The Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth combines the ultimate in wireless technology with sleek style and ergonomic design. And because Bluetooth sets the standard bar for the emerging wireless world, your mouse will work easily with other Bluetooth-compatible devices. What's more, it runs on the powerful and reliable Windows XP platform, giving all your devices access to the wealth of information on your PC.
1 Great product
Win XP Pro running on a ThinkPad T43 with built in Bluetooth.
My first recommendation is not to load the Microsoft software if you already have a Bluetooth device on your computer. It's easy to pair/bond in the normal manner. The MS software unloaded some of my ThinkPad pointer device features that I need.
The mouse has an excellent feel - solid in the hand without being too big to move with slight wrist adjustments. Save your money and don't bother with the higher level model tilt wheel mouse - how often do you scroll sideways?
The scroll feel has changed since the earlier MS mice which had a smooth scroll feel. The later MS mice have a notched feel similar to Logitech. I find both actions equally comfortable with minimal time to get used to the feel.
There are two buttons on the "thumb-side" of the mouse which are can be used in your browser to move pages back and forward but old clicking habits are hard to break.
The major difference between the Microsoft mouse and its only real competitor - Logitech - is that MS does not have a charger and uses standard AA batteries. The Logitech uses a charger, which triples as a cradle and receiver (for computers without built in Bluetooth). This makes the Microsoft mouse unbeatable for travelling light. However, contrary to my initial thoughts, it not heavy on batteries. The mouse hibernates after not being used for some time. I would, however, take the batteries out if travelling, where movement may wake it up and use batter life (I could be wrong on this point). Leaving the batteries in overnight and when not in use appears to be OK - three weeks' vigorous use and my batteries are still well charged.
After not using the mouse for about 30 seconds, there is an annoying delay (+-1.5 seconds) between moving the mouse and it activating the cursor. Apparently this is a standard Bluetooth annoyance. It can be frustrating after, eg typing, the mouse needs to wake up again. The delay is about 1.5 seconds.
The Microsoft Bluetooth mouse has a decent range - +-10m and, being a radio signal, can transmit when not in line of site. Very useful.
Overall, you can't beat the Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer for Bluetooth. It's feel, accuracy and "hand-posture" are good. The lack of a charger is more than made-up for by the portability benefits of standard AA batteries. If you haven't gone wireless, do it now.
2 Wow, This realy doesn't work
I'm a big fan of optical mice but the Bluetooth is just not ready. It works... then it doesn't. I'm tired of reinstalling it on my XP Professional system (You'd think that cause they both say Microsoft they work together???).
3 Microsoft Bluetooth Intellimouse
Installed this mouse on my IBM Thinkpad T42. It works fine with the installed Bluetooth on the laptop, so the supplied USB Bluetooth dongle can be safely retired. All the features work fine and, so far I've had no trouble, but the lack of an on/off switch is a serious limitation if you're carrying the mouse around in a laptop bag. I have Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 and have not encountered any of the other problems people have reported. The IBM Ultranav touchpad drivers work fine and the MS software did not want to uninstall them. On the box that I received with the mouse there was no mention (as some others have reported) of having to uninstall other Bluetooth devices. My T42 internal Bluetooth device works fine now - both with the mouse and with my Nokia 6600 mobile phone (which has a Bluetooth interface)- so it appears that the MS software has not interfered with this at all. Apart from the on/off switch issue, it's great
4 why no off button?
I'm giving up on this mouse, 'cause it eats batteries, and the manufacturer specs warn against using recharables. I've used it for about 6 months, and battery changing has gotten too tedious. After about 10 days, it starts to loose the bluetooth connection.
Ergonomics were okay, though if you are using it with a laptop, you might want something smaller.
Simply adding a power switch, so one could turn it off at the end of the day, would have a been a great feature.
5 Good one for home computers
got this mouse a week back. installed the given software on my dell home desktop and the mouse started working. Though this mouse has some drawbacks like
- No on/off swtich for the mouse. so eventually it might
drain my battery
- Immedialtely after boot up. It takes 3-5secs for the mouse
to be detected.
But the transreceiver immediately recognised my 2 T610 cell phones and the mouse. So until now, I dont have any problems.
6 Very nice mouse, and a very happy user :-)
I am a professional software developer. I spend all day every work day on my T42 IBM Thinkpad writing code. My T42 has a built-in Bluetooth tranceiver. I turned on my Thinkpad's tranceiver, then installed the supplied Microsoft Intellipoint 5.2 software. When it directed me to insert the supplied Microsoft USB Bluetooth tranceiver and press OK, I just pressed OK. The mouse works _perfectly_ with my Thinkpad's built in tranceiver. The mouse feels wonderful! Both ergonomics and build quality are as great as expected with a Microsoft mouse. And the scrolling on this new Microsoft mouse is fantastic! For gamers, maybe you should take a look at the Logitech MX1000 Laser Cordless Mouse. But if you are a professional code writer and don't need ultra gaming precision and top speed, use a laptop with built in Bluetooth and don't want a USB dongle hanging off the side of your machine, this is your mouse.
