Microsoft goes "HD" with Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000

Microsoft has upgraded its Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse with "High Definition Optical Technology" tracking technology, which the company boasts puts its mice "two generations ahead" of other pointing devices. According to Microsoft, the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse works at 1,000 dpi, captures 6,000 frames per second, uses a low-powered chip to conserve battery power, and offers smoother tracking on any surface. Not bad for a $30 mouse that doesn't even use a laser. A desktop version, the Wireless Optical Mouse 2000 will also be available for $30, while the Laser Mouse 5000 will be priced at $50. As for Microsoft's appropriation of the term "High Definition," we'll have to cut them a break, given that Logitech and other rodent-makers also use the term for their high-DPI pointers.

[Dman @ Apr 4th 2006 12:48PM]

Call me when they start using Bluetooth... (this goes for Apple too)

[John Henry Brown @ Apr 4th 2006 1:02PM]

So "HD" is the new "Turbo!" Soon there will be HD refrigerators and even HD coffins. Do the "next generation" of mice really solve a problem that the last generation had?

[Jeff @ Apr 4th 2006 1:10PM]

"So "HD" is the new "Turbo!""

The worst is that my local Fox station advertises their "Chopper Fox 5 HD" or some such thing - even though it shoots in standard definition. So I guess now you can apply "HD" to anything - even if it's not!

"Do the "next generation" of mice really solve a problem that the last generation had?"

In actuality, yes. At least as far as wireless goes. Early wireless mice (including optical ones) used very low sample rates to conserve battery life that made them feel slow and herky-jerky. The newer ones do feel basically like regular mice. This one even has a better sample rate than most wired mice, which is what makes it "HD".

[paris @ Apr 4th 2006 1:10PM]

Optical mice are so yesterday. Laser is what cool mice use these days.

[icerabbit @ Apr 4th 2006 1:18PM]

Ditto on the bluetooth.

Quite a ways back I've inquired about bluetooth models with Logitech (from whom most our input peripherals come) as that would cut down on interference between the wireless models. Plus it would eliminate wired dongles & USB sticks for transmitting & receiving. They would not comment on future product but appreciated the feedback.

xx months later they sadly enough have only delivered one model (v270 notebook). What is the big delay?

[MarkF @ Apr 4th 2006 1:18PM]

Ring, Ring, Ring
Dman, it's for you!

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=032

[Sammy @ Apr 4th 2006 1:31PM]

to #1. I've been using a BT Apple mouse since December. It's expensive, but it works.

[okram @ Apr 4th 2006 1:37PM]

like we couldn't look up the one bluetooth mouse microsoft makes. I want a notebook wireless mouse like the 6000 or this 3000 but blutooth.

make it microsoft! it's been over a year since i finally got built in bluetooth and i still don't see a mouse thats small and worth getting.

[Merkur @ Apr 4th 2006 1:42PM]

The problem is that the mouse is really ugly and doesn't look that comfortable... Personally, I prefer my Logitech mx3000 !!! So far, it's the BEST mouse I ever used, and I only use high quality ones...

[glacia00 @ Apr 4th 2006 1:45PM]

MarkF, you beat me to it. I've been using it on my main machine about a week now and am as close to loving it as I could get. (Just can't love an inanimate object.)

I'm casually searching for other BT devices since the receiver for the MS BT mouse claims to work with up to 7 devices.

[daschupa @ Apr 4th 2006 1:47PM]

Man that design is bland. Props for the finger groves, without them my fingers would have no idea where to click and the huge gel looking scroll button is a plus. Fortunately there's the big Optimouse silver badge that lets me know it's a microsoft mouse...wait...other than the huge MICROSOFT printed above it.

Still, it is pretty cheap, but a little more design work (do companies even have design teams anymore?) is needed. Till then, my mx510 will work fine.

[oshean @ Apr 4th 2006 1:52PM]

Am I missing something about a laser mouse and now a HD mouse? I find that my optical mouse works just fine.

[J3oomerang @ Apr 4th 2006 2:33PM]

id wish theyd make oversized mouses for people with large hands, i was in best buy the other day and all the mouses and joysticks are too small for my hands and im only 6-1" so my hands arent abnormaly big or anything. Doesnt really bother me but id like to see how an oversized mouse would feel

[J3oomerang @ Apr 4th 2006 2:34PM]

id wish theyd make oversized mouses for people with large hands, i was in best buy the other day and all the mouses and joysticks are too small for my hands and im only 6-1" so my hands arent abnormaly big or anything. Doesnt really bother me but id like to see how an oversized mouse would feel. Isnt your palm supposed to rest on the back of the mouse? mines always hangs off the back

[Marc B. @ Apr 4th 2006 2:35PM]

What a bunch of naysayers! I can see how bluetooth would make things easier for those that already have it, but this is a very good mouse design and it works great.

