A brand name that’s more commonly associated with motherboards and components at the more intricate end of computing, Gigabyte nonetheless has a sideline in peripherals. And with its GM-M7800 Wireless Nano Laser Mouse, it’s going head to head with Logitech and Microsoft. On the face of this device, however, neither of those two rivals have much to concern themselves with.
The packaging looks solid enough, the mouse arriving in a white box emblazoned with the rather peculiar tagline Wherever have a fun. Text on the box introduces the product, a notebook mouse that comes with an invisible receiver that has a range of 10 metres.
As it turns out, the receiver follows the usual convention for such devices, being a small USB plug. It’s not quite invisible, but it is modest, and hard to spot. Once it’s inserted into your laptop, you simply slot the supplied pair of AAA batteries into the mouse (other wireless notebook mice we’ve tested require just one battery, but Gigabyte boast a battery life of up to six months, which we’ve seen nothing to refute). Press the button on the mouse’s base, and the two are soon talking.
The mouse comes supplied with software, but ridiculously, it’s supplied on a mini CD-ROM. These are menaces as far as we’re concerned – particularly in an era when many laptop computers come with a slot-loading drive. Ever tried to use a mini CD in a slot loader? Thought not, and you’re very wise for making that choice.
Fortunately, you don’t actually need the software. The rodent itself is, as you’d expect, Plug and Play-compatible. It’s quite sensitive by default, and on top of the usual assortment of buttons it features a pair of extra ones mounted on its left-hand edge. The scroll wheel goes side-to-side as well as up and down, and the mouse’s range is pretty broad. It does its job, basically, as you’d hope it would.
It isn’t, however, a particularly comfortable mouse to use for long periods. Ergonomics appear to have been compromised in favour of glossy style. The shiny black finish did nothing for us either, we might add.
Compared with the in-roads that the aforementioned Microsoft and Logitech have made into this segment of the market, Gigabyte’s GM-M7800 feels a bit like a token effort – a product to fill a missing part of a product portfolio. It’s not terrible, certainly, and it’s at a tidy price. But it’s best suited for occasional use, and it’s not the best in its price range, either.
Company: Gigabyte