Mouse Reviews

Technically, it works.... but it doesn't do what I needed it to do. The wireless mouse MUST be within 1 meter from the receiver. I needed to go about 6 to 10 feet so to me, this product is completely useless. It wasn't stated anywhere about it's limitations until the box arrived and opened the manual. Buyer beware.

Ahh, so nice to get rid of that cord! The only minor complaint I have is that this mouse is a bit heavier than a standard corded mouse, so it takes some getting used to.

One of the problems I've had with other wheel mice is that by scrolling the wheel, it was far to easy to accidentally "click" the wheel as well. Not so with this model. The wheel rolls smoothly and requires some effort to click it, though not so much as to require a lot of effort.

But it's great. My office had a few laying around and for some reason I got one. Definitely didn't want it, associated it with those mice with the balls on top - you know the ones.

Anyway, this is great. No more tugging at my mouse cord, mousing to the end of my tether, etc.

And the wheel is AWESOME. I have rather shaky hands and have trouble scrolling sometimes. Very annoying. The wheel solves that, it really makes my computer time more productive.

I have run into a little bit of interference from mobile phones or something, but I just changed the channel on the mouse and it was fine.

Defninitely a treat. Get yourself one, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

I love it. I like Logitech because the last trackball I had came down with a problem and, rather than fix it, Logitech just sent me a new hot off the assembly line model. This is the model that replaced the one I had and I need one that is a finger-operated ball. With arthritis in my fingers and moreso in my thumbs, there were very few trackballs to pick from. I'm so glad that ergonomics has been applied to items we use so often. This trackball is cordless and engineered so you can be leaning back in your chair even 6 feet away and use it accurately. You don't have to keep moving it around like a mouse, you can have it in any position and just move the little red ball with your fingers while your hand rests on the desk or in your lap - wherever you are most comfortable with it. It doesn't need to be on a mousepad and doesn't need to even be facing the computer. I also have carpal tunnels and fibromyalgia which affect my hands and fingers and wrists and arms. This is a blessing from above. It has so many buttons with so many options to which you can set it, it makes it fun to change them every once in a while. Just so you remember how you reset them. I still don't use them all, but they are there if I want them. Two buttons are close together and, knowing me and how I can slip my finger over too far, I have both buttons set to be double clicks and don't have to worry about it. Another good thing about the design of this trackman trackball is that the side of your hand is resting on the desk, rather than having to hold it up to operate it. I sure wish these had been out when I was in the working world. I highly recommmend them to anyone even with healthy hands so they don't get to be like mine. It is so easy to keep clean, and to clean it; and, it only takes two AA batteries which last a long time. I use it 10 to 14 hours a day and my hands even feel better than they did before I got this Logitech Optical Trackman. It is the most ergonomically designed one I have seen and used so far. Give it a try, what do you have to lose? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with it's looks, handling, options, and performance.

Being a confirmed trackball person this is probably as good as it can be for now. Operation is silky smooth, all buttons are fully
configurable and the hand comfort is excellent. Sometimes cordless
can be pesky, not so with this unit as everything is right on. I was never much for scrolling and some of the other things this unit can do, but am now just plain spoiled.

I just received this Trackman and have been using it for about an hour. It is excellent. The ball is smooth, precise and responsive. I bought the Microsoft version first and returned it because the ball rolled like it was a studded snow tire.
The buttons will take some getting used to but it is worth it.

"Home" "End" "Delete" "Pg Up" and "Pg Down" keys are in the wrong place. Until getting this keyboard, I never realized how much I used these 5 keys, particularly "Delete". Although I am getting use to the new placement, I must unlearn the placement ever time I use a different computer with a normal keyboard, such as at work. I really don't care which placement is better from an engineering standpoint. With keyboards, consistency is really important. Finally, I am finding I have to hit keys twice sometimes to get the keyboard to type. I have moved the receiver around with no improvement. I did not have this problem with my last cordless keyboard (logitech). Maybe that is a result of bum batteries (they come with the keyboard).

...I mean, this thing not only looks good, and feels good (the keys and ergonomics) but actually works really well (software is mostly flawless on my Win XP Pentium 4 machine)! Of all the peripherals I've ever invested in for my PC, this has to be one of the best---it's a pleasure to use, day in and day out.

