Kensington's Irreplaceable USB Receivers

[Makosuke]

This is mostly in hopes of someone else noticing it and it saving them the same problem, but if you've got a clever suggestion, I'm up for it:

I like the Kensington Slimblade media mouse--neat idea being able to flip it over and use it as a remote.

Until, that is, I discovered the hard way that if you lose your USB receiver or it breaks, you just junked your mouse. Wrote to tech support about replacing a lost receiver, and was informed that:

...the USB receiver is programmed and designed in such a way that it will work only with the Mouse with which it has been packed.

In this regard, we regret to inform you that, we do not manufacture these parts (USB receiver) separately for sale or replacement.

Nice. Can't even sell it on eBay unless I'm hoping the sap who buys it doesn't realize that it's completely useless, which I'm not dishonest enough to do.

Logitech's drivers may have been an insulting pile of crap for years, but at least they'll sell you a replacement USB dongle. And hey, v3.1 is getting almost usable. Last Kensington product I ever buy.

 

[GoCubsGo]

This is where I believe eBay would be your friend.

 

[skorpien]

Just disclose that the dongle is not included and that it will not work with other dongles. They can't ding you for that. And there are some that buy these things for spare parts or just to tinker. Good luck and sorry to hear about your misfortune.

 

[Makosuke]

Yeah, obviously the only realistic option is "Hey, this seems worthless to me, but if you want it..." and assume that SOMEBODY on eBay will buy pretty much anything. Just hurts to get, what, $5, if I'm lucky, for a theoretically $60 (realistically closer to $25) mouse because Kensington apparently would much rather you just buy a new one when you lose a microscopic doodad on a presentation device.

Oh well. Viva la eBay!

 

[Shownarou]

I would assume that this is done for security purposes. You wouldn't want someone to bring a remote in and screw up a presentation you're doing, so they lock the devices individually to prevent such a thing.

Trust me, I brought my apple remote to a university class once.