This Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse has been a true lifesaver

I originally purchased a Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse because I despised the touch pad on my laptop. That thing is so sensitive that I frequently end up clicking on links I never had any intention of clicking on. I desperately wanted a real mouse. One that did not require wires or use a ball seemed ideal. So, I decided to copycat my husband and pick up one of these beautiful creations.

Physical Details
This particular Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse is about three inches long, two inches wide (at its widest point) and an inch high in the middle. Color-wise, it features two tones of blue, with an extra bluish-silver in between.

I have relatively small hands for an adult, and this mouse feels like it was made to fit my right hand. There are finger indentations that run the length of the right- and left-click buttons that surround the clear scroll button in the middle. The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse also curves underneath the fattest part, leaving a nice resting position for my thumb and ring fingers.

Getting started
Before you start using the mouse, you will need to push the little silver button in the bottom rear of the mouse, which will then pop open the battery hatch. The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse requires one AA battery to operate, which will last a long time. In the two and a half years I have owned this mouse, I have not yet had to change the battery.

"Installing" this mouse is a piece of cake. Tucked under the bottom of the mouse is a USB outlet, which you can plug into the USB port of your laptop or desktop units. The USB plug can also swivel vertically or horizontally depending on the positioning of your USB port, so that you can rearrange to your comfort. With my Dell Inspiron, I have found that the positioning of the plug does not make a difference in the ease of use for the mouse.

The very first time you plug the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse into your computer, it takes a minute for the computer to recognize the new hardware, but each time after that, the CPU should recognize the mouse almost instantly. I know that some mice come with an installation disc, but I have not needed one to get started on either of my home Dells, or the Hewlett Packard PC's we use at work.

Easy operation, or "how I became a trendsetter at work"
I work in an office with shared workstations. Not only do I not know how many people will be using my preferred desk in a day, I don't even know which desk I will end up with when I get to work. There is one thing I can rely on, however: no matter which desk I end up with, it will have a crappy mouse. Not only will the ball and rollers be unresponsive (no matter how often they are cleaned), but the wire is too short to move the mouse very far from its origin.

Since I started bringing in my Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse, I have received all kinds of sweet offers from co-workers, in exchange for the privilege of using my mouse when my shift ends. One afternoon with my mouse also inspired a co-worker to buy his own mouse.

What's so great about using the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse?
Well, having one less wire around your computer is nice. At work, I really appreciate not having to yank the wire out of its comfort zone to get me into my own comfort zone.

More significantly, the fact that the mouse works optically, instead of with balls and rollers is really nice. I no longer need to worry about the mouse ball getting stuck on a lump in the pad, because I don't even need a mouse pad! In fact, the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse works better without a mouse pad. Sometimes, with a regular mouse, you have to trouble shoot in order to find out what the problem is: bad mouse pad, dirty ball, dirty rollers, wrong day of the week, etc. With the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse, there is nothing to troubleshoot.

Final Recommendation
I have used the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse with both a laptop and a desktop for the past couple years. It is much more convenient than a traditional mouse, and much more accurate than a touch pad. If you are ever even slightly irritated with either of those methods, you should pick up the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse.