Targus has long since established itself as a known brand in the world of laptop accessories. Continuing with this dedication to adding peripheral items to our mobile computing experience, Targus recently introduced the new Targus Netbook Accessory Kit. This kit is supposed to be a good starting point for getting more from your MSI Wind, Asus Eee PC, Acer Aspire ONE, or whatever other little laptop you happen to tote.
To my knowledge, this is the first mass market accessory kit dedicated to the netbook realm. Let’s see how this bundle stacks up.
What’s Included with the Targus Netbook Accessory Kit?
If you’re expecting a lot from the Targus Netbook Accessory Kit, you’re probably going to walk away a bit disappointed. You have to understand that this is a basic accessory kit, addressing some of the basic and common needs that netbook users may desire. That means if you’re not already swimming in netbooks accessories, you might actually find this package quite useful.
Inside the standard-looking retail box, you’ll find three items. First there is a soft zippered sleeve that you can use to protect your netbook from damage. Then, contained inside a long and narrow white box are the two other items which include a four-port USB hub and an incredibly small laptop mouse. Let’s have a look at these one at a time.
Getting Connected with the 4-Port USB Hub
A lot of the netbooks out there are lacking in the USB port department, leaving you looking for a spot to plug in that flash drive, external hard drive, computer mouse, or USB humping dog (as the case may be). You may want to have an extra port or two available if you need it just in case the need arises. Cellphones and MP3 players seem to come to mind.
As you’d expect, the 4-Port USB Hub comes with four USB ports. Three of these ports are located on the main side, but there is one additional port at one of the ends. This can be a great place for accessories that tend to take up too much space, blocking other ports.
All of this is wrapped in a simple yet stylish blue, silver, and black motif and it’s about the same size as a (very) large lighter. You know, without the flame. This makes it every easy to carry around with you, just like the netbook itself.
The USB cable that connects back to your netbook is only about two inches long and it stows away into the body of the hub when not in use. This is great for portability, because it means that you don’t have to deal with any messy cables. The short length is acceptable, I suppose, since you should have ample access to a USB port on your netbook. There’s no need for a long cable, especially since it’ll just take up space and weight you down.
Moving Around with the Ultra Mini Portable Retractable Mouse
While all netbooks come with a trackpad (the Sony VAIO P has a “nub” mouse, but let’s forget about that one for now), there is something to be said about the convenience and comfort of using a conventional computer mouse. I find that it’s a lot easier to use a mouse when I’m scrolling through long documents or doing any sort of image editing. However, you may not want to lug around a full-sized mouse with your netbook.
When Targus decided to name this thing the Ultra Mini Portable Retractable Mouse, they weren’t kidding. This mouse really is ultra mini. It measures 3.0″ x 1.4″ x 0.9″, which is about the same as my index and middle finger combined. That’s pretty small.
Given these tiny proportions, you would think that the Targus Ultra Mini Portable Retractable Mouse would be uncomfortable to use. I thought that my hand would cramp up, but it’s surprisingly usable. The experience is certainly different than my larger desktop mouse, but I wouldn’t say that it’s uncomfortable. The clicking of the buttons is quite loud though, which can startle already twitchy patrons at your local Internet cafe.
The retractable cable can also result in a bit of a mess at the collection point sometimes, but this gets less frequent as you get used to its mechanism. I’d prefer a wireless mouse, but this retractable cable is a reasonable compromise.
Staying Protected with the Slipskin Peel 10.2″ Netbook Case
You don’t want your netbook to get all scratched and damaged, do you? While some netbooks come with protective sleeves, some of these are inadequate for proper protection. For example, the leather-like one that comes with the Acer Aspire One is completely open on one end. That’s not good.
The Slipskin Peel Netbook Case is a nicely padded sleeve that’ll hold netbooks as large as 10.2-inches. It was a perfect fit with the Asus Eee PC 1000HE, but there was noticeable “wiggle room” with the nine-inch Acer Aspire One. I really liked the soft feel of the material and the zipper is cleanly protected for a streamlined look. This protective black-and-blue sleeve is also a good alternative to TSA checkpoint-friendly bags, because you can keep your netbook inside the case while it passes through the scanner.
Netbooks Need Some Accessory Love Too
Targus already has a huge range of accessories designed for regular notebook computers. The company has also released a series of Apple accessories for the MacBook users in the audience. It was only a natural progression for Targus to target the netbook end of the equation as well. The first Targus Netbook Accessory Kit ($39.99) is likely just the tip of the iceberg. While none of the three items included in the kit are particularly innovative, they suit the minimalist and portable nature of the netbook niche. The best is yet to come.
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Checking Out the Targus Netbook Accessory Kit – Photo Gallery
