I have used this mouse at work for the last year, moving from the ball version to this optical one was like going from a 1980's BMW to a 2006 model. Fundamentally they do the same thing but the modern one does it with more gadgets and looks, yet lacks the solid build feeling.
It is the height of laziness, setup right; you can do everything you need from one hand. With 5 buttons, you can set up most day to day functions, even better, the button functions can be set up separately for different programs!! Therefore in my browser I can go forward, backwards and open my favourites, in word I can set it up to copy, cut and paste and still have the normal left and right button function, and even that can be changed. Microsoft's software to do it is even fairly easy to use.
As mouse's go, it feels ok under your hand, works well and has for me been problem free. The material feel has gone down a bit form my old ball version, but this one has worn in well, with a years uses, it has lasted well with everything working fine. I like it so much I have bought one for home use, and I prefer my worn in one, has a better feel to it!!
So some people will say that it isn't the best mouse you can get... well for under £20 find me one, yes gamers want more buttons, CAD guys will want better accuracy. Me at home, cruising the net and doing windows stuff, well I couldn't want anything more.
You will be hard pressed to find a better mouse in this price range that is new and not off eBay bought for some crazy low price. For once Microsoft have done something well again, or at least found someone who has to print their name on it!!
Final thing... if you don't connect this mouse via USB, you will not get the 5 button function. Connecting it via the PS/2 connection, the small round one that's green limits it to a usual 2 button scroll mouse.
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Apr 4th, 2006
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