Targus Bluetooth Laser Mouse Review

by Jerry Jackson

The Targus Rechargeable Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse is an innovative travel mouse designed to connect via Bluetooth to your laptop without the need for a USB receiver. Targus boasts about how this mouse can switch from 800 to 1,600 dpi on the fly for improved gaming and other activities, but is this lightweight wireless mouse as good as it sounds? We put it to the test to find out.

Targus is known for making a wide range of affordable notebook cases and accessories, but I've never found their mice to be overwhelmingly impressive. When I saw a press release for their new Bluetooth travel mouse I realized this mouse has a lot of potential. First, by using Bluetooth the mouse is able to avoid the need for a USB receiver ... which saves a precious USB port on your notebook. Second, Targus clearly gave a lot of thought to the design of this mouse (more on that later). Lastly, the price is right for a Bluetooth travel mouse: the MSRP is $69.99 and most retail stores sell this mouse for even less.

Technical Specs

• Color: Black/Blue
• Exterior Dimensions: 4.1" x 2.1" x 1.4"
• System Requirements: Windows 2000, XP, Vista or MAC OS X (10.4 or higher)
• Warranty: Limited One Year Warranty
• Weight: 2.04 oz
• Package includes: Mouse, rechargeable NiMH batteries, USB charging cable, and travel pouch
• MSRP: $69.99

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Build and Design

I tend to be something of a snob when it comes to mouse design. Even if a mouse has the best features and performance, if the mouse doesn't look and feel good then I don't want it. For the most part, the design of the Targus Rechargeable Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse is both stylish and functional. The grip is neither too rounded nor too flat and the overall size is just right (not too large for travel and not too small for everyday use).

I particularly like the ambidextrous design since this not only allows left-handed users to enjoy the mouse but it allows right-handed users to switch the mouse to their left hand to avoid repetitive stress injuries. The rubberized texture also makes the mouse quite comfortable to use. The only thing I don't particularly like about the design is the giant blue circle.

The bottom of the mouse has a simple on/off switch, a recessed Bluetooth connect button, four glide pads/feet, and the battery cover release.

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There are only three buttons on this mouse: left click, right click, and middle click/scroll wheel. This keeps the mouse simple so that anyone can use it, but some people will find the lack of dedicated forward/back buttons a little annoying.

The front of the mouse features a USB port for connecting a supplied USB cable to the mouse so that the batteries can be recharged. Targus includes two AAA rechargeable NiMH batteries with the mouse. The battery compartment cover is a little difficult to remove, but this isn't a major concern since most people will just leave the supplied batteries inside the mouse all the time and use the USB cable to charge them.

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In Use

As I mentioned previously, the Targus Rechargeable Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse is designed to work with Bluetooth enabled PC and Mac computers without the need for a USB receiver. Targus claims this mouse works up to 33 ft away and I was able to maintain an accurate and stable connection at least 25 feet away from my notebook. The laser sensor has the ability to switch from 800 to 1,600 dots per inch (dpi) on-the-fly for heightened sensitivity during gaming, but it's not entirely easy.

In order to switch the mouse from 800 dpi to 1600 dpi you must press both the scroll and right key when the mouse is on. A red LED in the scroll wheel will light up for around three seconds to indicate the resolution is switching. When the LED is off, it indicates the resolution switching is successful.

In terms of Bluetooth connectivity, the Targus mouse performed quite well and I was never able to attribute a lost Bluetooth connection to the mouse. Connecting the mouse to a computer via Bluetooth was simple and straightforward, but the "connect" button on the base of the mouse was too small to be practical. I had to use the head of a pen or pencil every time I needed to reset the connection on the mouse. It would have been nice if the button was just a little larger so I could press it with my fingernail.

The only other minor annoyance I experienced during several weeks of testing this mouse was the momentary lag that occurs after leaving the mouse unused for several minutes. The mouse automatically goes into a power-saving mode after not being used for several minutes. If you move the mouse again it takes several seconds for movement to register on screen.

This power-saving mode delay became really annoying when I was typing lengthy articles or emails because I wouldn't use the mouse for several minutes and when I needed to use the mouse again there was a momentary lag. This won't be a problem if you constantly move the mouse around.

While we're on the topic of battery saving modes, let's discuss battery life. Since I was using the Targus Bluetooth mouse as a travel mouse and I have a dedicated mouse at work and home I wasn't using it every day. However, I only charged the batteries once at the beginning of the review period and the charge lasted the entire review period (almost three weeks) without needing to be recharged. I still haven't recharged the mouse but I assume the batteries will have to die sometime.

Conclusion

The Targus Rechargeable Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse is an excellent travel mouse for anyone who needs a compact Bluetooth mouse with easy USB recharging capability. I would have liked to see dedicated forward and back buttons for easy web browser navigation but that is a minor issue. The momentary lag from the battery saving mode and the tiny Bluetooth connect button on the base of the mouse are a little more difficult to live with.

Overall, I really liked the Targus mouse and I've decided to replace my old wireless USB travel mouse with this mouse. The mouse might not be perfect, but it still does a lot of things right.

Pros

• Comfortable, compact shape and ambidextrous design
• Good Bluetooth connection
• Long-lasting rechargeable batteries that can recharge via USB
• Rubberized texture feels very nice
• Low price

Cons

• Why the giant blue circle? Yes, we understand it's Bluetooth.
• Battery saving function causes lag after several minutes of non use.
• Tiny recessed "connect" button needs to be easier to press.
• Dedicated forward/back buttons would be nice for web browsing