Mad Catz used to be the game-controller maker you turned to when you needed a spare console controller or memory card, and you didn't want to pay full price for the official Nintendo/Sony/Sega-branded accessory. The company changed its reputation for cheap, subpar gaming gear a few years ago with the MadCatz FightStick Tournament Edition, a high-quality (and high-priced) arcade stick for fighting-game enthusiasts. Now Mad Catz is making a splash in the PC-peripherals business with the Cyborg RAT 7 gaming mouse, which is physically customizable in ways I've never seen before.

The first thing you'll notice is that it resembles a thrown-together collection of plastic and metal plates that vaguely form the shape of a computer mouse. It's a radical departure from competing mice such as the SteelSeries Sensei, which looks as if it were cut from a single block of steel in comparison. Aesthetically, this mouse isn't my cup of tea, but that's more my personal preference than anything else--PCWorld desktops editor Nate Ralph is convinced it looks like The Future.

Don't be fooled by the future-junkyard appearance, however: The mouse is actually quite comfortable to use. In fact, it's comfortable because it consists of several discrete parts that you can swap in and out according to your preference. Everyone has a slightly different way of holding a mouse (check out our "How to Choose a Gaming Mouse" video to learn more). Rather than try to create a mouse that would be perfect for everyone out of the box, Mad Catz designed the Cyborg RAT 7 so that you can shape it to your liking.

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The Inkling consists of a pen that transmits its position on the page (along with pressure data based on readings at up to 1024 levels of sensitivity) and a receiver that clips to the top of the page and uses ultrasonic and infrared technology to collect data from the pen. The Inkling saves all data as vector drawings; this makes editing the line work simple once you've imported your drawings, and it also minimizes the storage space that each drawing occupies. Inside the device, Wacom provides 2GB of memory for storing thousands of drawings in vector format.

The Inkling has a number of nice touches, such as a small button on the receiver clip that lets you easily start a new layer. Creating a drawing with the Inkling is much like creating one on a digital tablet: You simply draw.

In practice, though, I ran into various problems with the pen. Most notably, the Inkling requires you to use its Sketch Manager software to transfer drawings from the device to your computer; and Sketch Manage has a number of irritating shortcomings that make for a frustrating experience. For one thing, Sketch Manager doesn't load automatically when you plug in the Inkling--even though the Sketch Manager isn't used for anything else and the Inkling can't import without it. The Sketch Manager interface in general seems hastily thrown together and is as hard to figure out as the Inkling hardware is intuitive.

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Nowadays, if you want to blow up your friends in some good old-fashioned virtual gunplay, you likely have to do it on a game console, which means you're stuck with a woefully inferior gamepad that has clumsy thumbsticks and awful button placement. Enter the Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 ($99 as of December 2, 2011) for the PlayStation 3, a USB mouse and minikeyboard combo designed specifically for PC gamers looking to level the playing field. In theory, it's a great idea--but in practice, it doesn't work as well as it should.

The Hori TAC3 controller consists of a normal optical USB mouse connected to a minikeyboard designed to mimic the standard WASD keyboard layout that most PC first-person shooter games use by default. You rest your hand on the arrow keys, and from that position you have ready access to L3 and X buttons (which PS3 games often use for running and jumping) and triangle/circle/square buttons (for reloading, swapping weapons, and so on). In addition, the keyboard holds the directional pad and Start/Select/PlayStation buttons, though they're comfortably tucked out of the way so that you don't hit them accidentally. Also available is a walk button that lets you toggle your walk speed to something slower (for sneaking up on the enemy), since you're not using an analog stick that changes your walk speed based on how far you tilt it. Meanwhile, the mouse feels like a fairly generic PC mouse--the left and right mouse buttons act as L1 and R1, the middle mouse button (where a scrollwheel would normally go) is bound to R3, and the left-side thumb buttons are bound to L2 and R2.

Unlike other specialized console controllers (the MadCatz FightStick TE, for example), the TAC3 allows you to remap the controls to your liking by flipping a switch on the far end of the keyboard to enter the remapping mode. Another switch lets you change the mouse sensitivity to any of three different levels, and a third switch permits you to tweak the walk button's speed.

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What could you possibly do with a 32-bit ARM processor in your mouse? Plenty of fun stuff, as it turns out. SteelSeries's Sensei high-end gaming mouse puts slick design and powerful hardware and software at your disposal, but the $90 price tag means it's not for the casual gamer.

