It clicks! It scrolls! It rocks your Keynote.
Trackpads are all well and good, but sometimes when you’re working from a laptop, only a real mouse will do. And if you frequently use PowerPoint or Keynote, a presentation remote quickly evolves from luxury to necessity. Kensington’s SlimBlade Presenter Mouse is a well-conceived multitasker that delivers the features of both in one compact device.
The unit is a compact Bluetooth device that doesn’t need a separate USB dongle, thanks to your Mac’s onboard Bluetooth radio. Pairing was straightforward—although Mac OS X’s Bluetooth Setup Assistant got confused initially, because the SlimBlade looks like both mouse and a keyboard to your Mac.
The SlimBlade Presenter doesn’t have a dedicated on/off switch, instead, Kensington touts the device’s advanced power-saving technology that automatically wakes and sleeps the mouse. We found this to be a mixed blessing—the mouse tended to power itself on inside a laptop bag while we worked on our MacBook Pro. While it’s possible to switch it on and off with a long press of the SlimBlade’s mode key, the power can also be inadvertently activated inside a bag or suitcase.
As a presentation remote, the SlimBlade Presenter performed well, though we occasionally wished it also included a laser pointer. Switching between mouse and presenter modes is a simple matter of pressing the mode button twice, and the mouse’s arrow LEDs flash to acknowledge the change. Slides advance and reverse as one would expect, and pressing the scrollwheel blanks out the screen.
The Kensington SlimBlade Presenter Mouse is a great option for road warriors who frequently give presentations. Compared to the competition, it lacks features like a case and a built-in laser pointer, but the SlimBlade makes up for these shortcomings by not requiring a dongle or special software—and by playing nicely with Apple’s Keynote.
No USB dongle needed. Works with both Keynote and PowerPoint.
Soft on/off button. Too-clever power management. No laser. 