Not long ago, I got a new laptop (the Toshiba Satellite A105 to be exact).  It is a great computer, which makes the commute on the train much more enjoyable.  It also allows me to write posts from just about anywhere.  The only problem I have with it is the touchpad mouse.  To be honest, this is one invention I could really do without.  I hate it even more than the erasertop mouse which used to adorn laptops.  The touchpad is difficult to use and, quite frankly, gives me a significant amount of finger fatigue.  After running my finger around this thing for more than a few minutes, I always start to get a tingly numb feeling in my fingers.  So, like a cat stalking its prey, I have been hot on the trail wireless mouse that could easily take the place of my touchpad.   

Although there are dozens of wireless mice available which can connect to a laptop and replace the built-in touchpad, many of them are hardly portable, and add a considerable amount of bulk to an already cramped gadget bag.  This hardly seems like a fair tradeoff. 

Now, there is a third option, the Mogo Mouse from Newton Peripherals, an innovative portable mouse which adds all of the functionality of a wireless mouse without the added bulk.  It does this by shunning the traditional fat bodied design of a mouse, and replacing it with a perfectly flat model — only slightly larger than a credit card — which needs only minimal space to charge and store.  In addition to being completely flat, the mouse also requires no cables or drivers, making it the perfect option for portability and mobility.

OK, so maybe a little description is in order here.  This mouse is essentially a PCMCIA card.  On the top are the two mouse control buttons.  On the bottom is a kickstand which folds out and a laser eye for control.  To store and charge the mouse, simply fold the kickstand into the unit and slide it into your PCMCIA slot.  As long as your laptop is turned on, the mouse will charge in the PCMCIA slot…no cables required. 

The mouse will charge fairly quickly in the PCMCIA slot.  It took between 1-2 hours to charge fully, and lasted for about five hours once charged.  One of the nice things about this mouse is that a little charge will go a long way.  Often, I would use the mouse for an entire session with my laptop, sliding it into the PCMCIA slot to charge only for a few minutes when the computer was powering down.  This slight charging pattern was enough to keep it powered almost indefinitely.  I think the entire time I was testing it, the mouse only completely lost its charge and went dead on one occasion.

Since the mouse stores and transports in the PCMCIA slot as well as charging, it will take up no space in your gadget bag, which is always a bonus for space conscious users.  Even if you choose to store the mouse in your gadget bag, it lies completely flat, taking up minimal space. 

So, of course the next thing you want to know is how it works.  I mean, a completely flat mouse that uses virtually no space to store and transport and charges in minutes is going to be pretty useless if it doesn’t work.

The first thing you will want to do is pair the mouse with your laptop.  To do this, just put it in pairing mode according to the instructions and follow the instructions for pairing on your laptop or device.  I admit that I had a little trouble pairing the mouse with my Vista laptop.  I finally found, however, that the problems I experienced were not related to the mouse itself, but to a driver conflict on my laptop.  This was ultimately resolved with my laptop’s device manager in Windows Vista.

Once paired, all you need to do is turn on the mouse and establish a Bluetooth connection.  To turn on the device, simply extend the kickstand.  This will also place the mouse into a usable position.  Now, turn the mouse so the two buttons are facing forward and place your hand on it just as you would a normal mouse, with your first two fingers hovering over the buttons and your palm on the back of the mouse. 

With the Bluetooth radio on your laptop activated, you can press one of the two mouse buttons.  This will activate the laser eye and establish a Bluetooth connection.  A blue light will flash when a connection has been established.  The Mogo Mouse will now have complete control of your device.  Not that this will supplement, not replace the touchpad mouse on your laptop.  This means that you can use both mice at the same time.  On the other hand, this also means that you need to be careful not to accidentally bump your touchpad and move the mouse without realizing you did so.  Now, you can just slide the mouse about your desk as you would any other laser mouse, with the laser eye tracking your movements and translating them to the screen. 

The Mogo Mouse worked great!  It controlled everything I needed on the screen, exactly as any other laser mouse would have done.  Nonetheless, I have gotten so used to having a scrollwheel on my mouse, I kept finding myself trying to scroll by sliding my finger between the buttons.  I understand that this feature has been implemented on the upcoming Express/54 version of the Mogo Mouse, and I am anxious to try that one as well.   Additionally, like any other mouse, the Mogo Mouse requires some space in order to work.  While this is no problem if I am at home on my desk, this mouse is really designed for mobility.  As such, there were numerous time that I would not have enough space available to use it effectively.  For those times when I was mobile, I found myself wishing that the Mogo Mouse had been a Mogo Trackball-type device.  Maybe that will be coming soon.

Additionally, the mouse will only charge in the PCMCIA slot.  When my computer is turned on, I usually have my PCMCIA wireless broadband modem attached, which means I cannot charge it easily.  It would have been nice if there had been an alternative means of charging the mouse.

Overall, I absolutely loved this mouse.  Not only is it easy to use, but it is also slim and light, making it an ideal mouse for portability and mobility.  I am anxious to test the upcoming Express/54 version which includes the scroll wheel feature I was missing.  Until then, however, the Mogo Mouse is the best portable alternative to the built in touchpad mouse on my laptop.

Vital Stats:

Name: Mogo Mouse BT

Manufacturer: Newton Peripherals

Price: $54.95

Available From: Mogo

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