Kensington Ci25m Notebook Optical Mouse Review

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by Niki Breese

Touchpads and pointing sticks just aren't as easy to use as a mouse, so a mouse will continue to go along with portable notebook computers for the ride. With wireless mice seemingly taking over the portable market, and taking into account my previous bad luck with that breed, I’m happy to see a low-priced corded mouse like the Kensington Ci25m on the market.

 

Specifications

• Retractable cord extends to 30&quot;
• DiamondEye Optical sensor
• Comfort grips for hours of comfort
• Available USB port ; PC/Mac compatible
• Dimensions: 3.5&quot;L X 1.75&quot;H X 2.25&quot;W

The Ci25m Notebook Mouse in package (view large image)

Design

Front side view (view large image)

Back view (view large image)

 

The Kensington Ci25m Notebook Optical Mouse is a simple, corded mouse with a standard three button layout and a curvy design. Retailing for only $19.95, the cheap plastic feel is not surprising.  The plastic is  a dolphin gray color overall with seamless charcoal buttons and grips down the sides. The buttons appear as one, lending a little style, although they click separately with a loud, dissatisfying “thunk”. The buttons have a soft rubbery texture that ensures a good grip when sliding the mouse around, even if your palms get sweaty. The center scroll button is also rubberized with a tire-like track. Running down each side are additional dimpled rubber grips.

Ergonomics

(view large image)

The Ci25m is neither a tiny mouse nor is it a full sized specimen. For my small hands, it is a comfortable fit. But for those with big hands and long fingers, the size of the mouse proves irksome to use. I passed it around to my predominately male classmates who all complained about the size.

Performance

(view large image)

The Ci25m has a cool marketing name for its optical sensor: DiamondEye. For such a low-priced mouse, it is accurate on most surfaces except glass of course (optical mice cannot track on glass). I have tried paper, a wooden desk, plastic lab tables, jeans, my cat’s back, and the palmrests of a Dell Inspiron. The scroll wheel has a smooth feel to it making scrolling an easy maneuver.

Features

Ci25m with cord extended (view large image)

The main feature of the Ci25m is its 30” retractable cord. The cord of the Ci25m is a bit restrictive and could be longer. It also has a tendency to curl and get in the way. To retract the cord you have to give it a tug and it then winds back into the mouse. The Ci25m is a true plug and play device and comes with no software or driver CD. Kensington’s Mouse Work software is available on their website, but I have not tried it out.

Pros:

• Cheap at $19.99
• Corded Reliability
• Works well on many surfaces
• Does not need batteries

Cons:

• Short Cord
• Unsurprisingly cheap feel
• Unsatisfying buttons
• No software included
• No drivers included in case of problems

 

I have one question. How did you get your cat to stay still so you could use the mouse on her?
Tim

 

Poor kitty

Thanks for the review Niki, when you want a cheap solution without having to worry about a battery dying in a wireless type of mouse a retractable cord travel mouse is the next best thing.

 

Yea, I have to agree with Andrew on this one...poor kitty!

You do find the most interesting ways to test out these things to the max don't you? First a swimming pool to test a waterproof backpack, and now use kitty fur to see how well a mouse tracks!

Good thinking!

 

I still think for most on-the-go users, a bluetooth mouse is the best bet.

 

Other than going with Bluetooth this appears to be the best option for a notebook mouse as far as tracking accuracy and battery issues. Would you recommend this over other similar mouses?