While shopping for a wireless mouse I was surprised to see that branded ones on the market shelves still cost Rs. 700 - 1000. Then I saw Portronics own offering, at Rs. 345. Portonics per se isn't a well known brand, but its products are known to work. Intrigued by the price I bought the mouse.
The mouse runs on two AAA batteries which have to be bought separately. Despite the addition of the batteries, the mouse is very light. You connect the tiny dongle to one of your computer's USB ports. The dongle is not well made and effort is needed to slide it in correctly. Fortunately, the mouse has passable construction. The Windows 10 laptop doesn't take time to recognize the mouse and no special drivers are installed. It shows up as a regular mouse. It's convenient that the trackpad is disabled when the dongle is plugged in, but that might be because of the OS, model, and drivers.
The first thing that strikes you are the strange ergonomics of the mouse. It's uncomfortable as the profile of the mouse is almost flat. Traditional mice are convex and are gripped, but with this one, you keep your palm is almost in line with your hand. It certainly takes time getting used to, but this mouse suffices for everyday computing tasks. I have not tested this with high speed precision applications like first person shooter games, but the mouse works on most opaque surfaces and movements and clicks register correctly and instantly.
For a cheap mouse, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the mouse sleeps after a period of inactivity saving battery. The movement sensor is turned off and the mouse can be awakened by clicking any button. The sensor also turns off when the dongle is not plugged in.
The dongle can be stowed away by plugging into a same sized recess underneath the mouse. However, the dongle's plastic does jut out.
At Rs. 345, there isn't much to complain about. If you can get used to the form factor, this wireless mouse is an inexpensive alternative.