PROs: the programmable keys make Internet surfing a snap, the cordlessness (all of my previous keyboards were corded) allows for all kinds of flexibility in terms of the junkpile masquerading as my desk, and the signal quality is very reliable (granted, I haven't tried to test the range much beyond my desk or my lap). Absolutely love the scroll wheel on the keyboard, and the back/forward buttons above it---perfect for going through photo galleries. So much less wrist-strain on my mouse-arm. The key word is: liberation!

CONs: pretty minor, really. A couple of the function keys have only limited programmability---but since there are a total of 25 of them, it doesn't really matter! Once in the while the software gets "stuck" so that when I hit any of the function keys that I've programmed to take to different websites, it only does so for the same one Explorer window. No way to tell if that's the keyboard software or the overall system software screwing up, though.

All I can say is, if Microsoft could only make ALL of its products, namely its monopolistic software, at this quality level, then Bill Gates might actually deserve the gazillion dollars he makes every 30 seconds!

... there is however ONE persistent problem this keyboard's software has. When I have multiple Explorer windows open and I hit the function shortcut keys to take me to different websites, it often will get "stuck" in one window and change the web page for that window only. So I end up having to do it manually, going to my "Favorites" pull-down menus. Kind of annoying, but can't tell if it's the MS software or my computer's OS that's screwing up.

This fancy keyboard and mouse set came with my PC a few months ago. Right away I noticed it was slick looking, and overall made my desk look much more professional and impressive. However, I can't give this product my full recomendation based on looks alone.

Firstly, I want to say that the MOUSE is just wonderful. Smooth, lasts very long and not a single problem. The best mouse I have ever owned. It even works well directly on the table, which is more than I can say for most wireless mice.

The Keyboard, however, has two problems.
1) There are no lights to indicate 'Caps Lock' or 'Num Lock', which is slightly annoying when typing passwords.
2) While the batteries last long, my keys frequently stop working and I need to give the thing a shake before they start working again. Maybe its because it's because I've spilt my fair share of food and beverage on the keyboard, but never have I had this problem before. Its not a big deal. Just a little shake and it works fine.

Overall, its a pretty, professional looking set and I recomend it.

I purchased this keyboard and mouse combination off Amazon a couple of weeks and love them except for one glaring issue...the F-lock key. If you're use to function key shortcuts (ie - Alt-F4 to close a window, F7 to spell check, etc.) please be aware that Microsoft has disabled them by default and changed the keys to perform these various functions directly. Of course, spell check is now where F10 use to be, and "close" is F6, and so on. You can turn off this "advanced" functionality but you have to do this manually every time you turn on the computer!!! By the way there is a "hack" (registry edit) that is suppose to fix this but it hasn't worked on my XP machine with this keyboard. Other than the F-lock key (and a few other key re-arrangements - home, end, page up are moved around) I love this mouse and keyboard...the mouse is sensitive, keyboard very responsive and I like the upper row of keys (above the function keys) that launch email, media player, etc. directly.

I have always been a fan of the Microsoft Natural Keyboard but I had always wanted a wireless one. This combo works very well and I think the price is very reasonable. Overall, I think this is an excellent product and so far I'm very pleased with my purchase.

I've seen many people complain about the function keys and while I can see this as a potential problem, I personally don't mind the change. All of the functions are there for me and it saves me a keystroke (e.g. Press the Close(F6) button instead of Alt+F4) The mouse is a nice change though it takes a bit getting used to for the smooth scrolling as opposed to the clicking of the past.

This product was wonderful. I had an natural keyborad and intellimouse explorer 3.0. The mouse was bad and need to be replaced. I came across this item at Best Buy and they were asking too much for it. I found it here and it was cheap and exactly what I wanted. I really didn't know what to expect of the product before I purchased it. Once I got it, the product was great. The thing was easy to set up. I could place the receive any where on my desk, below my desk and just about everywhere else the cord could reach and still has perfect reception for the mouse. The keyboard is great, just like the old natural keyboard, however it is lighter and feels a bit cheaper than the old one. The keyboard has little texture on it and it is transparent black. The functions on it were great. The mouse takes a while to get use to because it is higher than the old mouse which I had been using for a long time. I got use it in 4 days. I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a great combo.

