bobstein's Full Review: Microsoft Intelli Optical (D58-00026) Mouse
In the interest of complete reviewer bias disclosure, this will be a bit different than most of the reviews of Microsoft's IntelliMouse Optical for two reasons. First, I'm not a techie, I'm a user ... so all the 1,500 per second scan rate and such won't be mentioned. Secondly, I didn't CHOOSE to purchase the IntelliMouse Optical myself ... I WON it while playing games at iWin.com. The significance of winning it is simply that I did not lay down my hard earned cash for it, so if I didn't like it I hadn't lost anything.
My first impression when taking the MS IntelliMouse Optical out of the box was "this mouse is starving"! The shape of the mouse is considerably narrower than it's unsighted counterparts. I took it to be another case of a great time-tested design that someone just had to redo for the sake of redoing it. Remember when they changed the body style of the Ford Mustang? In the end, I've found the narrower shape to be quite comfortable to use. On the other hand, I still haven't forgiven Ford for changing the Mustang.
I had already seen the ad pictures with the red plastic bottom side to the IntelliMouse Optical, so my reaction to that was "OK, that's cool - so what"! Then I went to plug it in (for the tech-obsessed, I used the PS/2 plug) and WOW! Now I understood the "so what" question! The red bottom lights up and glows when powered! Well, OK ... I guess that is still a "so what", but for wannabe techies like me anything with a dial, gauge, or indicator light is cool stuff!
The software installation was idiot-proof (I base that statement simply on the fact that I got it right on the first attempt). Then came time to try it out and see what all the buttons did (note the complete absence of any reference to reading the booklet or manual provided).
I was quite pleased with the smooth handling of the MS IntelliMouse Optical ... I didn't miss having a (gummed up, hairball-choked) roller-ball at all. The center wheel has a very smooth and soft feel to it (I almost wish it had a bit more "click" in it). The primary and secondary buttons have a nice "click" though ... a much more substantial click than my old MS IntelliMouse Blind. I continue to use a mouse pad even though I know it is no longer needed. I think I chose to do this mostly out of habit, but also just to taunt the hairballs that can no longer get to my mouse!
The mouse has 5 buttons to it. In addition to the primary, secondary, and center wheel that most mouses (mice?) have, the MS IntelliMouse Optical also has two additional side buttons to page forward and page back while on the internet. Just being difficult, I assumed that this was a useless gadget-feature that would never get used. As I became adjusted to having the side buttons I have grown dependent upon them. Sure, I could move my hand to the top of the screen to page back, but why should I have to when I can do the same thing by twitching my thumb!
I would recommend the MS IntelliMouse to everyone ... Microsoft got it right on this one (now, if we could just get FORD to go back to the original Mustang design)!
Robert W. Stein, III, RN, MSHA, CHE
bobstein@legalnurseconsultingservices.com
http://legalnurseconsultingservices.com
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