A mouse of one's own - the Microsoft Mouse - Hardware Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, August, 1993 by Daniel Grotta

AT A GLANCE: Attractive, ergonomically designed but relatively expensive mouse that feels good to the hand and is sturdily built.

EASE OF USE: Setup and style selection is a breeze.

DOCUMENTATION: Well written and illustrated.

SUPPORT: Helpful phone support is available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday; mouse also has lifetime warranty.

VERSION REVIEWED: 2.0

LIST PRICE: $109 (serial and PS/2 versions), $125 (bus and combination serial-and-PS/2 versions); software ($20) is not included

STREET PRICE: $79, $89

MANUFACTURER: Microsoft Corp., One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052; (206) 882-8080, (800) 426-9400

My local CompUSA superstore has a sale on no-name mice for an unbelievable $10. The question is, with generic mice costing so little, why would anyone want to buy the real thing? That's a question Microsoft hopes to answer with the introduction of its ergonomically redesigned mouse, with a solid, reassuring touch and smooth, efficient feel. Even a lefty like me found it very comfortable and quite easy to maneuver.

What makes the Microsoft Mouse special is the optional software. With it you can customize how the mouse feels and works both in DOS or Windows. For instance, it's more natural for me to move the cursor up and down by pushing the mouse at a 45-degree angle to my chair. I also prefer a light touch to the buttons and tend to double click very quickly. Both preferences were programmed easily. Similarly, I can control the speed of the mouse as well as the size and shape of the cursor.

Two of the mouse's best features are Magnify and Screen Wrap. Anytime I want to see something on the screen in detail, I hold down the Alt key and press the left button; up pops a box that enlarges anything inside it. I can even drag the magnifying box around. The Screen Wrap simply moves the cursor from right to left or top to bottom of the screen and makes maneuvering much easier.

As usual, Microsoft's documentation is well written and helpfully illustrated. About the only reservation I have with this particular mouse is its price. I don't expect that it could ever cost $10, but a $125 list is on the high side in today's competitive market. Definitely buy it when the price comes down.