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Gyroscopic Wireless Mouse
An anonymous reader writes "This is a must for any game player. Gyration has introduced a working wireless gyroscopic mouse. The $119.95 price tag is a little steep but it works with Linux and it doubles for an optical mouse if placed on the desktop. There is an article about it at Linux Journal." We mentioned an earlier version a year or two ago.
iXMicro had a wireless gyroscopic mouse, what, about seven or eight years ago? It was called the Gyropoint and was absolutely perfect for presentations on my Powerbook. Unfortunately it ran about $200 as I recall, but was well worth it if you presented often allowing one to stand away from the laptop. It also had the additional benefit of working out well for RSI issues, but ate batteries too quick to use it routinely. However, this version doubling as an optical mouse is pretty cool. So, why has it taken so long to get these out to a wider audience?
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So if I tip my TV tray/laptop stand, my mouse position would stay in place? Sweet!
Great for airplanes!
This space for rent.
This has been done before. In fact its still being done for less. However, I wonder if these things are good for RSI.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
In my mind the best thing about it watching my partners try to navigate their hotmail inboxes during presentation with it.
For Example:
Is this just an actual case of, you get what you pay for? Does a good ~100ft. wireless keyboard/mouse need components that costs over 50% of that price ($80) assuming 50% for mark-up, etc.,.? That's hard to believe.
BTW, the mouse/keyboard combo noted in the article appear to have only a 30ft. range (which means MAYBE 15ft on a good moonless night).
'He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.' - Douglas Adams
Who decided that we should all be using mice to control our computer pointers? I believe (if tv doesnt lie) that it was AT&T or someone-or-rather in the late 60's, but why a mouse?
HowStuffWorks says Mice first broke onto the public stage with the introduction of the Apple Macintosh in 1984, but there were heaps of video game consoles out before that, I would have thought that a joystick style controller would have been a logical choice. Mouses are really odd.
For the most part, wireless mice have sucked for gaming because of their sample rate.the technologies exsist now that lets then be just as fast as any usb/ps2 mouse on the market. the Logitech Mx700 is a perfect example of this. it has the exact same sample rate of its wired counterpart the mx500. i use one everyday for gameing, and there is no one who could convince me its not the best gaming mouse out now
I have used one of these for the "gaming" that the poster spoke of, and personally, I found the mouse to be extremly inaccurate when using the gyroscopic method, and wasn't all that great when on the desktop using the optical sensor. The mouse just doesn't seem to be that responsive: blame it on the fact that it isn't wired, or the design isn't great, or whatever. Furthermore, the ergonomics of the mouse are absolutely horrible: I couldn't stomach using the thing on my own computer for much more than basic desktop use, let alone when playing a game that requires repeated motions and accuracy. It looks kind of cool, but the design really doesn't conform well to the hand of the user, although YMMV.
From the review:
Why shouldn't a mouse work with Linux? Or would it not use a standard mouse interface?
move_mouse(x,y)
Wooo works with Linux.
Almost as amazing as ads that proclaim their TouchScreens "work with Linux!!" -- er, a touchscreen is a mouse, or so thinks your computer. Or "Our keyboard wedge barcode scanner works with Linux!!!"; its a hardware trick that mimics keyboard input, so of course it does.
Be sure to pay extra for Linux compatibility!
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
I've had extensive cervical spine surgery, and find it impossible to work on a desktop that doesn't have room to rest my entire arm, never mind the wrist. So as far as ergonomics go, individual user requirements can vary.
On the other hand, raving schizophrenic maniacs can now look perfectly normal! All they have to do is strap on a headset and carry a cordless mouse around, and they'll look like they are hard at work.
Anti-gravity? That was *my* little secret! But I never patented it! Boy, was *that* dumb!
2) This is a stupid device to use with games. Phear me, I wield the Gyroscope!!! .... MOMOMOMONSTER KILL!!!!!! Give me a break. This is good basically for presentations, not for any sort of extended use. Certainly not for gaming. The best gaming input device is a trackball, period. No RSI and perfect motion control. Especially for FPS.
Taking the hint, Microsoft has announced that Halo 2 for XBox will use a Duck Hunt-style gun controller.
I have the unfortunate pleasure of working for a company that has a fair number of these things (~20) In the past year, we have had to return every single one of them due to some problem or another. Usually it is the batteries (ridiculous since they're less than a year old), but there have been other problems. Additionally, they are horridly inaccurate. Okay, to be fair, my hand is horribly inaccurate when it's not supported by something, but that doesn't make them any more useful.
Our university has had those for about 6 months now. Pretty cool I'd say, but not perfect, sometimes its difficult to get the pointer quite in the right spots. Great for pointing to things in presentations, not much else. Also, its really easy to hit the clicker by accident when you're holding down the button on the bottom for the gyro thing. Kinda annoying in powerpoints. However if I remember correctly it works just fine on flat surface like a normal mouse. Thats my .02
I tried to contact Gyration for support with my Ultra GT mouse. Their web-based live chat was never available during the hours they claim. I e-mailed them twice, but they ignored me. I called, was unable to reach a person, left a message. They ignored me. Finally I e-mailed them via the web chat link. After a few days I did receive a reply.
I had one for my home theater PC and it was really great until the keyboard died one week out of warranty. Now it's a $100 brick.
I've had one of these for a year. Love it. Works great, the rechargeable battery is great, the range is great. But for gaming, you need to put it on a mousepad. Waving it around in the air actually works pretty good for normal mousing, but you don't have enough control for a game. I just sit back on the couch and put a mouse pad on the cushion beside me ... the ultimate in laziness!
i own one of these, thinking it would rock with a wireless keyboard and bigscreen on couch. They take alot of practice just to use them in windows alone. Terrible for any real games, they cannot be moved fast or the pointer will go nuts, there is also a lag from the weight inside having to move.
It doesn't have a 3rd button. No way I'm gonna buy it.
How can people live without the 3rd button in X ???
(and no, the wheel doesn't count. try clicking it repeatedly and reliably and you'll know why.)
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
I started with the corded version. Second iteration was wireless version with ball config.(just bought 3 of those on ebay, $17.50 each(they seem to live for about a year before internal components take a dump)) The reason I love these things is having a few different ways to mouse around. This is key if you have carpal tunnel.(consider using it BEFORE you get carpal) plus the freedom to kick back relax. For web browsing it is ultimate. Also, you can actually use this thing standing up and moving around. Try that with a regular mouse.