The Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse made its debut last year alongside its big brother, the Explorer. At just $60 ($20 less than the Explorer), the Mini model retains the same BlueTrack sensor that lets you use it accurately across a variety of surfaces that a normal laser mouse just can't handle. The only big differences are the smaller footprint and the nonrechargeable AA battery that powers the mouse and its USB receiver. The mouse isn't perfect, and lefties get the cold shoulder once again, but its accuracy and convenience make the Explorer Mini Mouse one of the most ideal travel companions to have in your luggage.
The highlight of the Explorer Mini is a proprietary technology that Microsoft calls "BlueTrack." BlueTrack combines the precision of laser tracking technology with the wide coverage of a standard optical mouse to let you use it on virtually any surface. This versatility should come as a relief for jet-setters who don't want to lug around a mouse pad around with their hardware--now you can mouse on a variety of tabletops, carpets, and other rough or reflective textures. While these surfaces present a problem for traditional mice, the Explorer Mini scrolls beautifully across all of them. The one exception we found is glass. In that case, the cursor became erratic, moving very slowly at times and jumping across the page at others.
