Customer Reviews

Iogear Wireless Bluetooth Mini Mouse

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I purchased this mouse after the Logitech V500 and Targus mini-mouse bluetooth.

At the begining, after an initial research - seems like most users recommend the USB wireless mouse over the bluetooth. Well, I tried V500 which is the USB wireless. The mouse is a beautiful piece of art and it works flawlessly (although, I personally prefer the real wheel rather than the touch and glide design and sadly having to report that you'll need to install Logitech software which take about 24 MB HDD space in order to enable that side to side scroll). The problem is the USB receiver piece that sticking out there(left side on my Sony T150) and it just constantly annoy me, having to worry about something will knock it off and afterall, I decided to give the bluetooth a shot for a peace of mind since my Sony T came with bluetooth.

The Targus bluetooth minimouse came with the USB bluetooth adapter/dongle for the notebook that doesn't have Bluetooth fn. I initially chose it for that reason because I worried that the bluetooth tech is perhaps dying and may be I could carry it on to use with my future notebook or even PC when it doesn't come with one.

Problems are : 1. it cost a little more when compare to the other bluetooth mini-mouse that doesn't come with one.
2. It still doesn't solve my peace of mind about having something sticking out. Although this is not major because I manage to make the mouse work with my notebook's bluetooth. Then it get me to think -- do I pay extra $20 just to have this dongle for the unknown future ?

3. Design and fn. I found the connector button is hard to press. The device sometimes seems to get lost often (the Iogear has never) when you turn on and off either the notebook or the device and has to detect it again. Somehow you have to be very vigilant about timing and synchronize both real well. Sometimes it doesn't even come on, try changing battery and found the battery is still good. I'm not sure this is a flaw or perhaps the defect of my unit.

Now the Iogear GME225B.

I'm intrigued by the appearance of this mouse on the web and even more astounded when first got it. It just look plain funny and wierd. The mouse look really long (or tall)_the image on Iogear website is a little off from the reality. The image at Amazon.com is exactly what the mouse looks like. Because it's narrower than the others (Targus, Logitech V500). That narrowing make it look thick (higher from the ground) but it's actually not that much thicker than those two. It works nicely and actually feel comfortably in the your thumb, index and middle finger. Forget about your ring and little finger - they can't get on the mouse.

I do not have any problem initialize it at all. It's detected and works flawlessly from the beginning and have not lost the connection. I've owned it now for > a week, never have to re-connect it again (contrary to Targus_ that one's every day job) The connect button is much easier to press and for those who wondered, there is a physical button for on/off. The only thing that I haven't figured is whether or not it has auto-off feature like Targus. It seems like the LED seems to constantly blink (although it blink dimmer when idle) and no document anywhere about the auto-off. It worried me a bit since I fell to sleep quite often (frequent napper !).

It does come with 2 lousy rechargeable AAA batteries (rated 600 mA) which seem to work fine. I don't actually appreciate much of the idea because the key for notebook mouse is the portability and convenience. It seems to make more sense to just stick alkaline or lithium batteries (the Energizer AAA lithium is out there) in and just hit the road. Anyhow, this is provided at no extra cost and it's still an option if you want to use the non-rechargeable batteries. Afterall, I have no complaints about it. Probably will only use rechargeable at home. Will report about battery life later, clearly there are many other AAA rechargeable with higher juice (>600 mA) available. I'm not sure though that this's recommended by the manufacturer though ?(My big desktop mouse - logitech M600 can take rechargeable NiMh energizer 2200 mA just fine). Do it at your own risk, I guess.

Update 2/24/05
Well well well. It turns out that the rechargeable batteries are a nice addition. I have gone days using it without charging and now I'm not even worry about whether or not it has the auto-off. It could go for several days of average use (8-12 hr/d). Luckily that I have the AC 120 to USB port (only for charging). This is really really good feature.

I thought that connecting USB cable will make this mouse a simple wired USB mouse and charging the battery. Sadly to report that it doesn't seem so. Given that when I turn off the bluetooth on my notebook, the connection is lost. Seems like the USB connection only charge the batteries, bummer....

Afterall. I think this is a very good mouse. Funny looking, work nicely. Rechargeable batt are extra (if you really think it gave you advantage). The only thing that I wish it can be added is the thumb button (back and forward) for web browsing. The same one I have on big Logitec mouse. But none of the current laptop mouse has that (not yet as of Feb 05).

I think..... highly recommended.

I use this mouse with a small laptop for extensive travel. The size is perfect, and I have large hands, so even the small size is well designed. It has a nice case, along with a recharging cable that is connected to a USB port. The cable has standard connectors, so I am also able to charge my Blackberry while traveling. Very smooth operation and simple to set up.

I bought this mouse for use with a PowerBook G4, which has built-in Bluetooth, and it works great. After putting in the batteries, turning on the mouse, and selecting a menu command, the PowerBook detected the mouse right away and started its wizard to walk through the rest of the configuration. And that was all before charging the batteries fully.

