Microsoft Intelli Explorer (B75-00001) Mouse Product Review

Microsoft B75-00001 IntelliMouse Explorer Pros No trackball, works on any surface Cons Scroll wheel click doesn't work, a little light, annoying red light The Bottom Line A functional mouse that would serve most business users well.

Full Review

The Microsoft Intellimouse Optical works very well for every application that I use. Word processing, web browsing, Java IDE, Windows navigation, Visio, remote PC control, etc. - it all works fine. (I haven't used it for any games.) It's as effective on a tabletop or notebook cover as it is on a mouse pad. It doesn't skip, freeze, jump or otherwise misbehave. This is the primary selling point for me. It also has a couple of extra buttons that are easy to get used to. I use this mouse at home and, when I'm at work with my plain-old mouse, I miss the ability to navigate web pages from the mouse buttons. (Hey, I'm a Java programmer and I am SUPPOSED to navigate web pages at work, okay?) You can assign different actions to each of the mouse buttons like Click, Back, Forward, etc. Unfortunately, you can only choose from approximately 45 predefined actions. You can't assign your own. For instance, I sometimes like to SHIFT-CLICK a web link to open a new instance of the browser. I wanted to assign that key combination to one of the buttons, but it's not an option. MS should allow used-defined keystrokes be assigned to each button. I imagine some users would benefit from assigning a commonly typed string to a mouse button and having it available with a single click. Another disappointment for me was the fact that the track wheel is supposed have a click action, but I haven't been able to make it work. It may be a defective mouse, but it's not worth sending it back for. Another gripe, albeit a minor one, is that the designers must have wanted to add some "gee-whiz" factor. They decided that a red light on the back where you rest your palm would be just the thing. Unfortunately, I find it distracting and, being prone to understatement in these types of things, a little too "too". Not to mention that fact that it's wastes electricity. Finally, I wish the mouse were a little heavier. I prefer the heft of the old kidney shaped MS mouse. This one feels a bit insignificant in my hand.

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