BIG Explorer, No, not the SUV
Written: Dec 02 '00 (Updated Dec 03 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Works good, Looks neat
Cons: Sensitive buttons, Too big, Hard to lift up
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| Wesley815's Full Review: Microsoft Intelli Explorer (B75-00001) Mouse |
As other people have, I got sick of my old mouse 'sticking' and the ball getting dirty all the time so I found the new Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer...
Since it is an optical mouse there is no ball, instead there is a red light where the mouse ball would be. It 'watches' (takes thousands of pictures) as you move the mouse to keep the cursor going in the correct direction on your computer screen. I use a mouse pad for something smooth to move across but you don't have to. Pretty much any surface will work to move your mouse on, just not reflective things such as glass or mirrors.
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer has 5 buttons altogether. The three main ones normal mice now have which are right click, left click, and the middle scroll wheel. Because this mouse is made for only right-handed people the other two buttons are located on the left side where your thumb rests right under them. You can program these buttons to do a number of things like one for going 'back' though webpages on the net, then one for going forward though webpages, switch though program windows you have open, do special commands in games and a few other things.
Setup of the mouse was very easy for me. Just pluged it in to the PS/2 mouse port or USB port and install the Microsoft IntelliPoint software that comes on a CD with the mouse. You can program all the button features that I described above using this program and it's very easy to do with an actual picture of the mouse on screen and whatever button you are setting up will be highlighted in the picture.
I do like how the mouse moved very smooth and accurately across the screen. However, there are a number of things I didn't like about the mouse and the reason I now have a Logitech Optical Wheel mouse instead of the Microsoft one.
First of all (for me) the mouse is too big. It's shaped to be 'ergonomic' or 'contoured' to right hand people and it does feel nice when I just rested my hand on it. But when I move the mouse I feel like I have to move my whole arm instead of quick movements with my wrist. I didn't like this since I couldn't rest my arm and got tired of holding it up the whole time I was using the Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer. Also, I don't have small hands so I know that wasn't the problem.
Second, the buttons are too sensitive... it's very easy to 'miss-click' because even with light pressure you can click the right or left buttons. So I have to keep my fingers up or not at rest on the mouse as I'm move it around, this also makes my hand tired.
Third, because of the shape the sides are angled so it's not easy to lift the mouse when you run out of room to move it. This also caused me to hit the side thumb buttons a few times again, causing a miss-click which can really mess things up depending on what you set those buttons to do.
Lastly, the middle scroll wheel is too easy to move up and down. I always got it going to fast and would scroll past whatever I was trying to see. At least Microsoft did put a little plastic piece around the scroll wheel so it stops you from accidentally hitting it.
I know there are a lot of people who love this mouse, but I'm not one of them. My $25 Logitech Optical mouse works just as good with less buttons, but fits my hand nicer and easier to move around.
-Wes
Wesley815
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Wesley815
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Member: Wesley
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 39 members
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