The mouse is narrower and longer than other mini mice I've seen, but I find it quite comfortable, even with big hands. I think this is because I can hold the mouse further towards the back end and have my fingers positioned nearly the same as with my full-size desktop mouse.

Before buying the mouse, I was concerned as to how the scroll wheel would feel. I've had other mice with scroll wheels that were too stiff, too loose, too low, etc. I was happy to find none of these problems; the scroll wheel has a nice smooth movement.

I haven't seen any of the jerky or laggy behavior I've read that some users have had with other Bluetooth mice. The only lag time is on initial startup when the computer awakens and needs to re-find the mouse, but that's a lag that I expect to occur.

Although I've only had the mouse about a week and a half, battery life of the included NiMH batteries seems good; I'm still on the first overnight charge. I also like having a USB charging cable instead of a bulky cradle. And in a pinch, standard AAA batteries can be used.

Having had a 17" Powerbook for a couple years, I was keen to actually try out a bluetooth mouse. But like many other Mac users, that one button thing just wasn't gonna' fly with me. The problem was that most BT mice were too pricey just to experiment with. Then came the day that I had to buy a Windows laptop for my CAD software. This new laptop, a Sony VAIO, also came with built-in bluetooth so I thought it was now the perfect time for that mouse. After much research, I decided to make this mouse my first victim--errr candidate.

The IOGear Mini Mouse functioned perfectly right out of the package with my Powerbook. It had good scrolling and good tracking. It was very tiny for this 6' guy to hold but I soon became so used to it that my desktop's Logitechs felt awkward.

Now getting this thing to work on the Windows laptop was nowhere near as simple. Windows does not come with Bluetooth drivers and this mouse didn't come with them either. The drivers Sony pre-installed on the laptop could see the mouse and recognized that it was a mouse, but apparently the recognition was not mutual. After talking to Sony support a bit, I was thoroughly aware that this problem could only be solved by IOGear or Amazon Product Returns. I decided to give IOGear a shot. After an hour on the phone, I was escalated to third level support; yes, a software engineer in their development group. This guy had me try all kinds of things. About another hour later, he had explained enough about the nature of Bluetooth drivers (and Windoze drivers) that I was able to figure out a method of fooling Windows into thinking it had the correct driver already and really could understand the mouse. And that solved the problem and the mouse has been working beautifully ever since. I taught the IOGear how to use my workaround so they should be able to help anyone else who has the same problem. And eventually Mr. Software Engineer said he would write a KnowledgeBase article on it.

A note on battery life: the packaged batteries are wimpy in the extreme. They are probably rated at about 200mAH. Do your self a favour and go out and buy a good set of NiMH AAA batteries with a quick charger. I happened to have a Ray-o-vac set from Costco that had an 1800mAH life. These last about 4-5 days of heavy usage before needing a re-charge as compared with the 4-5 hours of the packaged batteries. Also, it is very important that you carry a spare set of batteries (preferrably alkaline for reasons of cost and shelf life) to tie you over in a pinch.

A note about construction: As I implied above, I am a mechanical product designer. For whatever that is worth, I am quite impressed by the design and quality of this mouse. It is quite durable and very robust. There is quite a bit of elegance in the design, too. The one tiny objection I have is the design of the power switch. Unfortunately, I haven't a better idea yet so I will give IOGear the benefit of the doubt.

In summary, I love this mouse.

> 2006-01-08: My Iogear Bluetooth Mini Mouse lasted almost 1 year before expiring. By that time my hands had developed new muscles, so were able to use the tiny mouse for 8+ hours per day. I had also bought 2 additional sets of rechargable batteries and a charger and became skilled at changing batteries while playing backgammon online... If you are interested, read below for my whole love/hate review series on this product.

I did not buy another Iogear mini mouse as a replacement. Fortunately, there are now better alternatives. Check out:

Think Outside Bluetooth Stowaway Travel Mouse

I bought one a couple of weeks ago -- it is exactly what I wanted for use with my laptop and justifiably rated much higher.

> Update after 10 months use: the mini-mouse just DIED. My hands did get used to this small mouse and I grew to like it, in spite of the battery problems. But I won't be buying another.

> Original review:
On my previous laptop I used a wireless mouse with an antenna unit that plugged into the USB port. My new laptop has the USB ports on the right side, so the huge antenna unit would sit right where I want to place a mouse... a great excuse to upgrade with more modern technology. The new laptop also has Bluetooth built in, so I bought the Iogear Bluetooth mini mouse about a month ago through Amazon.

The mouse is small (the length of my middle finger), so my wrist rests on the desk when I use it. The sides of the mini mouse are sculpted to allow gripping between thumb and ring+little fingers. The buttons are a bit stiffer than most other mice. The small size and light weight help, but overall I find that using this mouse requires a bit more effort than my old Logitech wireless mouse. Perhaps the extra exercise is a good thing considering how much time I spend working at the computer.

