Technika Wired Optical Mouse

Advantages: Cheap, works well, lasts forever

Disadvantages: Grippers get dirty and need cleaning

Some of the Technika range can be a bit dodgy, whereas some of it is really good value for money. This optical mouse is one of the better products from the Tesco electronics range.

This mouse is an optical mouse, rather than the old style "ball" mouse. This means that there is a small light on the bottom of the mouse which tracks your movement, rather than the traditional ones where the ball revolves when you move it. This means that you no longer have to clean the ball when it gets dirty!

The mouse itself cost about £5 from my local Tesco's store, which is much cheaper than other branded models. It came in quite a large box for the size of the mouse, but inside was the mouse, some literature and a driver CD. As I knew the CD wouldn't be needed as it is only a mouse, I plugged the mouse into my computer via the USB cable. The computer quickly installed its own driver and then the mouse was operational. Really quick and really easy. If your having troubles with you mouse not working, have a look at the light on the bottom, if it is not on then there will be a problem with your connection or setup and you may have to use the CD.

I have had the mouse for about 2 years now and I have not had any problems with it since purchase. All the buttons still work fine and the scroll wheel still does its job. I do find that the small plastic gripper pads on the bottom collect dirt and dust quite quickly and so need to be cleaned off. Apart from that the mouse is still perfect.

It has beaten my expectations greatly and I can highly recommend it. It may be a cheap brand but it acts and works like a more expensive brand and is just as good as other brands I have used. If you are in need of a new mouse then I would recommend this one. I would give it 5/5 as it brilliant value for money.

Review may also appear on Ciao under the same username.

Summary: Great value mouse for computers and laptops.

Tesco Magnolia Handwash

Advantages: Cheap, leaves hands soft.

Disadvantages: No discerbable scent.

I bought this about 4 months ago when the handwash ran out in our bathroom and it was my turn to buy it. As I couldn't be bothered to go far, I popped to the Tesco Express at the bottom of my road and got the cheapest I could find. That happened to be this wash.

As I live in a house with two other students, I didn't want to spend much as I expected it would run out very quickly and would need replacing. I was completely wrong, 4 months later and we are still using the same bottle. For the 60p that I paid for it, it has lasted exceptionally well.

It comes in a 500ml plastic bottle with a plastic pump on top for easy dispense. On the front is a very inconspicuous label with all the basics and a nice picture of a flower. On the rear all the usual details can be found. For the price I paid, I would expect it to be a cheap looking bottle but it definitely is not that, it looks a lot more expensive than it actually is and would fit in any bathroom quite easily.

It claims on the front that is a "Magnolia & Silk" handwash, so I would of expected some scent to it. I have never actually noticed a scent to it, however its pearl colour suggests to me that this is more what they are referring to. As a handwash it works very well. You only need to dispense a small amount of the runny handwash onto you hand for it to work up a good lather and clean your hands. A lot of cheaper handwashes can have a tendency to leave your hands feeling dry but this does not at all. Coincidentally, it leaves them feeling silky soft!

As a handwash, it does exactly what it says on the bottle for what is an exceptional price. I expected a cheap and nasty handwash that would only last a few weeks, instead I got a great handwash that is just as good as some of the leading brands, for a fraction of the price.

When you are shopping in Tesco's next and are on the lookout for a new handwash, give this one a try, it's worth it!

A quick look on Tesco's website today shows that it now costs 61p, which is still very cheap!

Summary: Great handwash for the price!

This review may also appear on Ciao and Dooyoo under the username Qroo.

Yummy Toasties - Tesco Value Sandwich Toaster

 

Advantages: Simple, easy to use and low cost.

Disadvantages: Not the most aesthetically pleasing.

We have had this sandwich toaster now for a few days as we really fancied having a toastie one day. I knew that Tesco has cheap electricals so I headed there for it. There value model was just over £6 (pre VAT rise) and the next cheapest was over £10 so I went for the value model.

In the past I have bought "Value" electricals and they have been very hit and miss in there overall quality, however with this it has been excellent so far. The toaster we have is a little different from the one shown in the picture. The colour is the same but the lights on top are slightly smaller.

Initially it needs to be heated up, which does not take very long (a few minutes). During this time you can prepare the bread and fillings. The toaster holds 2 sandwiches, so we butter 4 slices of bread and place the buttered side facing outwards. We have tried a mixture of different fillings such as: Cheese and Sweetcorn, Baked Beans, Cheese and Turkey. It has been found that some fillings can make a mess of the machine if you put too much in, and clearing it up can be a pain if it goes into the back part of the machine.

To toast the actual sandwich does not take too long at all. I normally leave it for about 3-4 minutes which toasts the bread and makes the fillings piping hot. For the price, I have found no problems with its use or general operation. It produces delicious sandwiches, is easy to clean and small enough to store in a cupboard.

I don't normally buy things from Tesco's because I don't like the shops or the company itself, but for this product it has been very good. If you do need a sandwich toaster then this is ideal if you don't want a fancy chromed model. If your a student or on low income and want a tasty but inexpensive snack or meal then this is the sandwich toaster for you.

Summary: Nice sandwiches for a low budget, can't complain at all.

 Also appears on Ciao and Dooyoo under the username Qroo.