7 Stopped working and generally caused problems
I set this mouse up with my internal bluetooth and it was working fine until I downloaded Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. After that I could never get it to work again without plugging in the bluetooth receiver that came with it.
It did suck batteries but I have rechargeables so that didn't bother me so much. The lack of an on/off switch is very annoying if you transport it with you. I carry my laptop to school so I found that the constant motion meant the mouse was constantly working and using batteries. Also, the mouse was too big to carry easily.
I ended up returning the mouse and ordering a Bluetake BT500 bluetooth mouse instead. (You can order from newegg.com.) It's tiny, has an on/off switch, and works much better for me. (I had to reinstall the drivers for my internal bluetooth to get it to work though. Seems that Service Pack 2 messed it up.)
I would only recommend the Microsoft bluetooth mouse if you want a bluetooth for your home computer (so you won't be transporting it and won't mind the size--because it is comfortable under your hand) and your computer doesn't already have a bluetooth receiver.
8 Purchase another bluetooth adapter to use with this mouse!
Unless you can spend a little more money to purchase another bluetooth adapter, then avoid this mouse because the bluetooth adapter and software provided are garbage. I purchased the D-Link Bluetooth adapter BT-120, which has made using this mouse a dream instead of a nightmare. Not only is the BT-120 smaller, the D-Link software allows me to use the mouse with my laptop which runs Windows 2000. Overall, I have had no installation problems and the batteries last quite a while. I love the feel of this mouse too!
Installation instructions:
1. Put fresh batteries in the mouse.
2. Install the D-Link bluetooth adapter software. (Don't install the provided software!)
3. Plug the D-Link adapter into an open USB port.
4. Run the D-Link software to initiate pairing.
5. Follow the D-Link software pairing instructions.
6. Enjoy!
9 Not ready for general use.
The mouse and bluetooth transciever pretty much comes with zero useful documentation.
Unless you have windows XP SP2, the drivers for the bluetooth transciever is inferior to competing transcievers and when the mouse looses connection with the transceiver its a bit of a pain to get it working again(you need a second mouse). For instance, you can't bind the bluetooth device to a com port. This is absolutely essential if you want to sync with a bluetooth PDA or phone.
How to fix the mouse: If you installed the drivers according to the instructions, then a bluetooth pane is added to the wireless link menu in the control panel. If you loose the connection with the mouse, remove the mouse from the bleutooth panel. Then run the intellimouse connect utility. (This is for windows XP SP1) It's a little annoying to do this, everytime, which is why I don't think this device is ready for general use yet. Most people just aren't ready to put up with that kind of hassle, when a regular wireless mouse doesn't have this problem.
Some of these problems are fixed with windows XP SP2
10 Batteries are this mouse's downfall
This mouse eats a pair of batteries in about 16 hours of usage. 50% of the time when I replace the batteries and then hit the button on the bottom of the mouse, it works for about 10 seconds, then stops communicating with the bluetooth receiver. I then have to shut down and restart my computer with a wired mouse connected, and run through the software utility to reconnect the mouse. This only works sporadically. Often I have to remove the mouse from the known devices in the control panel, reinstall it, and hope that works, which has about an 80% success rate. Just replacing batteries on a device that goes through them so quickly should NOT be such a chore.
11 somewhat mediocre
if you are thinking of purchasing this mouse, wait until microsoft comes out with the next generation of this model. the nuances and little bugs probably will be cleared by the time they make a new one. this being the first one, it seems like it was rushed. it's an alright mouse, but here are my problems:
1. the one that annoyed me the most was the fact that the mouse was uneven. the upper-left and bottom-right mice feet seemed to be thicker than the other two, so i spent a couple hours or so sanding those two down to make the mouse level. $80 mouse and i'm sanding its feet down so it's level for christ's sake? hmm..
2. i pretty much waited until the batteries went out the first time after about 1 and a half weeks of use. then the batteries went out, so i put some new ones in, and all hell broke loose. the thing would not connect at all, and after reinstalling bluetooth over and over again i gave up. then i reformatted my computer. then reinstalled, and it worked. the batteries are once again low, and if i have to reformat my hard drive again just to get this thing to work, it's going in the trash along with eighty dollars.
3. if you are into gaming - do not get a wireless mouse. the precision is something to be desired, but this is true for any wireless. get a a mouse with a cord if you are a gamer. right now i'm using 2 mice. one old optical cord mouse for gaming, and this bluetooth microsoft for browsing and other miscellaneous computer usage.
all in all i would say do not get this mouse. wait til the next generation comes out. i really like the ergonomics of the mouse, the feel is great, i like the placing of the buttons, and they all work fine. the color is also beautiful. but i'm assuming when the next generation comes out it will have an on/off switch to save batteries at night (the darn thing is on even when the computer is off, eating away at battery life.) also i'm sure the problem with the BT getting confused when you put new batteries in will be fixed.
Do not get this mouse! Wait until the next generation comes out! there are too many bugs to make it worth the money.
12 Dream product
The mouse feels extremely comfortable in your
hand and works great.
Since I have bluetooth integrated in my laptop, I
bypassed the supplied USB dongle, so NOTHING hangs off mycomputer. Truly wireless which is fantastic
for a machine with which to travel.
