[decryption]

Welcome to the first of many Monday product reviews, for the new Mactalk. This week, product reviewer Pete Dillon takes a look at the Targus line.

Our friends at Targus and Double edge PR have been generous enough to let us try out a range of products aimed specifically at the Mac, and nothing else.

Wireless Mouse
Pros: Excellent replacement for Apple’s Mighty Mouse. Optical scroll wheel responds well, and is a great feature. Individual click buttons makes it a useful addition to gamers.
Cons: Dedicated USB wireless dongle takes up valuable space on Apple portables.

Rating 8/10

4 Port USB Hub

Pros: Extremely small, light, portable. Interesting ‘wrap around’ design
Cons: Bus power only, no optional AC adaptor


Rating 7/10

Chill Mat
Pros: keeps your legs considerably cooler
Cons: Little to no effect on reducing core temperatures on portables, flimsy feel, definitely worth waiting for the 2nd Generation.

Rating 5/10

File Share Cable
Pros: Makes file transfers absurdly easy for new users
Cons: So does a firewire cable. High RRP.

Rating 4/10

Blue Tooth Presenter
Pros: Insanely customizable and comprehensive. Simply the best productivity application companion product available for the Mac. Integrated Laser pointer is powerful, onboard navigation sensor is excellent
Cons: A premium RRP will restrict this item to pro customers.

Rating 9/10

Again a big thanks to Targus for allowing us to test drive some very interesting products, and see how they perform with the Mac.

If you’ve got a product, or service that you’d like reviewed, contact us at

pete.dillon@mactalk.com.au

We’ll see you next Monday.

[NathR32]

Great work. Well done Phase.
I'm glad MacTalk is getting more interactive, it's so exciting

I agree with all the points raised on a few products, I have the wireless mouse from Targus and love it to bits.

I look forward to the next video.

[baxter]

Nice concise reviews. Well done.
PS: If we are going to have an Aussie blog can we at least spell "Home Theatre" properly in the titles?

[khalil]

Nice reviews but did the beers really have to be in shot??

[decryption]

Originally Posted by khalil

Nice reviews but did the beers really have to be in shot??

Yes.

[Al Aero]

Originally Posted by khalil

Nice reviews but did the beers really have to be in shot??

Coopers is Mactalk's beer of choice

its involved in every podcast and videocast we do

a.

[JWrigley]

Nice work Pete!

Might have to stock the wireless presenter thingy in my store - the built-in laser pointer (AKA cat exerciser) would be handy

[hamusta]

Well done!!

Looking forward to see more videos in the future

[Exocet]

Who says I can't be won over by shiny things? I'm very tempted to pick up the wireless mouse and USB hub.

[Donnie Darko]

Nicely done

Why for the love of God did Targus send the dongle mouse instead of the flagship bluetooth model.. that's like GM sending a Pontiac instead of a Cadillac..

Anyways, got the bluetooth mouse here and love it

[oneplusone]

Originally Posted by Donnie Darko

Nicely done

Why for the love of God did Targus send the dongle mouse instead of the flagship bluetooth model.. that's like GM sending a Pontiac instead of a Cadillac..

Anyways, got the bluetooth mouse here and love it

Exactly, i've been waiting for a decent review on that mouse for ages. Still waiting.....
Might just buy one anyway.

[nortonjg]

can you get the mouse in a non wireless version?

[Phase]

Not that I'm aware of, however the blue tooth version, as others have pointed out, is Dongle-less.

[Geoff3DMN]

I enjoyed watching that

[gameon]

mouse looks good, need to replace my mighty mouse and that mouse looks nice
will prob get btooth model though

[cambo3112]

Well done guys ... nice professional review.
You might like to get an external mic - shotgun or lapel - to improve the sound quality and watch those jump cuts but otherwise great!! Maybe also include those pros and cons as supers on the video.
I look forward to seeing many more.
(My first post, by the way!)

[Phase]

Hey Cambo, welcome!

And yes, even tho this was captured through a RODE Video Mic, it still sounds pretty average. The Mactalk team is working on this as we speak, in addition to the abrupt cuts.

We learned a lot the first time around, next week's should be great.

[jrad]

Ah, good to read that Phase. I thought you were very well spoken and clear... but the audio wasn't. :P The audio mix between the intro indent and the content was a bit... softer, or louder, depending on which way you look at it. Hopefully this can be fixed easily, and I look forward to the next videos!

[Goldilocks]

Thanks for the video review, only gripe is with the sound, could hardly hear it even with the volume on max, tried headphones on max as well but not much better. I have a unibody Macbook Pro 15", maybe that explains it??

I am looking forward to more video reviews.

[Phase]

Mmm, audio levels here weren't quite that bad, check the vimeo player that all the sound bars are maxed, but certainly taken on board, and will be fixed for next Monday.