Product Survey: Mice : Microsoft Wireless Arc Mouse
6. Microsoft Wireless Arc Mouse
Where did BlueTrack go?
In 2008, Microsoft introduced consumers to BlueTrack, a new sensor technology that works on virtually any surface, with its Explorer and Explorer Mini mice. Unfortunately, the Arc Mouse missed out on this new sensor tech and uses a standard laser for tracking. Microsoft says that the Arc Mouse was developed in parallel with BlueTrack, and that only a few models will boast this blue technology for the time being.
Despite the lack of BlueTrack, laser sensors track well on a large variety of surfaces, and there is no need to use mouse pads with them anymore. BlueTrack by Microsoft allows a mouse to work on surfaces like granite, carpet and rough-grain wood, but is that really necessary?
The Arc Mouse was designed with laptop users in mind. The Arc is very compact when folded in, but offers the same comfort as a normal-sized desktop mouse when fully expanded. When unfolded, the Arc has a crescent moon shape to it, and is nearly twice the size as when it is folded. Folding the mouse closed automatically turns it off.
- Arc Wireless Laser...
The Arc Mouse is a great idea, especially when you consider other notebook mouse offerings, which are normally far too short. The hand does not sit well on most notebook mice, and you can experience cramps after extended use.
The Arc Mouse can easily garner a large fan base with its sleek and innovative design. We would have preferred a black scroll wheel, but that is a matter of taste (The mouse now comes in four colors, depending on where you live).
Sadly, beauty and exquisite design are not everything, as using this mouse was a bit of a letdown. We can’t help wondering why there is only one thumb button, and why it is placed so far away from where the thumb would normally rest. Computer mice are meant to enhance your experience with a laptop or desktop, which includes being able to browse the Web quickly and efficiently. With only one thumb button, the Arc Mouse can cycle back through pages, but not forward. When you are used to mice with two thumb buttons, the loss of the second button is frustrating to say the least.
With the Arc Mouse, we were expecting a revolutionary product, not just a pretty one. For now, you will just have to be satisfied with its unique shape, and somehow deal with a lack of buttons and other basic features, like changing dpi on the fly (although this feature is traditionally reserved for gaming mice).
When compared to the V550 Nano from Logitech, the micro-transceiver for the Arc Mouse is bigger. However, the Nano completely lacks any sort of thumb button. Perfection in a notebook mouse may be out of reach for now.
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Choose it ether for its portability factor- it can expand to full size and your hand wont cramp- or for its sleek design.
Tom’s hardware this article seems more focused on budget consumers, however you also included the steelseries MMO mouse which is expensive. So why no Microsoft Sidewinder X8, Logitech G9x(most recent and not be confused with the G9 however very much the same), and Razer Mamba. Would love to see a review on those mice and others like them. I mean you did mention gaming a lot and didn’t include mice geared mainly toward gaming. Why not even throw in there the VisionTek XG6 if it was budget based, and for it just being really odd.
I think the the Logitech G9 should be on this list as well along side with the MX Revolution. But I do like how on the side of each mouse they explain some more into the different tech specs and what they mean.
While not a perfect article, this is a major improvement from some of the crap that I've seen from Digital Versus previous to this article.
I have tried several different brands and styles over the years. I always go back to my old favorite I have had for years. It's a Microsoft IntelliEye.
The article omits a discussion and comparison of a profound aspect of mouses, the sampling rate.
Nothing beats gaming like my optical MX510
Nothing beats gaming like my optical MX510
I just bought a MX620 for 20 bucks (they had a instant 15 off and 25 bucks off ontop of that) I am very happy, so happy that I bought a second one for my mac.
Nothing beats my Logitech Click!
Why?
-Light, comfortable, smooth.
-I have had this mouse for over three years now.
-I have long fingers, and they fit comfortably on the mouse.