I use the earlier version, and it is fast and precise enough for editing video and Photoshop. It may not be pretty, but the ergonomics are great for a portable mouse.

Not everything from Microsoft bites the big one. They got this one right.

[Caretaker @ Apr 4th 2006 2:46PM]

I've been working off a wireless keyboard and a wireless laser mouse.

Bought them together at Wal Mart for 20 bucks. Couldn't ask for more. Labtec brand.

[MarkF @ Apr 4th 2006 2:47PM]

To: J3oomerang (#13)
I have a version 1.0 MS InteliMouse Explorer on one of my other machines and it is larger than the newer versions. By far the most comfortable mouse I have. Hopefully MS will make a "large" model again someday, but like the Xbox controller they seam to keep shrinking them.

[icerabbit @ Apr 4th 2006 3:33PM]

To: J3oomerang

I'm by no means a giant, just a 6ft guy who always needs bigger gloves, grips, handles too to be comfortable and ergonomic.

Very long time MS mouse user. A few years ago I switched to a Logitech Trackman Wheel when I bought one for somebody else. I let my hand rest on the mouse and it just fit! I decided I had to have one, as with OS X no matter how tight I set scrolling, it always took too much desk space.

It took me a week to adjust to thumb positioning. Giant benefit of not having an uncomfortable wrist / mouse position while you scroll around ... as the mouse stays in place. I used to say I'd never use a trackball (based on servicing systems and they were all so unusable) but the trackman wheel is perfect for me.

Next time you're at BestBuy or similar, give it a try.

PS: I hope Logitech soon brings a Bluetooth Trackman Wheel. I really could use one for the road without a dongle or stick. There's no room for mice on airline tray tables and it would be one less piece of electronics you can lose.

[JakeH @ Apr 4th 2006 3:33PM]

I'm going to make a product called the iHD. I have no idea what it will do, but with a lower case "i" AND the prommise of "high deffinition? There's no way it can go wrong...

[atomb @ Apr 4th 2006 3:53PM]

for those of you with big hands, i hear they're coming out with the perfect solution...although it's called a 'rat' ...not a 'mouse'.

[J @ Apr 4th 2006 5:42PM]

Are there any decent mice out there for left-handed users? I'm not left-handed except when it comes to the mouse (It just makes more sense, trust me). But only ambidexterous mice are found on the lower end of the product lines.

[TomTheGeek @ Apr 4th 2006 5:52PM]

I agree with the Bluetooth sentiment, I posted about this before. There are very few nice bluetooth mice on the market and even fewer for laptop use. I like the MS mouse but it has no off switch and it's fairly large for a notebook mouse. I tried thier notebook laser mouse 6000 which isn't Bluetooth but it looked almost perfect but ended up returning it because the scroll wheel was almost impossible to click. No one makes a notebook laser bluetooth mouse, probably because of battery life.

What I really want is a bluetooth version of the MS notebook laser mouse 6000 but with a normal scroll wheel that you can actually click. I ended up using the Logitech v270 which is a solid, if basic, bluetooth mouse.

[J3oomerang @ Apr 4th 2006 5:55PM]

thanks for the suggestions

[Zeus @ Apr 4th 2006 6:00PM]

They say this mouse is for notebooks right? I bought a Microsoft wireless mouse for my laptop for when I'm working at a desk. It had a HUGE glaring design deficiency. Short of removing both batteries you could not turn it off. The result was that it'd kill 2 AA batteries in about 1.5-2 weeks which was truly pathetic. I switched to recharble batteries but after having the damn thing die on me on the road yesterday (for what felt like the millionth time) I finally just gave up and tossed the damn thing in the trash. (After removing my precious recharchable batteries, of course.) I have seen mice with a slot that doubles as a wireless usb fob holder / off button so I know some notebook mice have that sort of feature but I haven't heard of a full size mouse having that ability. If anyone knows of a full size optical mouse with an off button please post. (PS I love my Logitech Laser mouse's ergonomics on my home desktop.)

[Zeus @ Apr 4th 2006 6:03PM]

Er, *full size optical (and wireless - BT) mouse with an off button.

[Bo @ Apr 4th 2006 7:25PM]

Zeus, no clue which MS mouse model you have but I have MS IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0 that haven't had it's batteries replaced in 5 months. Perhaps the movement in the backpack is draining that batteries, but my experience of 5 months and your 2 weeks is truly astronomical difference.

[chop @ Apr 4th 2006 10:28PM]

im with everyone else...my xps m140 is lonely without a nice small bluetooth mouse with an on/off switch. bluetooth has been out for what? 2-3years if not more now, i dont see why there are so little bluetooth mouses on the market when a lot of laptops have integrated bluetooth now

[Snappy! @ Apr 4th 2006 10:33PM]

This is really wierd. I've been using their 4000 series mouse for months already! *DUH*