Software and Features:

As is typical with most USB devices you must install the software before you plug it in. The software was surprisingly easy to install and set up. Only three steps and the OpticalBar USB was all ready to go.

Now with a lot of original ideas and new interface hardware I am used to finding them very buggy or in general they don't work how they are supposed to, example: the P5 Power Glove from EssentialReality. This OpticalBar USB has been a major exception. It works just how it is supposed to!

After installing the software and doing the setup which took about four minutes I plugged it in the USB port. Windows recognized it fine and the little blue LED on the OpticalBar unit lit up. I immediately started poking around the screen with my finger underneath the OpticalBar and a little window popped up directly under it! In the little window there is 14 buttons.

The touch window.

Now if your picky like me, you would've thought hey those buttons don't match each other and they are ugly, I want awesome futuristic buttons to match the jellyfish!(desktop wallpaper).

Well Simply-Touch is one step ahead of us. The buttons are all customizable, you can change their icons and functions. You can select from all kinds of functions that have sub options, like opening a particular web site, a folder, running a program with certain parameters, typing in keyboard shortcuts, preprogrammed actions, very similar in fact to some programmable keyboards software.

A close up of the little touch window.

There are many custom options to this, besides the options for LED I described earlier you can change the background image in the little window to one of your own or one of the many they included with it.
(they included plenty of icons and backgrounds also) You can change the transparency of the window, whether its always on or hides when you are not using it. All the options work great and is much more than I expected.

One thing about the actual "touching" part is that you of course do not have to touch the screen. That is because it is just using optical recognition to see where your finger is and how far away it is. On that same note you must bring your finger straight down towards the button for it to press correctly, there is a little room for error so it wont mess up too easily. If you have your monitor positioned in front of you, then you will naturally bring your finger down the right way. I have mine in front of me and I rarely hit the wrong button.

You might think "hey its just as quick to swing the mouse over to a button, why would I want to reach out and poke my finger at my monitor". Well that is what I thought, but now I find myself using it all the time. Its great when you run by your computer and to check your email you don't even have to sit down, just jab at the screen real quick and boom your Email pops up. 

 I love it, in fact when I get a flat panel soon I am going to  have a dual monitor setup with my LCD monitor next to me, on the corner of the LCD is where I will put the OpticalBar USB. Then I can access all the stuff I use constantly without even having to reach for my mouse or keyboard.

Conclusion:

Well as you can see by the review I would definitely recommend this item. I have found nothing wrong with it so far, Installation went smooth, functions work great, more configurable than I expected and a great price. Its hard to find a small, useful, practical product like this. Awesome job for the people at Simply-Touch!

PROS

• Easy Setup

• Very Customizable

• Extra long USB Cord

• Built Sturdy

• Performs excellent

• Low price for such a useful gadget!

CONS

• I didnt like the sticky adhesive pads that came with it
  but you can use Handi-Tak or something similar instead.

SCORES:

Design Quality:   5
Style:                  5
Performance:      5

Price:                  5

Excellent product! I would recommend this, you can find out where they are available for purchase at www.Simply-Touch.com