Home page » Peripherals

Search:

Refine search for Peripherals

The Gyration Air Mouse GO Plus will work on almost any computer, whether it's running Linux, Mac OS X or Windows. Under these circumstances you can do anything that a normal mouse would be able to do in the air, but to get the most out of it you'll need to install the included GyroTools software, which only works under Windows 98SE onwards.

To get the full low-down on the software we'd recommend taking a look through the previous Air Mouse review, but for those who'd rather not here's a quick run-through. After an install that takes less than half a minute, you're greeted by an easy to navigate profile and button manager. Preconfigured profiles include Internet/Email, MediaPlayer, MyProfile (the default, offering a mix of productivity-oriented settings) and Windows/Email, but you can create an unlimited number of custom profiles.

All the mouse's buttons except the main left one are programmable, which includes double-clicking and click-and-hold. You can also customise swipes in any direction on one axis, horizontal or vertical shakes and hotspots on your screen, as well as combining buttons with any combination of Shift, Alt, Ctrl or the Windows key.

Assigning functions to any of these is as simple as can be: just drag one of the relevant icons (which are sorted by category) into the appropriate box. Multimedia control and presentations are the two areas where the Air Mouse most comes into its own, though for some reason controlling volume by swiping the mouse didn't work as well as on the previous model. Since the sensors work perfectly, this is probably a software issue which we hope Gyration sorts out soon. Gaming, especially of the point-and-click or shooter varieties, can also be interesting and challenging in new ways with the Air Mouse, though it's hardly worth purchasing for this reason alone.

When all's said and done, is Gyration's latest worth its considerable asking price of £89.99 MSRP? Even with retail prices usually shaving a bit off, we're looking at around £80 compared to the £50 which will bag you the company's 'standard' Air Mouse. Adding £15 for some rechargeable AAA batteries and a charger, the smaller rodent is still £15 less, so your choice really comes down to your intended usage model.

For most people we'd recommend the older Air Mouse, which in addition to being cheaper is more compact, stores the dongle in its body, comes with a decent carry case and is actually usable on a desk.

On the other hand, if you're after a motion sensing mouse to be used in conference rooms and the like, the extra comfort while waving the GO Plus through the air is probably worth it. Plus keep in mind its bulkier dongle will also work with the company's keyboards, creating a complete package for wireless control.

Verdict

Like Gyration's previous Air Mouse, the Air Mouse GO Plus has its share of flaws yet is still worth considering. It's more comfortable than the company's previous effort while in its element but not that great to use as a mouse, so whether you're prepared to pay the premium really depends on intended usage.

Add your comment

© 2003-2009 TrustedReviews & IPC Media
About Us | Contact Us | Legal | Privacy | RSS