As a long-time techie and gamer, I've been through a few PC accessories. Lately, in terms of mice, I've settled on the Logitech G600 MMO mouse, which is great for both gaming and productivity at my desktop.
I recently picked up a Surface Book for travel/school/portable computing. I love the trackpad, as it's the best of any device I've used - it's spacious, it's precise, and it supports a decent number of multi-touch gestures, which are really quite neat. However, I wanted a portable mouse for precision and for light gaming, but I needed something light, portable, and wireless. I was also especially looking for a flatter mouse that would comfortably fit in my laptop case without a bulge. Thus, I decided to give the Surface Arc Mouse a try (in light grey, to match my Book).
Design: 4/5 - The mouse's design is sleek, minimalist, and creative. I have to give props to the Microsoft team for building a folding mouse, which is a great solution for a portable mouse which is easy to pack away. It's also quite aesthetically pleasing. However, I'm docking a point for the single-button design. While I understand that the primary purpose of this mouse is for portability, having to pick up all but one finger to right click (or to pull an additional finger to middle click) is inconvenient. That's also not to mention the fact that I can't play shooters, as I can't hold right click to aim. I did know this going into the purchase, though.
Performance: 5/5 - I haven't had enough time with the mouse to investigate the bluetooth connectivity issues that other reviewers have mentioned. The mouse is quite easy and simple to use (pairing is incredibly easy), and I love that it's bluetooth, which doesn't require an additional dongle or cable. The tracking takes a bit to get used to, as the sensor's at your fingertips rather than in the middle of the mouse - using this mouse, I realized how much I use my wrist, palm, and side fingers to make precise movements. The tracking is acceptable once you get used to that, though.
Features: 2/5 - My greatest gripe with this mouse is that its features are very limited, especially when compared to the Surface trackpad. Before I get into that, I'll discuss the pros: the highly marketed touch scrolling is fantastic and well-implemented, in my opinion, and I appreciate that I can change sensitivity/direction using Mouse and Keyboard Center. I also love that I can have multiple fingers on there and only need to move one finger to scroll. However, some of Microsoft's design decisions were a bit questionable, namely the single-button design (and not including a click-on-tap feature). I have to raise my other fingers to right click, and I have to pull my ring finger over on top of the mouse to middle click (another MKC feature). I also can't simultaneously left and right click, nor can I use either click with the middle mouse button (which is generally okay since you can scroll while clicking). My biggest gripe, though, is the lack of touch gestures like those available on the touchpad, and the lack of options in using the mouse. I would love to be able to use three- or four-finger gestures to switch apps or control my music, and I really think the mouse could be so much better if that were possible.
Value: 3/5 - Ultimately, I'd argue that the extra cost of this mouse over other portable bluetooth mice comes from a few sources: the flat design, the bending feature, touch scrolling, and Microsoft branding. In terms of raw performance, many other mice will do significantly better than this one at a similar price. I personally think I paid a bit more than the mouse was worth ($63), but for me it was worth it as a fun gadget with a nice design that I can toss into my laptop case without second thoughts. I intend to use it for a bit longer before updating my review, at which point I think I'll be able to say whether it was truly worth it or not.
| Brand | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Series | Arc Mouse |
| Item model number | ELG-00001 |
| Hardware Platform | Laptop |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 2.9 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 5.18 x 2.17 x 0.56 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.18 x 2.17 x 0.56 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Power Source | Battery |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft Surface Accessories - PC |
| ASIN | B072FG8LBV |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | December 16, 2011 |
