Finally, A Notebook Mouse That Fits Right

{mosgoogle}For the longest time I have relied on a normal sized corded mouse with my laptop. I only recently switched to wireless mice for mobile use but the mice were still full size desktop units. This is because I haven't found a single laptop sized mouse that felt good in my hand. That all changed when I discovered the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse. If you're a laptop user unable to warm up to a touchpad or pointing stick then you'll want to check this mouse out - it's an almost perfect for Laptop users.

With a conventional corded mouse, you had to deal with a long, tangle-prong cord. Going wireless helps to free up the cord but adds a receiver to the list of items to keep track of when you're on the go - lose the receiver and your mouse becomes a wireless paper weight. I get around this problem because I use a Bluetooth mouse with my Dell XPS Gaming Laptop, which has a built in Bluetooth receiver. At any rate, whether you're using a corded or wireless full size mouse, the mouse itself is too bulky for easy transport or tray-table use when flying. And laptop specific mice were generally too small and fidgety to be of any use.

The new Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse strikes a perfect balance between portability and use-ability. The mouse is small enough to be carry with you anywhere, yet big enough that it doesn't feel like a toy. The mouse features a L shaped USB RF receiver that snaps to the underside of the mouse when not in use, so you won't have to worry about losing it. The MS mouse carries a retail price of $39.00 but we've found it for less.

Where To Buy It

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{mosgoogle}Microsoft's new Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse is made up of two piece - the wireless optical mouse and the wireless RF receiver. Unlike a lot of the mice we have reviewed lately the Wireless Notebook mouse is symmetrical so both left and right-handed users can use it. The size of the mouse strikes just the right balance between portability and ease of use. The same goes for the USB receiver, which sends the signal from the mouse into the laptop.

The USB receiver is an L-shaped module with a plug portion that is long enough to clear any protrusion coming from the laptop. The receiver on the other section of the L, swivels to allow it to be oriented horizontally for optimum reception, regardless of the USB port's own orientation. While the swiveling receiver is a neat idea I doubt it's really needed since the mouse is never more than a few feet away from the laptop.

The best thing about the receiver is that, when you're ready to pack up and leave, all you have to do is snap the module into the bottom of the mouse. This creates an amazingly convenient package and it's sure to be a favorite feature for anyone who has lost a USB receiver from their wireless mouse. Also snapping in the receiver turns off the mouse to conserve the battery. And speaking of battery, the mouse only requires a single AA that Microsoft claims will last up to 3 months. The long battery life is thanks in part to MS optical technology which consumes far less power than competing wireless technology.

Where To Buy It

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{mosgoogle}Setting up the MS Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse was a piece of cake. Just plug the receiver into your laptop's USB port and (if you're running Windows XP) you're ready to go - no software is required. MS does include mouse drivers and software for people running older operating systems. The software allows you to find tune the mouse to user preferences but I found the default settings to be near perfect and didn't bother to install the software.

The symmetrical shape of the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse makes it suitable for both left-handed and right-handed users. Normally, this would result in less than ideal comfort since compromises have to be made. However, thanks to a combination of really good design and compact size, I found the mouse to be very user friendly. The mouse is taller than most mini mice and this really help in the comfort department and helps the create the feeling that the mouse is more of a full size desktop mouse instead of a mini laptop mouse.

The biggest thing I miss when using the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse was the forward and back buttons found on most desktop mice. However, given the small size and portability of the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse, I'm willing to forgo those two buttons.

When left idle, the mouse will go into sleep mode to conserve battery power. Also the mouse turns itself off when you snap the L-shaped receiver into the dock found on the underside of the mouse. Battery life from the single AA battery is up to 3 months, which is a lot shorter than the 1 year life you can get out of a the Logitech V200.

The Microsoft optical technology was able to cope with every hard surface I tried and the receiver worked flawlessly. The receiver range isn't as great as a wireless desktop mouse - I lost the signal after moving the mouse back 10 feet from the receiver. However range shouldn't a problem since you'll never be more than a few feet away from the laptop.

Where To Buy It