If you're serious about PC gaming, you've already heard of SteelSeries. You might remember its first high-end mousepad (excuse me, "mousing surface"), its headsets, and possibly even its highly acclaimed Xai gaming mouse. Lately, SteelSeries has been releasing lots of licensed gear such as its Diablo III mouse and headset, but with the Sensei, it’s going back to its professional gaming roots. This mouse is intended to replace the Xai, which means it's only for the best of the best. (Of course, the $90 price tag already told you that.)

With the Sensei's processor, you can tweak every single mouse setting you could possibly ask for. A major feature is fine control over mouse sensitivity; you can tweak the mouse's actual hardware counts-per-inch (CPI) sensitivity from 1 to 5700, but if you want to go higher than that (maybe because you work with multiple high-resolution displays), the processor and built-in software can "double" your CPI up to 11,400 CPI. In practice, I don’t need to go over 3200 CPI or so while using three monitors side-by-side, and my default is around 1600, so you might not use this feature much.

You can configure individual mouse profiles to alternate between two sensitivities and switch between the two of them by pressing a mouse button located below the mouse wheel. This comes in handy for games and apps where you need instant access to two different settings--"camping" the bomb site in Counter-Strike: Source with a sniper rifle or working with a big spreadsheet in Excel, for example. I find that I sometimes accidentally hit the toggle button, which can be a rude midgame surprise. Fortunately, you can set that specific button's LED to show a different color depending on which sensitivity setting you’re using.

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Livescribe's Echo smartpen has been revamped to include shortcuts for sending notes to popular Web services, such as Facebook and Google Docs. The entry-level 2Gb version now costs $99, and the new line of pens features the ability to make interactive “pencast” PDFs that animate recorded handwriting and synced audio.

Why Spend $160 to Play a $60 Game?

Flight-sim devotees won't play with a mouse; racing game enthusiasts need a steering wheel; and If you play a lot of fighting games, a proper arcade stick is an integral tool of your trade. A good input device offers unparalleled responsiveness and precision--good luck getting that from your console's gamepad. And if you've ever flung a controller at your friend in frustration (and had to buy a new one as a result), you can justify the cost of the FightStick TE on the grounds that it's too pretty to throw at anyone, no matter how hard you're raging.

If you aren't already the kind of person who would spend this much money on an arcade stick, the MVC3 FightStick TE probably won't change your mind. If you are in the market for a good stick for $150 or so, this review is for you.

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Google Docs not your thing? No matter: With a minimal amount of manual intervention, you can easily create additional one-click button functionality for automatically scanning and uploading your documents to other cloud-based services, such as Evernote, iTunes iBooks, and YouSendit. Although you can find third-party utilities (such as CloudZap) that automate the process of scanning to the cloud, the S300 has included this convenience as part of its scanning-software architecture. In testing this feature, we had to take only a few seconds to fill in the information required in order to start scanning our documents to our Google Docs account. Kudos to iVina for acknowledging the growing trend of scanning to the cloud.

The S300 hardware itself is a two-in-one, 600-dpi sheetfed scanner with the same basic hybrid-style design as the Visioneer Strobe 500 and the IRIS IRIScan Pro Office 3. One part is a 2.2-pound mobile scanner that measures 11.7 by 3.3 by 2.8 inches (width by depth by height) and is about as large as a box of gallon-size storage bags. The other part is a detachable, 20-page automatic document feeder. Together the modules weigh 3.9 pounds and measure 11.7 by 4.8 by 4.7 inches; many mobile users will find the S300 portable enough to take on the road, with or without the ADF. A power supply, power cord, USB cable, and USB power cord are also included.

In our performance tests (using default settings), the S300 ranked second in overall speed among the five models we tested in our latest batch. It took a grand total of 307 seconds to scan all 13 of our test documents, only 3 seconds longer than the fastest model (the Visioneer Strobe 500) required to complete the same test battery. The S300 was the top performer in producing standard (nonsearchable) PDFs: For example, it took 57 seconds to create a double-sided, 15-page monochrome PDF at 200 dpi, which was the best time for that exercise and considerably faster than the group average of 92 seconds for the same test.

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This compact scanner weighs only 3.08 pounds and measures 11.18 by 3.9 by 3.03 inches (width by depth by height), or roughly the size of a small Duraflame fire log. Outfitted with a single start button that launches easy-to-use scanner software, the S1300 can run on either USB power or a wall outlet. Its cover lid also serves as a paper-chute extension for holding a stack of pages, and it easily folds up when not in use. A power cord and power supply, a USB cable, and a USB power cord are all provided; you'll need your own carrying bag for toting the scanner and cables on the road, however.

The S1300 earned a Very Good rating for its overall image quality (using its default settings). It generally reproduced accurate color, monochrome, and grayscale documents with clear text and fine details in both shadows and highlights. Although some scans were slightly lighter in overall appearance than the originals, it was a very subtle distinction that didn't really detract much from an overall good impression.

