Tech Reaction

With all of the on-the-go technology we have today, small and convenient peripherals are in high demand. We will be taking a look at a new mouse from Choiix, a Cooler Master group, known as the Cruiser (MSRP $24.99). The Cruiser mouse is made for frequent travelers who use their laptop in unconventional places where big and bulky just won’t do. It’s powered by two AAA batteries with an automatic sleep mode, plus an on/off switch, which could possibly extend the battery life up to 4-6 months depending on use. With 2.4G wireless “Blue Trace” technology, it will also help cut through environmental interference so that you will stay connected better. Let’s take a look at the new Choiix Cruiser and see if it lives up to the claims of being “perfect for people on-the-go”.

Packaging:

Features:

Specifications:

• Direction / Buttons: 3D/ 3Keys
• DPI Resolution: 1600 dpi
• RF Technical: 2.4GHz
• Batteries type: 2×AAA
• Dimension: 98(L)×57(W)×31.5(H) mm
• Interface: USB

Choiix Cruiser Mouse:

The mouse is extremely simple in it’s design, with left and right buttons and a scroll wheel. Once flipped over, you can see where the batteries will go, and the on/off switch which will help lengthen battery life. You will also see the button to adjust the height of the mouse to make it more ergonomically pleasing.

In the above two pictures you can see the USB nano receiver. It’s very small, but it gets the job done. It fits the goal of the slim and streamlined design perfectly!

Storage:

When you are finished with your work and would like to stow away the mouse and nano receiver, it’s actually quite simple. You raise the height of the mouse, with the button mentioned above, and you will see a storage spot in the back of the mouse.

All you have to do now is just slide in the nano receiver and you are done. If you would like to get the receiver out, just look at the picture on the right. You will see a sliding button; simply push it back and the receiver will slide out without any problems.

Installation & Usage:

Once you get the batteries installed and everything plugged in and turned on, you will notice how effortlessly the mouse slides over the mouse pad. Also, with the Blue Trace sensor, it gives you quick and precise tracking so you don’t need to move the mouse much in order to maneuver around the screen. This is a big plus when you are in tight quarters. With Blue Trace technology, it will also work on just about any surface, just in case you forget the mouse pad. You can see in the picture on the right just how it will look once the nano receiver is plugged into your laptop. It fits snug without much overhang to get caught on random items. Once plugged in and turned on, it will start right up once Windows installs the driver. We had no problems with this, and it took all of about 10 seconds for us to be able to use the mouse.

Now, we check out the ergonomic features of the mouse. You can use the mouse with the normal height or you can raise it up a little and get even more height to help the comfort of your wrist.   All you need to do to raise or lower it is push the button on the bottom of the Cruiser, as mentioned earlier. This is a nice feature if you are going to be using this mouse for extended periods of time. Every little bit helps in keeping you free of carpal tunnel syndrome!

Size:

We took a quick size comparison picture for you to see just how small the Choiix Cruiser is. It is being compared with a Logitech G5 mouse and you can see the noticeable size difference between this portable mouse and the larger desktop gaming mouse.

Conclusion:

Overall, this is a great mouse that gets the job done. The small size makes it extremely portable and the built-in storage area for the receiver is one less thing for you to worry about. Also, the mouse is able to work on almost any surface, whether it be wood, metal, carpet, glass, or nearly anything else. It will always be useful no matter where you happen to be.

We should, however, point out a couple of concerns we had while using the mouse and testing it. If you have big hands like we happen to, this mouse will take a little getting use to due to it’s small stature. Using something like the Logitech G5 for years and then switching to the Choiix Cruiser was a shock to our hand. So keep this is mind for the first couple of times that you use this mouse, as it will feel noticeably different. The other thing we want to point out is the fact that the nano receiver is so small. We think it could be easily lost under some papers or knocked off of your work area if not stored properly or kept track of.

We can’t hold those two issues completely against the Choiix Cruiser, however, because that is exactly what it was made to be; a small and streamlined portable mouse solution. We just wanted you to be aware of it before you make a purchase. If you can get past those two minor details, then this will be a solid addition to your on-the-go life.

The Choiix Cruiser receives the TechREACTION.net Silver Silicon Award!

For more details on the Choiix Cruiser, go here