Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse

by Microsoft

Product Details

Product Manual [222kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 2.8 inches ; 9.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000098XIJ
• Item model number: P58-00001
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 16, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Overview:

Microsoft® Optical Technology replaces the traditional mechanical mouse ball for greater accuracy and control. Easy and comfortable to use, Basic Optical Mouse is a good choice for value.

Features: Scroll Wheel - Move through your documents quickly without having to click the on-screen scroll bar. Comfort - Get a grip with a comfortable design created for either hand. Easy to Set Up and Use - No software to install, no feature setup required. Microsoft Optical Technology - High Performance Optical Technology — no mouse ball. Optical sensor delivers greater accuracy and control.

System Requirements: Windows Vista®/XP/Me/2000/98 or Mac OSX v.10.1–10.5.X USB port

Product Description

Cable - Optical - 3 x Button Programmable - 1 x Scroll Wheel - USB, PS/2

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the trouble...., July 8, 2004

By 

Menhir (Pittsburgh, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse (Personal Computers)

I purchased this mouse as a replacement for a ball type mouse that had just plain worn out. The worn out one performed better than the new basic optical mouse! It's true: The pointer randomly jumps all over the screen. I tried it on my desktop and on a mousepad...no difference. I lowered the speed even to the lowest level...no difference.
Having a pointer jump around is annoying enough while playing games, but it is downright dismal when working on important business spreadsheets.
There is no support for the basic optical mouse at Microsoft. I'm not one of those compulsive Microsoft bashers, but they are taking the money and running with this product.
Forget this piece of junk. Also forget the milktoast "It's still a good buy for the price" reviews. If it doesn't work reliably, it's a bad buy at any price.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a piece of junk, September 21, 2004

By 

WaveDude - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse (Personal Computers)

The pointer jumps all over the place making this mouse absolutely useless. I have another MS optical mouse (not the Basic optical) and it works just fine. This one is a piece of junk. Would give it zero stars if that were an option.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Okay MS, funny joke... now give me something that actually works right!, July 25, 2005

By 

Steven (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse (Personal Computers)

Do NOT buy this mouse - under any circumstance!

This mouse is a complete waste of money. I would only buy it as a practical joke. Like most other reviews say, this mouse jumps around constantly. I work as a software developer and I told my boss that it would be great if we could get optical mice (we were still on the ball and chain mice) and he agreed. This is what we got. Every one of us decided to go back to our old ball mice because this piece of junk is very hard to work with. This mouse doesn't just jitter a bit (well it does that, too) it literally will go zooming across your entire screen. You go to close an application and next thing you know you're clicking on the start button - this happens about every minute or two. Other times you might be trying to click on something small, like a checkbox and this mouse will jitter as if you just drank four gallons of coffee, making it a chore to even click a checkbox. Also, sometimes this mouse will zoom off-screen and it can take a good 10+ seconds before it comes back.

I have no idea how this mouse passed a testing phase (if there ever was one). Spend the extra couple of bucks and get something better...