Outside of the keyboard, a mouse is the most important input device for any PC. For the most part, the form factor of most mice has been pretty uniform. The amount of buttons, wheels and type of tracking may vary, but the shape is relatively the same. Todays product takes a different approach to the PC mouse. The Lord of the Rings – 3D Finger Optical Mouse from USBFever is a new approach to a familiar peripheral. Just as Nintendo tried to revolutionize game play with their Wii controllers, this mouse tries to evolve the PC mouse that we know and love. Is this mouse the next phase of development or and evolutionary dead end? Lets find out.
Review: The Lord of the Rings 800DPI 3D Finger Optical Mouse
Reviewed by: Tomas Ratas
Sponsor: USBFever
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
USB 3D Finger Optical Mouse
Product Code#:E186-B112
Highlights:
Now you can wear your mouse! Wear your mouse as a ring!
This is one of the most innovative designed PC peripherals that I’ve seen this year!
It is 3 dimensions and now you can always put your hands on the keyboard, as you can wear your mouse on your finger and let the keyboard as a mouse pad for this USB 3D Finger optical mouse.
Features:
– Compact: around 1/2 to 1/3 of conventional mouse.
– Adjustable, fitting to all sizes of fingers.
– Optical, making it working on all surfaces.
– Resolution: 800dpi
– USB Interface
– Powered by USB, no need for extra battery
– Plug-N-Play, no need for driver installation.
– Ergonomic design
Specifications:
– Dimensions: 62x23x33mm
– Length: Around 1.2m
– Weight: 35g
Color
– Black
Package Contents:
– USB 3D Finger Optical Mouse x 1
Price: US$19.99
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A Better Look at Things
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The Lord of the Rings – 3D Finger Optical Mouse comes in a clamshell package. The mouse is centered over a green insert showing pictures of the mouse in use, its different features and system requirements.
The back of the clamshell holds the USB cable and the insert lists the operational specifications as well as more features.
The mouse is completely black except for the clip holding the strap and the screws on the backside of the mouse. The main body of the mouse has a rubberized covering, for better grip ability. The mouse is approximately 2 inches long and about an inch wide.
This compact, optical mouse is to 1/3 the size of a standard mouse. It is a USB plug and play mouse and works with both Windows and Mac OS X.
The Velcro strap that attaches the mouse to ones finger is a little less than 3 inches. The USB cable is approximately three feet in length and is composed of the same type of braided fabric seen with the Logitech G5 mouse.
Oddly, there were no instructions included, so the only way to figure out its proper use is through the pictures on the insert.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
The mouse plugs into any available USB port and is quickly recognized by Windows XP and Mac OS X without any user intervention. The 3D Finger Optical Mouse has an optical sensitivity of 800 dpi, which is the middle setting on the Logitech G5 Mouse.
The mouse can be attached to either the index or middle finger or it can be held like a pencil with the optical portion facing the mousing surface when used. My personal preference is having the mouse attached to my middle finger.
If worn on the finger, the scroll wheel, left and right buttons can be accessed via the thumb.
It definitely takes a little while to get adjusted to this mouse and how to interact with it. The grip is comfortable and keeps the mouse from slipping when using it in the pencil type grip. The left and right click buttons can be clicked directly on the mouse or by using the extension tabs attached.
The central wheel is notched and well elevated away from the body of the 3D Finger Optical Mouse. When using it in the ring configuration, the Velcro strap fits snuggly and securely on the index or middle finger.
The mouse is responsive, but tends to be prone to random movements of the onscreen pointer due to the sensitivity of the optical components and the constant movement of the mouse when attached to ones finger.
One of the selling points of the mouse is the ability to wear it and type at the same time. I found typing to be more difficult with the weight of the mouse sitting on my finger. Also, if you wish to type while wearing the mouse, the mouse must be worn higher on ones finger. This means that part of your finger drags along the mousing surface as you use the mouse. I call this the finger rub. This can become annoying after a little while.
I would not recommend gaming with this mouse, unless it was something with a simple interface. FPS are definitely out of the question.
Summary:
The Lord of the Rings – 3D Finger Optical Mouse is a unique presentation of a familiar peripheral. The name is slightly deceptive since it does not work in 3 dimensional space. This mouse just works in different spatial dimensions that the regular mouse.
There is a learning curve to this mouse and patience is definitely a prerequisite. However, if you take the time, using this mouse can become second nature. This mouse is unique in its form and function, but does not seem like it be the defacto form of future mouse devices.
DragonSteelMods gives the The Lord of the Rings – 3D Finger Optical Mouse a 3.5/5
Pros:
-800 dpi Optical Tracking
-Comfortable
-Rubbery grip
Cons:
-Learning curve for proper use
-Annoying finger rub
I would like to thank USBFever for the chance to review the The Lord of the Rings – 3D Finger Optical Mouse and for their continued support of DSM.
review# 278