Tailless Mice

The farmer's wife must have gotten into the Zeny factory. The latest mice from Zeny Computer Systems have no trailing cord to connect to a computer. Although your desk won't look the same without that long, dangling mouse tail, you'll find it easy to get used to.

Zeny cordless mice operate by beaming infrared light to the computer. To save the batteries, the beam only operates when there's a change of position or a press of a mouse button. Otherwise the rodent remains dormant. The mouse's rechargeable NiCad batteries last for 3–4 days of normal use and then require 15 hours to recharge. The receiver (the unit that converts the infrared signals into the mouse signals the computer expects) is about the size of a matchbox. It connects to the computer's serial port by an 84-inch cable and requires the use of the battery recharger as a power supply.

The unusual design of this mouse doesn't stop with the cordless feature: Zeny has done away with the troublesome, dirt-gathering mouse ball. Instead, the mouse is mounted on wheels directly connected to the optical sensors inside the mouse. This direct connection makes for extrem sensitivity, allowing you to set the mouse at up to 1000 dpi (dots per inch), though the default is 200 dpi.

The Zen Mouse is compatible with Microsoft, Logitech, and MSC mice. It lists for $129. A corded version is available for $89.

Zeny Computer Systems, 4033 Clipper Ct., Fremont, CA 94538

Reader Service Number 356.