Style meets function with this amazing optical mouse. Microsoft has combined optical and wireless technologies with their revolutionary Tilt Wheel Technology to achieve a new standard for performance in freedom, comfort, and style. With their new longer battery life many users average more than six months without changing batteries! Experience unrivaled accuracy, speed, and control—new wheel functionality and intuitive software enables enhanced, accelerated scrolling through documents and Web pages. Depress the wheel to toggle between open windows, making multi-tasking a snap. Your screen will move as smoothly as the scroll wheel feels. Get more functionality from your mouse. Two extra buttons let you go Back and Forward in your Internet browser without clicking the toolbar. Or you can reassign them to a command or keystroke that you use more often, such as copy and paste. Experience exceptional comfort and grip support—comfortable finger grooves on the primary and secondary buttons help position your fingers and keep them in place. The scalloped sides, with their unique soft-touch material, help to keep the hand and forearm naturally aligned.
1 Excellent Mouse with Idiosyncracies
I upgraded from a wired MS Intellimouse Optical, which I loved until its LED intermittently turned off and MS Windows failed to recognize what sort of USB device it was. This behavior continued even after downloading the latest drivers and when connected to another computer. So it surely was moving onto its next life.
Shopping for a replacement, I considered wired and wireless, Microsoft and Logitech. Wireless was a huge draw, especaially since it cost just about the same amount. Comparing wireless devices between Microsoft and Logitech, Microsoft had tilt wheel for the majority of the mice I liked. Logitech included tilt wheels only on their more expensive MX line (Cordless Click! models didn't look very nice IMO). I would have loved to get the Cobalt version but for some reason that one cost almost twice as much as this Crimson Fire. Purchased through an Amazon Seller, I received it on my doorstep for about $19 plus $4 shipping and handling. Unopened in retail package, it was a fantastic value!
I've been using it for a month and here are a list detailing my impression of it:
Pros
1. Easy and instant setup (because I had a MS Intellimouse Optical previously, all I had to do was select the MS Wireless Intellimouse Explorer 2.0 in the Intellipoint software and I was up and running)
2. Aesthetically pleasing (still love the Crimson Fire motiff)
3. Ergonomically designed, very comfortable, and every button is in intuitive reach (I have big hands and use a gel pad with integrated palm rest)
4. Functional (5 programable buttons plus tilt wheel--love the tilt wheel, great for spreadsheets and web surfing)
5. Responsive and precise (no lag of any sort, excellent for Unreal Tournament or Photoshop)
6. Fantastic build quality (tactilely pleasing, materials feel first-rate and craftsmanship is superb)
6. Battery included and is advertised to last about 6 months
Cons
1. LED does not turn off (as soon as the right battery is inserted, the LED light turns on and never turns off ever; MS has a Knowledge Base solution saying that it should turn off when the computer shuts down and the mouse is plugged into the USB--never happens; it continues to say that if it does not turn off, it shouldn't be a problem; seems like this will drain the battery--will it still reach 6 months of battery life?; currently, I remove the batteries each time I am done with my computer)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325975
2. Large transmitter base (I have a Targus presentation device that has a transmitter the size of a flash memory--small and functional it plugs into the USB; why couldn't MS do the same?)
3. No visual cue indicating the LED light is on like the MS Intellimouse Optical (same complaint as a previous review, it would be nice to see when it is on; turn it over however and you'd expect the LED to be off when the computer is off)
4. With batteries in place, the mouse is heavy (not problematic if you don't lift your mouse but I do once in a while; wish it were as light as the Intellimouse Optical)
5. Isn't ambidextrous like the Intellimouse Optical (I use my mouse in conjunction with a laptop and locate my mouse wherever I have room, that's left or right of my computer, so this definitely curtails my options)
Despite some idiosyncratic design choices highlighted in the Cons list, I love my mouse. My only real complaint is the constant LED. Does anyone have any suggestions on turning the LED off? Or should the LED just remain on all the time? I would still purchase the mouse knowing what I know now. It's a great mouse and if the LED turned off when it should, I would rate this a 5.
2 My favorite mouse, ever
There are a few features that set this mouse apart. First, it's both wireless and optical. This means you get smooth scrolling and no wires, which is a big plus. Also, the wireless hub allows you to resynch the mouse if it ever gets disconnected! Second, the scroll wheel is of unusually high quality. It's not like the cheap logitec mice that scroll in big chunks, it's 100% smooooth. Third, the mouse is well designed and ergonomic. It looks nice, and fits well in your hand.
3 Excellent Mouse - ergonomic issues for this buyer
I feel this is a great mouse - i love the smooth scrolling wheel, there are no clicks at all - it's really the best i've ever used, heavy with excellent feel.
But for me, there are drawbacks.
1. most important - it's a very high mouse and after about 1/2 an hour to an hour of use, i get a sore palm, which is very uncomfortable. It could just be my hand size/shape against this mouse, but i feel it's a big enough issue for me to return this product.
2. cosmetic - i love when wireless mice glow or show feedback with a lighted logo - this mouse lacks it. It looks good on the outside with a beautiful, shimmery red faceplate, but i still think it lacks that something extra, especially for a $50 [retail] price.
