than any other Bluetooth mouse I've tested.
Both mice require Mac OS X 10.4 or better and the Bluetooth model of course demands a Bluetooth-equipped Mac.
In summary, these are really nice computer mice with a very high standard of finish and the Touch Scroll technology is genuinely innovative and not a gimmick. If I had my 'druthers, I would place the Touch Scroll sensor a bit farther back on the top of the mouse housing, and the third/fourth button rocker is too deeply recessed, but I love the feel of the main click buttons, the smoothness with which these mice glide across my mouse pad, and the Touch Scroll feature works well. They appear to be well made and are backed by a one-year Targus limited warranty.
The Targus Bluetooth Laser Mouse for Mac sells for $69.99.
The Targus Wireless Mouse for Mac sells for $49.99.
For more information, visit:
http://www.targus.com/us/accessories_formac.asp
Charles W. Moore
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I dcied to buy a green laser pointer and diy a laser mouse.