Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical

5 star:		(109)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Mouse technology catches up with PC technology.

I am responsible for order PC equipment for my department. I am constantly asked for a new mouse. The reasons are always the same - it won't roll smooth, it sticks, I have to bang it to work. The traditional mouse uses a ball the runs over an actuator. As the spring wares the actuator shift slightly causing the mouse ball to catch on the corner. With optical there is no mouse ball only a beam of light.

I have ordered every type in every price range with the same results. It is fine for a few months then in the garbage. Ironically, the ones that come with the new IBM Net Vista are the WORST.

I was so impressed with my new optical mouse I immediately order 20 more. It feels very comfortable in your hand. My people liked them so much they ordered them for their home PC's. It has been a month now and no problems. I plan to order an additional 40 more before year end.

The only OS I've tried the optical mouse on is Windows 2000. There is no need to load additional software. We also swap out the mouse while the PC's are running. No need to reboot.

No more having to dislodge cat hair from the inside of my mouse with tweezers !
This cheerful, glowing mouse zips along with terrific accuracy on the "Precise Optical Mousing Surface" I bought for it...the wheel responds to the lightest touch, as do the buttons.
At a reasonable price, this is a marvel of a gizmo, and since I like a dimly lit room at night, the red light is a jolly and friendly touch that delights the kid in me.

It does come with a CD, which I'm not informed on, as I'm a "plug it in and use it" type of person...so I can't tell you what it has to offer...but if you want to keep your life simple, get this mouse. No more cleaning, no more sticky wheel.
Though it works on any surface except for something like glass, I do recommend the "Optical Mousing Surface"...not only does it provide an even better glide, but it's noiseless as it moves on it, contrary to the slight scraping sound you might get on other surfaces.

Update from what was written above, in October of 2002: nearly 2 years later, this trusty mouse is not quite as "zippy", but is still going strong, and is serving me well.

The Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical is the cheapest way into an optical mouse. The mouse is shaped well for your hand and is designed to be used left or right handed. The scroll wheel is large and easy to use. The buttons are large and click well no matter if you are pressing in the middle or the edge of the button. The optical sensors work great. This mouse works perfect on any surface I've tried. Microsoft includes a install CD that has software to customize the mouse to your hearts content. Can be installed via USB port or PS/2 port (USB to PS2 adapter included). If your tired of the goo that collects on the roller ball of your current mouse or are just looking for a second mouse look no further than here.

If you haven't yet switched from a roller ball mouse to an optical mouse, you're in a for a very pleasant surprise. You'll be amazed by both the improvement in accuracy and the ease with which these optical mice can be adjusted. Of course, optical mice do not require a mousepad, a very nice bonus when you're tight for space. (However, it should be noted that they do not work well on glass or on a highly polished surface.) This particular model is just fine, though I've never been a big fan of the constant red glow. It is in the long run however that the optical technology really shines. With no moving parts to wear out or get gummed up, they age particularly well.

This mouse is [inexpensive] but works great. Optical sensor works well without jumping around. Overall a great deal

I can't say enough good things about this product. I bought one of these because I was tired of my mechanical mouse sticking and hesitating on me at work, and having to repeatedly clean the ball and rollers every couple weeks, even though I am pretty much a clean freak at the office. This is no longer an issue for me since I switched to the optical mouse. It is extremely precise and it never, ever hesitates or sticks. What I didn't count on was how much I'd grow to depend on the scrolling wheel. This feature is so handy for scrolling up/down long web pages and documents that now I can't imagine being without it.

The optical mouse was such an improvement for me at work that I ordered two more of these a few weeks later to replace my mechanical mice at home. I now use this very same mouse everywhere I use a computer, and could not be more pleased.

Microsoft IntelliMouse works as advertise. It was easy to install, insert the CD and within a couple of minutes the mouse and its features are ready to be used.

You don't have to use a mouse pad anymore but you can still use one if you want. I'm sure there are a few surfaces the optics won't work on but it worked on my mouse pad and desk surface.

Only time will tell if it will last longer that a ball mouse!

The features include:
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Three Programmable Buttons - The three buttons, including the wheel button, can be reprogrammed easily to perform popular commands with a single touch.

Faster Wheel Scrolling - Move through documents quickly without clicking on the scroll bar.

Designed for Right or Left Hand

No need for a mouse pad (You can still use your favorite mouse pad)

System requirements:
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Pentium 133mhz or higher processor (Pentium 233mhz or higher for Windows XP)

For Windows 98 or Windows ME - 32 MB of RAM

For Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP - 128 MB of RAM

25 MB of available hard-disk space

An available PS/2 or USB port

For Macintosh:
15 MB of available hard-disk space, USB Port, MAC OS 8.6 or 9X, MAC OS 10.1 (Excluding MAC OS 10.0)

I've used MS wheel mice for years. When my old non-optical wheel mouse went to rodent heaven this morning I replaced it with one of these. It's a good, simple mouse with much smoother movement than my previous non-optical. The only problems I've encountered are:

1) Compared with the previous mouse, the scroll wheel feels flimsy and wobbles around in its housing. You're never quite sure if you've moved/clicked it or not.

2) The button action is too sensitive. I keep accidentally clicking the right button just by resting my finger on it. Again, this might just be because I'm used to the previous mouse, which has a much firmer, more positive button action.

Overall though, it responds very well, and I'm sure I'll get used to the above niggles with time! I was also glad that I could plug it straight into my PC running Linux and it worked first time - no configuration needed.

After wearing through three or four regular roller-mice within a year (each one's interal rollers wearing out distressingly quickly with normal but intensive usage), I finally tried out one of these optical mice (i.e, no moving parts), and was very pleased with the results. My first Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse lasted me almost two years, and another two years later I'm still using the second. Beyond an occasional dust-wipe, I've never needed to clean it at all. The mouse motion, buttons, and scroll wheel are all still very responsive, whether I use a mouse pad under it or not.

I've used this mouse extensively with both Windows 98 and Windows XP, and had no problems with either. It also works just as well using either the regular PS/2 connection or the USB plug (although the USB plug is more easily recognized by the computer if the mouse is connected while the computer is already running).

I wish my employer would buy a nice big supply of these for the office, so I could stop having to bother them for replacement roller-mice every few months.

When I first saw the first Microsoft optical mouse demostrated several years ago, I laughed and thought that it would never catch on. Now it has become an indespensible part of my computer, both at home and at work.

By replacing the ball in mice with a beam of light, people now don't have to clean out the rollers in their mice or deal with them sticking or now tracking properly. After cleaning out other people's mice when I've had to use their computers, you get sick of cleaning out the junk.

Pro's:

-Doesn't jam or get stuck in one place
-Fairly responsive
-USB connection
-Works on a wide range of systems, including my ancient Macintosh.

Con's:

-Will not respond if the surface the mouse is resting on is one color or overly reflective. Most of the time this will not occur.
-Having to use non-optical mice on other computers.