When I first heard about the Intellimouse, I didn't think it was such a big deal. My initial reaction was mild. The only thing Microsoft added was a wheel, what was the big deal?

I had several reservations. The mouse is curved a bit, and that was a change that didn't make too much sense to me. (For example, it is curved to fit a right handed person!) Also, the wheel was between the two buttons. It seemed like some changes were made for no good reasons.

I was wrong!

The Intellimouse kicks butt. Let's go through the list.

* First, the body is not entirely smooth so when your hand starts to perspire, it doesn't slip or move suddenly. The texture of a mouse is actually quite important. It can prevent a variety of repetitive stress injuries.

* Second, the curve of the body is just right. It fits my hand well. I admit that I hold it at an odd angle, but it works like a charm. Again, the shape can prevent injuries to your hand. This is important if you live and die by your computer. (How many hours do you spend on your computer every day?)

* Third, the wheel itself is made of high quality rubber. It easily glides up and down. My finger never slips, even when I am using the mouse for long periods of time.

* Fourth, when you move the wheel it doesn't move freely, it clicks. The "clicks" are set just right. They move the screen quite well. In Word documents and spreadsheets, it works quite well. It is a lifesaving feature with all the browsing I do.


The Intellimouse is excellent but there are a few things to keep in mind.

* First, the scrolling feature doesn't work with all applications! This is VERY annoying. I know that it doesn't work with Lotus Notes, and it drives me crazy at work. It works well with all Microsoft products, of course, but it is hit and miss with other applications. I can live with this downfall, but it is quite bothersome sometimes.

* Second, there is a feature that I find to be useless. When you push the wheel down (like a button), you can "super scroll", as I call it. You can whip to the top or bottom of a document VERY fast. However, it is nearly impossible to control. I very rarely use it because it is not easy enough to do. I want it to be easy or I won't do it.


Summary: At work I have one and I love it. At home, on my main computer, I have one. They both work great. When I use other kinds of mice, I can't work as well. I'm slower. This mouse saves a lot of time and energy if you do a lot of development work. It is also good for power surfers.




Recommended: Yes