Review: Microsoft Explorer Mouse

Most of us will have had problems with our mice before, such as poor tracking, where mouse movements the user makes are not reflected by the pointer on the screen.

Modern 'optical' mice use a beam of light or an invisible laser to track movement. With mouse mats now largely out of fashion, more people are using their mice on desks or tables, and woodgrain, along with any surface flaws, can cause the light to deflect away from the mouse's sensor, leading to erratic pointer movements.

Such mice have solved many of the problems caused by dirt accumulating on the balls of the old-style mice, but some remain, and Microsoft clearly hopes its Explorer Mouse will finally consign such issues to the dustbin of history.

The Microsoft Explorer Mouse uses a technology called Bluetrack, which uses a larger beam of laser light than current mice and some enhanced optics, the upshot of which is that Bluetrack devices are less sensitive to the surfaces on which they are used.

We tried it on a wide range of materials, including a leather jacket, a jumper, a carpeted floor, a colleague's head and some foam padding, and we have to say the Explorer was up to the challenge. The only surfaces you won't get a response from are very reflective ones such as glass and mirrors.

It's comfortable to use, wireless, comes with a small and neat charger and a USB wireless receiver for the computer. The buttons, like most mice, can be set up according to the user's preference using the supplied software, which is easy to install and use.

So if you currently have mouse problems, the Microsoft Explorer Mouse is probably worth the price – if not, a cheaper laser mouse will suit you just as well.