Review: Citrix X1 Mouse For iPad

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If you're a mobile warrior and find yourself buried in spreadsheets and fine-tuning Office documents, relying only on your iPad on the road is not an option. Now, with the Citrix X1 Mouse, you can use a mouse with your iPad for the first time -- but there's a catch.

What makes the X1 Mouse unique: It's the first mouse that works with iPads and iPhones that doesn't require you to root your iOS device to use it. The catch: It can be used only in a Citrix virtual environment, such as the Citrix Receiver, GoToMyPC, WorxDesktop or ShareConnect.

That could be a deal breaker for casual users, but for diehard business iPad users, spending a little more to get a lot more functionality is a no-brainer.

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I took the X1 for a test drive, and really appreciated the ability to click, point, drag and drop inside Word and Excel documents with ninja-like precision, compared with using my graceless finger. As anyone who has used the GoToMyPC app on a tablet knows, having that mouse will make navigating your Windows-powered desktop significantly easier than using your fingertip or even a stylus.

Performance-wise, don't expect the same type of lightning-fast response time you're used to with your desktop mouse. Sometimes the mouse can feel a little sluggish until you get used to the X1's response time.

The Citrix X1 Mouse is not going to win any design awards. The three-button Bluetooth Low Energy mouse features a scroll wheel, is small and is basic. It's also important to note that the X1 Mouse is a Bluetooth 4.0 device and will only pair with compatible devices when not used with the Citrix iPad apps. Only a limited number of laptops and Apple Macs 2013 or newer support pairing with Bluetooth 4 devices, so use with other mobile gear might be limited for some.

Bottom line, if you're already a Citrix customer, the X1 Mouse is a great fit, allowing you to truly turn your iPad into a laptop replacement. The Citrix X1 Mouse goes on sale this month for $60 and is compatible only with iPad 3.0 and higher and the iPhone 5 and higher.

PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2015