What you don't know about the wireless version.
Written: Feb 05 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Feels Good, Looks Good, Never needs cleaning.
Cons: (Problem only with wireless version... see review.)
The Bottom Line: If you're into games, STAY AWAY. If not, you're probably ok. Wireless is fun, but not precise enough for aiming that sub machine gun.
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| duskrider's Full Review: Microsoft Intelli Explorer (B75-00001) Mouse |
Please note: This review is about the wireless version. I'll have the wired version tomorrow afternoon... after I return this one.
That said, let's take a look at the mouse. The reason I'm sticking with the mouse design is because it just feels good. I mean... it feels really good. My hand just loves to hold this mouse. I'm sure all the other reviews you might read will say the same thing.
Another thing is the optical deal. I mean, who wants to clean a ball every month anyway? I love optical mice.
I also love the extra buttons because I play allot of games, and the buttons come in handy for game functions that would otherwise require me to move my hand to hit a key on the keyboard.
Now... I'm sure you're saying,
"Ok, so WHY on Earth do you want the wired version instead of the wireless version?"
It's quite simple actually. Like I said earlier, I play games. I like FPS games (First Person Shooters)... right now I'm stuck on Return to Castle Wolfenstein. This, by the way, is a great game... but that's another review.
So why is the wireless version not suited to games? Well, good ole Billy Gates decided to skimp on the wireless design and go with an RF signal for transmitting the information between the mouse and sensor. There are many things in a normal household that interfere with this signal; even your monitor does to some degree. If you have allot of stereo equipment or other electronics near your computer (like I do), then the signal can get pretty bad. My old mouse (a simple little wired optical 19.95 job) tracks targets and just moves much smoother than the wireless explorer, even with the explorer's SUPER DUPER 6000 DPI SCANNING THAT SCANNS YOUR MOUSING SURFACE FASTER THAN YOU CAN MOVE YOUR HAND. The interference makes the mouse jumpy and jerky... not really noticeable unless you're doing precise mouse movements. But, of course, in games you're always targeting and tracking movement. A jerky mouse means a bad shot... which usually means a dead player.
At first I thought "Man, no way did I pay $75 for a mouse that moves like a monster truck! It must be that I'm not used to it." So I used it for about a week, kept getting killed in RTCW, and switched back to my old mouse. Lo and Behold! My score went back up.
"Strange.." I thought. "It must be that it's just too heavy (because it IS heavy), and it's sticking to the desktop." So, I looked around and found myself a gaming mouse pad... the RatPad. Another great item, and another review. This thing is so slick the mouse just goes flying around like it's on air. Still... it was jerky.
After looking around online, I found out that MANY gamers have had problems with this! "What? What about all those boffo reviews I'd read from computer mags and stores all across the Internet? How can this thing have such a HUGE flaw without being noticed?" The answer is really quite simple... I'd never read a review that motioned games. I just figured that it would go hand in hand. A great mouse for PC applications should be great for games. This, obviously, is not the case.
This is why I'm taking it back tomorrow and getting the wired version *hoping* that this will fix the problem. It's cheaper, and has all the same great features without the problems of wireless. Sure there's a cord... but it's a small price to pay for being on top of the scoreboard again.
One last note, I'm not recommending this because I'm taking it back. It's not right for me, and I can't recommend a product I'm returning. Running everything else but games and other precision programs are fine with the mouse.
Bottom Line - If you're into games, STAY AWAY. If not, you're probably ok.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 75
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Epinions.com ID:
duskrider
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Member: Eddy Zenisek
Location: Dwight, IL USA
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
College Student at DeVry of Dupage. I'm into Computers, the Internet (DUH!), and Car Audio.
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