THINNEST MOUSE IS TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL

Most any car can get you from point A to point B but doing it in something that looks and feels great, that offers class and style along with added functionality is certainly more preferable. I think that idea holds true for just about any consumer product and computers and their peripherals are certainly no exception.

Take audio equipment for example. You can go out and buy a box that has a radio, CD player and the like in it or you can get components from Bang & Olufsen that do the same things but look so much more incredible while doing them. B&O's styling and functionality makes the process of listening to music as enjoyable as the listening itself. This holds true for their video and telephony products as well. In fact everything they make is beautiful to look at and operate.

Apple has been an industry leader with its stylish and technologically advanced products. Granted that cost has kept them in a minority share but those who understand that spending a little more gets you something aesthetically more pleasing are happy they made that decision. Style and functionality are the main reasons that their iPod continues to be the best selling mp3 player to date. Same thing with Sony's VAIO line of computers. When it comes to design, I think of the VAIO as the Apple Computer of the PC world.

So when I see something new and innovative applied to something as commonplace as a computer mouse, it makes me sit up and take notice. Let's face it. Many of us don't like using the built-in trackpad on our portable computers and I'm one of them. I always carry a mobile mouse in my case. They're typically smaller but have all the functionality of their larger counterparts. They're cordless, optical and have at least two buttons and a scroll wheel. Yet it's still one more thing to lug around. But wait until you see the MoGo MouseBT from Newton Peripherals. Warning. To see one is to want one. But as you'll see, this is just not another pretty mouse.

First of all, the MoGo MouseBT looks nothing like a mouse. For starters, it's flat. That's because it fits into the PCMCIA slot of your laptop. Not only does it neatly store itself in there, it also recharges itself in less than an hour when its not being used. There are no batteries to replace. Is that cool or what?

When you pop out the sleek-looking, sliver-toned card, a small black foot swivels down which lifts up the back end of the card so that it tilts downward. This forms a kind of wedge-like shape that actually touches the back part of your palm giving you the familiar support one gets when placing their hand over any ordinary mouse. The left and right buttons are small indentations on which your finger tips rest naturally.

Finally, the MoGo MouseBT communicates via Bluetooth. That means if your laptop has Bluetooth built in, you need add nothing more to make this work. If not, it works with any of those USB Bluetooth dongles that are readily available.

I have to say that in this case, a picture is worth a mouse in the bush so if your local paper didn't include the MoGo's photograph, go to their website and see it for yourself. To see it is to instantly understand it. And unlike those items from B&O, VAIO and Apple, the MoGo is very affordable at $69.95. So now you have no excuse not to pick one of these up when they become available in the next few weeks.

www.newtonperipherals.com