Microsoft offers three new BlueTrack mice on the cheap
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 24th 2010 2:49PM
posted February 24th 2010 2:49PM
Microsoft's BlueTrack technology may have led to some pretty impressive mice, but they so far haven't dipped much under the $50 mark. That's now changed with the company's new Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500, Wireless Mouse 2000 and Comfort Mouse 4500, however, which all come in at less than $30, and promise many of the same advantages as Microsoft's pricier mice. As you can probably figure out, the three mice cover the cordless, portable, and corded bases and, with the exception of the gray-only Wireless Mouse 2000, are each available in a couple of different colors. All three are also available for pre-order starting today, with the Wireless Mouse 2000 and Comfort Mouse 4500 set to roll out next month, and the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 on track to ship in April.
I would buy this if I saw it.
@Mike Vick
you saw it so you will buy it
Needs to be shinier.
How about, "Needs to use something other than 2.4 gHz"?
It's just moronic, putting wireless keyboards and mice on the same frequency as everyone's wireless network. Not to mention all the cordless phones that are now 2.4 gHz.
Stick with corded until someone uses some common sense.
I'd get one if they were Bluetooth as well. Kinda stupid to have it called Bluetrack, and not one single model is Bluetooth enabled.
@SDreamer
I personally dislike bluetooth mice, but I agree, it is quite strange that NONE of the BlueTrack mice use bluetooth.
@SDreamer BlueTrack is it's own technology and doesn't have anything to do with BlueTooth. That being said, what technology do you think the wireless models use?
@jackcrack7
Ummn wireless use RF Duh!
@SDreamer
I got the Microsoft Explorer mouse and it's really awesome, well, kinda. I dunno. The middle button is hard to press, some applications aren't compatible with the smooth scrolling. The two left buttons are kinda useless except for replacing the middle click. The paint comes off really easy and it's not very comfortable when the paint peels. Occasionally it seems to lag, but it makes it look like the computer is being slow. So once you move the mouse to another spot it seems to correct itself. Battery runs out pretty fast, the chargers nice. it's a nice weight and comfortable shape.
@NoOneSpecific I've had 3 wireless Microsoft mice and all of them have been Bluetooth. I've never used the wireless receivers that they come with and always use the bluetooth that is built into my laptop. I just assumed that since every wireless Microsoft mouse I've seen in the last few years has been bluetooth that these ones would be too.
I like blue the blue laser light
@commenter7
stupid commenting system wont allow you to edit posts
bet yeah you get what i mean
@commenter7 No we didn't got get what you mean.
@Sarcasme
we? dont you mean you?
@commenter7
nudge* nudge* pssst, his name!
I know BlueTrack is supposed to work on more surfaces then the old red standard, but does this come at any disadvantages? I'm thinking of getting one of the mice to try it our and need more information.
@Sponge
I've got a Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 and a Sidewinder x8. Both are of the above $50 BlueTrack variety. I couldn't be happier. I have yet to find anything that either won't track on (except glass, glass is bad) and the power consumption is very low. I bought the 6000 4 months ago and haven't seen any signs of the battery getting low at all.
I regularly use the 6000 on my pants while sitting on the couch and it never has any trouble. The tracking is truly impressive.
MS mice never lasts past 6 months. Avoid them like a plague.
Not hardly, I've had a Microsoft Intellipoint for over 6 years, on daily use.
@NizmoStyle
I've had my Sidewinder x8 for 9 months. Before that I was using an Intellipoint for 5 years. Nice try though.
@NizmoStyle
are you kidding, i still have my original corded laser mouse when MS first released them... for wireless ive had the same mouse from MS for the past 4 years. both of them are used very often.
@NizmoStyle
We use the low end MS wheel mouse optical at our company, we have some that are 4 and 5 years old.
No problems.
@NizmoStyle i have had the same the same Ms wireless mouse for over four years used with all my laptops
it been to hell in back drooped more times then i count and broke the batteries cover last week drooping it down stairs still worked though
what finally did it was the cat pissed on it the little son of bitch if the bat covers was there it bet it still be ok
also just bought to of the new blutrack mice one to replace my fallen old ms mouse and a combo wireless keyboard and mouse for the little women desk top so far work great no issues good range
the little women lay in bed 20 feet from her computer using the mouse just on the blanket
and thous so far i had no issue at all with my new mouse either
i would like a blutooth version though hate taking up extra usb port with adapter
@NizmoStyle I've been using their good 'ole white and grey mice across several computers for over 5 years, never had an issue with them, never had them break on me. Pretty much one of the few things Microsoft builds that're actually of high quality. :D
@NizmoStyle
I have one of these puppies: http://www.johnlewis.com/jl_assets/product/230229627.jpg - it has been used for 6-7 years now very frequently and I've had no problems with it whatsoever, except its white color isn't so white anymore.
Meh, it's like they given up trying to design something new and unique
@nothing
well there is that arc mouse, and that funny looking V shaped one
@nothing
The new and unique designs usually aren't the budget models right off the shelf. My guess is that most of the engineering that went into these was to get the price for the BlueTrack technology down.