In our speed tests, the S1300 received an overall rating of Good; however, it was the second-slowest scanner among the five models we tested recently. It took approximately 7.5 minutes to scan all 13 of our test documents (an assortment of color, monochrome, and grayscale single- and double-sided pages), versus about 5.5 minutes for the next-fastest model (the IRIScan Pro 3 Office). It achieved its best scores when scanning short one- or two-page documents, but its slower page-per-minute speed became more evident when scanning lengthier documents. Tested as a USB-powered scanner, the S1300 was the slowest performer of the bunch. It required a total of 97 seconds to scan two color and two monochrome (both single- and double-sided) pages, as opposed to 67.5 seconds for the next-fastest model (the Visioneer Strobe 500) to finish the same USB-powered tests.

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In addition to the full version of Readiris, the IRIScan Pro 3 Office ships with IrisFile Pro 12 for document management and Cardiris Pro 5 for business-card recognition, both of which performed impressively during our review.

The IRIScan hardware itself is a two-in-one, 600-dpi sheetfed scanner with the same basic hybrid-style design as the Visioneer Strobe 500 and iVina BulletScan S300. Out of the box, the complete unit measures 11.7 by 4.8 by 4.7 inches (width by depth by height); it requires a bit more space with its extendable input and output trays unfolded. When detached from the automatic document feeder docking station, the scanner module alone measures 11.7 by 3.3 by 2.8 inches, and is about as large as a box of gallon-size storage bags. A power supply, power cord, USB cable, and USB power cord are also included.

The IRIScan Pro 3 Office was the third-fastest scanner overall among our recent test group (using default settings). It took just under 12 seconds to scan a single-sided monochrome page at 300 dpi--the fastest score for that particular test. Running on USB power, the IRIScan required just over 62 seconds to scan two color and two monochrome (both single- and double-sided) pages, achieving the second-fastest score for USB-powered tests. In almost all other tests, however, the IRIScan ran at least a few seconds slower than the two fastest models (the Strobe 500 and the BulletScan S300), and its cumulative score put it in third place.

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On our performance tests, the AD450 was the slowest of the five scanners in our roundup. That didn't surprise us, however, considering that Plustek rates the AD450 as only a 6-ppm scanner (when processing single-sided color pages at 200 dpi), versus the 15-ppm specification (same parameters) of the three fastest models. The AD450 took 193 seconds to scan a double-sided, 15-page, monochrome text-only document at 200 dpi, far behind the group average of 86 seconds for the same test. In scanning color documents it was equally slow: It required 46 seconds to scan a double-sided, 6-page, color text-and-graphics document at 150 dpi, versus the group average of 24 seconds for the same test. Running on USB power, the AD450 needed a total of 97 seconds to scan two color and two monochrome (both single- and double-sided) pages, as opposed to 67.5 seconds for the next-fastest model (the Visioneer Strobe 500).

The AD450 scored much better in image-quality tests, for which it received a Very Good rating (using its default settings). In color-document scans it rendered accurate color tones and solid readable text, though some areas containing graphics were slightly darker and had less detail than the original did. Its scans of monochrome and grayscale documents exhibited easily readable text and good details in line art and other graphics.

Measuring roughly 11 by 4 by 3 inches (width by depth by height), the AD450 is about the same size as a 3-pound Duraflame fire log. The scanner is easy to install and use: It has three quick-start buttons (Scan, PDF, BCR), and it requires no assembly since its extendable output tray and paper guides are permanently attached. When not in use, the collapsible AD450 folds up nicely. For added convenience, Plustek tosses in a carrying bag for taking the scanner on the road; also included are a power cord and power supply, a USB cable, and a USB power cord.

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Out of the box, the Strobe 500 measures 11.7 by 4.8 by 4.7 inches (width by depth by height); its extendable input and output trays add several inches to its overall height and depth, but they fold up nicely when not in use. When detached from the ADF docking station, the scanner module alone measures 11.7 by 3.3 by 2.8 inches, and is only about as large as a box of gallon-size storage bags. A power supply, power cord, USB cable, and USB power cord are also included.

In our performance tests (using default settings), the Strobe 500 achieved the top overall speed rating of the group by churning out searchable PDFs faster than the other scanners we tested. It took 64 seconds to turn a single-sided, 15-sheet, monochrome text-and-graphics document into a 200-dpi searchable PDF, a considerably faster speed than the group average of 103 seconds for that drill, and enough of a difference for the Strobe 500 to land in first place for best performance. However, in tests to convert documents into other scan formats (TIFFs and standard PDFs), the Strobe 500 generally ran a few seconds slower than the iVina BulletScan S300 (which ranked second in overall speed).

