August 5th, 2005
4-Port USB Mouse Pad is Actually a Smart Idea
By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
I always double over laughing in stores when I see those mouse pads with gel wrist guards, and built in calculators, and paper clip holders, etc. They always seem to wind up on the desk of the laziest slob in the company (ever notice that?). But today I found a mouse pad that actually makes sense: it offers 4 built-in USB ports.
Why This Is Worth Your While: At home I have a keyboard from Microsoft (now discontinued) that has two USB ports that I actually find really handy. Instead of diving under my desk or cramming a cable into my jammed up hub, the keyboard ports make updating my MP3 player a breeze. The ports are only USB 1.0, so this new mousepad with 4 ports at the much faster USB 2.0 speed is a dream. And at $22, it’s also a steal. Source: Gadgetry Blog
Specifications & Features :
# 4 USB port Hub
# Built-in stereo speaker
# Built-in Microphone
# Built-in headset and audio output connector
# Built-in Microphone connector
# Microphone On/Off switch
# Fully compliant with USB 1.1 and compatiable USB 2.0
# Red LED indicator
# USB powered : 5V/500mA
# Driverless, hot plug & play.
# Support OS : Win XP, 2000, ME, 98, Linux 2.4 and Mac OS 8.5 or above.
# Size : 21.8 x 18.8 mm
# Weight : 278gm
# USB cable length : 140 cm
# Audio cable length : 140 cm
Lockergnome's Tech News Watch says:
4-Port USB Mouse Pad is Actually a Smart Idea
I always double over laughing in stores when I see those mouse pads with elaborate gel wrist guards, and built in calculators, and paper clip holders, etc. They always seem to wind up on the desk of the laziest slob in the company (ever notice that?) B…
August 5th, 2005 at 11:24 am
Louie says:
Built-in stereo speaker? So I need two mouse pads, right? Or am I misinformed about this stereo thing?
August 5th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
Jonathon Flores says:
Ewww…when i saw this a while back i almost liked it but when i pictured on my desk it didnt look so nice…wires would be all in your way right there by the mouse and keyboard…i know i would always be wrangling with them…it would clutter up the place..gross…but thats just my unprofessional and theoretical opinion
August 5th, 2005 at 1:13 pm
Paul Koan says:
My professional and thoroughly proven opinion is that this is nonsense.
Get a small four port hub that is defined as “spares”, and that instantly solves the climbing under the desk problem and the “cramming a cable into my jammed up hub” “issue”.
Your mousemat? I’ll lay odds that this thing will become annoying after 30 seconds of use - even if you have the benefit of single-eared stereo.
koan
August 5th, 2005 at 2:52 pm
Alice says:
Interestting feedback. The speaker throws me, but I picture using the USB posrt like the way I use the ports on my keyboard - for fast occasional hook ups: like you attach a thumbdrive and download dowmthing, or update your MP3 player or download pics form your camera. Things you do that do not require an attached connnection 24/7. Plug, unplug and go vs a hub that holds your printer and mouse and so on. I would skip the other features too - but just give me those easy ports for fast temporary connections, and I am still for this.
August 5th, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Empty Jay says:
I have a Dell flat panel monitor at work that has 4 ports built into it. I find this extremely useful, probably much more so that the mousepad since I use a trackball. There are two ports on the left edge and two in the rear near the power/video cords. I use the two on the edge for memory keys and other short term connections. Right now the two in the back are unused, since I’ve routed all my cables below my desk. I also have two ports on the front panel of the tower, so I tend to use those, but if it were buried under my desk like most of the computers in the office I’d probably use the 2nd pair on the monitor.
August 5th, 2005 at 9:56 pm
Makere says:
I got a similar one (got it free), but it only supports 1.1 usb, and it has no speaker, but it has radio and calculator…
August 6th, 2005 at 4:06 am
James says:
Does anybody use a mouse pad anymore?
August 6th, 2005 at 7:02 am
ila says:
how to buy this product,and how much does it cost
March 8th, 2007 at 12:20 am