Whether you have a keyboard or touchpad that is not working, want something better, or just need a desktop keyboard or mouse when working in the office, there are a wide range of choices available to the notebook computer user.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Trackball Mouse

Company: Kensington
Product: Orbit Optical Trackball
Web Site: http://www.kensington.com
Retail Price: $29.99

Even though most people prefer the common mouse for working with their computer, I have always preferred a trackball.  I find them easier to use, take up less workspace, and are great when traveling on a plane where there is almost no space to use a mouse.  My favorite has always been the Kensington Orbit Trackball

The original Orbit was a mechanical trackball that always needed cleaning due to dust, lint, and oil building up on the ball and transferring to the rollers inside.  The new Orbit Optical Trackball has eliminated that problem with an efficient optical design.  The Orbit features Left and Right mouse buttons and a small, comfortable ball.  The Orbit connects to the notebook via USB.  The top of the Orbit is covered in a black coating that makes it more comfortable and your hand is less likely to slide off the trackball.

The Orbit features:
1. DiamondEye optical technology for precise tracking and cursor control
2. The comfort of a mouse and the fingertip control of a trackball
3. Uses less arm movement and desk space than a conventional mouse
4. USB and PS/2 connectivity for greater compatibility
5. Kensington’s satisfaction guarantee - five-year warranty, toll-free support, and 90-day no-risk trial
6. Optical trackball with medium sized ball and two mouse buttons
7. Cord Length: 6ft
8. Metallic silver and black
9. PS/2 and USB connectivity (for PCs and USB Macs)
10. System Requirements
PC-Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP with USB port
PC-Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP with PS/2 compatible mouse port
Macintosh with OS 10.1.5 or later
USB Macintosh with OS 8 & 9, device will only function as a 1-button mouse
11. Warranty
Orbit Optical Trackball is backed by the Kensington 5-Year Warranty and free technical support.

This product works extremely well and once you get used to it, I think you will find that it is much more efficient and faster than a mouse.  The only thing I did not like about the new Orbit is that the ball rests in the ball socket and there is nothing holding it in place.  On the older model, the ball snapped into the ball socket, so it did not come out unless you pushed it out from the bottom.  On the newer model, the ball will fall out if you turn the Orbit over or when you pack it in your notebook bag for travel.  So I am always digging around inside my notebook bag looking for the ball.

Desktop Keyboard for Notebook

Company: Logitech
Product: diNovo Edge Keyboard
Web Site: http://www.logitech.com
Retail Price: $199.99

When you are working at a desk, it is really nice to have a comfortable, full sized keyboard.  So the easiest thing to do in plug a USB keyboard into your notebook.  With the wide range of keyboards available, the coolest desktop keyboard I have seen is the Logitech diNovo Edge.  Logitech has combined stylish form with function and added a few great extra along the way.

The Logitech diNovo Edge has a ton of great features.  Its slim, stylish design fits well in any environment and its keys feel like the keyboard from a high quality notebook, but with a wider, easier to use layout.  There is even a touch bar for speaker volume control and a TouchDisk scroll wheel/touchpad.  The silver palm bar makes the diNovo comfortable to use plus the rechargeable power and Bluetooth connectivity makes it convenient to use.  The charging base will keep the keyboard fully charged when not it use and conveniently stored.  A USB Bluetooth Receiver is included with the diNovo for notebooks that do not have Bluetooth built-in.  The TouchDisk touchpad and mouse buttons are in the lower right corner, so you do not need a mouse, unless you do not like touchpads.

The Logitech diNovo Edge features:

Hardware
1. Keyframe
2. Full-sized standard 18 X 18 mm keys, 3.2 mm key travel, 60g activation force
3. 10M keystroke supported per key
4. Scissor switch technology
5. Plexiglas panel with brushed aluminum palm rest
Enhanced Control
1. 38 mm circular Touchpad with horizontal and vertical scrolling
2. Acceleration settings goes from None to 10 times the scrolling speed
3. TouchDisk can be disabled with FN + Left Click on the keyboard
4. 17 one-touch access controls with instant backlit feedback
5. 57 mm touch sensitive volume slider with instant backlit feedback
Connectivity
1. Bluetooth Wireless Technology, version 2.0
Power and Battery
2. Built-in rechargeable 950 mA lithium ion battery
3. Fast-charge time: About 5 min for approx. one day usage
4. Full-charge time: About 2 hours for up to 2 months usage
System Requirements:
5. Windows XP (SP2) or Windows Vista (all editions)
6. Available USB port
7. CD-ROM Drive
Dimensions and Weight
1. 11 mm (H) X 410 mm (W) X 210 mm (D)
2. 940 grams
Package Contents
1. Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard
2. Charging base AC power cord
3. USB mini-receiver
4. Installation CD with Logitech SetPoint version 3.10, comfort guidelines, & Help center
5. User guide
6. 3-year warranty

