Intellimouse Explorer or Optical???

[Chuck]

Can someone tell me the differences between these two mice, and which one is better? (or are they basically the same?).

Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

Hmm, I've found some pictures (cunningly hidden in the mouse section of the MS web site ), and it seems that there are two main differences. Firstly the colour (grey and white respectivly). And secondly the positioning of the 'extra' 2 buttons. On the explorer they are both on the left hand side, where as the Optical has the two buttons on either side of the mouse!

Does anyone know which would be ergonomically better? Esp for gaming?

Thanks.

 

[Strych9]

The Explorer is also larger than the Optical and they both are shaped slightly different. I like the Optical because it is smaller and fits my hand better. The Explorer was just too big.

 

[Chuck]

How big are they both when compaired to the normal Intellimouse (so I have some frame of reference).

 

[Impact55]

Isn't the explorer like half an inch wider, and like 1-2 inches taller? I have the Optical and I love it No mousepad is a lot more comfortabe ( I feel naked )

 

[miken]

I love the explorer, but I have bigger hands being 6 foot 4, I love the way the butt of the mouse glows too. I game alot and have had no problems yet at all, UT, Q3, etc..

 

[Chuck]

Impact55,

Is the button on the right ok to use? I'd imagine that I might hit it accidentally some times? or is it just a matter of getting used to it.

 

[warcleric]

Well of the 3 opticals I have had in the past 3 months only 1 of them still works. Im sticking with balled mice for now

 

[Wah]

all the new mice seem kinda cheaply made. my intellimouse (intellieye) is starting to double (and triple) click on single clicks which is getting kinda annoying. i don't know who to return this thing to. if anyone knows please give me a clue.

 

[Bobsteroo]

you can have my optical when you pry it from car pool tunneled fingers.

 

[SPAnDAU]

I don't think that I can recommend the optical mice anymore. Mine just died, and it's only about four months old. I used to sell a lot of MS mice at work, but we kept having problems with them. It's kind of dissapointing because I was really happy with mine. Oh well, logitech from now on for me.

 

[JaYBirD6969]

I tried both b4 i bought my optical. I love it, id never go back to any other mouse. And it is great for gaming with the 2 extra buttons on either side. And hey, the optical is cheaper!

 

[Impact55]

Chuck, it is pretty easy to get used to, and I had a Logitech Wingman before this, and I got used to the optical rather quickly.. at first I accidently clicked on the far left button, but never the far rightone also if you dont already have a wheel on your mouse, it makes web browsing a lot easier and more fun!

 

[vinnyracer]

I have the intellimouse w/ optical too, only after a month of use it stopped working.

I think the laser inside the mouse is defected

 

[vanderStoep]

The explorer is quite big (but I like that) and has 2 extra buttons on the left side.

The optical is about normal size, it has an extra button on the left side and one on the right side of the mouse. It should be cheaper too.

Ps. there was already a forumdiscussion on optical vs explorer on
Jun/08/2000 6:13 PM called "What do you guys think about the MS intellimouse Optical/Explorer?"

 

[vanderStoep]

And on the Explorer the large thumb button is easy to use (be warned it is very adictive) however the smaller button at the left side is a bit difficult to use.

 

[zetter]

Got an Explorer and love it.

Don't have any problems with accidently pressing the buttons as your thumb fits nicely at the bottom of the mouse below them.

 

[Lore]

I love the way the butt of the mouse glows too.

When the mice in the house eat the radioactive poison pills, their butts glow too!

 

[LXi]

Personally, I like the shape and color of the Optical, plus the price is cheaper and its basically the same thing. The only disadvantage is that the 5th button is on the other side, if you can manage to click that, great, if not, its wasted. Oh yea, their butts glow, real mice and computer mice.

 

[hans007]

if you were right handed i'd supposed its hard to click that right gray button on the optical. I have the explorer myself, and well the hand size thing isn't an issue

 

[LXi]

Yea I can click it with my small finger, I use as "back" function on the browser, not that useful though, I thought it might save me the time moving the pointer to the back button and click. A feature not absolutely necessary. I'm cool with 4 buttons.

 

[Oda]

Got an Explorer, not vey good for gaming since it's so big.
So many reports of failure? I'm starting to get afraid... ;-)

 

[culex]

I have the Explorer and I HAD the Optical. I love the Explorer... I have relatively medium sized hands and I quickly got used to the size of the explorer. To me, it was almost the same feeling from going from 56k to DSL. I quickly got used to it, now it's like a nice comfy leather chair for my hand... after using the Explorer, using other small, normal sized mice feels awkward and you quickly want to go back to using your old Explorer again. Of course this is because I'm right handed and the extra two buttons are on the right-hander's thumb side... come to think of it, this mouse is designed for right handers. It's a great mouse overall, no trouble using it normally or for gaming.

 

[LXi]

Are you saying the difference between Explorer and Optical is dial-up vs broadband? I dont think so. The Optical is 7/8 the size of the Explorer, with better looking colors, and symetrical design to fit both right and left handers.

 

[AMD4ME2]

im not fond of the the new designs, of either the explorer or the optical... I prefer the old intellimouse design.. just fits my hand better.. so I got the intellimouse with intellieye.. works great.