Reviews / previews
Microsoft's IntelliMouse Explorer is unique. It sports a radical silverish tone, six programmable buttons, a mouse wheel, and an ultra-cool red LED that lights up its underbelly.
But what really sets the IntelliMouse from the rest of the litter is what it doesn't have. The ball is gone!
The IntelliMouse uses a technology called IntelliEye Optical Tracking Technology. This technology makes use of an optical sensor that scans the surface under the mouse at over 1,500 times per second. (MS claims that's more than 12 times faster than regular mice). That's supposed to translates to very accurate tracking on any surface and smooth cursor motions.
You just plug it into the USB port or attach the included USB-PS/2 adapter for use with the PS/2 port, follow some simple install instructions and start clicking away. MS was serious when it called this the IntelliMouse Explorer. The two extra buttons near your thumb default to the "Back" and "Forward" commands (All the buttons can be programmed using the included mouse software.)
But maybe we shouldn't call the IntelliMouse Explorer a mouse. In terms of size, it's more like a rat. If you're used to current mice, this will take some getting used to, as it is indeed a handful.
But not to the point that it's uncomfortable because it is contoured to fit your hand. We achieved excellent tracking and you can indeed use it on many surfaces - table tops, clipboards, almost anything with a flat surface.
If you take it off the desk the red LED dims to let you know it's not able to scan a surface and once you place it close enough to a surface the LED gets brighter - a nice touch. It was also liberating not to have to worry about running off the mouse. (A suggestion: you can throw away your mouse ball brush and mouse pad, but not the wrist guard. It'll still come in handy - the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome still applies here as with other mice.)
At $70, it's not an impulse buy-the standard mouse ranges from $10 - $30 --but this critter requires little attention and maintenance. Microsoft asserts that it's always "brand new" because is has no moving parts and even backs it up with a limited lifetime warranty that covers all the mechanics of the mouse to ensure that it works. The only things it doesn't cover are "abuse or cosmetics" according to a Microsoft PR rep.
A sure conversation piece and a must-have for the computer hobbyist who has everything, the IntelliMouse Explorer aims to be your mouse for life. For $70 bucks it'd better last that long.-- Danny W. Lam / GamePro
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