Genius Pen Mouse Review

Hardware and Setup

The Genius Pen, shown in Figure 4, is well-designed with the section that is placed on the surface being slightly thicker than the back end of the pen. At 0.64 x 0.83 x 5.24 inches (16.25 x 21 x 133 mm), it is about the size of an ordinary pen.

Figure 4: The pen from the side

The Genius Pen has a battery door that slides off easily to reveal the place to insert the AAA battery, as shown in Figure 5. Even with the weight of the battery, the Genius Pen Mouse feels well-weighted and comfortable in the hand.

Figure 5: The battery enclosure

After putting in the battery, you simply insert the tiny 2.4 GHz USB receiver into a USB port on the computer and install the software from the included CD. The pen works with Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. The USB receiver is only 0.75 inches (19 mm) long, so when it is inserted into the computer’s USB port, it is almost flush with the computer. This is a good thing, as it minimizes the risk of the receiver breaking off when being transported in a laptop.

Figure 6 shows the tip of the pen with its red laser light. Pressing down on this tip simulates the left-click of a mouse.

Figure 6: The tip of the pen

Other mouse functions are controlled by the two buttons shown in Figure 7. Pressing the  button nearer the tip of the pen is like right-clicking a mouse. Pressing and holding the other button while moving the pen tip on a surface scrolls up and down.

Figure 7: Main Controls