21 February 2010

Hot Corners - Review

Sometimes, it’s just nice to be able to flick your mouse to lock the PC, launch Google, show the desktop or a range of other shortcut commands. Sure, you can set keyboard commands. But if you’re holding a cup of coffee or doing something with one hand (you disgust me) the mouse is the way forward. If you’re using a touchscreen like the show-off you most likely are, you can just tap the cross in the corner. Don’t do that just yet though because you need to read this amazingly unoriginal review.
Hot Corners makes Wingardium Leviosa come to life on your PC. A quick swish and flick of the wrist with mouse in hand to one of the four corners of the screen and you’ve done it. You’ve actually successfully done it. Although opening Google with one hand isn’t such a major feat…
Installation
Steve’s brain is pleased to report that the installation of Hot Corners is simpler than Forrest Gump’s goldfish. In total you only need to click through 7 screens and perhaps type a quick installation folder location if you’re pickier than a rhinotoxillimaniac’s mountaineering equipment shed. The first screen is a simple welcome box with a warning about closing all other windows prior to installation. Please ignore this message as all other windows can stay open unless you’re running a system slower than a sedated slug.
Hot Corners 1
Click next, and then click yes. You need not bother reading anything on box 2.
Hot Corners 2
  On box 3 check the first two boxes but leave the third unchecked.
Hot Corners 3
Screen 4 requires no interaction so just move on.
Hot Corners 4
Don’t bother changing anything on screen 5 either.
Hot Corners 5
Now it’s time to click Install.
Hot Corners 6
That was easier than falling off the ground.
Hot Corners 7
Configuration
There’s not a great deal of settings to choose from so don’t get too excited.
Hot Corners 8
This is where you choose which corner does what.
Hot Corners 9
And this is where you choose which command is executed when you move your mouse in a certain direction. To choose the command just click the drop down boxes and select! It’s as simplistically straightforward as that.
Hot Corners 10  
The cherry on the top has to be the ability to change the delay between the time you throw the cursor into the corner and the point when the command is executed. On top of that alternate mouse sensitivities to ensure you don’t get any annoying locks right in the middle of doing something important.
Summary
Hot Corners is easy to install as it to configure. There aren’t a great deal of features and some gesture-based navigation would have been the icing to glaze the cake, and accidentally throwing the mouse into the corner at the wrong time can cause disaster. But it’s good nevertheless.
Just make sure you have a steady hand or you may lock your PC in the middle of a presentation…
Awesometer
5/10
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