If you have a laptop computer then you know that sometimes the little touchpad can be just a real pain to use for long period of time, especially if you are used to using a standard mouse all the time. I personally have had a laptop for quite a while and still don’t like the touchpad, I always end up using a small mouse for any extended periods of work. Today for review I have found a mouse that is very inexpensive and yet performs like a mouse that costs three times as much, it is from our friends at USBGeek and it is called the USB Retractable Fish Mouse. Yeah I know you are thinking a ‘fish mouse’? Well not really, it just kind of resembles a fish, so continue on to check it out…

USB Retractable Fish Mouse from USBGeek

Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio AkA Dracos

Sponsor: USBGeek

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

USB Retractable Fish Mouse from USBGeek

Features: 

Blue LED headlight.

2-button mouse with scroll wheel.

Combo connector (USB, PS/2).

800dpi resolution.

Accurate positioning.

Compatible with Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP

Size: 79 x 55 x 24mm

Weight: 33gm

Retractable cable length: Max. Length, around 79cm, Min. Length, around 9cm

Color:

Blue

Black

Price: US$ 12.00

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A Better Look at Things

:

The packaging is our favorite plastic clamshell style, but it’s the easy open kind, so no explosives needed. We can plainly see the mouse itself and the retractable USB cable along with the basic specs and features listed around the front of the package.

On the back of the package we can see the USB/PS2 adapter, and a little bit more info.

Getting everything unpacked we don’t find anything special, just the mouse itself, the USB extension cable and the USB/PS2 adapter.

Looking at a view from the front of the mouse we can see the mini USB port located at the bottom, I’m guessing it’s supposed to be the mouth of the fish. The button are nice and big, something you don’t see too much on a portable mouse, and there is also the small scroll wheel between the buttons.

Here are the left and right views of the fish mouse, the mouse is fairly small overall.

And of course the tail end of the fish mouse, nice tail eh?

And on the bottom we find the optical sensor, along with the four feet and the label with the ‘important’ information.

The USB Retractable Fish Mouse itself is very lightweight, and very small, but yet the large buttons do make it much easier to use than other portable mice out there. I have another portable mouse that works great but the cable is permanently attached, I think I like the idea of having the cable separate better, it minimizes the risk of breaking the cord while in transportation. I don’t know about you but I have all sorts of stuff packed in with my laptop, and if I don’t secure everything the wires become a tangled mess.

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Installation, Testing and Comparison

Installation is very simple, just plug it in and away you go, no driver necessary for operation. Once plugged in the ‘eyes’ or buttons of the fish mouse light up very brightly.

Here’s a shot of the Fish mouse in the dark to give you an idea of just how bright the eyes are:

And here would be the comparison shot with the fish mouse next to a standard sized mouse:

The Fish Mouse is extremely lightweight, much lighter than any other portable mouse I have owned or reviewed but yet it feels very sturdy and actually well made.

The tail of the Fish Mouse actually does serve a purpose and it’s not there just for decoration. I found myself actually using the tail to help control the mouse, and it surprisingly worked very well.

Using the mouse took a few minutes to get accustomed to being that it is so small and light, but after that it was very easy to use and I found it to be very response. Honestly I like the USB Fish Mouse better than my Logitech notebook mouse, it just seems much easier to use.

The USB Fish Mouse just glides over any surface, especially a cloth or hard surface mousepad, I was extremely surprised by how well it just moves. The USB Fish mouse also tracks very well, I did hook it up to my main computer for a bit and try some gaming, it works, but it’s not quite what you would want to use for gaming. Using the mouse for everything else, it is perfect, I found no problems with tracking on any surface, including, wood, cloth, plastic, and even my pants! The USB Fish Mouse never missed a beat, or movement, it was very responsive no matter how fast or slow I moved the mouse, it kept right up with every movement.

I can’t begin to tell you just how surprised I am at this mouse, and especially for being only $12, it is an excellent mouse overall.

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Summary:

I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m just amazed at this little mouse, really I am, it stunned me at just how well it tracked and moved. At such a low price I really was not expecting much, but this mouse is well worth the price and more. The Logitech laptop mouse I have is much more expensive and I like this low priced Fish mouse much better, it just moves fluidly and easily, and track very well on every surface I tried it on. If you are in the market for a small, portable mouse that is very inexpensive and yet performs as well as a more expensive mouse then this is for you.

DragonSteelMods gives the USB Retractable Fish Mouse from USBGeek a 5 out of 5 score.

Pros:

-Small and portable

-Good tracking

-Easy to use

-Looks interesting

-Big buttons

-Very low price

Cons:

-None really

I would like to thank USBGeek for the chance to review the USB Retractable Fish Mouse and for their support of DSM.

Find more laptop mice at ShopZilla!