The mouse is optical which is good, and sturdy and good quality. Easy to install, although you may need to go to the Logitech website for updates. So what about the tactile feedback? I simply don't like the way it feels when moving over objects. Also, the feedback isn't "smart". Basically anywhere your cursor would change to a hand cursor, it turns on vibration. The clickable region of file icons and many other onscreen objects though does not match the visible border of the object. To put it another way, it turns on tactile feedback even when the mouse is not visually over a file icon. I know that seems irrevelant, but the end result is constant pesky vibrating when you are moving the mouse over a group of file icons or a list of links for example. Luckily, I can turn off tactile feedback easily, and enable it whenever I want to try it again. I have yet to try it in a game.
Bottom line, if you want a good quality mouse but don't want something as expensive and complicated as the intellimouse explorer, this is a neat mouse to have. But don't expect much from the tactile feedback. And of course you know this, but tactile feedback has absolutely nothing to do with force feedback like with joysticks.

I was in the market for a new mouse and picked this one on a lark. I travel a great deal and always seemed to pick up a lot of dust, dirt, and ...well... who knows what's in the mouse, so this time I knew that I wanted to try an optical mouse. While I was looking through the offerings, I came across the iFeel mouse for just a few dollars more. Hmmm...could this help me navigate windows, buttons, links, and other stuff?

During my first attempt at installing the software (regular drivers plus something called Immersion Desktop), the mouse worked, but no 'feel'. A call to tech support went great (friendly, knowledgable, didn't try to rush me off the phone) but still no feel.

I kept the mouse. Months later, a hard drive crash required me to start all over again and... it worked! Suddenly, as I moved the mouse over anything that was clickable (Window edges, Buttons, Hyperlinks, Menu Bars, Task Bar Items, Icons, etc.) there was a slight buzzing sound and feel to the mouse. Sort of a vibration, but not what I expected. I fiddled with the Immersion settings and found a configuration that seemed to work for me (less sound, less buzz).

So know I have a mouse that sort of reacts to clickable things... Does it help? No, not really. Is is distracting? Sometimes. Does it really freak others out when they use it? Definitely. Would I buy it again? No, but I would pick out the non-feeling optical version of this product line again.

So the product gets 3 stars. As a general purpose mouse, I love it. As an iFeel mouse, I don't think it does anything for me. I base this on the fact that I don't miss the feedback when I use other mouse products on other machines. I give the overall product 4 stars, though, because good, helpful, friendly tech support means a great deal to me.

This is an awesome mouse, I've been using it for almost 3 years and now and I can't see myself using anything else. I wish Logitech would incorporate the iFeel technology in some of their newer mice as well. This isn't something you really need in a mouse, but it makes it seem as if you're interacting with the web page or your computer, you can "feel" the links or icons. At first it does feel kind of weird, but once you get used to it, you can't go back to a regular mouse.

I've been using this trackball for over a year now and I love it! I went from the Logitech 3 button mouse to this trackball and it was a very smooth transition! It took no time to get used to moving the ball and clicking the buttons.

I started using this trackball because my dr thought I had the beginnings of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and I've read several articles that Trackballs are supposed to be more ergonomic for your hand. I don't know if it was the addition of the wrist pads or the use of this trackball, but I have had no problems with my hands since!

There was only one downside to this unit. I have found that this Trackball gets dirty a lot more often than a normal mouse does. I've found myself having to clean it normally once a week. I believe it was probably due to the oils in the hand, etc.. Otherwise, I love it!

It is not the best mouse but you get used to it.

I've been using this trackball professionally (I'm a graphic designer) and at home for the last 3 years. I bought it because I was experiencing cramping in my forearm from repetitive stress. From the moment I first started using the trackball, I could tell the difference. The cramping ceased almost immediately.

I've tried other trackballs (Logitech and the Kensington Expert) none of them offered the control and comfort that the Orbit did. Because of the intense focus on the thumb, the Logitech model I tried actually made my problem worse.

The best thing is that with programmable button behaviors, you don't have to give up your scrolling wheel. You can program the Orbit to act just the same when you click the right and left buttons at the same time!

On top of everything else...you can claim back your desk. No more wandering mouse syndrome. No mouse pads. No falling off of the mouse pad. And no more revving up your mouse like it was a Hot Wheels car to move it around the screen.

