Customer Reviews

Targus 2.4 GHz Wireless Laser Presentation Remote, Range up to 30 Feet AMP03US (Black)

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Plug it in and go. Used weekly with Windows XP for four months so far no problems. Range is at least 30 feet, very reliable. Note that a slide switch on the side turns it off to conserve the battery.

How it works: it talks to the computer as if it's a keyboard. But the only keystrokes it can send are: PageUp (the left button), PageDown (the right button), B (the bottom button), and Alt+Esc (the top button). (The red middle button is the laser pointer.)

The bottom button is like hitting the B key, which in a PowerPoint slideshow toggles a black screen, useful for momentarily hiding a slide. (By the way, W goes to a white screen if you're using a full keyboard; the remote doesn't have a button for that.)

IF YOU HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS OPEN: This remote doesn't have any magical connection to PowerPoint; it's just a mini keyboard. So it won't affect PowerPoint unless the PowerPoint slideshow window is the "active" window. If another program is running and is selected, you'll just scroll it up and down and type a lot of "B"s, same as if you pressed PageDown and B on your regular keyboard.

That's where the top button comes in. In Windows XP, pressing Alt+Esc cycles focus between all open applications in the taskbar. (It cycles through in the order they were last "active", not necessarily the order they appear on the task bar.) In other words, the top button on the remote is basically a "switch between open programs" button. So if your "next slide" button isn't working, it may be bcause a different window is selected. Don't panic and don't immediately assume the battery is dead. First make sure the power switch on the side is on. Then just alternately press the "next window" (top) and "next slide" (right) buttons until the slide changes.

IF YOU USE DUAL-DISPLAY "PRESENTER VIEW":

Presenter view opens in another window, separate from the slideshow (and separate from the main PowerPoint window where the file can be editted). The left and right arrow keys function as previous and next slide when either of those windows (Presenter view or slideshow itself) is active. But PageUp and PageDown (which is what the remote's buttons are) only work on the slideshow window, not the Presenter window (in Presenter, PageUp and PageDown scroll through notes for the current slide). That means that if you have clicked the Presenter window then it will be the active window, and the previous and next slide buttons on the remote will not work until you re-select the slideshow window (which you can do using the top button as described above).

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If you're not afraid to delve a bit deeper into Windows, you can eliminate the chance for any confusion or delay the Presenter/PageDown issue might cause by remapping your keyboard's PageDown and PageUp keys to functions as right and left arrows. The simple and free way to do this without installing any software is a quick modification to Windows' registry:

1 - Create a new text file and open it.

2 - Copy and Paste into the text file the following three lines:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]

"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,4b,e0,49,e0,4d,e0,51,e0,00,00,00,00

3 - Save and close the text file.

4 - Change the .txt extension at the end of the filename to .reg (To do this you must have Windows Explorer's option set NOT to "Hide extensions of known file types")

5 - Right click the file and select "Merge"

6 - Reboot (or just log off and back on)

Both the keyboard and the remote are now remapped. The PageUp and PageDown keys (left and right buttons on the remote) work like left and right arrow keys now. Thus the remote will advance and reverse slides whether the active windows is the Presenter view window or the slideshow window itself.

By the way, you can still page up and down if you need to. Just turn off Number Lock, then use the 9 and 3 keys on the numeric keypad. With NumLock off the 9 and 3 work like PageUp and PageDown, even while the regular PageUp and PageDown are remapped to function as arrow keys.

Not graceful, but it gets the job done.

To undo it:

1 - Press Winkey+R (or click "Start" then "Run...")

2 - Enter "regedit"

3 - In the left column, by expanding the folders, navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

4 - Right Click on "Scancode Map" and delete.

5 - Reboot (or just log off and back on)

Registry editor is not a toy, and you can incapacitate your computer if you mess around in there.