Battery charging: As noted by others, the Iogear mini mouse comes with low capacity (600 mAh) rechargable batteries. A full charge lasts me about 2-3 days. When the mouse stops responding (your signal to recharge), even plugging in the USB charging cable does not restore use... I have to wait a bit until it builds up enough charge to restore communication. And then the USB connector is in the way. Fortunately, the USB connector is small and doesn't get in the way much. Usually, I can't stop, so end up connecting another mouse while the mini mouse charges. I also don't want to leave the computer plugged in overnight just so the mini mouse can recharge through the USB port (not good to overcharge laptop batteries -- shortens their life).

How to charge the Iogear mini mouse as quickly as possible? The manual -- written in Chinglish -- is a bit unclear on that point. Here is the question I submitted to Iogear tech support exactly 1 month ago (still waiting for a response...):

Recharging question: Will the batteries recharge with the mouse OFF, but connected to an active USB port? If yes, will they recharge faster than with the mouse ON?
Manual, p.8: "... 4. Make sure the power On/Off switch is at ON position. ... 5. To charge the batteries, just plug the USB charger cable into the USB port on you (sic) computer, and the mouse, and leave it on."
Manual, p.18: "... Just plug the USB charger cable into the USB port on your computer, and the mouse, and leave it on for a few hours. You don't need to turn off the power, and you can use the mouse when it is charging the batteries."
I don't need to turn off the power, but CAN I? Will it still charge? And charge faster??

USB charging just isn't working for me. My conclusion after 1 month of use is that I need to get:
1) 2 sets of higher capacity rechargable batteries
2) a charger that plugs into an outlet so I can recharge a set of batteries while I continue working.

When I travel I will have to carry enough batteries for the trip OR buy disposables as needed OR lug along the charger OR make do with the USB charger.

Overall, the Iogear mini mouse is satisfactory for road warrior laptop use, but has room for improvements.

>> Update after 2 months of use:
I got a battery charger (Ultralast Rapid Smart Charger) and my charging problems are over! Charging now takes much less time and a light tells me when charging is complete. The batteries now seem to last much longer, making me think my mouse might not be charging properly through the USB cable. Never did get a reply to my charging question from Iogear. I would give this mouse 4 stars if I could be sure the USB charging problem I experienced was an unusual defect.

I bought this mouse for my new Dell Inspirion 9200. I loved the small size and got used to it quikly. It conencted just fine and worked great for the first few days. I made sure to charge it when the light told me to. But after the third day, I would use it and all os a sudden it would lose its connection. I would have to reconnect and then after a few minutes or half hour, it would die again. I thought it was the batteries, but it wasn't. I returned it and bought A logitech MX900. WORKS WONDERFULLY!

The mouse is great size and works nicely for presentations, however to use it for everyday jobs the battery life is short, hence using the rechargables and keeping 2 extra sets on board.

I'd read positive & negative reviews but decided to give it a try since I got bluetooth adapter and headset for my laptop. Well, a conclusion is peace of junk. Everything, just everything goes wrong with that mouse. It has short rechargeable batteries lifetime-2-3h max after being charged from usb for 24h. It wouldn't charge or work properly being connected to the PC via usb cord, will constantly loose connection. The only option is to buy batteries or external charger and batteries which is lame and misses original point. The quality and ergonimics is awful. The right button failed after a week of using. I have to press it really hard to get a signal. Did I mention cramps in my hand after using it for 20 minutes? small or big palm that mice's designed not for humans. next, to move cursor on a screen you have to skate your hand very very wide on the surface, 10th times more I am used to. scanrate is just a marketing gimmick. I found myself not using that thing but rather touchpad or my old and comfy egg-shaped 4-buttons Logitech Cordless click. Don't waste your money. I'm warning you. :)

When it works, this mouse is simply wonderful. Small, accurate, easy to recharge, easy to carry. Under those conditions, it's probably my favorite mouse. I've found that it's equally good for both Mac and Windows.

One complaint is that when it's tethered to the USB port for recharging, it works nominally, but becomes very slow and awkward. It's not at all the same behavior as seen when it's completely free to move.

My first incarnation of mouse lived a long life of about 10 months. My second incarnation of mouse, however, just died at the tender age of 4 months. I've attempted mouse-to-mouse resuscitation, but to no avail, having found that Iogear technical support exists by name only. I have sent multiple requests for help, and have received not a single answer. Both mice died identical deaths. Suddenly it stops being able to hold a charge, and freezes after about 5 minutes of use. Even when tethered to the USB port for a recharge it freezes.

I'm sad that a technologically good product should have such terrible quality assurance in its manufacture. And such terrible customer support in dealing with its lack of QA.

Used it for 2 weeks and then the on/off switch no longer turned the mouse on. I had registered it with iogear and contacted them to complain. They asked me to return it and then sent me a refurbished on that didn't work at all. Seemed like a good mouse and the price was right, but 0 for 2 has made me give the Kensington version a try.