Big Blue
Written: Feb 16 '05
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Shape, size, and sturdy nature.
Cons: Doesn't work in BeOS. (Update: it should work with BeOS/Zeta now)
The Bottom Line: This is the best mouse I've ever used. The fit and sturdiness are fabulous but the glowing scroll wheel gives it that extra cool factor.
|
|
|
| Guildencrantz's Full Review: IBM OPTICAL NAVIGATOR MOUSE 4BUTTON OPTICAL SCROLL... |
As much as I have issues with Microsoft software the hardware they brand tends to be really good. It's kind of like Emeril: I can't stand his shows, but the knives he brands (Wusthof) and the pots he brands (Calphalon) are fabulous and tend to be excellently priced. When I found myself in need of an optical mouse the first thing I did was check the Microsoft mice.
They were nice. The one I specifically looked at had a wheel, the two primary buttons and two programmable thumb buttons (since the wheel doubles as a button there are a total of five buttons on this mouse). What I didn't like about this mouse is that it is low and long, not that great for the twitching that is needed for Unreal Tournament and other fast paced games. Besides that the mouse is very light, it doesn't feel like a sturdy long lasting mouse.
Next to the MS mouse was the IBM Optical Navigator. This was a shorter mouse with more curve to it and a groove along the left side with a button at the top of the groove. This fits perfectly into my right hand—if you are not using your right hand this is not going to be a good mouse for you, period. This mouse, like the MS, does have the wheel which doubles as a button; counting the normal two buttons and the thumb button this mouse has four buttons, one less than the MS. Even so I liked this one better as it feels much more sturdy. Like the classic old IBM keyboards this mouse even shows its sturdiness with a solid clicking of the buttons. I like this clicking, but after long periods of playing Diablo II the clicking can drive other people in the room crazy (not that that's necessarily a bad thing).
I bought this mouse because it was the right shape and is extremely sturdy. I now like it a lot for those reasons, but I must also say that the optical nature of the mouse is really nice. I can sit here on my bed and the mouse works fine on the lumpy sheets (not at gaming quality mind you, but at regular use quality at least).
The other main feature is that this is a USB mouse. I can plug it into my laptop after booting and it'll kick right in. I don't have to worry about plugging in before the boot, I can add and remove the USB plug at any time. I have also noticed that PS2 mice take over cursor control and you can't use the built in mouse with a PS2 mouse plugged in; however with USB mice you can use either the external mouse or the on board mouse, even with the USB plugged in.
A more minor feature, which I didn't even notice until after I made my purchase, is the coolest feature of all. This feature is that the mouse's wheel glows blue when it's plugged in and the computer is on. This really makes the mouse unique. All the optical mice have the red laser in the base, but this is the only mouse I've ever seen with the glowing wheel. The one thing is that the glow is rather bright. If you have it in your bedroom glowing it might be a bit bright at night. Since I use it on my laptop I have not left it on at night.
Personally I think this is a great mouse. It was about $10 less than the MS mouse and I like the feel of it a lot more. It is particularly good mouse for laptops, but if I wasn't running BeOS full time on my desktop I'd get a second one for that machine (this mouse does not work with BeOS right now).
UPDATE
This review was originally written in July 2001 but, being a fool, I'd mis-categorized it out of frustration with the product suggestion response times from Epinions. It appears that they did eventually add this product, so I'm moving the review.
I'd also like to add that in July 2003 this mouse died. It met an untimely death under my foot and was mourned, loudly, for an extended period of time. This is the best mouse I've ever used and lament the fact that I can't find a replacement.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 34.00
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Guildencrantz
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: Boulder, CO
Reviews written: 405
Trusted by: 160 members
About Me:
My coffee cup has Smurf escape instructions in it.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.