Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue ReviewOctober 14th, 2002
Pros: Great price; smooth & precise tracking.
Cons: Simple button layout for a corded mouse; wheel/middle button is touchy and annoying.
Verdict: Along with its wireless brethren, the Optical Mouse Blue offers users a low-budget but very solid and enjoyable performing optical mouse.
Fall looks to be a big season for mice, with Logitech's popular MX700 and Microsoft's low-budget Wireless Optical Mouse Blue and Optical Mouse Blue, it's definitely mouse season for buyers. Along with its wireless brother, the Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue looks to attract those with tight budgets.
It's Hip to Be Blue The design and colour scheme of the Optical Mouse Blue is quite nice, with an ambidextrous two button & wheel setup. Incidentally, the design is exactly the same as the Wireless Optical Mouse Blue, except the colour layout is reversed. Because of less components than the wireless version, the mouse sits a little shorter; additionally, it's also very light.
Installation & Performance Installation is a snap. Simply plug in the mouse (USB & PS/2) and off you go. Microsoft Intellipoint is supplied on the provided CD, and Windows 98SE-XP, MacOS 8.6, 9.x and 10.9 are supported.
In terms of performance, the Optical Mouse Blue is up to snuff with smooth & accurate tracking. However, optical mice have reached a plateau as far as tracking precision is concerned, so one would expect excellent tracking with no exceptions. The two button design is rather simple and quite unlike the recent multi-button designs of most corded mice as of late. Also, the touchy scroll wheel is somewhat odd. Scrolling doesn't feel as notchy as other mice, but the button responds far too easily even when scrolling.
The Bottom Line At a great street price of $22, the Microsoft Optical Mice blue offers users a simple but solid optical mouse with good tracking and few complaints.
-- By Dustin Jones, Consumer Technology Editor
Where to buy Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue?
User Review(s)
"DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT FOR LAPTOPS" dont even think about this for laptops. not 30 seconds after i took the cd out and in my ibm thinkpad, i took it out. said i needed to diable all other pointing devices (touch pad and that dot thingy) and as this is used mostly for school, i couldnt disable those features. needless to say, after the first min i got this thing out (i only took out the read-me paper and cd, never touched the mice) i put it back. i have to return it tomorrow. piece of junk if you plan on going for a laptop From adam, July 31, 2004
"this thing is crap" i bought this pile of crap in the middle of march, and it crapped out on me tonight (june 17th). what an optical mouse. oh and trying to get tech support online for this is like passing shrapnel out of your ass. do yourself a favor, stay far away from this thing. go buy a logitech instead. From joe, June 16, 2004
"First class mouse" i had not previously found a mouse to use with my mac powerbook that would allow me to use the scroll wheel effectively. also, when I put the powerbook to sleep by closing the lid the other mice i used did strange things when I opened the lid again. this one works perfectly in those areas and also provides smooth, predictible mouse movement. Highly recommended. From grey satterfield, April 12, 2004
"Frozen! again?" Bought this at Fry's and now I'll have to find the receipt. The mouse works pretty well. Budget mouse. It doesn't track or move as smoothly as the Logitech I just wore out, but it works better than a mechanical mouse. The very frustrating problem is that it cuts off. The power light goes out and the pointer is frozen on the screen for minutes at a time. Unplugging and replugging works, but repeatedly gets tiresome. I'll go with Logitech, or maybe a better MS mouse. From Apogeal, July 29, 2003
"accurate" I bought this mouse after having used the original optical wheel mouse for quite some time. I always noticed the 'skipping' on the original model, but I have to say after rigorous testing I have no complaints about its precision and have not noticed it skip even slightly once.
From Marco, May 02, 2003
"The mouse for people on a budget" If you are looking to go into the optical mouse market but are on a low budget this is the mouse for you.
Nice mouse, it is comfortable for either hand. I bought this for my family for christmas, i chose it because my dad is left handed and it works far better than the old ball mouse.
My only regret is i diddent go wireless but then i am on a budget.
Plus the front of the mouse's covering slopes down a bit its slightly strange and goes againtst the styling of previous multi handed mice
Oh well it makes the thing individual. From Matt, December 31, 2002
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. Optical Mouse Blue Specs
Interface(s)
Original USB
Released date
December 1969
Platforms
Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 (PS/2), Windows 2000, Windows XP, MacOS 8.6, MacOS 9.x, MacOS 10.1 or higher