@nothing i have an Arc mouse for my netbook and i love it. other than that what do you want them to do?
too bad it doesnt come out til June
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?sort=pn&alpha=mouse&filter=filterno
if they made a "natural" wired version of the bluetrack mouse, i'd be all over it. their PR even acknowledges that people don't want to deal with changing batteries - like me! people who prefer wired mice still exist!
Can we stroke this one? :D
Why does manufactures still force you to use their own transmitters? More and more notebooks/netbooks come with bult-in bluetooth. Why is it so hard to simply design a wireless mouse that utilize that instead yet another dongle? You can make it as small as you want, but it still uses up a USB port.
Is there any way to bok Microsoft news like you can with apple??
@johnm24 ok i meant to say block :( my bad
@johnm24
Yes. Just switch Apple in the URL with Microsoft.
@johnm24
There really aren't that many Microsoft posts, but if you feel the need,
here is the link to turn them off:
http://www.engadget.com/exclude/microsoft/
@johnm24
TUAW?
Will probably get one of those, always loved microsofts mice
I have a bluetrack mouse and it's just as effective as the laser mouse. I have yet to figure out why or how I would even know the difference. I only bought it because my laser mouse's wheel died, but it works well enough, at least, as well as any laser mouse I've ever used, which is pretty damn well!
Only good thing that I see is that they offer a wired version which is very nice.
All this laser, and now "blue beam" technology is utter pointless... it's technology for technology's sake rather than being actually better. Is having a mouse pad REALLY that awful? Are you going to use your mouse on a surface that is THAT rough, or THAT slick that a regular balled-mouse wouldn't work? Hell, do they even make mice with balls anymore? What was so unbelievably horrible about those - yeah, so you had to clean the rollers every 6 months or so.... big freakin' deal.
Also are these mice going to come in a size that normal adult hands can actually hold - last time I bought a mouse the vast majority of them were too small to use. I can understand making a smaller size for mobile applications or little kids, but last time I checked adults probably made up the majority of computer users - make a mice big enough for us to be comfortable with.
Make more C and D-cup sized mice and less A-cups.
@Hazdaz
Ball mice are horrible for tracking, especially when gaming. Ball mice get stuff caught in the ball and need to be cleaned frequently to keep tracking properly. Nothing like playing a nice FPS and your mouse stops moving because some grunge is stuck in the rollers. I have a Logitech MX500 Mouse and MX3200 KB combo... I've never had to clean it.
Also, with more people using laptops and opting to use mice, there are times when you don't have a nice solid surface to put a mousepad on.... Crap, just thought of this.. if I use a ball mouse I have to carry a mousepad also...
Get it now?
For some people, a ball mouse is fine. If you are at a desk at work, a ball mouse will suffice. If you game or are on the go, not so much.
@hydrogenwv
MX600 Mouse, rather.. They've been in daily use for about 2-3 years or so now...
@hydrogenwv
You don't get it... mice have become the computer industry's version of the razor wars - first there was one blade, then 2 blades and then it 3, 4 and even 5 blades. It's become ridiculous. Graduating from a physical ball to 1st-gen laser mice was one thing, now these mice companies are inventing new marketing BS to solve a problem that doesn't exist just to get people to "update" to the newest mouse.
@Hazdaz
Why does Intel keep coming out with faster processors? I mean, we could text edit and use a command line using a 500 MHz processor. It's just technology for technology's sake. I mean, was it really that bad?
@Delta
Apples to Oranges.
Are computers used for the same purposes and to do the same amount of work at the same level of complexity that they were 2, 5 or even 10 years ago? Yeah, not so much, but a mouse is still a simple 2 dimensional pointing device that you hold in your hand - it's function has not changed. Even the mouse pointer on the screen has not really changed since it was originally invented.
@Hazdaz While i totally disagree with your sentiment on ball mice, I do agree with your complaint on the size of mice. It is really hard to find a good, normal sized mouse these days. I went to staples to check their selection, and they had 4 normal sized mice... the 30 others were all for toddlers / notebookers.
While perusing I was stopped by a marketing firm doing a survey for Logitech... One of her questions was 'if you could change one thing about the mice you see here, what would it be?' and my answer was 'there needs to be a larger amount and variety of full sized mice, at least on par with the focus being put on the mobile market"
I've been looking for a successor to my Laser 6000 Corded, and the comfort 4500 looks like it could have been it.
However, the tilt-scroll wheel is a deal-breaker for gaming :(
I just want them to release a Laser 6000 successor with BlueTrack.
I hate how Microsoft mouse scrollwheels don't have any clicks (indents they're called? Not sure of the technical term). It smooth scrolling makes it frustrating to use for either gaming or for my work (which involves a lot of spreadsheets and PDFs).
Bought a BlueTrack mouse a couple weeks back. Love it and It actually works on my clear glass coffee table (quarter inch think)--but only when there's a litle bit of dust on the glass.
What's odd is that when I clean the glass table with Windex, the mouse doesn't work at all until after a few days when some dusts collects on the glass. Then the mouse works great again. So I guess if you must use it on clear glass keep the glass dusty LOL
Hmmm, since it says wirelless, how can i see a cable in the image? Or is this the Comfort Mouse 4500 in the image?