In addition to evaluating the Strobe 500 connected to a wall outlet, we assessed its USB-powered performance, which was among the fastest of the models tested. Running on USB power, the Strobe took a total of 67.5 seconds to scan two color and two monochrome (both single- and double-sided) pages, only about 5.5 seconds longer than the BulletScan S300 required for the same tests.

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Weighing barely 12 ounces and measuring 10.7 by 1.9 by 1.3 inches (width by depth by height), the S1100 is a 600-dpi, simplex (one-sided) page scanner capable of digitizing both single- and multiple-page documents with aplomb. I was impressed by the overall speed and fine image quality (accurate colors, sharp edges) of the production unit I tested, and I recommend it to anyone who needs a mobile scanner that's both easy to carry and easy to use.

What distinguishes the S1100 from competing models is its versatile feed mechanism. The scanner's flexible paper guides support both straight-path feeding (in and out in a straight line) and turn-path feeding (paper exits upward), the latter of which is a handy option when you're operating in tight or cluttered quarters. After you push the S1100's Start button, you can scan single sheets or multiple pages continuously by manually inserting them, one after another, without pressing or clicking anything--a major productivity plus for a scanner with no automatic document feeder.

After you finish scanning, the S1100's on-screen Quick Menu prompts you with simple choices for sending the completed scan to various locations, including Google Docs, Evernote, and such Microsoft applications as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint. Unlike most other scanners, the S1100 uses a nonstandard driver (ScanSnap Manager) that is not compliant with the TWAIN, ISIS, or WIA interface protocol, so you can't access the scanner directly from within applications that have a scan command. That might be only a minor limitation to some users, but it's worth noting for anyone who prefers operating a scanner while using a different program.

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The $69 Swiftpoint Mouse (price as of January 10, 2011) is a head-turner simply by virtue of its unusual design. It looks like no other portable mouse, and it operates differently, too. Whether this supersmall, distinctive mouse will work for you depends upon how large your hand is--and whether the position it forces you into feels comfortable to you.

I found the design usable for my small hands, but larger-handed colleagues felt contorted when they tried to manipulate it. You're supposed to hold the mouse as if it were a pen, which might explain even my occasional discomfort when using it for long periods. However, I did like how naturally my thumb fell into the designated spot; the wide, responsive scrollwheel was a pleasure to use, too, either when I used my index finger or when I turned the mouse on its side and moved the scrollwheel on a hard surface.

The device's tiny USB receiver magnetically attaches to the bottom for storage and charging. This was a nice touch, though in a briefcase or bag the two pieces could easily become separated; additionally, the combination is large enough that you might have issues charging the mouse on your laptop's USB ports (depending on how tight the PC's port configuration is). It lacks programmability, though, which could be a deal-breaker for some people.

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The PlanOn DocuPen Xtreme X05 ($300 as of September 22, 2010) is the lowest-end version of the DocuPen X series. The DocuPen Xtreme X10 ($330) and Xtreme X50 ($400) have a couple of extra features: The X10 comes with a 12-volt car adapter, while the X50 features a hard case, a retractable USB cable, and a higher resolution for scanning.

The DocuPen Xtreme X05 comes with a stand-alone USB cable, a software CD, and a leather case in the box. Our review unit came with 64MB of internal memory and a maximum scanning resolution of 600 dots per inch (the DocuPen Xtreme X50 bumps the maximum up to 1200 dpi); it connects to a computer via USB or Bluetooth.

At 8.3 inches, the scanner is closer in length to a pretzel rod than to a pen. It's also lightweight and it has four physical buttons as well as an OLED screen that displays information on battery life, resolution, scan modes, and date and time. Unfortunately, the silvery plastic buttons feel cheap for a $300 device: Each button has a different amount of give, and the select/settings buttons are hard to press. The X05 also has an expansion slot for a Micro USB card, permitting up to 2GB of expanded memory.

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What Is a Smartpen, Exactly?

The coolest thing about the Echo (and the Pulse before it) is its ability to record and play back audio--with an innovative twist. Instead of requiring you to cycle through your recorded audio to find the clip you want, the Echo ties audio to your written notes. By tapping a Record button on a printed page, you start recording a lecture or other spoken words as you write. While you're scribbling your notes, the pen records audio that's linked to whatever you're writing.

Unfortunately, you can't use just any legal pad or Trapper Keeper. Like the Pulse, the Echo works only on special dot paper. A high-speed infrared camera at the tip of the pen captures your movements on the special paper, which is also the secret for connecting captured audio to written text.

