Today we have another product up for review from Nexus – their compact and perfectly formed wireless silent mouse peripheral the SM-9000.
Nexus have this to say about themselves:
Nexus Technology BV was established in 2000 by a group of experts on heat conductivity and noise reduction in the computer industry. The founders have built up an in depth knowledge and experience on heat conductivity issues and thermal; characteristics by working closely with many of the larger pc manufacturers for several years.
The idea to have a full line of high quality computer components to improve the working environment by reducing noise levels brought the founders together. Continuously developing products to reduce noise levels and consequentially improve heat conductivity and airflow.
Our goal: Building a strong and reliable trademark for silent computing.
Up for review today is the new wireless laser mouse from their SM (Silent Mouse) series. Most of the SM-9000’s features are largely as you’d expect for a standard wireless mouse. Only the addition of the patented silent switches (and to some extent the laser optics offered by your average premium products these days) set it out from the competition. These switches still retain the positive feel of clicking the mouse button but do not make any discernable noise in the process.
Nexus say this about the mouse:
Nowadays we are so used to using the PC and we have come acquainted with track pads, multi-touch displays etc. that we no longer need the confirmation of a clicking action. You know when you have clicked or double clicked. You see a graphical reaction of your clicking on the screen and PC’s are so fast these days that you practically never have to wait for your PC to respond. So you simply do not need a clicking-sound confirmation of your action… you know when you have clicked or not. So why still hear the clicking sound? Well it turns out that this is part of switching-technology and it is not so easy to remove the physical sound when clicking. We have managed to find a solution. With using some patented switching technology we (finally) have created a soundless/noiseless mouse.
Specifications
With such a svelte and simple device the specifications list is never going to be expansive but here it is nonetheless.
Packaging and mouse
The SM-9000 comes packaged in a clear blister style pack. Not the easiest type of packaging to get into but easy enough with a set of scissors and a little patience. The mouse and receiver are clearly visible as is the mute style logo that adorns Nexus’ Silent Mouse series.
Packaging front.
The rear offers a description of the product as well as the specifications of the mouse and receiver. It’s all very clear and neat.
Packaging rear.
Once unpacked we can see the mouse along with the supplied batteries, nano receiver that fits tidily within the mouse and the manual. The mouse itself is a compact size and a symmetrical design.
All the bundled items.
There’s not much involved in actually using the mouse but those basic steps are covered clearly and concisely within the manuals two pages.
The manual.
Up close you can see the shiny carbon fibre look cover flanked by rubberised sides. The mouse’s compact size and shape promote a fingertip operation style so your palm is unlikely to contact the shiny bit.
The SM-9000.
Even closer the main features on the mouse are of course the buttons. The left and right buttons are silent and the scroll wheel is also essentially silent too during both scrolling and clicking.
The main buttons up close.
Mouse continued
The only other notable feature on the upper portions of the mouse is the thumb grip on the left side – there is not one on the right. This suggests that it might be an exclusively right handed mouse but it’s symmetrical design makes it totally usable by both left and right handed users.
Thumb grip.
Turning the mouse over we see the four low friction feet at each corner of the base. The battery compartment is clear to see here – as is the nano receiver bay.
SM-9000 base.
Under a minute later and the batteries are in and receiver in place. A perfect complement to a laptop for a user on the go.
Everything in place.
As a comparison I placed it next to my recently reviewed Airen mouse. For reference the Airen is a fairly standard size being a touch larger than a Razer Diamondback and around the same size as a Razer Deathadder or Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 4.0. You can see that the Silent Mouse is indeed quite compact.
Rear comparison.
Head on it is narrower than the Airen as well as shorter. Height wise I’d say they were quite similar with the Silent Mouse just being a touch shorter. Overall the size is somewhere between a standard mouse and a fully compact laptop mouse – though ultimately it’s probably closer to the size of a laptop mouse.
Front comparison.
Testing
The SM-9000 was tested against a couple of mice (one of a similar type and the other of a similar value) and on three different surfaces – specifically the and the Microsoft Laser Mouse 8000 and RedMouseR Two. I also used both the Ozone TRACE mousepad, a Boogiebug soft mousepad and my own desk (wood laminate) for testing.
First things first – the nano receiver was plugged into the PC and I waited a short while as it installed. This was a painless procedure and the mouse worked first time. Operating distance is certainly more than useable – I could not get it to break signal even when a great distance from the PC. The claim of a 6-10m range seems more than acceptable.
