HP 930 Creator Wireless Mouse
RRP $ 90.00
"The HP 930 Creator Wireless Mouse is a highly customizable mouse with no serious drawbacks."
advantages
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Ergonomic design
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Seven customizable buttons
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Long battery life
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Fast charge capability
disadvantage
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Right-handed only
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A bit expensive
HP has redoubled its recent efforts to woo creative customers with a full line of laptops like the Envy 14 and Envy 15 aimed directly at creative professionals. But HP hasn't stopped with laptops. It's also available with the HP 930 Creator Wireless Mouse, a device designed to work more efficiently in applications like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
In addition to the HP Envy x360 15, another laptop for developers, I received a 930 Creator Wireless Mouse as a test device. I put the $ 90 wireless mouse through its paces – does it offer something to measure up to the best mice?
design
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The wireless 930 Creator mouse is made of two-tone silver-gray plastic and feels robust enough. It's light and easy to move around without feeling cheap, and the lower part that flares to the left has a slightly grippy coating that helps keep control over quick mouse movements. Aside from the color scheme, HP's mouse is similar to Logitech's MX Master 3, its main competitor.
Like the MX Master 3, the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse has a dual-function scroll wheel with a button that changes from ratchet to free-scrolling mode. The HP version is just as slick when allowed to flow freely, but chunkier in ratchet mode. The scroll wheel can be pressed and pushed to the left and right for additional functions.
There are four buttons along the left side to the top of the flare. The device closest to the user switches between two Bluetooth devices, while the other three can be programmed to perform many functions (more on that later).
This is actually an unfortunate arrangement as it is far too easy to press the bluetooth switch instead of the first programmable button to disconnect the active device. I've been using the mouse for a few weeks now and still occasionally hit the wrong button. HP would have been smarter to put the button on the bottom of the mouse.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The 930 Creator Mouse comes with a proprietary dongle that plugs into a slot on the bottom. It's accessed via a magnetic cover that opens easily once you've read the attached diagram which tells you to press the bottom to pry the cover open. In combination with the two Bluetooth connections, you can use the dongle to establish a connection to a total of three devices.
As with the MX Master 3, you can connect to several devices at the same time via Bluetooth and the dongle and move the cursor and files between the devices. That's a nice feature if you're using multiple computers at the same time, and the feature works between Windows 10 and Mac OS.
ergonomics
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Thanks to its shapely contours and the rounded design, the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse is a comfortable device – if you are right-handed. It's pretty much useless for left-handed people, which is unfortunate. The same applies, of course, to the Logitech MX Master 3 and many similar mice.
For those who can use it, however, and if your hand isn't too big, the mouse can be found comfortably in the palm of your hand and your thumb to rest easily on the flare. Moving the mouse is a simple process that does not cause significant fatigue even after hours of use.
The buttons are in the right places so they're easy to reach but not too easy to accidentally press (except for the bluetooth switch, as mentioned above). The left and right buttons have a nice click and are not too loud.
All in all, the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse passes the ergonomic mouse test quite well. It's a mouse designed for long creative sessions, and you won't find it getting in your way.
performance
The 930 Creator wireless mouse has a sensor resolution of 800 to 3,000 dots per inch (dpi), among some competitive mice that can achieve a resolution of up to 10,000 dpi. The MX Master 3, for example, has a resolution of 4,000 dpi, more than the HP, but not enough that the typical user would notice. The HP Accessory Center app can be installed from the Microsoft Store to set the resolution.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
As mentioned earlier, the scroll wheel works remarkably fast in smooth scrolling mode. If you're fidgety, it might move too fast, but you can use it to navigate long web pages and documents with ease. When it comes to cursor control, the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse is a confident performer that offers precise control thanks to a combination of just enough weight and ergonomic design.
HP promises up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge. I've been using it for a couple of weeks so far and I'm still sitting on around 70% battery life. So I'm well on my way to getting closer to HP's estimate. HP also states that a one-minute charge provides 30 minutes of battery life, ideal for times when you need to get something done and the battery is dead.
Programmability
All seven buttons of the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse – the pressed scroll wheel, the left and right action of the scroll wheel, the right button and the three programmable buttons – can be assigned functions within several applications. The buttons are programmed using the HP Accessory Center app.
As in the example above, the app can recognize multiple applications and automatically assign certain functions to each key. Or the functions can be set manually. It's an easy-to-use app that makes customizing the mouse for supported applications a breeze.
Our opinion
The HP 930 Creator Wireless Mouse is a great addition to the programmable mouse category. It's well built, sits comfortably in the hand (if you're right-handed), and offers easy-to-use and very flexible programmability. Buying this mouse with an HP laptop makes perfect sense and is a one-stop shop for support.
However, there are other good mice out there too, so do some shopping. Chances are you have the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse on your shortlist.
Are there alternatives?
The most direct competitor is the Logitech MX Master 3, which costs $ 10 more than HP's mouse. The Logitech also supports multiple applications with custom buttons, but not as many as the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse.
The Razer Pro Click is another alternative to the 930 Creator Wireless Mouse and costs $ 10 more. You'll find that the Razer has longer battery life, an equally ergonomic design, a 16,000 dpi sensor, support for up to four devices, eight programmable buttons, and longer battery life. It's a formidable competitor.
How long it will take?
The 930 Creator Wireless Mouse is well built and should be used for years. The one year warranty is an industry standard.
Should you buy it?
Yes. It lies comfortably in the hand and can be adapted to your workflow.
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