Microsoft Arc Mouse

Cool Yule Rating: 4.5 stars

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

Cool Yule Rating: 4.5 stars

Price: $59.95

Product Web site

Description: Most mice you see these days tend to fall into the same shape – an egg-like curved design that aims to "fit the curve of the hand" and is aimed at comfort (after all, if most of us computer workers are using a mouse for 6+ hours per day, the mouse should be comfortable, right?). That's why it's interesting when you see a new design in the mouse world. The Arc Mouse from Microsoft doesn't divert too much from the curved design of a mouse on the top, but instead of a flat bottom there's a bit of an arc (hence the name). The slight arc allows the bottom part of the mouse to fold into itself for transport, making it a very useful and handy mouse to bring along with you in your travels.

The 2.4 GHz wireless mouse includes a tiny USB micro-transceiver that fits flush with the USB ports on a notebook, which helps prevent it from getting lost. But in addition, you can remove the transceiver and snap it onto the bottom of the mouse itself, making it even more unlikely that you'd ever lose it.

Like other mice, the Arc includes a scroll wheel, customizable buttons and the ability to switch between a left-handed or right-handed design. Microsoft claims up to six months of battery life, and includes a battery status LED indicator that glows red when the battery is running low.

I'm very impressed with these features – the Arc Mouse may end up being my new travel mouse when I hit the road in the new year.

View complete list of mice and keyboard products | View slideshow

Read more about wireless & mobile in Network World's Wireless & Mobile section.