If You Can't Point, Then Push the Button!

When it comes to keyboard and mouse upgrades, most people inevitably think of two names: Logitech and Microsoft, the largest manufacturers of ergonomic, precision pointing devices. Well, Kensington showed the world that an exceptional product not always bears a "designer" label. "Outsiders" like Kensington show that they can provide what the big players overlooked.

On a quick glance from above, the new Kensington SlimBlade Media Mouse looks like any other standard laser mouse with a scroll wheel. The comparison ends here, because the mouse is carved in fine, smooth shapes with French soap bar influences, while its color somehow reminds of Prada bags - and that's quite a description for an ordinary mouse.

The Kensington SlimBlade does much more than moving the cursor across the screen. The soap bar design justifies its utility when using the second mouse function: the media center remote control. When turned upside down, the mouse reveals the multimedia navigation pad, featuring volume, track, play and pause controls.

Like most of the SlimBlade product line, the mouse features a notebook-friendly design, being about 30 percent thinner than the desktop models. The mouse uses a USB 2.0 port to ensure wireless connectivity available in a pretty large space: it offers a coverage up to 10 meters with no decrease in performance.

The mouse also lets the user rapidly switch functionality - one moment you can browse your files in "mouse mode", and the other you can navigate your favorite music in iTunes. Another feature that is worth mentioning is the intelligent power management that proves its utility when attached to laptops. When the notebook enters sleep mode, the mouse power disconnects in order to preserve the battery time.