INTRODUCTION

   A nice looking, feature rich and wireless compact mouse is one of the things i always wanted to "marry" with my notebook but to date i haven't been able to find the ideal one. Microsoft and Logitech have released quite a few (some of which with good specifications) but none of those actually peaked my interest (nor caught my eye for that matter), at least not enough for me to actually pack one of them with my primary Toshiba Qosmio notebook. I did consider using the excellent wireless R.A.T.9 by Mad Catz a while ago but its size along with the external battery charging bay were a bit too much for use with a notebook. Well it seems that Mad Catz also thinks the same way as i and so they just launched the M.O.U.S.9 Wireless Bluetooth Mouse which looks a lot like the R.A.T.9 but takes less space, is more battery efficient and is much lighter.

   Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT: MCZ) is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz® (gaming), Tritton® (audio), and Saitek® (simulation) brands. Mad Catz also develops flight simulation software through its internal ThunderHawk Studios™; operates flight simulation centers under its Saitek brand; publishes games under its Mad Catz brand; and distributes games and videogame products for third parties. Mad Catz distributes its products through most leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For additional information please go to www.madcatz.com.

   Compared with what Mad Catz has gotten used to us in the past with their quite famous and award-winning R.A.T. line of gaming mice the M.O.U.S.9 comes carrying a very strange set of specifications including an 990DPI Avago 8020 laser sensor with an acceleration of up to 8G's that can work virtually on any surface including glass, a polling rate of 125MHz, 10 programmable buttons, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and an adjustable palm rest. Now the main reason as to why i called it a strange set of specifications is because we usually only see such rather low DPI speeds with regular everyday mice so the first thought that came to mind was that this was done to make the device more power efficient and also because it was ment to be used with notebooks and not desktop computers. That would also explain the reason as to why Mad Catz decided to name this device differently than all their other mice to date (although in the end both names have the same meaning). In the end what matters most is how well all these specifications and features come together and that's what we are going to find out.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

I have no idea if this will be the retail packaging but our M.O.U.S.9 sample arrived inside a clear plastic box that allows you to see the top of the unit from the front.

The compatible OS and specifications lists are placed on the left side.

From the right side you can see the right side of the M.O.U.S.9 along with its main selling points.

The specifications and features are listed at the rear in 5 languages and are showcased via several pictures.

The bundle is quite rich (unexpected for such a small box) and so aside the M.O.U.S.9 you will also get an Alkaline AA battery, carrying pouch, user’s manual, warranty paper, warning paper, 3 Mad Catz stickers and two papers about Damage Inc. the game and Combat Pilot.

THE M.O.U.S.9

The M.O.U.S.9 is available in three glossy plastic colors (black, red and white) and in black matte. Size-wise it measures 105mm in length (125mm with the palm-rest extended), 65mm in width and 38mm in height.

There are three buttons placed on the left side of the M.O.U.S.9 along with a power LED placed in front of them. The round one is called Precision Control and it serves the purpose of slowing down the movement of the cursor when pressed.

Mad Catz has placed a large wheel on the unit which can be used for things like zoom in/out.

The company logo is placed not once but twice at the rear of the M.O.U.S.9.

Usually with most R.A.T. models this is where we find the weight adjustment system and the Allen key, the M.O.U.S.9 however is different and so this is the AA battery compartment.

The palm rest extends a total of 20mm so it can come in very handy for people with large hands.

The usual DPI selection and profile (both silver in color) buttons this time over can be used as regular programmable ones.

Unfortunately the interchangeable pinkie rest feature of the R.A.T. series didn't make it to the M.O.U.S.9.

The scroll wheel is very soft but not inaudible when used fast.

There are six feet beneath the M.O.U.S.9 which give it very good gliding on wood, glass and aluminum (the 3 surfaces we used in this review).

Next to the Avago 8020 laser sensor we see the power on/off switch and the company logo.

The tiny USB Bluetooth nano dongle is stored beneath the mouse, just press it and it will pop out.

The M.O.U.S.E.9 features no illumination effects so the only LED you will see is the blue power one.

CONTROL SOFTWARE

Since there's no software CD bundled in the box you will need to download the latest drivers and software from the Mad Catz support page.

The control panel for the M.O.U.S.9 offers very basic functions and so through here you can program all 10 buttons (assign keys, shortcuts, macros or programs), create macros (and also assign icons to each), save them all to different profiles (the unit does not offer onboard memory so profiles are saved on your computer), adjust the precision control sensitivity and check for updated drivers, profiles and software.

CONCLUSION

   Although at first glance the M.O.U.S.9 seems to be just a cut-down version of the excellent R.A.T.9 the similarities for some weird reason end there. Now i do understand that most people who use mice with their notebooks care not about having lots of DPI but just 990DPI although a lot better than a touchpad is way too low for my taste. Mad Catz is also launching the R.A.T.M which is a lot closer to the R.A.T. family of gaming mice thanks to its 6400DPI sensor so in a way i think i can relate with them wanting to launch two different models aimed at different segments of the market but they didn't have to be so far apart in terms of specifications. Regardless of speed however the M.O.U.S.9 does offer a great design, good build quality, a total of 10 programmable buttons and a very long battery life coupled with very good wireless range thanks to its Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.

   The main problem of the M.O.U.S.9 however is not really its speed, the main problem is its current price tag which is set at USD127 inside the USA (Purchase Directly from Amazon.com) and at around 120Euros inside the EU making it even more expensive than the R.A.T.9, a much better mouse in overall (personal opinion). Certainly Mad Catz wouldn't have released the M.O.U.S.9 if they didn't feel that there's a valid target group in the market but even so, even if the DPI matter not for casual users the current price tag will to most people and so i sincerely hope that they will cut it quite a bit in the following months to make it attractive to consumers. Overall a good mouse that anyone who is out to purchase one to pair with a notebook and care not about gaming should seriously consider purchasing, the only issue is that it could had been a better (and cheaper).

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design
- 10 Programmable Buttons
- Adjustable Palm Rest
- Avago 8020 Laser Sensor (Works On Most Surfaces)
- Bluetooth 4.0 (Energy-Efficient)
- GameSmart Technology 

CONS

- 990DPI (For Some)
- Price (For Some)