Three 'old' mice

elektrik · Dec 12, 2002, 10:39 AM

Hi, I've got a little review to submit to the site, so here goes:

Intellimouse Optical and Intellimouse Explorer 3
They share the same optical sensor, at 6,000 updates per second with 400 DPI resolution. The problem, however, with the microsoft mice is that they use lower-quality non-teflon feet which make movement harder on some mouse surfaces. This can, fortunately, be fixed by adding mouse gliders/skatez/surfers or using another mouse pad which fits the mouse better. The sensor gives mouse movement only a bit less smoother than the Dual Optical due to it's high update rate, but it poses no problem at all.

First generation mice were at around 1,500 updates per second, which gave optical mice a bad name due to the update rate being way too low, so when people flicked the mouse, it was unable to track the quick movement, thus the movement on the screen would not match the user's phyiscal mouse movements!

The new Intellimouse mice address this problem by increasing the rate to an amazing 6,000 per second, and the sensor used can track up to 27 inches PER SECOND, which is just nearly impossible for someone to flick that distance, you'd probably need something like a sensitivity of 0.01 in cs to do that lol.

The Intellimouse Optical has a left/right handed amidextous shape, so both types of people can use it, and the top shell has a nice grainy grip, so it's easy to hold it in a grip. It has two extra buttons on the left and right side which are easy to press. The buttons are large and easy to press. Wheel has a nice click-click feel to it, so you know when you change weapons.

The Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 has a smooth, streamlined silver/titanium shell with two extra buttons on the left side. One is big, and one is small. The buttons are very large and the wheel also gives a good response, though I feel that the wheel should be positioned up a bit higher, as I use the wheel to swap weapons. The shape is for right handers only and it took me one to two weeks to adjust to it after using the Logitech Dual Optical mouse. Tracking is great.

Logitech Dual Optical
The dual optical has two sensors. Both update at a rate of 1,500 per second, with 800 DPI resolution. The sensors do not work together all the time though; the second sensor is at a different angle and position, and kicks in when the first sensor reports that it cannot read the surface. This usually works, but sometimes, when I had the dual optical, it still gave some false readings occasionally. Tracking is fine, you can flick it, because of it's increased resolution (800 DPI, giving a clearer image for the sensor to read) and backup sensor. The color is grey/sliver, and looks o.k. The shape is for right handers only, feels good at first, but after playing for a while, I felt that my pinky finger was not in a good position, the shape somehow got me annoyed, kinda poking my pinky finger. This is a small complaint, but it makes the difference between one mouse and the other. The sensor gives very smooth mouse movements due to the 800 DPI sensor. Biggest complaint is that the left and right buttons are just way too small, and the extra thumb button is too hard to push, I'd rather have it right at my fingertip.

My recommendation:
I currently use the Intellimouse Explorer 3.0, and love it. It took me a while to adapt to, but it feels so much better now after getting used to it. Tracking is great, haven't had any issues with tracking at all, and it looks cool too. My first problem with the mouse was the low quality feet, I was used to the Dual Optical's 5 teflon feet which gave a smooth ride. I quickly added some mouse gliders, and it felt way better. Your choice between these mice should be based on which one feels better to you- the performance is about the same, and any of them would be a good choice. You can ask a friend who has one of these mice to let you try it out, and compare it to the others which you might be able to try. Remember that if you're going to buy the explorer 3, that you purchase the one that says "6,000 updates a second" on the back of the box, or else you'll be buying the old version, which isn't nearly as good.

digitalwanderer · Dec 12, 2002, 03:57 PM

A very fine review! I've always wondered what the diff 'tween the Intellimouse optical and the 3.0 version, looks like it's time to upgrade me old opticals in favor of the 3.0 version.

Necrosis · Dec 12, 2002, 07:06 PM

A cheap substitue to buying mouse gliders is to use a milk jug. The one I'm refering to is is sold as a gallon and is milky white. I haven't tried this myself but I have heard it works great.

Zardon · Dec 12, 2002, 07:20 PM

interesting reading, nicely written and informative.

digitalwanderer · Dec 12, 2002, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Necrosis
A cheap substitue to buying mouse gliders is to use a milk jug. The one I'm refering to is is sold as a gallon and is milky white. I haven't tried this myself but I have heard it works great.

I've never heard of that one, but I might just give it a try. I'm still trying to find a roll of teflon adhesive tape somewhere, I like mouseskates.

digitalwanderer · Dec 13, 2002, 08:04 AM

TechDeals has got a blurb on a Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 for $19.99 at LiveWare, is that a decent price? (And more importantly, is that the good one?)

Vampyromaniac · Dec 15, 2002, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Necrosis
A cheap substitue to buying mouse gliders is to use a milk jug.

