Microsoft's Explorer Mouse ($99) might just remind you of your dad's Oldsmobile. It's built for comfort rather than speed, for long cruises down the Internet's superhighway, with some features that give it a bit of coolness and flash. If you're looking for an ultra-high-rez mouse for first person shooters...keep on moving; nothing to see here. But, if you spend most of your time browsing websites, checking email, and knocking out Microsoft Office documents...this just might be a winner!
This is a heavily sculpted, right-handed mouse. Your thumb fits into a curved grove on the right; two long side buttons protrude just above. One thing I like about this mouse, is that while your ring finger is raised on the side of the mouse, your pinky makes definite contact with the surface of the desk. This gave me more of a sense of control than with mice that lift all your fingers away from the surface.
Due, in part, to its large bottom mounted pads, the Explorer mouse glides across my desk easier than most other mice tested in this year's round-up. Likewise, its scroll wheel is non-indented and quite loose, making it very easy to navigate within documents on the web or in a word processor.
Like the neon lights that some enthusiasts install under their cars, the Explorer has blue LEDs that can illuminate it from below, giving it a sort of "hover" effect. Nice chrome work; just like an Oldsmobile. It won't make your mouse work any better, but it might just make you smile.
The mouse is rechargeable; the battery and charger are included. Microsoft claims the battery will last three weeks between charges and an indicator warns when power is low.. A small wireless USB receiver plugs into your laptop or desktop. It can be stored for travel in the base of the mouse. While I didn't test the claim that the mouse would work from up to 30 feet away (my office isn't that large), it did work fine across the living room.
Separating this mouse from others in its class is the use of what Microsoft calls "BlueTrack Technology". This gives the mouse better tracking on rough surfaces like wood, carpet and stone. However, as with all laser mice, it won't work on glass and other reflective surfaces.
All in all, the Explorer mouse is a great upgrade for most home/office computer users.