In my opinion this mouse doesn’t seem specifically designed as a wholehearted desktop mouse. It’s size is far more suited to mobile applications where the ability to use it in a compact space and fit it into your laptop bag is paramount. That said it’s certainly not uncomfortable to use and is fine for me despite my fairly large hands. Indeed, I actually took it to work for some extended testing over the past week and with around 6 hrs use per working day has posed no fatigue or strain issues.
Usage in general is actually quite pleasant and for a laser mouse it actually feels quite ‘optical mouse’ like. It tracks smoothly and accurately and I’ve yet to confuse it during quick sweeps… even on ‘wood effect’ laminate desk tops.
Be it office usage or gaming the SM-9000 does a great job. Only during intense action in games where large, fast but pin point action is required (COD4) does the Nexus’ compact size become a bit of an issue. It’s not a deal breaker at all though – just something that a slightly larger mouse would cope better with.
The SM-9000 really is a great little mouse but there are of course parts I could see a potential improvement in. The first is that the nano receiver is a tad awkward to remove. It’s not that there’s resistance simply that the receiver is difficult to get a purchase of. The next and only remaining issue in my eyes is the distinct lack of forward and back buttons. These in my mind aren’t far off the importance of the main left/right buttons and scroll wheel – these buttons are the life blood of web surfing and their absence is a bit of a disappointment. The sheer number of times I went to use them and found nothing actually surprised me.
Conclusion
I’m really very impressed with the Nexus SM-9000. Great ergonomics despite the compact size and it’s certainly easy on the eye too. It would happily grace any laptop bag and certainly the occasional desktop setup too.
Raw tracking performance is also right up there with a smooth and reliable response that gives a great amount of confidence to even highly accurate and detailed usage. Work based application is one thing but these days gaming performance is also an important factor – users want to know they’re getting something flexible enough to deliver on both. Once again as you saw from the testing I found the SM-9000 a credible unit. It’s smoothness and accuracy certainly benefitted me in both COD4 and Far Cry 2… again only the Nexus’ small physical size was a slight issue. Although it would be fine for users with either a fingertip style or smaller hands.
The only issue I could identify besides the understandably compact dimensions was the lack of forward and back buttons. It’s not a massively huge issue – more an annoyance that could have been avoided by their inclusion. During the initial day or so of testing I did find myself going for the buttons only to find them absent however after a week of use I decided I could work without them.
The exceptional Nexus SM-9000.
Now onto the shining light that is those silent switches. I honestly thought I’d either not get on with them and/or they would simply be a gimmick that made no discernable difference.
I could not have been more wrong…
It really has been a revelation. The reduction in stress caused by something as simple as a click has been a boon. I initially thought I’d be going back to my standard Microsoft work mouse (especially after going for the forward and back buttons for the first time) but found the mouse so relaxing that despite that issue I continued using it. It’s been an absolute pleasure and I am genuinely astonished at the difference it’s made to my working day. The switches still give the tactile sensation of a click so you know for sure when you’ve clicked on something… you just don’t hear a sound. Marvellous!!!
Despite the lack of forward and back browser buttons and as a result of the smooth and accurate tracking performance, great looks and simply awesome silent switched buttons the Nexus SM-9000 is deserving of our Gold award – well done!
Pros
+ Exceptional sensory improvement through use of silent switches
+ Very smooth and accurate during use – good laser optics
+ Very simple ‘plug and play’ setup
+ Affordable
+ Great looking
+ Rubber coating on sides good for grip
+ Wireless connectivity robust and reliable
+ Excellent build quality
+ Tiny nano receiver perfect for laptop use
+ Tidy solution
Cons
– A touch compact for me during extended desktop/gaming use
– No forward/back browser buttons
+ Exceptional sensory improvement through use of silent switches
+ Very smooth and accurate during use – good laser optics
+ Very simple ‘plug and play’ setup
+ Affordable
+ Great looking
+ Rubber coating on sides good for grip
+ Wireless connectivity robust and reliable
+ Excellent build quality
+ Tiny nano receiver perfect for laptop use
+ Tidy solution
Cons
– A touch compact for me during extended desktop/gaming use
– No forward/back browser buttons
Vortez would like to thank Nexus for supplying the Silent Mouse SM-9000 for review.