The Logitech diNovo keyboard feels great, although people with really large hands may not like it anymore than they like the normal notebook keyboards.  The keys are approximately the same size as most notebook keyboards and the depression depth / recoil of the keys feels the same as my notebooks’ built-in keyboard.  This products has great features like Bluetooth, rechargeable power, stylish design, and a really thin profile.  It even has cool orange lights for the status indicators, function keys, volume bar, and touchpad.  The diNovo Edge works well and looks great in any office and home.  The only thing I would have asked for is longer folding tilt legs in the back for greater angle on the tilt.

Desktop Mouse for Notebook

Company: Logitech
Product: VX Revolution Mouse
Web Site: http://www.logitech.com
Retail Price: $79.99

I hate touchpads.  And if you are like me, then there are times when you need to have an alternative.  Especially when working in the office or home.  So if you are looking for a mouse to use on your notebook, there are a lot of choices.  Any PC mouse will do, but if you want a mouse with great features, comfortable, fast, and precise, then check out the Logitech VX Revolution.

The VX Revolution features:
Speed
1. Hyper-fast Scrolling: Fly through long documents with the MicroGear Precision scroll wheel.
2. Touch to Search: Enjoy one-click access to your favorite search engine-instantly search your computer, network, and across the Web.
Comfort
1. Compact design with full-size comfort.
2. Natural Position: Enjoy exceptional comfort with a sculpted, ergonomic design.
3. Feel at Ease: Get a grip with textured rubber sides.
4. Convenient Controls: Do more with the mouse; make less visits to the keyboard.
Precision
1. Advanced Laser Engine: Experience extreme accuracy and flawless tracking on nearly any surfaces.
2. Click-to-Click Scrolling: Increase productivity with click-to-click navigation of lists, slides, and image collections.
3. High-Resolution Zoom: Effortlessly zoom in and out of photos, spreadsheets and documents.
Convenience
1. Storable Micro-Receiver: Stores inside the mouse for easy transport.
2. 2.4GHz Digital Cordless: Delivers reliable operation in busy wireless environments.
3. Battery Level Meter: 4-stage indicator provides plenty of warning. Get up to 4 months from a single AA.
System Requirements - PC
1. Windows XP
2. Windows Vista (requires Internet connection)
3. Available USB port
4. CD-ROM drive
System Requirements - Mac
1. Mac OSX 10.3.9 - 10.4.7*
2. Available USB port
3. CD-ROM drive
4. Internet connection
Package Contents
1. Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks
2. 2.4GHz micro-receiver
3. Logitech SetPoint software CD
4. User’s guide
5. AA battery
6. 3-year limited warranty

The VX is easy to set up and use.  The 2.4GHz micro-receiver stores conveniently inside the VX and works well for anyone who does not have Bluetooth for a wireless mouse, although even if you do have Bluetooth, the VX with its micro-receiver works very well.  Pushing the eject button will pop the receiver out and turn the VX on.  There is also a power button on the bottom although inserting the receiver back into the VX will automatically turn the power off.  After installing the software on your notebook, simply plug the receiver into a USB port and you are ready to go.  The Microgear adjustment is on the bottom of the VX.  This is used for adjusting the tension on the scroll wheel from normal click to completely free-rolling.  The scroll wheel can not only scroll up and down, but can also be pushed left and right to scroll in those directions.  The rubberized sides make the VX comfortable to hold and the top features left/right mouse buttons, a zoom in and out slider, customizable forward/backward buttons, and a search button for launching your favorite search engine.  Battery level LEDs are also on the top.

The Logitech VX Revolution is an easy to use mouse with a comfortable feel that gives the user a lot of extra functions with speed and precise control.  If you are looking for a mouse that will let you work with large documents easily, surf the web comfortably, and navigate Windows with less effort, then check out the Logitech VX.  It’s a great mouse for notebook users.

-- Harvey Lee,
Senior Technology Editor