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The Apple iPad ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice ) may be this spring's most talked about touch-sensitive device, but for digital artists, the Wacom Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display still holds the title of top tablet. Thanks to a recent redesign, the 22-inch Cintiq now offers twice the pressure sensitivity of its predecessor, two strategically repositioned Touch Strips, and 16 programmable ExpressKeys that enable you to customize the tablet to fit your work style.

Traditional graphics tablets require you to sketch on one surface and watch as the results appear on the monitor on the other side of your desk. This approach can be tricky to master. With the Cintiq, you draw directly on the built-in monitor screen. Even better, depending on the software brush you select, you can achieve different artistic effects. Push harder and your stroke darkens. Tilt the pen for a broader line.

The new Cintiq 21UX utilizes Wacom's second-generation sensor (already incorporated into its Intuos 4 product line) to offer an impressive 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. Couple the Cintiq with a capable graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice ) or Corel Painter ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ) and you can achieve very nuanced, organic-looking illustrations without giving up the flexibility of working in the digital realm.

The updated pen is about the thickness of a Sharpie and features a soft rubber grip that makes it very comfortable to hold. Beneath your index finger is a programmable rocker switch that you can use to right-click or double-click as you point with the pen's nib. There's even an eraser on the other end of the pen for quickly cleaning up stray scribbles.

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British high-end-audio manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) has been making speakers for over 40 years, but it's only with the P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones, announced last November, that the company has ventured into the field of private audio listening. Offered as a set of premium, full-size headphones for mobile listening, the $300 P5 is pricey, but it's an impressive product that's worth a look if your wallet can handle it. (The P5 is available initially only from the Apple Store online and Apple Retail stores.)

One look at the P5 makes it clear this isn't a budget product. Each earpiece is made of brushed and polished aluminum (or, as Apple's similarly British Jonathan Ive likes to say, aluminium); the earpads and trim are made of luxuriously soft New Zealand sheep leather; and the sturdy, polished-metal headband is cushioned by thick, leather-covered padding. Look for the P5 display at the Cooper-Hewitt soon.

The P5 comes bundled with two 4-foot cables: a basic cable for using the headphones with any audio device sporting a 1/8-inch minijack, and a cable with a microphone/remote module for use with an iPhone, a recent iPod, or a recent iMac or MacBook. The mic/remote module is an Apple-approved three-button version, letting you control playback as well as volume level, and a modular design lets you easily swap between cables or replace a bad one--a welcome feature to anyone who's ever had to buy a new set of headphones because of a loose connection.

But the unique way in which the cable connects may make such replacements unnecessary: Instead of putting the cable jack on the exterior of either earpiece, where the connector could be subjected to strain, Bowers & Wilkins put the connector inside the left earpiece. It turns out that the P5's comfy earpads are also replaceable, held in place by small magnets; each earpad pops off with a firm pull, revealing a 40mm Mylar-diaphragm driver. Behind the left earpad is a cable groove that winds through a couple turns to reach the connector deep inside (see image at right). This design, along with a tiny cable grip near the bottom of the earpiece, keeps the cable from putting strain on the connector, even if the cable gets pulled or snagged during use. (The design also gives the P5 a cleaner look, as the plug and jack are hidden from view.)

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When using the iPhone's stock earbuds or a compatible stereo headset, taking a phone call while listening to music borders on magical: You press the inline remote to answer the call, the music fades out, the caller's voice comes through the headphones, and the inline microphone picks up your own words. When you hang up, the music smoothly fades back in. These headsets are equally handy for controlling music playback and recording voice memos.

While Apple's earbuds work well for this purpose, they don't provide a perfect fit for everyone, and you can find much better audio quality by upgrading to an aftermarket headset. I tested 11 models, all of which use either an in-ear-canal or canalbud design. In-ear-canal headphones (also known as canalphones) use earplug-like tips to form an acoustic seal that blocks ambient noise; the headphones themselves also tend to offer better sound quality than earbuds. However, these eartips must seal completely to provide adequate bass response. In addition, the tight fit may be uncomfortable to some people, and it can transfer the sounds of bumps and scrapes of the cords directly to your ears. Canalbuds have a shallower fit, don't block as much noise compared to canalphones, and sacrifice some sound quality, but they're generally less expensive, don't exhibit as much cable noise, and are often more comfortable.

(One aspect of canalbuds and canalphones that's especially noteworthy here is that the seal that gives these headphones their noise isolation can also result in an occlusion effect: the normal bone-conducted vibrations of your voice are trapped inside the ear, instead of released through the ear canal, causing them to sound louder and distorted to you, even though you sound normal to someone on the other end of a call. If you've ever talked while wearing earplugs, you know the effect.)

