Microsoft Explorer Mouse

CNET Editors' Rating

4.0 stars
    Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)

Excellent

Average User Rating

12 reviews

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CNET Editors' Review

CNET Editors' Rating

4.0 stars Excellent
    Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
  • Design: 8.0
  • Features: 8.0
  • Performance: 9.0
  • Reviewed by:
  • Released on:
  • Reviewed on:

The good: New BlueTrack mouse sensor works on almost any surface; well-designed rechargeable base station; included rechargeable battery; snap-in USB receiver.

The bad: No dpi toggle button; mushy scroll wheel.

The bottom line: The Microsoft Explorer Mouse deserves your attention for its BlueTrack sensor technology that lets you use it on surfaces where other mice fail. Laptop owners, or anyone else who uses a nondeskbound computer, will benefit from Microsoft's innovative new technology.

Review:

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. ... Expand full review

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.

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Average User Rating

3.5 stars out of 12 user reviews

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star: 7
  • 4 star: 2
  • 3 star: 1
  • 2 star: 1
  • 1 star: 1

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Most recent user reviews

Showing 3 of 12 reviews

4.5 stars

"Amazing mouse, buy online for cheaper" By murph909

Pros: Works on so many surfaces,
small USB receiver,
nice design,
fits well in hand

Cons: scroll wheel doesnt click...

Summary: This mouse is amazing! Search the internet for cheaper prices than large retail electronic stores sell it for, I paid well under half the price online! Works great, fits perfect to right handed users, if only the scroll wheel clicked....

Updated on Dec 7, 2011

UPDATE: As much as I ... Expand full review

5.0 stars

"Extremely satisfied; best mouse ever." By prodo123

Pros: Ergonomic design; feels like an extension of your hand. Floats like a cloud on a mouse pad, works very well on any colored surfaces including white, red, blue, yellow, and black.

Cons: Though I am a righty, I see why people would complain about no lefty support. The charger dock is a bit shaky, but negligibly. Scroll wheel feels a tiny bit awkward.

Summary: Superb mouse. The USB dongle is a tad bit bigger than I would've wanted, but still smaller than what I expected (I was thinking of a full USB flash drive-sized dongle!). The tracking technology is great. It feels like, well, a blue-glowing cloud because of the refrigerator-magnet-like pads to ... Expand full review

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Specifications

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Quick Specs

  • Compatibility: Mac PC
  • Battery size: AA type
  • Interface required: USB

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