Microsoft Explorer Mouse

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Design : 8.0
  Features : 8.0
  Performance : 9.0
  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Rich Brown
• Reviewed on: 12/15/2008
• Released on: 09/09/2008

Had Microsoft introduced the Explorer Mouse two years ago, we might have shrugged. At that point, optical and laser mice were more than sufficient for desktop PC users, even gamers. Now that many people have more than one computer, at least one of which typically a laptop, a mouse with a new sensor that works on more surfaces suddenly seems relevant. For roughly $70, Microsoft's Explorer Mouse will give you that flexibility, by virtue of its proprietary BlueTrack sensor. You can find more fully-featured mice for your desktop, but none that work as well on the living room carpet.

The Explorer Mouse is one of two products released this year from Microsoft using an internally developed sensor technology called BlueTrack. Marrying the accuracy of laser mice with the wide-area projection of optical mice, BlueTrack gives you the ability to use the Explorer Mouse on the reflective and rough-textured surfaces that would give other kinds of mice trouble.

A blue light briefly emanates from the underside of the Explorer Mouse when you set it down.

While your current desktop mouse likely works just fine, we'd also bet you use it on some kind of surface suited to the task. A mouse pad or a desk blotter will pose no trouble to current mouse technologies. The trouble comes when you use your computer in a nonstandard location, a reflective kitchen countertop, for example, or on your lap in the living room. These surfaces can give optical and laser mice difficulty.

Where to buy

store	price	in stock?	rating
Amazon.com Marketplace	$31.99	Yes
	$69.90	Yes
	$37.19	Yes
	$64.99	Yes
	$64.99	Yes

see prices from 7 stores

Compare prices for Microsoft Explorer Mouse

	Amazon.com Marketplace	$31.99
	Staples	$69.90
	Amazon.com	$37.19
	TigerDirect.com	$64.99
	Circuit City	$64.99

Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 8 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 8 user reviews

• 5.0 stars

  "Very pleased."

  by wjb274 on April 10, 2009

• 5.0 stars

  "BEST MOUSE EVER!!"

  by ctheis on February 25, 2009

• 4.0 stars

  "Comfortable and LIGHT"

  by manny khool on February 4, 2009

• See all 8 user reviews Write review

Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 97

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 85 reviews of Microsoft Explorer Mouse from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 77/100 and users 83/100. Comparing these reviews to 94220 other Mouse & Pointing Devices reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 97/100 = Excellent.

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• news.com.au

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: This mouse combines precise tracking technology with a decent design. For the average user the mouse certainly isn't revolutionary, but it's a reasonable cost for a decent improvement in precision.

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• pocket-lint.com

  Editors' rating: 70

  Summary: As a mouse the Microsoft Explorer is your average mouse. It's comfortable, easy to use, but nothing out of the ordinary

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• macworld.com

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: They might seem old fashioned, but trackball mice have one thing going for them: so long as there is a solid surface, you can always use a trackball mouse and it will work. However, when you need high precision tracking and speed, optical and laser ...

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• pcmag.com

  Editors' rating: 70

  Summary: The Explorer Mini Mouse is a good notebook companion, given its portability and tracking system, but you'll have to fork over some bucks for it.

  Read full review

• goodgearguide.com.au

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: This mouse combines precise tracking technology with a decent design. For the average user the mouse certainly isn't revolutionary, but it's a reasonable cost for a decent improvement in precision.

  Read full review