I've been using NiMH with the mouse with no problems. When I receive a warning about low battery power, I just swap them out for a charged pair.
These directions from an anonymous web user made
the installation a snap:
"1. Install the MS software from the CD.
2. Reboot when directed.
3. When directed to connect the MS transciever via the USB connection - Don't. Cancel and remove the CD.
4. Open the laptop's Bluetooth Module and let it discover the mouse.
5. Open the Mouse control panel and change it to your heart's content.
6. Works flawlessly"
13 Works Great With Dell TrueMobile 300 Bluetooth
After ordering the mouse, I decided to read some of the reviews and was set back with the negative comments about not being compatible with the internal transmitters. In fact, upon receiving the device, I noticed on the box a warning to remove any installed transceiver and software before installing the mouse. In as much as I paid $50 extra for the internal transceiver and bought the mouse soley so I wouldn't have to have the transceiver hanging off my laptop, I was greatly dissappointed. I tried Dell Tech Support then Dell Wireless Support and was disappointed to find no one with any clue as to how to install the mouse. I finally decided to open the box and try it on my own.
To make a long story short:
1. Install the MS software from the CD.
2. Reboot when directed.
3. When directed to connect the MS transciever via the USB connection - Don't. Cancel and remove the CD.
4. Open the TrueMobile 300 Bluetooth Module and let it discover the mouse.
5. Open the Mouse control panel and change it to your heart's content.
6. Works flawlessly
I strongly disagree with the reviews claiming it is junk. I have only been using it for about two weeks, but so far no problems. My computer is a Dell D505 Latitude.
After a month - still works great.
14 Dead batteries?
Don't make the mistake of buying NiMH batteries for this device. These batteries are designed for high load devices, i.e. you can take 1,000 pictures in a day with them, however they go dead in about a week even if their not connected in a device!!!!
My recomendation is to use Rayovac Renewal batteries, or some other rechargable Alkaline.
15 Bluetooth will make your face turn blue.
You'd think that for such an expensive product you'd get:
A) Something which doesn't break in 10 minutes.
B) A mouse that has updated driver support.
C) A product with better documentation, offering more advice then just "Make sure USB cable is plugged in" when it fails to connect.
I've purchased (and returned) two of these mice thus far, neither of them worked, and I'm not technologically challenged; the mere problem here is that these mice are pure junk. This was a rushed product, and a rushed technology, which is in need of major revamping. Sure, the mouse feels great, the deep blue color is intoxicating, the station glows nicely... but all that means nothing when the product does nothing.
If your looking for a high-end mouse and are willing to spend the money on this Bluetooth, i'd suggest looking at the Logitech Mx-700 instead.. at least this company has their act together. Thanks.
16 not compatible with IBM T30
This is NOT compatible with the thinkpad T30's integrated bluetooth. You have to use the dongle provided by MS - which really defeats the purpose.
17 Works with built-in bluetooth on HP zt3000 series (zt3200)
Just thought I'd add that with the encouragement of broderic's review, I tried the same procedure on my HP zt3000's built in Bluetooth (Intel 2200BG), it works fine so far. Some additional points:
I didn't have a 'My Bluetooth Places' on the desktop or My Computer on Windows XP Home, but I found the necessary software in c:\Swsetup\Btooth\Setup.exe. After it finishes installing, click on My Bluetooth Places and it does some more setup, then click on it again and it brings up an explorer-like window.
With the mouse powered on, I chose:
View Devices in Range (which found the Microsoft Mouse),
Right-click on that and select Pair Device (and per broderic's
advice, left PIN key blank) and it did some more installing, red check mark appeared on the Mouse
Right-click on the mouse and select Connect Device, say yes to 'attach to Human Interface Device' and after it does some more installing, the mouse icon red check changed to a couple of green arrows and the mouse started working.
Even though it works, was tempted to give it fewer stars for installation non-intuitiveness.
18 WARNING!!! This mouse is a dead paper weight.
I bought this mouse on the recommendation from a friend who had read about it... was this ever the biggest mistake EVER. Not only does it not function with my built in Bluetooth as is, it requires this stoopid looking do-daddle transciever that has to be plugged into the back of the laptop (Sticking out about 4 inches). In addition to this "less than sleek look", the device functioned in a very spasmatic fashion leaving me to think I must be developing MS.
I mean seriously, who does Microsoft think they are putting out this level of crap and expecting people to buy it at such an outstanding price? This purchase is going back to the store tomorrow, and my friend that turned me onto this mouse... may be lost...
19 Yes, it does work with my built in BlueTooth
I bought this mouse because I just got a new HP nc8000 laptop that has built-in Bluetooth. I read all the reviews here - both good and bad - and figured I'd give it a try.
Yes, it does work with my built in BlueTooth and it is pretty easy to set up. Note, I did NOT install any of the software that comes with the mouse and (of course) I am NOT using the Bluetooth tranceiver that comes with it either.
There were two tricks that you have to do only once:
1) Press the "Connect Channel" button on the bottom of the mouse right after you choose "Connect" off the contect menu in My Bluetooth Places.
2) When "pairing" the mouse, don't chose a key, just leave it blank.
