Microsoft Arc Mouse (Red) - Review

Arc, Arc, Arc! By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla Microsoft recently released the Microsoft Arc Mouse which merges the weight and portability of a notebook mouse with the feel and function of a full-sized mouse. Microsoft has created some stellar mice in its history and it seems that this strange looking mouse is consistent with the quality and feel we have come to expect from Microsoft. Looking like the head of one of those Battle Droids from Star Wars, the Arc mouse maintains a solid feel despite taking up half the space of a traditional mouse. The review continues with more photos after the break Getting the Microsoft Arc Mouse out of the box is an experience in itself. They may as well have cryogenically frozen it in a slab of ice. It requires some dexterity and some sharp implements to pry the Arc Mouse out of its bulletproof plastic casing. We think Microsoft can learn a thing or two about environmentally friendly and hassle-free packaging. I guess they had to go through great lengths to deter thieves, but still it is a painful process. The mouse itself is everything that its packaging is not. Light, sleek and simple, it will elicit mixed reactions. We liked it, our better half found it weird looking. We love that the USB wireless adapter is the smallest one we've seen. Check it out below in comparison to a two-year-old one from Microsoft. Available in Black and Red, we opted for the red one because we felt it looked a bit nicer. The surface where your hand rests is made up of glossy plastic which is reflective enough that you can use it as a mirror to see if anyone is peeping behind you. Paranoid geeks and hackers will, no doubt, like this feature. The scroll wheel is solid and clicks right but we find it a bit noisy. The bottom of the mouse, which holds the battery compartment and the small port where you can magnetically store the eensy-weensy USB dongle is outfitted in a rubber coating, pretty slick. We used the Microsoft Arc Mouse on an Apple MacBook and on an Asus Eee PC 1000HA and it performed flawlessly. Downloading the Microsoft drivers helps extend the functionality. Tracking is sensitive and accurate even on uneven surfaces. We find it a bit light but I guess that's the idea. Battery life is estimated at 6 months on two AAA batteries, which is a lot for something that's on all the time. Microsoft was thoughtful enough to include the batteries as well as a neat carry case made of faux leather. This is clearly a fashion-oriented mouse that focuses on the coolness factor but which has all the obvious benefits of Microsoft's well developed mouse line. While it looks really cool, the Arc Mouse will not win everyone's heart. Mice are extremely personal objects and the primary way we interface with our technology so the more "out there," the designs are then the more of an opinion you will elicit from people. Love it or hate it, it is a solidly built and innovative device. Geeks will want more features and even more buttons but that's not what the Arc Mouse is all about. Minimalist elegance and maximum portability that offers a full-sized mouse experience is what it is all about. We do have a feeling that these will be collector's items in the near future. We can recommend the Microsoft Arc Mouse for frequent travelers or coffee shop surfers who tire of their trackpads and trackpoints. Gamers, graphic designers and office dwellers may want something more substantial in weight and feel. The Microsoft Arc Mouse can be found for roughly $70 Canadian. Pricey for what it is, but considering its build quality, portability and the fact that it offers a built-in rear-view mirror, we think some people will go for it. Online retailers, it seems, sell it for less.

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Cloud Computing and the NetBook Phenomenon - Analysis

The concept of cloud computing has been around ever since the Internet has been able to virtualize applications and software. The big idea is that you no longer need a power hungry or high-spec PC or notebook to be productive since your storage, applications and files can “live” on the Internet. Applications like web based email (Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail) and Google Docs, which clones he functionality of Microsoft Office but which requires you to be connected to the Internet in order to use it, are ushering a new era of cloud computing which is less hardware focused yet offers universal access from any terminal connected to the World Wide Web. In theory, you don’t have to bring all your files with you since you can access them from almost any computer. Continue reading after the jump! Aside from Google, whose Google Docs and Google Calendar web applications enable web based usability, a number of other notable services are starting to spring up. Adobe, considered a software giant specially since it owns the premium design and web development applications Photoshop, Flash and Dreamweaver has recently unvelied Photoshop Express (https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html) which is a pared-down, web based version of the popular image editing and design application that allows users to edit images online. Multiple Access Points One of the more exciting benefits of the Cloud computing model is that you can use your applications from multiple workstations and still have the desired results. As anyone who frequently moves computers will tell you, transferring files and applications and getting them to work on your new system can be a pain. With the cloud computing model, the Internet is your computer and the hardware you use are just the terminals that allow you to manipulate your information. I have been using web based email for years. It has enabled me to avoid cluttering up my PCs with possible viruses as well as gigabytes worth of spam. At the same time, I can freely move from home to work computer without fearing the loss of data (provided that nothing happens to the server where all my mail is located). Similarly, using web based photo repositories like Photobucket and Flickr.com enables users to keep thousands of digital images and photos that can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet. EEE PC Ripple Effect If you had told me three years ago that we would have affordable yet functional sub-notebooks which were less than three pounds and that could manage most applications I wouldn’t have believed you. Sub-notebooks are considered the sportscar exotics of the portable computer world. They are certainly sexy and put a premium on form but have been known to be impractical because of their lack of functionality and their hefty price tags. Asus has changed the game with their EEE PC subnotebook, a cheaper, Linux powered subnotebook that is an ideal cloud computing appliance. Here’s a small, wireless and truly portable device that can integrate with most of the web services out there and in a short period of time a number of EEE PC wannabees have surfaced on the market. Like Asus, HP, Illus, MSI and a few other computer makers are trading optical drives, large disk capacity and girth for portability and connectivity. These are the signs of a revolution in the making which can perhaps be more successful than the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) tablets from a few years ago which failed to impact the mainstream for lack of functionality and for their high prices. Why are the EEE PC and its ilk stirring excitement, because their built in keyboards make them useful and acceptable in both the personal computing and enterprise markets as true computers and business machines. Something that toylike UMPCs have struggled with and with good reason. Pushing technologies to the Cloud For cloud computing to move from novel concept to wave of the future, a number of technologies have to first evolve. Widespread Internet access needs to become more accessible and more affordable. City wide Wi-Fi (WIMAX) has been on the radar for four years now but no major developments have pushed it forth. There’s 3G, EVDO, HSDPA, satellite and telecom-based Internet access but they are expensive for the general public to adopt and more suited towards time-critical business applications. Offer better and cheaper wireless Internet and you will see Cloud Computing take off and devices like the EEE PC and even smartphones like Apple’s iPhone become much more than than sleek tech toys but actual personal productivity and communication devices for a new age.

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