Omg that's a great idea!! I gotta try that sometime

Defac · Feb 25, 2003, 07:39 PM

I really really really miss the Logitech Wingman mouse. Those were by far the best mice (?) for gamers.

Dec 12, 2002, 10:39 AM	#1
elektrik DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 13 Rep Power: 0	Three 'old' mice Hi, I've got a little review to submit to the site, so here goes: Intellimouse Optical and Intellimouse Explorer 3 They share the same optical sensor, at 6,000 updates per second with 400 DPI resolution. The problem, however, with the microsoft mice is that they use lower-quality non-teflon feet which make movement harder on some mouse surfaces. This can, fortunately, be fixed by adding mouse gliders/skatez/surfers or using another mouse pad which fits the mouse better. The sensor gives mouse movement only a bit less smoother than the Dual Optical due to it's high update rate, but it poses no problem at all. First generation mice were at around 1,500 updates per second, which gave optical mice a bad name due to the update rate being way too low, so when people flicked the mouse, it was unable to track the quick movement, thus the movement on the screen would not match the user's phyiscal mouse movements! The new Intellimouse mice address this problem by increasing the rate to an amazing 6,000 per second, and the sensor used can track up to 27 inches PER SECOND, which is just nearly impossible for someone to flick that distance, you'd probably need something like a sensitivity of 0.01 in cs to do that lol. The Intellimouse Optical has a left/right handed amidextous shape, so both types of people can use it, and the top shell has a nice grainy grip, so it's easy to hold it in a grip. It has two extra buttons on the left and right side which are easy to press. The buttons are large and easy to press. Wheel has a nice click-click feel to it, so you know when you change weapons. The Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 has a smooth, streamlined silver/titanium shell with two extra buttons on the left side. One is big, and one is small. The buttons are very large and the wheel also gives a good response, though I feel that the wheel should be positioned up a bit higher, as I use the wheel to swap weapons. The shape is for right handers only and it took me one to two weeks to adjust to it after using the Logitech Dual Optical mouse. Tracking is great. Logitech Dual Optical The dual optical has two sensors. Both update at a rate of 1,500 per second, with 800 DPI resolution. The sensors do not work together all the time though; the second sensor is at a different angle and position, and kicks in when the first sensor reports that it cannot read the surface. This usually works, but sometimes, when I had the dual optical, it still gave some false readings occasionally. Tracking is fine, you can flick it, because of it's increased resolution (800 DPI, giving a clearer image for the sensor to read) and backup sensor. The color is grey/sliver, and looks o.k. The shape is for right handers only, feels good at first, but after playing for a while, I felt that my pinky finger was not in a good position, the shape somehow got me annoyed, kinda poking my pinky finger. This is a small complaint, but it makes the difference between one mouse and the other. The sensor gives very smooth mouse movements due to the 800 DPI sensor. Biggest complaint is that the left and right buttons are just way too small, and the extra thumb button is too hard to push, I'd rather have it right at my fingertip. My recommendation: I currently use the Intellimouse Explorer 3.0, and love it. It took me a while to adapt to, but it feels so much better now after getting used to it. Tracking is great, haven't had any issues with tracking at all, and it looks cool too. My first problem with the mouse was the low quality feet, I was used to the Dual Optical's 5 teflon feet which gave a smooth ride. I quickly added some mouse gliders, and it felt way better. Your choice between these mice should be based on which one feels better to you- the performance is about the same, and any of them would be a good choice. You can ask a friend who has one of these mice to let you try it out, and compare it to the others which you might be able to try. Remember that if you're going to buy the explorer 3, that you purchase the one that says "6,000 updates a second" on the back of the box, or else you'll be buying the old version, which isn't nearly as good.

Dec 12, 2002, 03:57 PM	#2
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Very nice! A very fine review! I've always wondered what the diff 'tween the Intellimouse optical and the 3.0 version, looks like it's time to upgrade me old opticals in favor of the 3.0 version. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Dec 13, 2002, 08:04 AM	#6
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Is $20us a good price for a 3.0? TechDeals has got a blurb on a Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 for $19.99 at LiveWare, is that a decent price? (And more importantly, is that the good one?) __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Dec 12, 2002, 07:06 PM	#3
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	A cheap substitue to buying mouse gliders is to use a milk jug. The one I'm refering to is is sold as a gallon and is milky white. I haven't tried this myself but I have heard it works great.

Dec 12, 2002, 07:20 PM	#4
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	interesting reading, nicely written and informative.

Feb 25, 2003, 07:39 PM	#8
Defac DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I really really really miss the Logitech Wingman mouse. Those were by far the best mice (?) for gamers.