Once I learned this, I was up and running with no further problems.
20 Works great on Powerbook 12 and Powermac G4
The set-up is very easy. It only took few minutes to pair and the mouse worked right away. It does not come with driver for Mac OS so not all of the buttons are working. This mouse is not supported to worked on Mac OS but its working without any problem. The good thing about this mouse is the rest on the button can be configured under Expose on Panther. Battery life probably about 2months. I used rechargable NiMh battery so I don't have to buy batteries everytime. In Panther this mouse is more responsive compared to Jaguar. So I been using it All the time.
21 Not really Bluetooth compatable
I purchased this mouse for use with my Dell laptop, a Latitude D600 with built-in Bluetooth support. The mouse came with a little Bluetooth dongle for the USB port, but I figured, "Hey, it's Bluetooth, that's a standard, it'll work". Turns out that this mouse's implimentation of Bluetooth is totally proprietery and it can only work with it's paired dongle. Heck, I can buy a proprietary wireless mouse from Targus or whoever for far less money, the point of Bluetooth is compatability.
I returned it for a refund after the Microsoft support team confirmed that indeed it would not work, and was only compatable with it's proprietary "Bluetooth"-ish interface dongle.
22 Avoid! Unless you want to waste time
One of the most worst input device! I can't believe how difficult it was to install and use it with connection losing every few weeks and oains of reinstalling. Want proof? Evev tach savvy and famous Wall Street Journal tech writer Walt Mossberg couldn't get it to work!
Now I heards many good things about Logi's 2 new line though I love the design and can't affored their top of line bluetooth product.
Microsoft outhgt to be ashamed of putting out piece of trash like this and stick to software.
23 Been using this mouse for 4 months so far and great.
I bought this mouse before Christmas off ebay NIB for less then 40.00 and love it. I have a Dell desktop with XP and I already had a BT adaptor in one of my USB ports which I did not disconnect, kept the original Intellimouse connected and did the install using the included CD. Took 1 minute and all worked fine. Actually had both mice working and both blue tooth adaptors work also. I haven't tried synching my T616 phone to the PC using the MS BT Adaptor, but the phone recognizes the orginal BT adaptor with no troubles. I love the form but it does suck the batteries. I spend 6+ hours a day using it and go thru batteries every 3 weeks. I will be investing in some rechargables soon. I wouldn't have spent more then 60.00 for the mouse, but for under 40 NIB, it's a great deal. The additional software functions and multiple buttons were another reason I bought this mouse.
24 WARNING: WILL TRAP YOU IN THE MICROSOFT EMPIRE
Installing this product on your PC will most likely prevent you from ever using a Bluetooth product from a non-Microsoft manufacturer on your PC.
Installing the driver software for this product on Windows XP will prevent any other Bluetooth device driver software from ever being installed on that computer. Microsoft has used their integration with the operating system to make the Bluetooth driver installation PERMANENT, the only way to remove it is to reinstall the operating system, which will require the reinstallation of *ALL* software on the computer. This will prevent the use of other companies' drivers and hence, the other companies' products.
If you are comfortable using only Microsoft and Microsoft-compatible products for the rest of your computer's life, then this will not pose a problem for you. Otherwise, this imposes a strict limitation on which Bluetooth products you will be able to use in the future.
25 LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
I am a software developer and my mouse is my life. I decided after researching for hours on this mouse to buy it despite some of the negative reviews about battery life, sleep mode, and driver problems. I have had great luck with Microsoft mice and am a die hard on the feel of them.
I am here to say that this mouse is great. I have an IBM T40p laptop and it works flawlessly with the integrated bluetooth on the laptop. The Microsoft driver CD installation did want to remove the UltraNav drivers (IBM's touchpad drivers), which I do not know why, but after the installation I went back and reinstalled the UltraNav drivers and it works just fine. I can configure both devices with no problems.
Also, the battery life is so far so good. I have used my mouse non-stop for two days now and my battery life still shows good in the mouse configuration in the control panel. I did however buy re-chargable batteries so I do not have to spend the money over time.
And finally, this mouse does go to sleep after awhile of inactivity (around 30 seconds) but with one simple click it wakes right up and you do not even miss a beat! The trick is that you HAVE to click the button once. Moving the mouse does not wake it up.
The one thing that is missing on this mouse is the ability to turn it off. They need an on/off switch so that when you travel with it you do not need to take out the batteries. When the mouse is moved the optical turns on. They just need a simple switch to turn it off for travel. I will continue to remove the batteries to pack it. No big deal.
So with that I give this mouse a thumbs up and am very pleased with the feel and ergonomics. I did have to play with the speed of the pointer to refine it but other than that there have been no problems.
The one thing I have not tried is using the bluetooth adapter that came with the mouse so I do not have any input on how that works with the mouse or any other bluetooth devices.
AS FOR THE MOUSE - A++++++
26 LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
I am a software developer and my mouse is my life. I decided after researching for hours on this mouse to buy it despite some of the negative reviews about battery life, sleep mode, and driver problems. I have had great luck with Microsoft mice and am a die hard on the feel of them.
