- DiamondEye optical technology responds to your fastest movements with accurate tracking and precise guidance
- Provides the convenience of 4 programmable mouse buttons and a scroll wheel to reduce repetitive tasks to a single click
- Connects via USB and is guaranteed to work right out of the box on both PCs and Macs
- Backed by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty and free technical support
- Ergonomically designed to be comfortable for both right- and left-handed users with rubberized EasyGrip for superior control
Product Description
Ultra high-speed precision. Maximum control. Never has “point-and-click” been easier. The Kensington Optical Elite mouse uses state-of-the-art optical technology and an exclusive Kensington design to provide smooth, effortless tracking. Ultra high-speed optical sensors detect movement on almost any surface, and with no moving parts, no cleaning is necessary. With Kensington optical mice, you get power, comfort, and the assurance of high-quality devices.
Amazon.com Product Description
The Kensington 72121 Mouse-in-a-Box Optical Elite USB/PS2 Mouse uses optical technology and unbelievably precise cursor control to provide a mouse that is smooth as silk. The Kensington 72121 features programmable buttons and MouseWorks software that reduce repetitive tasks to a single click. Ergonomically designed to be comfortable for both right- and left-handed users, this mouse has a rubberized EasyGrip chassis for a confident grip with a superior level of control. The speed and pinpoint accuracy of Kensington’s DiamondEye optical technology allows it to respond to even your fastest movements with accurate tracking and precise guidance. With a sleek black body complimented by silver accents, this stylish mouse compliments any desktop. Easy to use, the Kensington 72121 provides the convenience of four mouse buttons and a scroll wheel that make navigation a snap. This Kensington optical mouse connects via USB/PS2 and is guaranteed to work right out of the box on both PCs and Macs, with long-lasting reliability that is backed by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty and free technical support. The Kensington 72121 Elite mouse has a six-foot cord, and requires a PC with Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP with USB port, a PC with Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP with PS/2 compatible mouse port, or a Macintosh with a USB port running OS X or later.
R. Dowling @ 10:49 pm
I have nothing but good things to say about this mouse. Kensington is legendary for the quality of their mice and input devices, and this mouse continues that tradition, despite its low price. The 5-year warranty is very reassuring, and Kensington tech support is unbeatable (in the unlikely event that you need it). This mouse is very comfortable for both right-handed and left-handed users. It is extremely accurate and precise, and works flawlessly with Macs as well as Windows PCs. I use this mouse on a wooden desk without a mouse pad, and it works perfectly. I’ve also tried using it on my carpet, on my coffee table, and even on my leg, and it worked great! I can say with confidence that this is a go-anywhere mouse that truly doesn’t need a mouse pad in order to function. The MouseWorks software is arguably the best mouse driver ever written. My only complaint, and a minor one at that, is that I wish it came in an all-black version, rather than black & silver. Other than that, I would heartily recommend it to anybody who wants a premium quality mouse at a reasonable price.
Lorin Rivers @ 12:39 am
I love this mouse, and I love this company. They really “get” it, from design, to drivers, and most importantly, service.
This mouse is comfortable, and addresses the only flaw of its predecessor (a tendancy to slip when pressing the side buttons on the body of the mouse). I bought that one the day they announced Mac OS X drivers and threw the other mouse I had (rhymes with “blech”) in a drawer.
This mouse has all the buttons you could want, but not to a ridiculous extreme, and supports “chording” where you can assign additional functionality to multiple-button presses (i.e., both main buttons at once).
Buy this mouse instead of some other company’s!
If you write a comment in your registration form on line, you may get a response from a Kensington executive, a sign of a clueful company.
Photoguy @ 1:12 am
I got this mouse for an iMac (Core 2 Duo) because reading all the information and reviews told me: this is the mouse for me. However, this mouse is not what I was expecting. So allow me to comment on any ides you might get from other reviews and the software description.
I thought it would be quiet. The main mouse buttons and scroll button are medium-medium-quiet (which isn’t very bad, but I wanted quiet). But the side option buttions are LOUD.
I thought it would be pretty comfortable for my medium-small hands. It isn’t bad, but it is kind of tall at the center (the hump is in the middle) and a little wide.
The software was no good. It installed fine on my Mac OS X 10.4.10, but it wouldn’t open the preferences it installed in the System Preferences. It said I needed to update the software, which was especially funny since mid-install it asked me if I wanted to download and install a newer version (which turned out to download 2.5), and I did. I had to go to their website and download 3.0, which worked. However, I did not like the configuration of the buttons, and there was no option to make the side buttons do Exposé. It also put an ugly icon of a mouse inside a gear at the top of the menubar (next to the time) which let you know if the single-direction scroll wheel was set to go up-down or right-left. Guess what? Clicking the scroll wheel changes this back and forth, which means no more opening and closing tabs in my web browser with that button. I decided to un-install the software, and now it acts more like a regular Mighty Mouse (excluding the sideways scrolling).
A minor (or not so minor?) thing is that the mouse cord has lead, and it says “wash hands after handling”! Wash my hands every time I touch the mouse wire? Why don’t they just use regular rubber or something?
Another minor thing, scrolling the middle wheel a little (so it doesn’t actually scroll a notch) makes a sound like the wheel is loose.
Finally, the optical sensor which gives the mouse its location doesn’t work on all surfaces it should. I work on a white table that has a kind of matte reflection, and for some reason I cannot find, the mouse doesn’t work properly over the part of the table I usually use; I have to use a mouse pad! A funny thing is that a Logitech mouse I have which doesn’t work on a raw wood desk (in the same way this one doesn’t work on my white table) does work on the white table, and this Kensington mouse does work on the wood table. (The Apple Might Mouse works on both surfaces.)
