By Chris Scott Barr
When you’re in the market for a a notebook mouse, you have plenty of options to choose from. However, when you really start looking closely, you’ll find that most of them are very similar. Sure, one might have an extra button or two here, or maybe a slightly different shape. Rarely do you find one that’s truly different. The Smartfish Whirl would be one of those rare devices. Today I’ll be sharing my review of the Whirl.
First Look
When first observed, you might think that the Whirl was an ordinary notebook mouse, sitting on top of something. Upon closer inspection, you’d find that the thing it’s sitting on is actually a part of the mouse. The plastic stand is what makes this mouse different from pretty much every other one on the market. The stand is only connected at a small point at the bottom of the mouse. The mouse is able to pivot on this point, providing a unique mousing experience.
Aside from the unusual base, the Whirl is rather unexceptional. It has only the two basic buttons and scrollwheel. For the lefties out there, you’ll be happy to know that this mouse is symmetrical. This of course means that it works just as well in the right or left hand.
This mouse is wireless, which is almost a necessity when it comes to portability. It functions off of two AAA batteries, and connects to your computer using a very tiny USB receiver. The tiny receiver is great because you can leave it plugged into your laptop, even when you’re storing the computer in your case or bag. If you really don’t want the receiver left there, you can open up the battery compartment on the Whirl and insert it into a slot for safekeeping.
Comfort/Usability
Since this mouse pivots on a stand, it will feel very strange to use at first. The laser is located on the bottom of the stand, so you will move this mouse around like any other. However, when you start to move your hand in one direction, the weight shift will cause the mouse to tilt accordingly. This is done to make the experience of using the mouse more ergonomic than a completely stationary mouse.
Naturally, using a mouse that pivots is going to be weird. After a few days, however, it felt rather pleasant. The most important thing is figuring out exactly how to hold it properly. This will likely be different for everyone. You’ll eventually notice that your whole hand moves much differently, and during extended periods of use, it will cause less discomfort than other mice.
Conclusion
If you experience pain or discomfort when using your laptop mouse for long periods, I would definitely look into checking out the Whirl from Smartfish. Give it a few days, and you should notice a difference. At only around $50, it’s not going to cost you much more then your average notebook mouse.
[ Smartfish ]