I am here to say that this mouse is great. I have an IBM T40p laptop and it works flawlessly with the integrated bluetooth on the laptop. The Microsoft driver CD installation did want to remove the UltraNav drivers (IBM's touchpad drivers), which I do not know why, but after the installation I went back and reinstalled the UltraNav drivers and it works just fine. I can configure both devices with no problems.
Also, the battery life is so far so good. I have used my mouse non-stop for two days now and my battery life still shows good in the mouse configuration in the control panel. I did however buy re-chargable batteries so I do not have to spend the money over time.
And finally, this mouse does go to sleep after awhile of inactivity (around 30 seconds) but with one simple click it wakes right up and you do not even miss a beat! The trick is that you HAVE to click the button once. Moving the mouse does not wake it up.
The one thing that is missing on this mouse is the ability to turn it off. They need an on/off switch so that when you travel with it you do not need to take out the batteries. When the mouse is moved the optical turns on. They just need a simple switch to turn it off for travel. I will continue to remove the batteries to pack it. No big deal.
So with that I give this mouse a thumbs up and am very pleased with the feel and ergonomics. I did have to play with the speed of the pointer to refine it but other than that there have been no problems.
The one thing I have not tried is using the bluetooth adapter that came with the mouse so I do not have any input on how that works with the mouse or any other bluetooth devices.
AS FOR THE MOUSE - A++++++
27 Decent mouse, but could use some updates
I purchased this mouse locally, since I needed a bluetooth adapter and wireless mouse. I was told it would work with my G4 Powerbook. It set up flawlessly and I had it working within 1 min with OS 10.3 (Panther).
I was impressed that the mouse set up so easily. The BT adapter also works with my Palm, but required a little more tinkering. While the left, right and scroll buttons worked fine, I was unable to program the other two buttons (Mac).
This mouse is rather large relative to most mice. Since there is no on-off switch, I am concerned about battery life (other reviews report short battery life) but haven't owned it long enough to know. If my Mac goes to sleep, the mouse won't wake it up, as it too is sleeping. Sometimes there is a lag in the mouse cursor, which is disconcerting coming from a wired mouse.
All in all, a decent product, but for its shortcomings, I'm not sure its worth $80. Maybe the next version will correct some of these faults.
Pros: bluetooth and wireless, ergonomic, includes BT adapter, works with Palm Tungsten PDA for synchronization, 3/5 buttons work with Mac.
Cons: a bit pricy ($79), rather large, no "off" switch, not rechargable, short lag in mouse movement, can't program 2/5 switches.
28 Works with Apple - iMac and iBook - right out of the box
I have the iMac and iBook running OSX Panther and this mouse worked with both right out of the box after going through the simple bluetooth pairing routine on the Mac. This is more a testament to the ease of use of the Apple OS than the mouse, but what matters most is that it works even though the technical specs make no mention of Apple OSX support. Both my computers have bluetooth built in so I didn't have to deal with the external bluetooth thingy that came with the mouse.
The only downside is that without Apple OSX drivers some of the buttons don't work. The right and left buttons and the scroll wheel all work fine, but without the OSX drivers the seondary clickers are dead. This is no big deal in my view. And I suspect that OSX drivers will eventually be released.
29 Works great, when it works
This is my 4th wireless mouse, and the only one that I've owned that is sufficiently smooth and accurate for gaming. Its also reasonably easy on the batteries. Ergonomically, its great. Just one problem, and its a big one. Sometimes it just stops working. Sometimes re-establishing the connection through the control panel will work, sometimes not. Sometimes reinstalling the drivers will work, sometimes not. Sometimes absolutely nothing can be done to get it to work, but then the next day it will be working fine.
If the mouse spirits are kind to you, you'll love this mouse. If not, you'll curse it
30 Overprived - Doesn't Deliver
$70 for a mouse??? It better be one heck of a mouse. I bought this mouse after trying it at the store. I really liked the form factor and feel in my hand. But after just a few days of use I was completely frustrated. It has three major problems:
1) Auto-sleep. The mouse will sleep after about 1 minute of inactivity. The only way to wake it up is to press a button or move it fairly dramatically. Unfortunately the button press is interpreted by the OS, which you definitely don't want (clicks on the wrong thing). After doing a lot of research on what others have done, I have resigned myself to bang the mouse on the mousepad. It's now part of my normal usage scenario, even on computers that don't have this mouse. Anyone who watches me use a computer will see me banging the mouse violently on the mousepad every few seconds. Lovely.
2) Battery Hog - I suppose if they allowed you to turn off the auto-sleep the batteries would last about an hour. Even with the auto-sleep, the batteries last no more than 1-2 weeks. Now I have to have dedicated NiMH batteries ready to go at a moments notice. Add another $30 to the price for the batteries and rapid charger.
3) Configuration - Ok, so I have to bang the mouse every few seconds and change the batteries every few days/weeks. The worst part is, when you do change the batteries, the bluetooth connection gets confused and has to be un-installed/re-installed from the control panel. This is the recommended solution from the Microsoft knowledgebase. It's wonderful when you are in a hurry to leave, trying to print an invoice, and you have to spend 3-4 minutes changing batteries and re-configuring XP using the keyboard only. Very frustrating.
