The Bottom Line
VoIP services such as Skype are making it easier and much cheaper for mobile professionals to stay connected on the road. The downside of using such a service is having to carry a telephone handset to take advantage of VoIP services, or so it was before you could get the YapperMouse from YapperNut. It's an optical mouse that can also be used as a phone with Skype VoIP service. This is a good gadget to have if you use Skype and want less gear to carry.
Pros
- Won't require an additional phone for using Skype VoIP service.
- Can be used in hands-free mode as a speakerphone.
- Reasonably priced.
Cons
- Only works with Skype VoIP service.
- Can be tricky switching between speakerphone and handheld mode.
Description
- Wide-angled microphone located at the base - close to your mouth.
- Dedicated audio chip for Skype calls.
- 800dpi Trail-Rated Optical Engine.
- Phone can ring or vibrate to notify of incoming Skype calls.
- Required OS - Windows XP or Windows 2000.
Guide Review - YapperMouse from YapperNut
I have to admit I was intrigued by the concept of the YapperMouse but also concerend with how good the sound quality would be. The idea of using a mouse as a phone when using Skype means less gear I have to worry about and face it, I do use a mouse with my laptop whenever possible.
The mouse is very comfortable to use and while there are some that say "it's just a regular optical mouse", it has a compact design and includes a scroll-wheel. When using my laptop, I don't need more than that.