OEM Explorer Mini Mouse 1.0 Win USB BlueTrack EN/XC/FR/ES 3pk DSP 3

Comment:
Use one single AA batt, msft reliability, small, solid, Would not use for long amount of time, Good as a trackpad replacement for laptop.

Comment:
The two I've received both look almost-new. But since they are refurbished, it wasn't a complete surprise that the one I received first didn't work. The USB dongle was recognized and seemed functional, and the mouse appeared to behave as one would expect - but there did not seem to be any communication between the two.That's how I found out the chief drawback of this device: being the low-end model, the mouse is "2.4GHz Wireless"-only (most of the other BlueTrack models also support BlueTooth). What this means is, the mouse firmware is permanently paired with the accompanying dongle. If you lose/break either piece, both must be replaced. Microsoft CAN NOT/WILL NOT provide a replacement dongle. Anyhow, I believe this was the problem with the unit I received - the dongle's ID did not match the mouse. NCIX promptly replaced it and the new one works fine. If you have a similar problem, check the numbers on the bottom of the mouse and dongle. The PIN number can be different, but the PID numbers on both pieces must match.As for the mouse itself:-It works alone as a generic HID, or you can install MS Intellipoint and take advantage of extra features. You can re-program all the buttons, system-wide, or per-program.-It is shaped for right-handers only. I have small hands + long fingers, and while I don't find the mouse particularly uncomfortable, it is not long/tall enough to properly support both my fingers and my palm. A Plants vs Zombies session will lead to soreness/cramping.-The BlueTrack tech seems to work pretty well on most surfaces, but I've never had issues with a "normal", non-fancy mouse unless I was trying to use it on shag carpeting. Glass is still not a usable surface. One thing I notice is it seems to take longer to process movements on poor surfaces. While a regular mouse may "guess" and become less accurate, this mouse will usually present very accurate movement - but sometimes quite a while (meaning many milliseconds) behind what you're doing with it.-When the dongle is docked into the mouse, it still sticks out a bit. This, combined with the fairly round profile of the mouse, makes it a somewhat tedious item to find a spot for in your bag.-The mouse has both Back and Forward buttons. This was the main reason I chose this mouse over others which may have been more comfortable. Faster navigation = less mouse usage, and less need for the perfect shape.-4-Way scrolling is very nice for netbooks with small screens. Unfortunately, this scroll-wheel does not have any notches/detents/clicking, it is difficult to scroll to the side without also scrolling up and down. It can be done if you take the time to change your grip on the mouse - but at that point it's probably faster to use the window's scroll-bars. Vertical scrolling also happens unintentionally once in a while. This review was modfied by poster @ 12-26-10 06:45 PM