Apart from these issues, the mouse works fine. But geez, it's just a mouse. I would have been much happier with a non-bluetooth wireless mouse, or even a corded optical mouse. I wish someone would have warned me before I bought it.
31 Not Bad, But Will It Stand Up To Constant Use?
I received this as a Christmas gift from a tech-savvy family member. After the initial shock ("Why the heck would you give me a computer mouse for Christmas???") I found that enjoyed having an ergonomic mouse and the extra buttons, and since it's wireless it was a lot more convenient than my old PS/2 mouse with its cord that never quite reached the right-hand side of my desk.
However, this thing really goes through batteries. I finally got a package of 4 NiMH batteries and a charger because I was going through the alkaline batteries so fast. Because of the frequent battery changes, I am concerned that one day the battery compartment door or the contacts inside are just going to give out me. And that old PS/2 mouse? I have to keep it plugged in as a backup because the connection with my wireless one is so touchy.
32 Great ergonomic mouse, with quirks and eats batteries
I previously owned the corded version(Intellimouse Explorer) of this mouse and loved it. Its ergonomic design fit nicely into my hand and I really appreciated the forward and back buttons on the side. I decided to purchase the Bluetooth because of the similar ergonomics and it being cordless. Little did I know that it would require new batteries every week or so. It also had some quirky behaviors that really frustrated me. It installed just fine on my computer with XP Home Edition. Do not fiddle with the connect channel button on the underside of the mouse after it has been installed and working, particularly if your computer is off. I made this mistake and the mouse stopped working. Initially I didn't know what was wrong and thought it was the batteries dying again. After much trial and error, I removed and reinstalled the software and mouse and it worked again. I wish it had a charging station like the Logitech. I'm not sure if I would recommend this mouse to others, unless you really like the feel of it in your hand. I did not care for the feel of the Logitech, otherwise I probably would have preferred that one because of the ability to recharge the mouse. If you really like the Bluetooth, then invest in rechargeable batteries also.
33 Worked great for me
I'm using this mouse wit hthe built in bluetooth on my Dell Inspiron 600m and have had none of the problems listed in many other reviews.
As usual, the Microsoft software bundled with the mouse proves to be slightly invasive and could be very confusing for most users. After initially trying to install the software with much confusion, I just decided to not use it at all. With any bluetooth receiver installed on your computer, you should be able to "discover" the mouse under My Bluetooth Places, pair the mouse, and enjoy. The default Windows XP mouse drivers allow for functionality of most mouse features without any of the additional microsoft software.
I would imagine that any Microsoft "intellimouse" software would activate the bells and whistles of the mouse. The software included with this mouse seems to be centered around the bluetooth receiver instead of the mouse. If you're not using the Microsoft Bluetooth receiver, I'd just leave the installation disk in the box...
34 IBM T40 Installation Without Microsoft SuppliedTranceiver
In response to "R.W. Elliot"'s review with this mouse on the Thinkpad T40...
I also was forced to uninstall the Thinkpad's Ultranav driver. After the MS mouse was working, I quickly re-installed the Ultranav driver, and have been running all three devices (the Synaptics touchpad, IBM built-in trackpoint, and this Bluetooth mouse) concurrently.
It is very easy to re-install the Ultranav driver (I already had it downloaded from the ibm.com support site), and it is mind-boggling why the Microsoft mouse installer requires it to be removed...
35 Absolute Garbage
Anyone who uses this mouse for any length of time will hate it. Guaranteed. Here's why:
1)Poor manufacturing. The mouse just *feels* cheap. The buttons rattle, the footprint is way too large and not at all ergonomic, and the mouse wheel is probably the worst I've ever used. Just wiggling the button causes it to scroll, which is even more annoying than you might imagine.
2) Bluetooth dongle DOES NOT WORK for anything besides Microsoft mice and keyboards. This has been hinted at elsewhere, but I can tell you definitively, whether it's the driver or the dongle hardware I don't know, but don't expect to be able to use ANY OTHER BT devices with the supplied dongle. You cannot, or at least, everything I've read says you can't.
3) Eats batteries faster than anything. I have to give it juice just as often as my Logitech MX700 mouse, only that one's rechargable -- This thing I have to put batteries in about weekly. (Regardless of how often I use it!)
4) Doesn't respond immediately when in low-power mode, but buffers movement. Which means sitting down, wiggling the mouse to wake it up, and your cursor dancing around the screen for a second or two. A minor annoyance, but for this thing, it's just the cherry on top.
I tried to use this mouse for three weeks, and hated every second of it. Save yourself my pain.
36 sub-par precision from an otherwise attractive package
I bought this mouse mainly because of the comfort factor and also the portability of the very small bluetooth transceiver. Unfortunately the product failed to deliver when I got it home. The precision was terrible, often misinterpreting or not recognizing small movements at all. I tried it on a Dell Latitude C840 (P4) and an older Dell Dimension PC (P3) and had the same results. I exchanged it for a new one (in case I was just unlucky and had a bad unit) but the second one behaved exactly the same. I found this very strange but two of my co-workers have MS wireless optical mice (non-bluetooth) that work wonderfully. Eventually I returned this mouse and picked up the Logitech MX700 wireless optical mouse and it made a huge difference in performance and precision for $20 less than the MS mouse (albeit with a much larger wireless transceiver).