Some of the models I tested are headset versions of products I covered in my canalbud review roundup. As in that article, I listened to music on my iPhone and computer, in a variety of formats and bit rates, and in various settings--home, office, bus, street. I also took calls and recorded voice memos to test out each headset's microphone, performing the latter tests in a quiet room, in front of a fan (to simulate the effect of wind), and with loud music playing (to simulate a noisy environment).

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The built-in speaker on the iPhone and newer iPod touch models is great in a pinch, but its sound is somewhat tinny and not very loud. To hear better sound out loud (or, in the case of speakerless iPod models, at all) when you're traveling or just out and about, a good option is a portable speaker. And Tunebug has taken the notion of 'portable' to the extreme with the Vibe.

The $70 Vibe is a small speaker (Tunebug alternately refers to it as a speaker and a sound generator) that's a little more than two inches wide and high, and only one inch deep, but is surprisingly sturdy at 5.3 ounces. It uses what the company calls SurfaceSound technology: the idea is that you connect your iPod, iPhone, laptop, MP3 player, or other mobile device to the Vibe using the included 1/8-inch miniplug cable, set the Vibe on a flat surface, and turn it on (by holding down the single button on the top), and then the Vibe transmits sound waves through whatever surface it's on--essentially turning that surface into a larger, louder speaker.

The Vibe is powered by an internal rechargeable battery, which you charge, using the included USB-to-miniplug cable, from your computer or a wall or auto charger with a USB port (such as the charger that comes with the iPhone). The company says you can play music for five hours on a charge.

Tunebug suggests that you'll get the best results placing the Vibe on a hollow surface, such as a box; in fact, the Vibe comes with a small box, called a Sound Base, for just this purpose (the Sound Base doubles as a case). In my testing, sound quality and volume varied wildly depending on the surface on which I put the Vibe. (You adjust the source volume level using your iPod, iPhone, or other connected device's own volume control.)

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If you're a veteran Mac user, you're familiar with Apple's legendary Extended keyboards (code-named USS Enterprise, Saratoga, and Nimitz for their massive size). Fans of these ADB keyboards kept them alive with adapters, prayer, and spit because of their terrific feel and speed. Many feel that Apple's subsequent keyboards were mushy in comparison.

Fortunately, Matias' TactilePro keyboards offered a feel similar to the Apple Extended keyboards. Like these Apple keyboards of old, Matias used individual Alps mechanical keyswitches. These switches require a deeper press than today's slim keyboards but are responsive, fast, and, most noticeably, loud--as in early-90s loud. Watch a movie or TV show from this era where someone's typing on a computer keyboard and that's the sound you hear--clack, clack, clackity, clack.

Matias ran out of keyswitches a couple of years ago and so its TactilePro 2 keyboard became nearly impossible to find. Those of us who loved these keyboards babied them in the hope that we could make them last long enough for a TactilePro 3 keyboard to arrive. That day is here. The TactilePro is alive again with version 3 (though the first batch is sold out and new ones won't be available until March). Like its predecessors, this wired USB keyboard uses Alps mechanical switches, is extremely responsive, and is no less loud than the TactilePros that came before.

Features other than feel

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If you're like me and you like your mice big, beefy, and feature-filled, then there's a chance you'll like Logitech's Performance Mouse MX. It's very much like another Logitech mouse, the MX 1100 Cordless Laser Mouse ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ), but the Performance Mouse MX has a unique feature that is ideal if you wish to use a Logitech keyboard.

The Performance Mouse MX is designed for right-handers (sorry, lefties). There's a grove along the left side of the mouse for your thumb, and the mouse fits my hand nicely. The mouse is a little on the heavy side, weighing 5.8 ounces, but I didn't experience any fatigue using the mouse on a daily basis. The mouse is also a bit long, measuring about 5 inches in length (it's 3.25 inches wide and 1.75 inches tall). If you have smaller hands, you'll have to reach for the two main mouse buttons.

Speaking of buttons, the Performance Mouse MX has seven buttons: left, right, a scroll wheel button, a Back button, a Forward button, a Zoom button, and a thumb button. All of the buttons were easy to access and click, though I found it awkward to use the thumb button, which is on the Performance Mouse MX's groove; I had to press harder on it than on the other buttons. The Scroll Wheel can switch between notched and freewheel scrolling. I prefer the freewheel, and on extremely long documents, it's fun (and useful) to spin the scroll wheel quickly and watch the pages of your document flicker on screen.

