Microsoft
IntelliMouse explorer
by Jeffery Roberts, Senior Hardware Editor
92 A
In late 1996, Microsoft
introduced the first Intellimouse. At
a glance, the new Microsoft mouse looked pretty much like any other two-button
mouse of the time. One small
difference, nestled between the two mouse buttons was a tiny, greenish,
wheel,
which could be used to scroll up and down or zoom in and out.
Developed primarily, for use with Office 97 and IE 3.0, the
Intellimouse with the little middle button caught on quickly.
Soon Logitech, the largest supplier of quality pointing devices, was on
board with its own version of the mouse with the little button/wheel.
Software and hardware manufacturers moved quickly to adopt, refine and
include the new scrolling and zooming convenience.
The last three years saw changes in shapes and slight diversions from
the basic wheel design, but the standard mouse carte has remained pretty much
ordinaire, until now.
Setup
is a Snap
Plug it in, point,
scroll and shoot.
Windows 98 SE, instantly
recognizes the new Intellimouse Explorer in either USB or PS/2 mode.
According to the small, (8) page, installation pamphlet, the Explorer
mouse is also Win98, Win95, NT and Mac compatible.
Naturally, I chose to
use USB mode and removing the PS/2 adapter from the end of the mouse plug, I
installed the mouse via the onboard USB port of a new MS Natural Keyboard Pro.
The top buttons of the mouse are enabled and right, left and scroll, function
perfectly, right out of the box.
The
complete product manual is available on-line at: http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse/
SOFTWARE
Enabling the (2) thumb buttons, that’s
right (2) thumb buttons, requires the installation of the included MS,
IntelliPoint 3.0 software. In
addition to enabling the thumb buttons the Intellipoint software also permits
the configuration of all (5) buttons to a wide range of functions.
Almost any conceivable combination of button assignments is possible
using the software package. The
(45) assignment choices for each button include:
Usability and Performance
Looking like the backend
of a miniature sports car, the Explorer’s “taillight” glows a deep red,
as it sits on your desktop. As
you can see from the photo, the new Explorer mouse is impressive looking, to
say the least. Still, I swallowed
hard and thought, “This thing better be self-propelled”, as the clerk rang
me out…$74.15 (US),
please. Self-propelled it’s
not, smooth and accurate it is.
How
it works
Featuring (5)
programmable buttons the Explorer uses IntelliEye, light technology, instead
of a rolling ball to track and send positioning signals to your computer.
A single beam of light from a tiny, CMOS
digital camera, takes pictures of the surface beneath it at the rate of 1,500
times per second. An 18 MIPS,
digital signal processor, analyzes these pictures and translates the movement
of the mouse to the cursor on your computer screen.
The
precise optical sensor detects motion on hundreds of surfaces, including wood,
plastic, and almost anything that’s non-reflective.
However, glass, mirrors and
glossy surfaces are a no-no.
The
recessed lens of the Explorer never touches your desk so it stays clean and
there is no mouse ball to maintain. The
Explorer does NOT need a mouse pad and actually performs better without one.
Using the Mouse
In order to prepare a
fair evaluation, I used the new MS mouse exclusively for two weeks.
Like anything new, the Explorer takes some getting used to.
The MS Explorer is a large mouse and may be uncomfortable in smaller
hands. I have large hands and the
new mouse fit nicely under my palm.
The IntelliMouse
Explorer moves quickly across a desktop, through a browser and around a
business program, where it’s feature rich buttons make it very adept.
Point to point line drawing in Paint Shop, is the most freehand-like
drawing experience I’ve had, with any mouse to date.
If this mouse has a weakness, it’s in high-speed gaming.
Although, Explorer proved deadly accurate as a shooter in Quake 2, I
found myself working hard to get around obstacles and out of tight spots.
Very rapid mouse movement can leave the IntelliEye playing catch up.
Conclusion
If you primarily use a
mouse for browsing the Internet, typing documents, or drawing and detailing…
this mouse is an excellent choice. Although
somewhat pricey, the limited lifetime warranty and ease of cleaning should be
considered by business types. Hard
core gamers, on the other hand, should be able to find better choices for less
money. My favorite feature is not
needing a mouse pad.
Note: The
IntelliPoint software has been updated for Win98 and Win2000.
Download
IntelliPoint Software
Search for best price at Price
Grabber
USBMan
06/30/2000
