Up until recently, I’ve always used a wired mouse due to the fact that I did not want to deal with having to change batteries on a wireless mouse or deal with having to charge one up. If charging a mouse up is like any other piece of electronics that needed charging, then it would most likely be a slow and painful process and most of the time, it would end up being tethered to a wire anyways, so why bother? Genius however has changed my perception of wireless mouses thanks to their new DC-ECO wireless mouse which boasts a battery-free solution that only takes roughly 3 minutes to charge.
Features
The DC-ECO achieves it’s battery free design by utilizing an ultra capacitor to hold charge. The specs for it state that the mouse will allow for 100,000 charges, which if you charge it up once per day, will last you around 273 years. That surely are a lot of batteries you would not have to use. The DC-ECO also features quick charging at about 3 minutes per charge which is really quick and still allows for use while charging. The USB cable for charging is included in the package. What is also included in the package is an install disk which was not necessary for my Windows 7 machine as it recognized the mouse immediately allowing for all built in functionality. There is also an included wireless dongle that you must plug into an available USB port in order to use the mouse. when not in use, the dongle can be stored inside the mouse.
The DC-ECO features a couple extras that help it stand out from your average mouse. It still features the standard 2-button layout and scroll wheel but also includes 2 thumb buttons that are used for previous page/next page functions for web browsers, image viewers, etc. The scroll wheel utilizes Genius’s Magic Wheel technology which allows for not only up and down scrolling, but also left to right scrolling. The DC-ECO also features and adjustable DPI button which allows you to quickly switch between 800 and 1600 dpi. Lastly, there is a Flying Scroll button that when pressed, allows you to move the mouse in any direction to scroll a page in any direction.
Another feature the DC_ECO utilizes is what Genius calls BlueEye technology. Instead of using the usual red light you see with optical mouses, this one is blue. I’m not sure if this is the same thing as Microsoft’s Bluetrack tech, but it seems to achieve the functionality. Basically it is supposed to be more versatile than standard optical mouses and allow you to use it on more varied surfaces more accurately.
- Battery free wireless mouse
- Fully recharged within three minutes while using
- Works on virtually every surface including dusted glass and marble
- Fully Plug and Play
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- Adjustable dpi 800/1600 dpi
- Travel friendly with storable 2.4GHz USB Pico receiver
Usage
The Genius DC-ECO is very easy to set up out of the box. Just plus in the wireless dongle to an available USB port and then plug in the mouse and charging cable to your computer, also via USB. Your computer should immediately recognize it and install the correct drivers on its own. After the 3 minute charge time, you’ll be able to use the mouse wirelessly for a full day.
I found the DC-ECO to be quite comfortable to use and very ergonomic. Most of the buttons are easy to reach although the side buttons where your thumb are are a bit sensitive and I found myself accidentally pressing them all the time. This would cause me to switch between web pages when I didn’t want to. I got used to it after a while and learned not to click on them.
The BlueEye tech does seem to be way more accurate than the previous optical mouse I was using. I tested it on a lot of different surfaces and it was just as accurate on each one. I also really like the quick DPI change button which allowed me to change the speed on the mouse depending on my current need.
Conclusion
This is a great mouse for the price. The Genius DC-ECO is accurate, comfortable to use, and charges very quickly. I like the fact that I can still use it when it’s plugged in, but I don’t need to have it plugged in very long in order to use it wirelessly for a full day. There is an on/off switch on the bottom of the mouse which helps conserve charge if need be. Traveling with the DC-ECO is also easy as the wireless dongle can be stored inside the mouse and kept safe from loss. It only comes in 1 color however so you better like the color silver and black.
All-in-all, a great value at only $39.99.
