Three Blind Mouse (Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse
Date:	17/02/05 (1380 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Uses Optical Technology, More Durable and Long Lasting, Much Easier to use

Disadvantages: None as yet

I recently had to purchase this new mouse from Staples, after I lost the roller ball from my other mouse. It was a rather strange series of events that led to this and isn't something that you could make up. I was fiddling about with the mouse because it would work properly and I removed the cover from over the ball and it then dropped out. It rolled along my desk, off the side and into a large recess in my wall. It then fell to the bottom and there is no way of retrieving it. I was pretty annoyed with myself, but I have been needing to purchase a new mouse for some time now.


The mouse, along with a keyboard, is the way in which humans operate computers. It is the manual input that we put into the computer in order that it undertakes certain actions that we require it do. It is essential tool in getting the maximum possible use out of computers. It was in 1964 that the very first prototype mouse was produced and in 1968 it made its first public appearance in a 90 minute computer demonstration. The mouse is made by computer giants Microsoft and is widely used around the world.


The mouse uses optical technology, an advancement on the traditional mouse ball system. An optical sensor located on the bottom of the mouse, replacing the ball, tracks movement and then relays this to the cursor on the monitor. The sensor appears a bright red colour if you turn the mouse over. This technology, means that you don't need to have mouse mats on your desk, just the flat surface is sufficient. The vast reduction in the number of moving parts in the mouse means that it is much more efficient in terms of durability and life expectancy. There is less of a chance that things will wear out and therefore it will last longer. The last mouse that I had was starting to become difficult to use as a result of the ball being worn down. The only thing that I can see as being a problem with this mouse is that the scroll button may start to wear out after a few years of use.


To get the best use out of your optical mouse, you should make sure that you allow it to work to its full potential. This can be done by choosing a very flat and smooth surface to the use the mouse on. This means that it will give you accurate and efficient cursor movement. The majority of desks are 'slippery' therefore the mouse can glide over the surface with ease. In my experience, it does help to keep your desk clean and the surface free of any dust or other residue. In time, you will get a build up of residue on the four pads, one in each corner, on the base of the mouse. This will impact upon the performance of the mouse and can be very annoying.


The mouse isn't anything special in terms of its aesthetics. It is no more than a normal, standard optical mouse that does the jobs required of it. The top surface is an off-white colour and the base is a matt black. The Microsoft logo appears on the nose and the product details and specifications appear on the underside on a sticker. The mouse feels very comfortable on the hand. The top surface is nice and smooth and the overall shape fits the palm perfectly. It is designed to accommodate both left and right handed users, as the buttons can be changed around to suit the user’s needs.


The product itself does seem to be of a very high quality. It is after all a Microsoft product and they do have a certain standard of quality that you expect from them and that they try to maintain. It is only the basic model of optical mouse, but it is more than adequate for the general day to day use that it is subjected to. It does feel very compact and the plastic casing seems to be very thick and sturdy. If you are like me and are a bit cramped for space on your desk and you often knock the mouse of the edge, it should more than stand up for a bash against the desk.


The lack of mouse ball really reduces the overall weight of the optical mouse. It also means that the friction between the ball and the surface is removed, adding to the ease of movement. This makes manoeuvring it around the desk much easier and over time it will put an awful lot less of a stress upon your wrist. In my experience, it can be very difficult to move a mouse around for a long period of time without having to rest your wrist and hand for a while.


The set up and installation of the mouse is very simple. It comes with a USB cable and an extension that you can add if you haven't got any spare USB slots. The mouse can be plugged in to the traditional circular mouse space at the back of the computer. The computer has to be turned off when you put the new mouse in. If the computer is on, it won't recognise the mouse and you will only have the use of the keyboard. When you start the computer back up for the first time, a small speech bubble will appear on the bottom right hand side of the screen and it will say that new hardware has been found. That's the end of the process and you are away.


The instruction manual that comes with the mouse is quite thick and extensive, considering it is only a mouse. It contains details on the installation and set up of the mouse and the ways in which the user can get the maximum use out of it. The wording is very clear and the text easy to read. The font is quite small but is more than legible for most. I did have a quick read through and it did seem to cater for the computer amateur and the computer whiz, so if you do have any problems you should be able to solve them.


The optical mouse technology is definitely a step in the right direction as far as making the computer mouse a far more efficient piece of equipment. The mechanical errors that can occur are almost completely removed and the life span is also dramatically increased. I would certainly recommend this to anybody that doesn't already have an optical mouse for their computer. There are wireless optical mice on the market as well as those with a wire but I don't find the wire to be any problem. I managed to pick this mouse up for £20 at my local Staples store. I think that is more than reasonable for a mouse and it is all you need to consider spending on a new mouse.

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