It can be difficult to clean, especially after 3 years, but I've had no complaints and recommend this model to everyone I know.

I used the MS trackball optical for about a month. I just put it back in the box. My thumb hurts because the curser/pointer is moved only by your thumb. Even worse---the ball moves the pointer very sporatically. Sometimes, I'll roll the ball up or down and nothing happens. Save your money and buy a logitech "Marble Mouse" (I use it on my other computer). It cost about the same, doesn't hurt you hand, and actually moves the pointer where you want it to!

Bought this mouse and was very unhappy with it. Right out of the box, the trackball gets stuck more than 50% of the time. This got annoying after 2 days. I was also unhappy with how inaccurate it felt. I tinkered with the mouse control panel without any luck.

I use my mouse for illustrations on the computer... so the thumb position for the trackball really doesn't work well unless you're double jointed.

Even if you're not drawing anything, the fact that the trackball gets stuck so often makes basic window navigation aggravating. I don't usually return products, but this is one of them.

Well, my first thought on the TrackBall was hmm, wonder if i can get used to using it. Well i must say it was very easy to do, the mouse moves very nicely no "jumps". I'm Not sure why i have read that most people have a problem with hand oils and dirt getting into the mouse (unless they have never ever washed their hands) i dont sit at the computer eating potato chips and then grab for the TrackBall so this isnt a problem for me. Its a perfect device, no problems with it jumping around and moving slowly. buy it and try it, its cheap enough and well worth the money, (yes the ball comes out "if" you need to clean it)

The problem with this device is that the ball is very smooth and will slip if it gets the least little bit of grease on it from a skin cream or even eating a potato chip. I use the mouse all day and had to switch to a trackball to avoid repetition injury. The only other mouse I've used is Logitech which is an optical mouse and requires no reqular cleaning. I'd definitely not buy Microsoft if you're a heavy user.

This is truly the best mouse I have ever used. It obviously takes a little time to get used to. Like any tool, you aren't going to be a master immediately upon using it. I've had it for years now and I would not go back to a normal mouse.

The problem as has been mentioned before is the dirt. Any small amount of lint, grease, oil... on your hands migrates to the contact points. The ball is slippery and requires regular cleanings. If this exact same design were available in an optical format, I would buy that immediately. The nearest designs are the Explorer by Microsoft, that I bought my brother for christmas last year. It works fine, but I have become so used to this one.

If you get a chance, or see an optical like this, jump on the opportunity to buy it (and let me know about it would you?).

I've been clinging on to my old trackball because it is so well designed. The new ones are either awkward, too large, etc. I do occassionally clean it. If they had an optical of this one, I'd buy in a heartbeat. I have had it for 98, 98 2nd ed, and now XP and it works fine. Microsoft: Keep It Simple!

This mouse is not so ergonomic for left handed users. The two "thumb" buttons are not on the thumb side for lefties and the shape of the mouse is not as comfortable. If you are right-handed the mouse is nice.

About a month ago I decided I needed a new mouse. At the time i was using a standard optical 2 button, scroll wheel, compaq mouse. After reading many reviews about how great the Logitech MX700 mouse was i bought that... It was very smooth and precise, BUT it was the MOST UNCOFTORABLE mouse I've ever used and my whole arm was sore after a little while of use!!!! I returned it the next day and after reading some reviews tried this mouse, the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer with Tilt Wheel... This is a great mouse and is very precise, but even more important it fits my hand perfect, very comftorable! It's great for games and the battery seems like it will have a long life. The side scrolling thingy isn't used much, but when I have used it it's very easy and useful. The front and back scroll wheel is smooth, its like one long scroll down, no stop at all, which is very hard to use in games, but now I've got it down perfectly just takes time. Just try this mouse out, you won't be dissapointed.

I purchased the original Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse last July--though I loved the concept and overall feel of the product, it was sadly returned. My biggest complaint at the time was a lag in cursor response that manifested itself when your hand rested on the mouse, with no movement, for several seconds. I found this very annoying when working with a wave file editor program, and reluctantly went back to my corded Intellimouse Explorer.

