Cirque Smart Cat Touchpad

Pros: Good control, fingertip scrolling, no moving parts, lifetime guarantee
Cons: Costs more than a mouse

When I bought the Cirque Smart Cat in late 1998 I just knew that by the year 2000 everybody would have a touchpad, and the mouse would be obsolete. Unlike most of my prophesies this one hasn't come true yet, but it may someday. The Smart Cat touchpad...

Pros: works great, easy right-clicking
Cons: price

I've had a Cirque for over four years now, and if you want to skip the whole review, I can tell you GO BUY ONE!

That said, I originally got my Cirque Smart Cat because of problems with RSI (repetitive stress injury) at work. They were...

Pros: Intimidates the uninitiated; keeps them off my computer
Cons: Don't use it while eating....

I can't remember exactly why I bought this product, except that I had too much money on my hands when my last mouse died, and I think the salesman at the electronics store sensed this. He said, "Forget about the mouse. Just like in nature, the Cat...

Pros: Easy on the wrist, easy to setup, reliable
Cons: "Mouse people" will call you a right-brained contrarian

I have been using a Cirque touchpad for about four years, and I have enjoyed several benefits:

One, most vitally, I have suffered much less wrist and hand soreness using it than I did when using a mouse. I first tried a trackball as...

Pros: Easy to use, virtually unbreakable, lifetime warranty
Cons: Learning curve for some motions, pricey compared to cheap mice

Since no one else is writing about the Cirque touchpads, I just couldn't pass up this opportunity to let you know that using a mouse is old hat, and that you can get a lot of groovy features without spending a lot of money. The Smart Cat is available...

Pros: compact, comfortable, durable, one touch scrolling
Cons: poor tactile feel on buttons, cannot use a stylus

I purchased this product in 1997 after having another mouse die on me. Once the rollerball on a mouse is contaminated with dust and grime, you might as well throw it in the trash. The SmartCat, on the other hand, has no moving parts, so theoretically...

Pros: No mouse ball or any other input device
Cons: Not accurate

I purchased this product because it was like nothing that I'd had ever seen before. It did not have a ball or even any buttons. That is what got my attention at first. This input device is like no other. To move the mouse all you do is just move your...

Pros: Good speed controls.
Cons: Uncomfortable design for those with RSI. Easy Cat may be better for RSI-plagued users.

I've been using a Cirque touch pad built into my keyboard for years and it's been a great RSI reliever. But when my keyboard died I purchased the Smart Cat. I find the pad itself works great, but the design is about as thoughtless as it gets. By putting huge buttons beneath the pad, it forces my hand into an awkward, unsupported position if I want my finger to be able to reach the whole pad (I can't rest my hand on the desk and still reach it like I did w/ my old keyboard). ALSO, it's flat, with no adjustable legs. I think it would be much more comfortable to use if it were at an angle. It started irritating my wrist almost immediately to use this poorly designed product. I suspect the Easy Cat (because it does not have the big buttons) might be better and I plan to exchange for it.