Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse with BlueTrack

Cool Yule Rating: 4 stars

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Cool Yule Rating: 4 stars

Price: $79.99 (BestBuy.com)

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Description: OK, I am an admitted Mac-head, but at the office I am forced to deal with a Windows PC. The one thing that has made the last month bearable has been Microsoft's amazing new mouse. The Explorer Mini Mouse with BlueTrack is everything I've ever wanted from a mouse. What makes it work for me is Microsoft's latest all-surface tracking technology. The BlueTrack LED-based technology means that you can use the mouse on just about any surface without any problems.

The mouse also includes very nice power-saving features (just pull out the 2.4 GHz transceiver and snap it back into the mouse, which turns off the power), and comes with a very convenient traveling bag – this is the first office peripheral that I make sure to take home along with the notebook. It has become an essential telecommute item for me.

The mouse was easy to set up (not a characteristic I associate with Microsoft). The mouse comes with a battery so you can get started quickly – I had it up and running in seven minutes flat. The mouse was so fast and accurate that I had to get used to the navigation.

I also loved the ease with which it could be set up (not a characteristic I associate with Microsoft). Simply pull down the tear-down strip on the packaging, take out the snap-in transceiver, CD and mouse. Software installation is a breeze. It comes with a battery so you can get moving quick. I had it set up in seven minutes flat. And my true new blue power-mouse was zipping along. I actually had to get used to having an accurate and speedy mouse.

The four-way scrolling is a great feature, and customizable buttons are a plus. I like the magnifier feature, which lets you zoom in with a simple click.

Overall, this mouse would be a well-received stocking stuffer for your favorite techie.

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