Bottom line - I would not recommend this Microsoft mouse if you are at all concerned with having reliable and precise performance from your pointing device.
37 With Dell Latitude D600
I purchased this mouse to use with a Dell Latitude D600 laptop with integrated bluetooth. Taking just the mouse, I put batteries in it and used the Dell software to recognize the mouse. It took about 10 seconds, and the mouse was working. You do not need the other parts of the package, but I did later install the software that came on CD with the mouse to increase functionality.
Note that this mouse runs on two AA batteries and there is not an on/off switch. It reduces its power levels after it has not been used for a time, but purchasers should be aware that there is no way to switch it off when travelling, for example (when movement in a bag etc. is likely to make it power up). Like all optical mice, it emits a red light from the bottom. This light is constant as you use the mouse, then blinks fast after a period of disuse, and then blinks slowly after an extended period of not being used. But it never shuts off unless you remove the batteries. Although I do not yet have experience with it, the batteries are likely to be used up more quickly if the mouse is moved or travels, rather than while sitting on a mouse pad (because the mouse jiggling around in a bag will cause the optical eye to emit more light, as if you were using the mouse).
A final note, the door for the batteries has a latching mechanism that doesn't appear to me to be particularly strong (it is plastic). I feel the latch is likely to break with repeated battery changes.
Ergonomically the mouse is the most comfortable I have ever used, though somewhat larger than most mice and a bit of a mismatch (size wise) for a small laptop computer.
38 Great Mouse...If all your BT products are also Microsoft
I give this product only 3 stars because it works great if you have just Microsoft Bluetooth products, i.e. their keyboard and mouse but is questionable if you also want to talk to other non-Microsoft products. It will not work (with current software) with the Nokia 3650. If you want to talk to other devices than you should seriously look into the technology (stacks, serial implementations, etc.). Just because it supports Bluetooth doesn't mean it supports ALL of Bluetooth.
39 I love this mouse
I've used a variety of different mice over the years including a previous wireless mouse. This is the best! Its expensive, but well worth the money since its loaded with features. The wireless connection is so good that there is no indication that the mouse isn't directly connected by wire. Tracking is smooth and precise. Very confortable and ergonomic. I've been using it for nearly 8 months now without a single problem. Two AA batteries last me about 4 weeks with continuous daily use.
40 IBM T40P Installation Without Microsoft SuppliedTranceiver
After reading the earlier reviews at this website, we decided to experiment with this mouse. Our installation was with an IBM ThinkPad T40P, a laptop that has an integral Bluetooth radio. We were interested in using this mouse *without* the Microsoft-provided USB-attached transceiver.
Initial experimentation with the T40P and the Windows XP Bluetooth attachment wizard produced a good result. We had to trial several speed settings before being satisfied. The optical sensor performance is not as good as Microsoft's tethered Intellimouse products. It is fussier about the surface quality.
We were interested in trying the Intellipoint (4.9) software. It offers a variety of additional customizations that will be helpful to some users. But sadly, this is where it all goes wrong with the ThinkPad T40P. The software installs fine but is incompatible with IBM's UltraNav drivers and removes them upon installation.
The IntelliMouse software is wonderful, but the IBM ThinkPad UltraNav drivers that control the builtin pointing-stick and touch-pad devices are replaced by Microsoft's own generic--far less robust--versions.
While the hardware still functions, forget about using the keyboard without having the cursor jump randomly to another part of the screen during routine typing. You'll think (and eventually scream at the PC in horror), "what the heck is going on here?" UltraNav obviously includes critical and specifically tuned debounce performance that was overlooked in Microsoft's replacement drivers.
The ideal solution would be to have the peaceful coexistance UltraNav for the IBM hardware and Intellipoint 4.9 for the Bluetooth mouse, but alas that combination is not easily achieved.
As for the question of whether the Bluetooth Intellimouse works without Microsoft's transceiver on the ThinkPad T40P, the answer is "yes." If the Intellipoint software is going to back out your PC's hardware-specific device drivers, you probably shouldn't install it, and you'll just have to do without it.
41 Works With Built-in Bluetooth Radio--Beware Of Software
After reading the earlier reviews at this website, we decided to experiment with this mouse. Our installation was with an IBM ThinkPad T40P, a laptop that has an integral BlueTooth radio. We were interested in using this mouse *without* the Microsoft-provided USB-attached transceiver.
Initial experimentation with the T40P and the Windows XP BlueTooth attachment Wizard produced a good result. We had to trial several speed settings before being satisfied. The optical sensor performance is not as good as Microsoft's tethered Intellimouse products. It is fussier about the surface quality.
We were interested in trying the IntelliMouse (4.9) software. It offers a variety of additional customizations that will be helpful to some users. But sadly, this is where it all goes wrong with the Thinkpad T40P. The software is incompatible with IBM's UltraNav drivers and removes them upon installation.