I saw the new version today, immediately fell in love with the smooth/fluid feel of the scroll wheel, and decided to give cordless technology a second chance. So far, all is well! Cursor response is immediate, indistinguishable from a corded mouse--I've tried repeatedly to duplicate the lag problem experienced with the original wireless Intellimouse, and have been happily unsuccessful so far.

Oddly, another reviewer of this mouse has complained about the lag. I'm puzzled--either that individual has purchased last year's version, or perhaps it still existed in early production runs of the current product. Regardless, I'm extremely happy so far. Freedom from a cord is most welcome, the mouse fits my hand comfortably, and the redesigned scroll wheel is worthy of kudos a second time--no clicking when rotated, just a wonderfully smooth, continuous, and very precise movement. Pushing the wheel to the left or right will now move an oversized page on your monitor to the left or right--a very welcome addition.

The receiving unit is located on the far left of my computer desk, in a small cubicle, with a block of wood separating it from the mouse--which is at least two feet away, on the far right side of the desk. No problems whatsoever, in spite of the distance and the block of wood--the mouse is responding quickly and smoothly.

When returning the original wireless Intellimouse last year, I kept hoping that Microsoft would "get it right" eventually. This time they seem to have a winner!

The first thing I noticed when making the switch from the Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 to the 4.0 (yes, this mouse is the 4.0, not the 3.0 like Amazon suggests) was the scroll wheel. It is incredibly smooth, and feels great to move up and down. It is the best feeling wheel I've ever used, and it's extremely nice on long documents, as there are acceleration options for the wheel itself. However, in a lot of games, gamers will set the scroll wheel to change weapons. The fact that this wheel is so smooth to scroll, makes it very difficult to just change to the next weapon. You always end up skipping 4 or 5 weapons, so you just have to scroll back. Takes a lot of getting used to, if your previous mouse had tactile clicks to let you know when you've scrolled one unit.

In all honesty, the only thing that even made me switch was the new tilt-wheel feature. I later learned that this new feature isn't really so great... it feels real clunky, and is hard to press in either direction. And the scrolling that happens onscreen is real jerky, and slow (even when set to the highest speed). It's also not performing a universal application side-scroll, as it only works in a few programs that could potentially utilize it.

I am primarily a gamer, so the mouse I use has to be very precise, responsive, and comfortable. To me it seems like my hand gets cramped much faster than it did with the 3.0 under extensive use and long gaming sessions. However, it is extremely accurate, and very precise in first-person shooters and Photoshop, the two areas where extreme precision are important in my computer usage. It has a nice weight, and feels very solid. The thumb buttons are were huge design mistake though. They were moved from a neutral thumb-rest position, to the top of this ridge that is above where your thumb rests. The result is a very awkward reach, and it's much more difficult to execute in high-pressure situations like online gaming. Also, the middle button (the scroll-wheel) is very hard to press down properly. If the wheel rolls at all, then it cancels the button-press, and you have to redo it. Also, it seems to lag a bit after you press it down, leaving you waiting for results. Very annoying if you are used to pressing the middle button in an FPS, where your timing is more crucial than on the desktop.

Overall, the Intellimouse 4.0 is a very nice mouse for casual/everyday users. However, if you are a gamer, or graphic artist, or anyone that will be doing any extensive mousing around, will probably want to test the mouse out before you buy it. The hand cramps are my number one complaint after 3 or 4 weeks of usage.

Always liked MS mice for their effortless clicking switches. I do not think I ever had one fail... The scroll wheel on this mouse is what brings it to a 5. The scroll is silky smooth and without annoying clicks.The side buttons work fine with practice. I never bother with the tilt function as it is too hard to switch and rarely a time saver.The mouse wheel switch is about the same as the old versions.
The wireless is the exact same shape as the wired. It is heavier of course with the batteries. What I do not like is that in order for me to scroll occasionally, I need to wiggle the mouse to "wake it up". This wake up process is quick but necessary even after the most brief of pauses.
To recap, fine mouse with superior click switches on the buttons and a fantastic scroll wheel.

This is probably the best mouse out there. With no need for batteries this mouse is not just comfortable and beautiful, he's 5 buttons are really great. The position of the thumb buttons are in the right spot and the new Tilt-Wheel is very useful. I had the old version of this mouse and I just can't keep my hands of this one!!!
This mouse is a must have and the logitech guys should learn something from this mouse.