Choiix Cruiser Wireless Mouse

(4.5 star rating) Written by: Jeff Gedgaud

The Cruiser is the latest notebook mouse from Choiix, a recently launched sub-brand of Cooler Master, as part of a full line of PC peripherals and notebook accessories. The Choiix Cruiser is a regular-sized notebook mouse with a full set of features under the hood using the Blue Trace Technology sensor that makes the mouse usable on a variety of surfaces possible. Let's put it to the test to see how well this $25 mouse performs.

Design and Installation

The Cruiser uses a special Blue-ray sensor (don't get this confused with Blu-Ray Discs, as this is a different technology) that uses a new type of sensor for better reading from a variety of surfaces. Choiix claims the mouse works well on glass, wood, tile, marble and more but it also is a great working mouse on regular surfaces.

I will be sure to put this part of the Cruiser to the test along with general notebook use on a GammaTech DuraBook Notebook and a couple of desktop computers. The Cruiser mouse is a nice sized mouse, not that mini-size more common to "notebook" mice. The Cruiser uses a 2.4GHz wireless dongle receiver for connection.

The Cruiser comes with a small USB dongle and a small 7-7/8 by 5-1/8 inch thin mouse pad that has a non skid surface and great precision mouse surface. The nano receiver for the 2.4G wireless connection is very small and allows you to leave the receiver in your laptops USB connection when storing and transporting.

Cruiser Box		What's in the Box

The mouse has plug and play design so using the mouse should be straight forward for most computers and operating systems. I am happy to say that the mouse installation worked flawlessly on five separate computers for me. An additional feature that was quite convenient was a bottom power button along with the battery door for easy changing of the two AAA batteries.

The mouse has the two common finger buttons and the scroll wheel that also has the center click but that is all for buttons, no side or thumb buttons for this simple mouse. The Cruiser does a great job as a simple mouse with great internal workings from the Blue-ray technology for the sensor.

The Cruiser comes in three colors with three different designs for each mouse pad but you are stuck with the pad design that comes with each mouse. The black and white mice have the simple design on a plain color that matches the mouse while the red has a white background on a colored design over the whole pad.

Specifications

• ModelC-WM02-WW (white)
• Dimension 98.00(L) x 57.00(W) x 31.50(H)mm
• Material Plastic
• Buttons 3D 3 Keys
• Sensor ACXa 2001
• CPI Resolution 1600 dpi
• USB Report Rate 125 times/sec
• Speed sensor 28 inches/sec
• RF Technical 2.4GHZ(2.402GHz-2.480GHz)GFSK
• Battery Type 2 x AAA Batteries (included)
• Switch Life 5 million
• Interface USB
• OS WIN98 SE/ME/2000/NT/XP/VISTA/ 7/Mac OS 9.0 or Above
• Warranty 1 year

Bottom View		Cruiser with 2.4GHz wireless USB connector

Features

• Slim and streamlined design perfect for people on the go.
• Adjustable height for a perfectly ergonomic grip.
• 2.4G wireless mouse technology cuts through environmental interference and provides an extended operational distance.
• 1600 dpi high-definition provides quick and precise tracking.
• Automatic sleep mode and on/off management for extended battery life of 4/6 months depending on frequency of use.
• Snap in nano receiver is easily stored in mouse body.
• 2 x AAA batteries included.

Performance Testing

While testing a mouse usually isn't the mouse exciting thing in the world, testing out the Cruiser was actually fun and interesting. The biggest part of the testing was using the Cruiser on different surfaces like wood, aluminum and a glass door. I tried the Cruiser on the usual suspects around my office and living room like my desk, wooden table, wooden coffee table and a few shelves.

The Cruiser works extremely well on a bunch of materials like particle board, really rough treated wood from a fence and several other wood surfaces. I checked glass, smooth flat tiles and glossy tiles, marble and rough cut marble as well as several metal surfaces.

The glass was the most surprising with not only a piece of glass lying on my wood coffee table but my front door glass which the Cruiser had no problem with. I have a glass pane in my front door and used the mouse on the surface with the door open and the Cruiser worked perfectly without problems.

Even running my hand behind the glass under the Cruiser's Blue-ray sensor had no effect on cursor movement so the mouse does track very well on just about any surface. The mouse sensor does well on all the surfaces I tried and even the glass door that a couple of other mice could not be used on.

View with mousepad		Connector in mouse

The Cruiser mouse has a two position ergonomic design using the bottom button that allows the mouse bottom to pop up about 1/4 of an inch. This makes for a unique design that, depending on your hand size and your preference in mouse grip, may aid in overall ergonomics.

I have been using the mouse mostly with the pop-up bottom in but have also used it a bit with the pop-up button out, but I really did not like the added height with my larger hands. The mouse is comfortable in my larger-sized hand and I like this notebook mouse better than the more common smaller ones. However, users with smaller-sized hands will likely prefer the mini-sized notebook mice.

Battery Compartment		Height Difference

Choiix Cruiser Wireless 2.4GHz Mouse

I literally had zero problems with the Cruiser mouse and have enjoyed using it for my notebook testing and as a mouse for my newest home theatre PC setup. The mouse works on the wide variety of surfaces in my living room and the Cruiser also works well on odd surfaces like tile and glass. With an inexpensive price of $25 online, the Cruiser is a superb choice for a wireless notebook mouse.

Pros: Blue-ray sensor works on every surface I tried; Comfortable, ergonomic design; On/off button and internal automatic sleep mode for better battery life; Simple plug and play design; Nano receiver stores in bottom of pop up section; Inexpensive at about $25

Cons: Only has the two finger buttons and scroll wheel with middle button; Not as small as other notebook mice

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

www.choiix.com