The IntelliMouse software is wonderful, but the installation program insists on removing the UltraNav drivers that control the builtin pointing-stick and touch-pad devices and replaces them with Microsoft's own--far less robust--versions. While the hardware still functions, forget about typing more than a line or two without having the cursor jump to another part of the screen. You'll think (and eventually shout in horror), "what the heck is going on here?"
So for those of you with the question of whether the Bluetooth Intellimouse works without Microsoft's transceiver, the answer is "yes." If the software is going to back out your PC's hardware-specific device drivers, don't install it.
42 A good product with some major flaws
Unlike all other Microsoft mice, MS Bluetooth is not recommended to the technologically challenged. I found it a real hassle to set up, because the included setup wizard continuously failed to recognize or connect to the mouse device, and the driver/utility program "Intellipoint" 4.9 kept crashing literally every five minutes. (I should mention that I used my IBM T40p laptop, so your experience might differ entirely.) I ended up connecting it through the control panel's wireless link setup, and uninstalling Unintellipoint 4.9 entirely.
Even if you are a hardware wizard, you'll have issues with the fact that this mouse does not work with your existing Bluetooth transceiver (you'll have to disable it and use the one provided in the mouse package), and that there is no way to keep the mouse device asleep when you carry it around it your briefcase (so keep a steady stock of 2 AA's).
If you get over these flaws, however, you'll soon get used to the convenient wireless feature (something that you'll never want to let go), the responsiveness of the mouse (there is no lag between the device- and cursor-movement), and the way the device fits comfortably in your palm (provided you are right-handed). The mouse device looks quite handsome and high-techy, which should appeal to your inner geek. The included Bluetooth transceiver port (one port device, one desktop adapter, and one laptop adaptor) works well and looks good; if you do not have a Bluetooth port yet, it should be a great plus.
Conclusion: Recommended with both great enthusiasm and grave reservation.
43 If you are already using BT you will be better off with the
I bought the Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth, and I am disappointed. I consider it to have some major flaws:
1- It should have an on/off switch to take it in my bag without finishing the batteries.
2- I expected that a "mouse for Bluetooth" or "Bluetooth mouse" should work with standard Bluetooth transceivers, but the Microsoft IntelliMouse for Bluetooth, only works with the Microsoft transceiver included with the mouse.
3- The Microsoft "Bluetooth Transceiver" should be a full function Bluetooth Transceiver, but the one included with the mouse and its Windows XP update "does not yet support Personal Area Network (PAN) features, such as personal digital assistant (PDA) synchronization" (taken from the Read Me file). That means you will not be able to synchronize with your Palm device, as you can with other BT Transceivers.
If you are already using BT you will be better off with the Logitech MX700 or any other mouse.
Some interesting points covered in the Read Me file for the Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth, that you should know before you buy it:
1.1 [YOU MUST] Remove any existing Bluetooth transceiver device and its software before running Setup
1.2 Previously installed pointing device programs MUST be removed before running Setup
1.4 Disabling the PS/2 port in the BIOS program may result in an installation error
1.8 Using multiple Bluetooth transceivers not supported
1.10 Mouse may not respond immediately if it is in low-power mode
1.14 Reassigned button commands may not work as expected for certain programs or games
44 Great if you know bluetooth
This is a great mouse, i use it with my laptop and PC. Although, i can see how people might not like it. Setup is not as easy as plugging into a ps2 port. You would think that microsoft could make it less problematic considering the mouse brand. But,once its set up, the mouse is preferable to logitech mouseman optical which i have on another PC. i find myself using the extra programmable mouse buttons much more.Plus ways its design makes it form to my hand very well. Another benefit is, i now have a bluetooth receiver for my PC. That alone is at least[$$].
45 HAVING PROBLEM WITH INSTALL
I install the software and the usb laptop transreceiver connection and the pc laptop did not recognize it. I would like to say that the laptop have built in bluetooth so I really don't know whether or not I should use that usb transreceiver for the laptop either way it did not work, with or without.
46 Terrible Mouse - DO NOT BUY IT
I hate this mouse. Its a piece of [junk] - not worth the [money amount]price. The first time I installed it on my PC, the device could never be identified nor connected. I called MS Tech Support and they were no help. They had me uninstall the drivers - that didn't work. Two days of trial and error without success. I ended performing a clean install of XP, to finally get it to work.
It also goes through a set of batteries every 2 weeks. My wife's logitech mouse goes 3 months without needing new batteries.
The moulse also don't have drivers for Mac OSX, which means the multiple buttons don't work. It will connect and Mac OSX does recognize the device.
47 Excellent Mouse That's Over Packaged
I bought this mouse to use with my new Macintosh PowerBook 17" with built-in BlueTooth. The mouse does not officially list Mac as a supported platform (go figure) but it works great. Just put in the batteries, press the button on the bottom of the mouse and go through the mouse set-up on OS X (requires 10.2.5 or later, I think.) After that, it's a great mouse. Takes a moment to wake up sometimes if you haven't used it in a while, but not a problem. The one problem is that the mouse is sold only with a BlueTooth USB adapter (and a really complicated one) which I don't need. This must bring the price up. ...Moreover I was thinking of getting the BT keyboard, but I'd end up with another adapter I don't need.
