Since its invention, mouse technology hasn’t changed much--until now. The new Cordless Wheel Mouse and IntelliEye Mouse by Microsoft have brought 30-year-old technology into the twenty-first century with remarkable improvements that offer better performance, lower maintenance, and reduced frustration.

New century, new technology
Most mouse devices still work as they did years ago, with a little rubber ball rotating as the mouse is moved over a mouse pad. Sensors inside the mouse register which way the ball goes, and pass that information to the cursor. Unfortunately, as you’ve probably learned by now, dust and dirt (not to mention general deterioration) require constant maintenance to that little tracking ball.

Beyond the ball, the mouse “tail” offers a few frustrations of its own. Though the tail is essential for sending information from the mouse to the computer, it can be restrictive: if the mess of cords behind your computer looks like a pile of spaghetti, chances are you’re constantly yanking your mouse to make it move.

Several years ago, designers thought they’d solved the problem by replacing the tail with infrared (IR) communication. Instead of a cord, an IR transmitter sent signals from the mouse to a receiver in the computer. Unfortunately, the mouse only worked when it was directly in front of the receiver. Papers, cords, wires, or even dust could temporarily stop the mouse from communicating with the receiver. Worse yet, IR mice were expensive.

Now, the new Microsoft IntelliEye and Cordless Wheel Mouse devices resolve both maintenance and tail problems.

Tailless clicking through the dust
The Cordless Wheel Mouse works up to five feet away from your computer using two-channel radio digital technology. There’s no need to worry about keeping the little fellow clear of other objects as you would with an IR device--even if your PC is buried beneath a pile of dusty cords. The Cordless Mouse includes other functional features: the classic Microsoft center wheel for scrolling and zooming; a raised, contoured shape for ergonomic support; and a rubberized lower end. The Cordless Mouse can be adjusted for either hand, and allows all three buttons to be programmed with various “quick-click” functions.

No ball, but a tiny camera
For the more organized desk comes the Microsoft IntelliEye, a line of three mouse devices that keep their tails but replace the little rolling ball with a tiny digital camera. This little ace-in-the-base scans information below it at a rate of 1500 times per second on almost any surface. The action is then decoded into corresponding and extremely accurate cursor movements. The mouse pad era is over. An added bonus: IntelliEye has no moving parts to wear out.

IntelliEye mouse devices come in three versions, with features to suit your needs:

• IntelliMouse Explorer is the top of the IntelliMouse line. This cool-looking, right-hand-only mouse gives you five programmable buttons for quicker Internet or application access, easy-to-hold rubberized sides, and special, forward and back, Web browser “thumb buttons.”
• IntelliMouse Optical also features five programmable buttons as well as right- or left-hand adjustment.
• IntelliMouse with IntelliEye offers the three traditional buttons and ambidextrous use.

All IntelliEye mouse devices come with a center wheel for scrolling and zooming.

Say "Cheese!"
No matter which new mouse device finds a home beside your computer, you can be sure your new mouse won’t leave you saying, “Rats!” 

George Legge says he loves using the IntelliEye Mouse to massage his head while he's working.