Microsoft B75-00001 IntelliMouse Explorer

I have now had this mouse for five years with no problems. I first bought the mouse because I hate trying to get lint off those little wheels inside a mouse so the ball runs smoothly. The optical technology is a God send.

I also like the ergonomic design. I admit it is larger than the average mouse, which some people may not like. However, I found that my hand cramps up less using this mouse because of the size, especially when gaming.

And speaking of gaming, I first found how awsome the extra buttons were when I bought Half Life, all those eons ago. It is so much easier to play those kinds of games when you can just use one of your thumb buttons to reload and the other to crouch.

I have only warning about this mouse, and a small one at that. While many people don't use a mouse pad with optical mice, as it certainly doesn't effect it's performance, it is a wise idea to have one if you don't what to scratch up your desk. Especially if you get rather rough with you mouse while playing a game, like I tend to do.

I will say this is the best mouse I have ever used and there would not be any regret in my voice over having spent [$$] on my first one of these, and I would be happy to spend the same amount again. I have never once had a problem with it - it has been dropped, crushed and generally mistreated over 3 years and it hasn't ever shown a sign if not working. Finally a microsoft product that works as advertised. I would say you have to try it before you buy as it is big and not everyone feels comfortable with it but a great mouse for gaming and work.

I wish i could find "johnny5dm"s article on taking apart the mouse. I am having major problems with mine. the left button acts like i am constantly double clicking and the scrool wheel wont roll upwards. I do like the look and feel and he buttons are situated in nice places, but for 60 bucks (which was what i paid for it at the time) I wish it would have lasted me longer than a few years. I have ordered a new mouse to replace this one, but would still love to take it apart and work on it. SO, if anyone knows where "johnny5dm"s article is, i would greatly appreaciate it

I own two Intellimouse Explorer USB 3.0 mice. The first one I bought about 4 years ago. It lasted me under constant use (24/7 for 4 years) until about 3 days ago (I take extraordinarily good care of my computer equipment, though). This mouse has 5 buttons and a scrollwheel (the scrollwheel doubles as a middle mouse button). The two buttons on the side are generally only used (and are most _useful_) as back and forward buttons in a web browser.

If you purchase this product, here is what happens when the mouse starts going on the blink - you will get an advance warning when the back/forward buttons suddenly stop working (requiring a reboot to "fix") and then randomly the mouse fails. The OS refuses to power it back up until either the system is rebooted or the USB slot is switched. At first, you may think your system has been "hacked" somehow, but starting device manager (using the keyboard only) will show that there is a problem with the "Human Interface Device".

Now onto the slipshod manufacturing: When I bought my second mouse (6 months ago), I had to send it back TWO times to finally get a good, not-dead-on-arrival mouse. I managed to get an identical mouse to the first one the third time. I noticed something interesting about the third mouse - the side grey area matched the darker color of my first mouse. The other two mice had side-panels that were lighter in color. This could indicate a manufacturing change (IMO, for the worse). All three were identical _looking_ except for the color difference. However, the _feel_ of the lighter grey mice was VERY different - the side buttons were difficult to impossible to push to get them to click and yet they were "loosely connected" like my two good mice (that the best I can describe the feeling). Both of the lighter grey mice had installation problems and one worked for only a bit while the other didn't work at all. I believe the third one came from better manufacturing and may have been made about the same time my first mouse was (I guess it was never sold). I love this mouse - it is the only mouse I've ever felt _mostly_ comfortable holding...all others just cramp my hand. Someone here said it was too big, well this one still cramps my hand where my ring finger touches the top of my pinky finger - I'd love a mouse where I could evenly space my fingers across the entire surface. This mouse comes close to what I want in a mouse. However, with the recent degradation in quality of Microsoft hardware and my own personal experience, I'm beginning to look around for alternatives. I'm more than willing to spend $75 ($100 is pushing it) for a good mouse that fits _me_, but it has to last 20 years.

I loved this mouse for about 3 months. And then it died. It's comfortable, attractive, responsive, and I loved the forward and back buttons. It was also my first mouse with a scroll wheel/button...nice. The optical aspect...wow. But these days that's nothing special (was gifted this in '00 but didn't use it much until '04).

I have two reservations, but they are important ones. First, it seems MS would be able to make a mouse that works flawlessly with its own OS. However, often the mouse would stop responding and I'd have to unplug and replug it, and restart my computer when that didn't work. The red power light would stay on and the activity light also responded, but it wasn't communicating.

Second, the thing doesn't work any more. I believe it's a weakness where the wire connects to the mouse body that caused it. I temporarily, insufficiently fixed it with electrical tape holding it in position, but that lasted about 2 weeks. I was certainly not rough enough with it over 3 months to warrant this; it's simply shoddy parts, design, or craftsmanship.

I won't say avoid this mouse at all costs. It's possible I got a dud. It's a great mouse except for the aforementioned problems. Still, I'm probably going with a Logitech cordless optical next time.