Logitech says on its Web site that the Darkfield Laser Tracking used in the Performance Mouse MX can work on "all sorts of work surfaces," including glass. The mouse worked on every surface I tested it on, including a clear glass window. Logitech says that the tracking won't work on glass if it's completely spotless and as clean as it can get; the Logitech Web site recommends a "swipe [of] your hand across the surface" to give the tracking some "context." I found the tracking to be excellent for everyday use, but it's not fast enough for hard-core gamers.

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Compared to its better-known competitors from Wacom, Genius' $99 MousePen i608 graphics tablet offers more real estate for less money: Its 8-by-6-inch working area is roughly the same as that offered by Wacom's $199 Bamboo Fun ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ), and much larger than the 5.8-by-3.6-inch surface of the $99 Bamboo Pen and Touch ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice ). Overall, though, this tablet doesn't measure up to Wacom's latest offerings.

First the good news. The MousePen's pen offers 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity--the same as most of Wacom's models--and works well in graphics applications such as Photoshop Elements. The tablet's drawing area is surrounded by 29 small shortcut keys that you use to perform actions such as cutting, pasting, and launching applications. You don't get multitouch input like that offered by the Bamboos; like earlier Bamboo models, the MousePen comes with a wireless mouse that uses the tablet as a mousepad. It connects to your Mac via USB.

Despite these attributes, I found this tablet disappointing in multiple respects. Unlike Wacom's pen, its pen requires a battery and doesn't sport on eraser on one end for rubbing out mistakes in your digital art. The pen's buttons are rubbery nubs that are harder to find and press than the ones on Wacom's pen. And the three-button scroll wheel mouse is both undersized and cheap-feeling

The MousePen includes utilities for activities such as inserting handwritten notes in e-mail and word-processing documents, however they are for Windows users only. Driver software is available for the Mac, which lets you customize the tablet's programmable keys. Unlike the Bamboo tablets, it doesn't come with full editions of graphics applications such as Corel Painter or Photoshop CS4, and the demo versions it ships with are only for the Windows platform.

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We like the clever Gorillatorch flashlight, the well-priced iKeySlim keyboard and Logitech's useful Harmony 700 universal remote.

For years, Wacom's graphics tablets have let digital artists and others dispense with a mouse in favor of an intuitive, precise pen. Now the company's newly refreshed line of Bamboo pen tablets also work with the most natural pointing devices of all: your fingers.

I tried the Bamboo Fun and the Bamboo Pen & Touch, two models which are similar except for size and software bundle. The larger, silver-colored Fun ($199) offers a pleasingly roomy pen area of 8.5-by-5.4 inches and comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ), Corel Painter Essentials 4.0 ( Macworld rated 5 out of 5 mice ), and Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0. The $99 black Pen & Touch work area is 5.8-by-3.6 inches and includes only Photoshop Elements and Nik Color Efex Pro. Both models, which connect to your Mac via USB, can function like giant multitouch laptop touchpads. Pressing one finger to the tablet lets you move the mouse cursor around, and you use two fingers to perform gestures for tasks such as scrolling, zooming in and out, and moving backwards and forwards in Web browsers, image editors, and other applications.

Touching your way around your programs is fun and fluid, and the gestures worked well in my tests. Both tablets can be used comfortably by righties or lefties. The nine key gestures are: Navigate, Click, Double-Click, Right-Click, Forward & Back, Scroll, Select & Drag, Rotate, and Zoom. However, I didn't find the substitutes offered for clicking mouse buttons--tapping the tablet or using oversized buttons on the tablet's edge, for example--to be as efficient as, well, simply clicking a mouse button.

Earlier Bamboos came with wireless mice that used the tablet as a mousepad, and I think many folks who use and like the new models will still want to keep a mouse handy as well. On the plus side, the tablets' four buttons--called ExpressKeys--are totally customizable: You can not only swap the left- and right-click controls but you can program the buttons to perform keystrokes or launch applications of your choice.

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I use a MacBook Pro on a daily basis, and I prefer to use a mouse than the trackpad. I find most mobile mice too small or too light, and for a while, I used Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 Special Edition ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice ). However, for those times where I'm spending several hours at a time in front of the computer, I prefer a mouse that's bigger than the 3000. I recently gave Microsoft's new Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 an extended ride, and was impressed.

Measuring 2.4 by 3.8 by 1.7 inches, the 6000 is a little wider and taller than the 3000, which makes a world of difference to me when it comes to comfort. While I didn't have difficulty using the 3000, I was always conscious of its smallness. Not so with the 6000. The 6000 carries most of its weight in the middle and bottom of its body, which suited me fine. I didn't have any tracking problems, and I liked how the mouse felt when moving on most surfaces.