So, in summary, it is a decent mouse, but it has many areas that need improvement in order for me to consider it a mouse I would recommend or buy again.
UPDATE: After less than two years, the cord on this mouse has become unreliable. At certain angles, the connection breaks and I have to jiggle it around before the mouse resumes working. I’m stuck back with the bluetooth Apple Might Mouse. My new rating would be two stars for a two-year lifespan.
Ron @ 3:34 am
Excellent all-around. I wanted a programmable multi-button mouse – comfortable and reliable – and got it. Comfortable, the 4 buttons are programmable for common one touch functions, and functions efficiently and cleanly. Scroll wheel is adjustable and works well. I’ve tried other mice – at work, other computers – and haven’t found another I like anywhere near as much — and most cost multiples of this one. My only wish is an identical mouse that’s wireless — maybe it exists and I’ve missed it. But for a wired mouse I can’t imagine one I’d like better. Kensington got it right.
I. Sahba @ 6:03 am
Environment
This mouse was purchased for a new Mac Pro 2.93 8-core system to be used in a 3D modeling, graphics environment along with other Macs that have the previous generation Optical Elite Kensington mice.
Low light, Placed on corner station desktop, plenty of room.
No games are on the system.
Moderately low amount of text (typing).
Heavy use for graphics, drawing and modeling. Average day use is around 10-14 hours.
Physical (User)
6′2″ (186cm), Hand span pinky-thumb 10″ (25.4cm), medium-long fingers.
OCD about hand cleanliness, wash 12+ times a day
I have used mice since 1987. Many brands and in 1995 I switched to Kensington mice for all my machines; Mac and PC.
I have had 2 of the 4 button Kensington mice since 1995 on ADB port macs, they still work. I have had 3 Optical Elite 4 button since 2001, they still work. They all function well using the Mouseworks software.
Typically I use Left Click, Double Click, Control+Click and Popup menu function with about 15 functions programmed in Mouseworks.
Physical Aspects:
Kensington 72121 Mouse-in-a-Box Optical Elite USB Mouse is 1.5″ tall comparing to Apple’s mouse shipped in 2009 at 1.25″. While many think of it as a little too tall you should consider that that extra 0.25″ in the hump height allows clicking to be performed from the knuckle joint of the fingers, index and middle. On the Apple mouse I find myself, and a few others to squeeze and use the first phalange joint to click the button which is actually the whole top of the mouse. If you are aware of ergonomics principals and guidelines you will note that keeping fingers moving from knuckle is preferable to phalanges.
If you have a medium to small size body and hands and are sitting in a chair such that the height is not optimum for the wrist angle you should consider using a gel pad for the wrist area.
The surface is comfortable and the grip area on Left and Right is very nice to hold on.
The Left and Right button are conformable and so are 3rd and 4th on two sides. The scroll wheel is rubber like; it has good grip on it and the button on it functions well. (Swap Scrolling direction)
The Left and Right buttons chording (pressing both buttons at the same time) functions well. The 3rd and 4th button can easily be chorded by squeezing the mouse with the 3rd phalange of the ring finger and the thumb. The wheel can be depressed as a button to change/toggle the direction of scrolling from vertical to horizontal. You can also have an indicator in the top menu bar (Mac) to show that it is on Horizontal. If you kill that function you can program the wheel button as any other button, turning the 72121 to a 7 Button mouse.
The chord is 6ft long. I have seen a post about it containing lead. That is NOT in any documentation, on the box or any other place than I can think of. The concept is very retarded as lead is one the poorest conductor of electricity due to lacking of free electrons.
This mouse does not really need any maintenance. I just clean the bottom every 2days on a low moisture dust cloth. Keeping the surface clean helps a lot, especially if you use hand moisturizers, creams, etc.
I have never had any of my 11 Kensington mice to have any wire problem, alas, I do not pull on them and I do not hang the mouse by the wire or use it as a spinning weapon.
Software:
The Mouseworks software works great; it is the most complete mouse software I have seen. You can assign many functions and macros to the buttons and streamline your work. You may even setup different sets for each button for each application. e.g. In most apps I use Left Click, Double Click, Control+Click and Popup menu function. The chord left and right buttons OPENs or COMMAND+O in Mac or same as Control+O (PC) and Chording the 3rd and 4th button performs a CLOSE; COMMAND+W or CONTROL+W. But in Safari and Firefox I use the front chord for BACK button of browser and the back chord to close a window.
Some functions can make your life much easier. The popup menu allows me to enter my email address, (3 of them) with one click without ever have to re-spell it or copy and paste it, address, phone numbers and even the commands that are repeated a lot in certain software.
There are a lot of adjustments for acceleration and deceleration of the mouse so you can really appreciate that if you have more than one monitor and have mover the mouse a lot to go from one end to other. Scrolling speed is adjustable, so is clicking speed. Unfortunately you can not chord the front and back buttons together. Basically this is a 7 button mouse while Kensington could have had the software to allow more combination for chording to make this to be 13 button mouse.
To make the easiest path for installation your best bet for this mouse is to download and install the newest version of it first and repair permissions, then restart. It is 3.0 for Mac and it works with Mac OS X 10.4.11-10.6.2. The CD version that comes with it is not going to work with the Mac Pros and new iMacs.
Conclusion:
I recommend this mouse to anyone who wants to be able to make their hand to have less repetitive tiring. Faster function and less stress. The software is very easy to set up and expand. You can even setup the mouse on one Mac and then copy 2 files to another mac and reboot and have the same software setup for both.
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