MY Mouse (Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse)

Member Name: kellyv43

Product:	Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse
Date:	23/05/04 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easily setup, fairly cheap

Disadvantages: none

I have been quite lucky with the mouse that came supplied with my computer. I have had it nearly 4 years now and never needed to replace it. But over the last few months the ball on the bottom of the mouse has started to become quite difficult to control around the screen so I thought maybe it was time to replace it.

Whilst I was in WHSmith’s last week I thought I would have a quick look at the mouses (or is that mice?) that they sold. I was not actually going to buy one but when I saw this Microsoft basic optical mouse for £19.99 I thought I might as well just get it then. So I did.

This mouse is compatible with Microsoft windows XP, 2000, ME, 98 and windows NT. It has no mouse ball, and wheel scrolling
which is comfortable for both right or left handed users.

There is an instruction manual included in the box with the new mouse. The beginning of this are the English instructions and the rest of the book is in different languages.

Installing
This is so easy that even I could do it. Make sure that the computer is turned off. Remove the old mouse from the back of the computer and plug this mouse in. It really is as easy as that. It can be used in a round mouse port using the adapter that is supplied with the mouse to plug it into your PS/2 port or it can be used in a USB connector.

Using it
The mouse is used in just the same way as you would use any other. It does feel different to my old mouse because I could feel the ball moving around on the last one but this one doesn’t have the ball, so it feels a lot smoother running across the mat. The optical sensor on the bottom is red and this acts in the same way as the ball would. It captures 6,000 frames per second, which is quite high.

With this mouse I have found that I have a lot more control over the cursor than I did with my last mouse. It is easily moved around the screen. With there being no ball on the bottom of this mouse it is not lik
ely to get stuck.

You can use the right and left click buttons at the top of the mouse, in the manual these are called the primary and secondary buttons. The wheel makes it easy if you are reading a large page on your computer, you can scroll down the page quickly by turning the wheel.

Cleaning
Cleaning the mouse regularly will prevent dirt accumulation from affecting the precision of the mouse, and cleaning is very easy to do. Making sure that the computer is switched off, dampen a cotton wool bud with mild soap and water and gently wipe the optical sensor clean, being careful not to scratch the surface of the sensor.

Overall
I brought this mouse from whsmiths but I have seen it available in other stores selling computer equipment. It cost £19.99 which I thought was a good price, and it one of the cheapest mouses around. . I am really pleased with it. It is very simple and easy to use. It will work on most surfaces, so you don’t really need a proper mouse mat. Although they are recommended to stop any scratches to the sensor.

Summary: