Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical Review
- Product:
- Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical (company site)
- What's Good:
- Simple, solid, reliable, low price ($15 - $25) - the best mouse I've owned
- What's Bad:
- Not as form-fitted as some of the more expensive models
As I stated in my earlier review of the much more expensive Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, I’m a firm believer that one should not skimp on the parts of a compter that you actually see and feel. Before buying this low-priced mouse, I had opted for the more expensive IntelliMouse Explorer on the false premise that it must be better because it was more expensive (read my review of the IntelliMouse Explorer).
Disappointed with the IntelliMouse Explorer, when it came time to get another mouse for home, I went cheap and bought the Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical. It is as simple as a good mouse can be: two buttons, a scroll-wheel, optical tracking, and a USB interface.
This cheaper mouse (with a list price of around $20 USD) turned out to have a more solid and substantial feel than the far more expensive models I’ve tried. While it doesn’t have as high a curved shape as the IntelliMouse Explorer, making it offer less support for your hand, it is still quite comfortable during extended use and the more solid feel makes it a better overall mouse.
There are other variations on this mouse from Microsoft with more buttons. Don’t bother paying any more - this simple mouse does everything you need and nothing more.
I’ve been so happy with it that I’ve since bought another for myself, one for my parents, and one for my girlfriend (romantic, eh?).
Comments
Ben - April 25, 2004 1:20 am
I've had the Logitech cordless mouse for a while- just the basic 2 button plus scroll button model- and I love it. It has a good weight to it that makes it feel sturdy and it's nicey shaped and easy on batteries. I supose it might not be great for laptops since you have to plug in the receiver but for my PC it's great, especially since I hate mouse cords for some unknown reason.
Rob - April 26, 2004 11:02 am
I've got this mouse too, and my only beefs with it are cosmetic. There is an extra red LED in the rear-end of the mouse which (as far as I know) is only there for bling. I wish I could just get my classic Microsoft J-Mouse with optical tracking and USB interface. Mice shouldn't look like spaceships.
David Cairns - April 27, 2004 9:20 am
I use the IntelliMouse Optical at work and at home. This mouse is the same shape as the wheel mouse optical and includes two additional 'buttons' one on each side of the unit. The default setup defines the buttons as 'forward' (right side) and 'back' (left side) in most web browsers. The price is only a few dollars ($3-5 cdn) more than the WMO.
E8_Tuan - September 6, 2005 5:30 am
Yeah, i had this mouse ! It has worked well up to yesterday. 1 day before, my mouse-MS Wheel Mouse Optical didn't move and the LED wasn't lighted !!
Could you tell me how to solve this problem ? or could you tell me how to open the mouse ?
Thank for your help !!
E8_Tuan
Milo - September 29, 2005 7:37 am
"or could you tell me how to open the mouse ?"
In case you haven't figured this out yet all you have to do is remove the four rubber pads (which are just glued on and come off easily enough). Under the back two you will find screws and under the front two are clips, unscrew the screws and then release the clips with a screwdriver and the mouse should open up easily enough.
bob cress - August 21, 2006 8:04 pm
I had this mouse for about a year.And just like E8_tuan it broke down on me.It would not work in any usb slot or with my mouse adapter.Then I made the mistake of simply buying anotherone.And guess what...same problem,9 months later,didn't work at all,same problem...
But it was great for the couple months it was working :)
Roderik Mayne - December 3, 2006 2:51 pm
I am having the same problem as those above; the mouse stopped working, does it need new batteries?
Thanks for your help.
luck3r - July 13, 2008 10:36 am
I've bought this mouse almost 7 years ago and it still works perfectly. Best Microsoft product ever.
I really like the simple, symmetric design, the scroll wheel (goes very easy, just perfect for first person shooters where you often have to switch your weapon quickly).