If you want a simple, straightforward presenter to click through Powerpoint slides, this one works very well. I bought it at Staples after my old presenter died. Installation is very simple, completely plug and play, and it worked right away. Buttons for advancing slides, for going backward, blanking screen, for the laser pointer, and another I haven't used so I can't remember what it is for. I have not tried to use it for anything besides Powerpoint, on a Windows XP laptop. I use it for large lecture classes, where I want to control when I change the slide, so it doesn't matter that there is no timer. Laser works fine. Takes 1 AAA battery, so it's easy to replace. The big problem, though, is that you'll be replacing the battery a lot. One week after classes started, I've replaced the battery once already, and I'm about to replace it again. Part of the problem is that I keep forgetting to turn off the on/off switch at the side, which is very inconspicuous; but also there is no battery indicator, and, really, it just burns batteries pretty fast. If you want a simple presenter for occasional use, this may be it. But I will eventually replace it for one that doesn't use batteries so fast.

I'm a Community College instructor and have found this to be an invaluable tool. The newer projection system we use doesn't allow remote advancement of slides. This inexpensive tool does just what it says and works perectly and without fail. It was as easy to install as a flash drive. I'm now able to interact with my classes instead of being held hostage behind the lecturn in order to advance slides. I also really like the darken feature and use it anytime I think a class is copying power points instead of interacting with each other on the subject. Rate 5 stars because I can't give it 6.

Once I got this device to turn on, it worked really well. Range was great, the laser is bright enough. It's easy to get to the batteries. The control buttons are intuitive enough that I never have to look at the presenter to know what I'm doing. Although if you try to do two things at once with your presentation hand, you can easily hit a wrong button.

The main problem is getting the device to turn on. I struggled twice for over 10 minutes not knowing if it would ever activate. When it did activate, I couldn't determine what got it to work all of a sudden.

I have found this item very useful in wirelessly changing the slides for PowerPoint presentations. The laser pointer works without any problem. For the price, it cannot be beat. Other more expensive solutions have many more bells and whistles but for just pointing and changing slides, this is all I need.

Great item for presenters. Installation worked well with my laptop, just plug and play. Nice size in my hand and slide advance controls work very well.

The only downside is there is a small on/off button that is on the side of the unit. Its very hard to miss and if you dont notice it and turn it on you may think your unit is not working. I would have given it 5 stars but the silly instructions didn't point this little on/off switch to me so it gets 4 stars. Highly recommended though if you do any powerpoint presentations.

I purchased this device primarily to replace a different wireless presentation remote with very limited range. I must agree with the other reviewers in that the Targus Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer works well enough as a wireless remote, and a laser pointer. The range is at least as good as advertised.

What no one else has mentioned however, is the very flimsy plastic casing used on both the remote itself and the usb receiver dongle. I could easily crush the remote with my fingers, and I am not overly strong. The dongle is even more flimsy. I wonder if this device will hold up to the rigors of travel, even if some care is taken.

In addition, the buttons feel cheap. Pressing any of the buttons, but especially the laser button does provide some positive feedback. Unfortunately, the feeling is more akin to what I would expect from a three dollar flashlight than a presentation remote.

Apparently Targus has changed the design of their model AMP03US. I received my order directly from Amazon and it looks completely different than what is pictured, but has the same name and model number. [NOTE: THE PHOTO HAS NOW BEEN UPDATED] The new version is all black, with no red button or rounded top...the worst part is that the Bluetooth connector is less than half the size of the original version. It fits into the battery compartment of the clicker, which is supposed to be a handy feature, but you practically have to use your fingernails to get it in and out of the USB port. Also, the buttons, although rubberized, tend to click very loudly, making the presentation less seamless and more mechanical.

I will be returning this new model and will seek out the original version from another Amazon seller, as the old model has a normal size bluetooth key.

This device is only good for basic operations of forward/backwards of the slides and screen blanking. It does not move the mouse around or anything. It is easier to hold than the others I have used and that is a big plus.

The switch on the side is annoying as it is hard to move and if you leave it on, the battery will run down. They should have used a slide to power on style (with an off timer after non-use).

The laser pointer works well and the shape of the device makes it easy to hold steady.

Note that if you are presenting to a live audience, the laser pointer style is perfect. If you are presenting across the internet (e.g. GoTo meeting), then the laser is worthless and you should consider the more expensive ones that let you move the mouse cursor around.

I was very excited to receive this product and I was anxious to use it.

It did not work out of the box (It is not "plug and play" as they advertize). I followed instructions to resynchronize, I changed batteries, I tried it on 3 different computers and it did not work at all. It's a piece of junk, if you ask me. I'm returning it. Looks and feels cheap too. I won't buy another Targus product.