The Intelligent Mouse is a smart choice for Window's users

With the flurry of technology toys hitting the market this year, many just in time for Christmas, one of the simplest computer peripherals gets a boost in technology. The simple pointing mouse has gotten a new look and feel that improves comfort and usability. The mouse is optimized for web page viewing and surfing.

The mice are products of the Microsoft Corporation and were ergonomically design to improve comfort while pointing. The mice works using a USB or a PS2 port depending upon the individual model. As with any mice containing scroll wheels, special software is needed in order to operate the mouse. This special software activates several advanced features of the mouse. The scroll wheel lets users scroll up and down web pages, Office documents or other applications without clicking on the side scroll bar. This makes navigation in applications easier and faster. The IntelliMouse Optical edition also has buttons on either side of the mouse. In web page applications the left button is equivalent to the back button and the right to the forward button. Quickly returning to previous web pages makes web navigation easy.

The best feature of these mice is the tracking system. Rather than a small gray ball rolling around, determining the position of the cursor, an infrared light tracks the position of the mouse. The light is sensitive to surfaces and automatically shuts off if the mouse is turned upside down. The light makes the mouse ultra-sensitive to changes in direction and magnitude. The mouse reads the surface and tracks location according to the mouse pad patterns. The Microsoft web site sells the IntelliMouse as a mouse which doesn't require a mouse pad, but mouse pads are fun and provides some traction for the mouse's small corner pads. Those interested in graphics, web page surfing and design will appreciate the sensitivity of this new creature.

The mouse retails for approximately fifty dollars, although available online and elsewhere for less than thirty dollars. The high price for a mouse may be worth it for Windows users. Users who are either web page surfers or graphic designers who like precise mouse movements will appreciate this device the most. These designer mice were well received by the Tech News layout staff and continue to be a highly prized item in our office.