-The mouse is decently light. I've used lighter, but too light can cause issues. (not durable enogh for example. I have thrown this mouse many times yet it works like a champ)
-Wired (I do prefer wired. I have two wireless mice, but the batteries die too fast, and the batteries make it too heavy. Plus not having extra batteries around when they die is horrible... Even more important, they're easy to lose. Someone like me is better with a wired product. I lose my wireless products frequently. It's not a big loss)
-Comfort. I never have a proper stance while typing. Both my hands, even when one is on the mouse, are resting on the surface if possible. My mouse pad is about 9 years old. I think one of my brothers got it in a parade. Best mousepad EVER. So soft, so smooth. ~1/8 foam with a soft and smooth matertial on top. Extremely durable. It has held out for 9 years. Has had countless drinks spilled on it and a endless amount of oil. Has been brutalized with knives several times, yet the material holds. I currently have this actually stationary at my desk, with 3 nails and 1 screw. Because my wrist is always dragging on it, my wirst has built extra callious skin, which is actually useful. I have never found a mousepad superior to this (actually I don't even know if this is actually a mouse pad to be honest), all being uncomfortable and undurable plastic or crappy foam. /end rant on mousepad
-Infrared. I understand that newer mopdels are superior to what surfaces they can be used on, but regardless, I have used this on my bed, carpet, wglossy wooden table, couch etc. It works like a charm.
-Sexy. Something must be said to the ones that look simple yet elegant. Some of us want something that will look good foir years to come, not just for a month or so. The Logitech Click! Plus (wireless version) is actually less visually appealing in my opinion.
-800 dpi. Even when running a dual screen setup, with one wrist movement, I can get from end to end easily. The mouse is just right for me.
I paid $60 (well, someone else did with my money...) and I haven't regret it since. Nice to know they're like $15 now.
I don't like those fancy super modern mice.
Firstly, expensive.
Secondly, I don't need 20 damned extra buttons. I rarely even use the extra 1 button I have.
Thirdly, design. I am no fan of super modern mice. To me, they look like a gross attempt to show off. Like adding nothing but a bolt-on body kit, spoiler, cheap window tint, and wannabe spinning rims. Excess in a unproductive way.
It's like excessive "gaming keyboards".
The things are damned large, damned heavy, and damned expensive. My keyboard is as basic as it gets. Durable (I like to play with fire...), thin (but structuraly 100% stable), light (but not too light, so it doesn't constantly fly off my desk if I try to move it around), small (while retaining a full size keyboard, by having bottom and side edges less tham a centimetre), wired (I have a wireless keyboard, I even lose that), only the hotkeys I need (1 key I didn't, so I just removed the key), and can be picked up new for less than $5. Heres what it looks like: http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/5/ [...] 2-unit.gif
I have a $100 wireless gaming keyboard. This is a HP cheapo keyboard that I bought with a $600 debranded HP computer. After only a couple hours of use, I never used my heavy, large, wireless (battery wasting), grotesque looking keyboard. It's extremely simple, and works like a charm. The Apple aluminum keyboard interests me. Extremely basic and light, it just needs to have a magnesium option over aluminum (for strength), and to be a lot cheaper...
I want those exact same features in my mouse.
Who can offer that?
/end all rants
I just bought a MX620 for 20 bucks (they had a instant 15 off and 25 bucks off ontop of that) I am very happy, so happy that I bought a second one for my mac.
Good deal.
A actually sexy mouse.
I don't like the sharp tip to it, or that it looks like it's built for small hands, but it's better than anything in this article.
I still like my G5. My old one died (the trigger button started to lag just enough so I was missing a decent amount of kills when sniping). I'm on my second G5 and probably would get another until they stop selling. Imo, the G5 is one of the best mice(mouse?) ever made. The G9 and others are technologically much better, but I don't like the feel of the G9,etc.
Also, the review should have included at least 1-2 track ball mouse as quite a bit of designers (vid editors,CAD,etc) use them.
Mouses!
(mice are animals)