Kensington Ci Lifestyle Collection Mice Review

Keyboards and mice tend to not be the most stylish peripherals, but Kensington set to change that perception with its Ci Lifestyle Collection. Designed in partnership with a design firm in San Francisco, the mice and keyboards in the collection were created to not only work well but to look good too. We got a chance to work with some of these new mice, including the rouge colored Ci70le Wireless Mouse and the Ci75m Wireless Notebook Mouse that is available in black or orange and silver.

Set-Up / Installation:
The mice come with a standard USB receiver. We tried using each of them on a computer running Windows Vista, and a Mac running OS X. Both operating systems picked up the mice right away with out a hitch.

Performance:
Both of the mice have excellent sensitivity and are very responsive. Inside the Ci70le and the Ci75m is a 1000 dpi performance optical sensor which shined. I was able to use the mice from as far away as 6 feet from their receivers. However at about 6 feet away from the receiver, the mice start to lose their responsiveness. Also, the scroll wheel at the top of the mice works well and does a good job of scrolling through web pages and other documents.

Ergonomics:
The good news is that lefties finally get to use a mouse that is fashionable and pretty comfortable to use. The bad news is that these aren’t an ergonomic mouse. The mice are similarly shaped to Apple’s mouse with its roundish and flat body. Overall, the mice are comfortable to use, but are still in a different league than an ergonomically designed mouse. Each person has their own preference when it comes to whether they need an ergonomic shaped mouse or not. If you’re not sure what your own personal preference is, our recommendation is to go and try out the mouse on display at your local electronics store.

Battery Life:
The Ci70LE runs on two standard double AA batteries while the Ci75m runs on 2 triple AAA batteries. Kensington claims a battery life of up to 6 months for the Ci70LE. We’ve been using the mice for a few weeks and it still running on the same batteries that Kensington supplied in the box. Also, there is a low battery indicator on the scroll wheel so that you’ll be warned when the time comes to put in a fresh pair of batteries. Both of the mice also feature an automatic sleep state to conserve battery power when not in use.

Portability:
One of the Ci70LE’s claim to fame is that it is up to 35% thinner than a standard mouse, and indeed it is very slim. The USB receiver securely snaps in to the base of the mouse while traveling. A 5 inch USB extension cable is generously included in case you’re USB port isn’t in a good spot for sending a strong wireless signal to the mouse. Now that we think of it, all wireless mice should really always include a USB extender. The Ci75M is a little bit smaller, thinner and lighter then the Ci70LE and thus more suited for travel. Underneath it’s casing, where the batteries are stored, a USB cable is secretly tucked away so that you can conveniently use the Ci75m as a wired mouse as well.

Conclusion:
The Ci70Le Wireless Mouse and the Ci75m Wireless Notebook mouse are a breath of fresh air in the world of mice. We love their glossy exterior, slim and modern contours, and the fashionable rouge colored design with orange circles on the Ci70LE. The mice also excel at being responsive and has been a pleasure to use. Lefties and fashionistas should look no further, this is the mouse you’ve been waiting for. However, people who require the comfort of an ergonomic mouse should try this one out before jumping ship.
The Ci70LE retails for $39.99 and the Ci75m retails for $34.99 and are backed by a 5 year warranty. Aside from the CI70LE and the Ci75m, as part of Kensington’s Ci Lifestyle collection, Kensington has a selection of other similarly hip mice for you to choose from in case the rouge color of the Ci70LE and the black Ci75m doesn’t hit the spot for you. There is also a lime green and silver Ci85m QuickStart which connects to your laptop using its Express Card slot, an orange and silver version of the Ci75m notebook mouse, a black Ci85m with orange trim and the Titanium Ci70.

Conclusion:

The Good:
Stylish and Thin, Great Performance, left-handed users aren’t left out

The Bad:
Not Ergonomic

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