Quick Look: Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse

I’m fussy about my computer mice, and that results in me going on a binge to find the perfect mouse every now and then. My most recent obsessions centered around finding one for my PowerBook and one that would declutter my desktop environment. The PowerBook does have Bluetooth, but I haven’t been able to find a Bluetooth mouse I truly liked. I have been looking at wireless mice because of that and decided to give the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse a shot. MicroCenter was selling it for $29.99.

Many manufacturers have been making notebook mice smaller than desktop fare, as if somehow one’s hands shrank when we started using notebooks. I’m sure they’re trying to make them more portable, but that totally ignores the ergonomics that make a mouse unfriendly. I’ve been reluctant to try any of these smaller mice, and the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical mouse does fit that category. One of the reasons I wanted to try it, though, was because it arched up a bit higher than many of the notebook mice I had seen.

The mouse is a standard three-button mouse with a mini-receiver that plugs into your computer’s USB port. The mini-receiver stores in the bottom of the mouse and turns it off when there, saving the single AA battery that powers the mouse. The mouse is approximately 4 1/4” long, about 2 3/8” wide, and stands about 2 ¼” high. I immediately noticed that my wrist sat flatter on the desk than when using a bigger desktop-sized mouse. I found that a bit distracting, though I wouldn’t call it uncomfortable. Cursor response was fast and accurate, as was vertical scrolling performed by the mouse’s scroll wheel. The mouse does not come with any software drivers at all, and it did not appear to need any. The mini-receiver has a small green LED that lights up when the receiver is on. The receiver itself is shaped like an inverted “J”, and its top rotates approximately 100 – 110 degrees in either direction as needed to clear paths to other nearby ports. With the receiver rotated 90 degrees (vertical), the receiver is completely out of the way of any ports; but on my PowerBook with its side ports, it does slightly interfere with typing on the keyboard. I prefer to put the receiver in the rear USB port since it covers the Firewire port I’m not using as much. (If I needed it, I’d rotate the receiver into the vertical to clear a path.

Overall, the mouse is acceptable. It rates high on portability, average on features (nor FWD or BACK buttons much less anything else), average in ergonomics (I prefer larger mice), and good in value. I can’t comment on battery life, yet; I haven’t used it long enough. I like how the receiver stores in the mouse, though it does appear that storing it in the mouse is the only way to power it down . If you’re comfortable with a small mouse and are looking for a wireless and portable mouse with only three buttons (including a scroll wheel), then this one will fit the bill.