My Buddy, My Buddy ... the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball Mouse (Bluetooth edition)

Wouldn't you agree, Amazon SuperSaver Shipping can be a marvelous thing?

I just got the Bluetooth mouse I ordered for my MacBook about 4 days ahead of schedule. Sweet. And what a sweet Bluetooth mouse/trackball it is -- I think I've finally found the input device of my dreams.

For the longest time I've been looking for “Input Device Nirvana” . . . that sweet, elusive combination of portable convenience and functionality that I believed could only be found in a Bluetooth mouse. But the path to fulfillment was a harsh road fraught with trials and disappointment. (Sigh)

Why Bluetooth? Well, it was supposed to be the wireless standard for input devices -- the one interface from which many devices could conveniently and easily operate. Mice, trackballs, headsets, keyboards, etc. It was supposed to do for wireless input devices what USB did for wired devices, in theory anyway. But we all remember what a bumpy road USB was in the beginning, right? Well, Bluetooth has been even rockier.

The path to Bluetooth-ubiquity has been paved with sloppy execution and inconsistent implementation. Aside from Macs, how many OEMs of Windows laptops and desktops include Bluetooth? On top of that, how many different implementations / stacks are there? Have you tried to get Bluetooth to work properly in Win XP? Don't even get me started on the unholy mess that is Bluetooth on Vista. (Arghhh!) It's no wonder that peripheral manufacturers have turned to sundry, bespoke RF interfaces.

But, Macs have basically had Bluetooth since its inception and they've kept it. The only problem has been finding a good, portable Bluetooth mouse. Don't get me wrong, there are more than a handful of Bluetooth mice out there, but they have all been either too large (not portable enough), too small (not ergonomic enough), or too short-sighted in design (what? no way to turn off the mouse?) While hope sprang eternal, in the meantime I had to suffer with my Microsoft Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse, which was okay but not really perfect.

And then, I stumbled upon the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball Mouse, Bluetooth edition, and all was right in the universe. Finally, it looked like there was a mouse that: was Bluetooth-enabled; had an off switch; was neither too big, nor too small; and as a bonus, could operate as a mouse, or as a trackball. Sweet! I couldn't believe it. I did a little research online and then placed my order through Amazon. As I awaited delivery, thoughts of Bluetooth happiness danced through my head.

And now that I've been able to use it, what do I think? It is simply A.W.E.S.O.M.E! It is the best; this is what I've been waiting for. Perfect fit, very comfortable in the hand. Sleek design makes it nice and portable. Love the fact that I can turn it off, toss it into my laptop bag, and not worry about the battery draining down. Takes AA batteries, excellent.

And the trackball mode? I've got to say I was a bit concerned about the placement of the trackball, relative to the buttons, and how it would feel during use. But after using it for a while now, I find it is just right. (But keep in mind, I'm one of those people who absolutely love the feeling of the Logitech trackballs mice. So I might not be the most unbiased of folks.) I really think Kensington nailed it on the head with this one.

Now, keep in mind that I'm more of a keyboard user when it comes to computing. I like keyboard shortcuts and most of the time I spend on the computer is typing-related. Which is why I was really psyched about the trackball feature: device sits still, takes up little surface area, and you just move cursor here and there when needed with little fuss. I don't do a lot of activities that require pin-point, precision motion tracking. Having said that, the sensitivity and acceleration of the Kensington SlimBlade is seems more than adequate for the occasional photo touch-up or Sims 2 session.

And did I mention it was Bluetooth? No wires. None. And no stupid dongles to take up USB port space . . . goodness knows I need every one of the 2 ports the MacBook has. (Oh, and for those of you without Bluetooth, there is an RF version of the SlimBlade with USB dongle. Shudder.)

So, do I recommend the Kensington SlimBlade? You betcha . . . two thumbs up . . . it's all that and a bag o' chips, etc!