The 6000 uses Microsoft's BlueTrack Technology, which, according to Microsoft, allows the mouse to be used on almost any surface. My experience with the 6000 was similar to that of another BlueTrack-equipped device, Microsoft's Explorer Mouse ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice )--it worked on a wide variety of surfaces, and I was surprised that the 6000 kept tracking even when used on a glass window. The few surfaces that prevented the 6000 from tracking--an optical disc, my iPhone screen--aren't surfaces you'd seriously consider using as an area for your mouse.

As a deal breaker for some users, the 6000 uses a wireless 2.4GHz RF signal, not Bluetooth, and Microsoft doesn't offer a Bluetooth version of the 6000. Personally, I don't have a preference. I do find that some Bluetooth mice take a second or two longer to reconnect with my MacBook Pro after waking from sleep, and that RF mice feel like they reconnect instantly, but quibbling over a few seconds is trivial. I don't have a problem using a USB RF receiver, which the 6000 requires, and many RF receivers are small like the 6000's, extending about a quarter of an inch when plugged into a USB port. That's small enough to leave in my MacBook Pro when not in use. Or you can plug the receiver into the storage port located underneath the mouse.

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Apple's newest input device, the Magic Mouse, connects wirelessly through Bluetooth and recognizes multi-touch gestures. Senior Editor Roman Loyola gives it a try.

Based on pure aesthetics, Apple's new Magic Mouse is a crowning achievement for the company's design team. Sophisticated, alluring, and downright stunning, the Magic Mouse epitomizes Apple style. Getting down to the nitty-gritty--actually using the mouse to get stuff done--I found that the Magic Mouse and its Multi-Touch features work well. But it may not be incentive enough to abandon your current mouse.

Design

The top surface of the Magic Mouse has a nice, smooth feel, while the aluminum along the sides has enough texture for gripping. Like the Apple Mouse ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice )--the new name for the Mighty Mouse--the Magic Mouse has no visible buttons; it also does not have a scroll ball.

The Magic Mouse has a very low profile, the lowest of any mouse I've used. It measures 4.50 inches long, 2.13 inches wide, rising 0.93 inches off the table. If you like having the lower part of a mouse resting against your palm, the Magic Mouse may be too low. Generally, I don't need to have the mouse against the palm of my hand, but if this is your preference, you may have a problem with this mouse.

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People have strong opinions about computer mice--after all, a mouse (along with a keyboard) physically forms a personal connection between you and your Mac. Apple's new Magic Mouse has a creative new design that, upon first impression, you'll either love of hate.

The Bluetooth Magic Mouse has no visible buttons. It is a two-button mouse, but there's no visible separation between right and left. I'm right handed, and I use my middle finger for right click, and my index finger for left click, and in my five hours of use, I never accidentally clicked the wrong button.

The buttons actually click; when you press down, you can see and feel the button depress, and there's an audible click that sounds authentic. You don't have to take your finger off the mouse to double click. When I simply rested my hand on the mouse, however, I clicked it.

The Magic Mouse has only two buttons. There are no side buttons, like on the Mighty Mouse (now called the Apple Mouse), nor is there a scroll wheel or scroll ball button. In fact, the Exposé or Dashboard functions found in the Apple/Mighty Mouse are no longer in the Magic Mouse.

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Designed to appeal to the Apple aesthetic, the Targus Wireless Mouse for Mac will draw comparisons to Apple's Wireless Mighty Mouse ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice ). And while it's a usable optical mouse for general use, the Targus mouse, like the Mighty Mouse, is a mouse that you'll either love or hate.

The Targus mouse has a clean appearance, save for the Touch Scroll sensor and the line that separates the plastic at the top of the mouse. The Touch Scroll, upon first impression, seems like an innovative feature that uses a sensor instead of a scroll wheel (or a scroll ball like that found in the Mighty Mouse). I found the Touch Scroll a little unsettling at first, wanting the feel of a wheel or ball. But after a day I became comfortable with my finger rubbing against the smooth Touch Scroll surface. After a few days, I was no longer conscious of the lack of tactile feedback. With some practice, I was also able to scroll one or two lines at a time in a text document with the Touch Sensor.

The Touch Sensor allows only for four-direction movement: up, down, left, and right. You can't move diagonally, which will cause Mighty Mouse users to turn away. If you've only used mice with scrollwheels that also offer only four-direction movement, the lack of diagonal movement isn't an issue.

The left and right buttons are actual buttons that have a nice feel when clicked. The Touch Sensor is also a button. Along the left side of the Targus mouse is a toggle-like button that serves as two programmable buttons, one at the very top and another at the very bottom. Right-handed users will use the thumb to easily click these side buttons; left-handers will find the side button location awkward, using either your little finger or ring finger to press it.

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