Intellimouse Explorer breakdown

[Berman]

I've had my MS Intellimouse Explorer for about a year now, and I think it's given up on me. The cursor freezes once or twice a minute, and sometimes moreso during 3D gaming. Sometimes the freezing can lead to a total system crash. I've tried it in the USB and PS2 ports; same results in both. I've read around the place that this is a fairly common hardware fault with these particular Microsoft mice.

I gather the thing to do is call Microsoft and get a new one. Well, I'll be doing that, but I might sell the thing once I get it and go buy a Logitech model. I've heard good things about the Mouseman Dual Optical (the smoke colored one with the side thumb button).

Is this a good move? Can anyone dispense some wisdom as to the quality of the Logitech mouse as opposed to the MS one? I don't care how much you hate Microsoft or love Logitech; just honest responses about these particular products if you dont mind

 

[Novakain]

I own both the Intellimouse optical and the Logitech Mouseman Dual Optical. I'd have to say that as far as quality goes - the dual optical is far better. It's more solid, feels a lot better to use and is a lot more responsive.

However, I still use the Microsoft mouse for games as it has that extra button. I also found that with the Mouseman, it's a little difficult to assign the middle and thumb buttons for some games - especially if the webwheel option under the drivers is enabled. I haven't owned the Logitech mouse long enough to know if this fault can be fixed(possibly by using Windows default drivers?), so it's quite possible that it can.

I took both mice to work with me and let the rest of the IT dept. try them out. Everyone there liked the Logitech one better. I guess it's down to personal preference. If you can do without that extra button, I'd definately go the Mouseman.

 

[Berman]

Thanks, NovaKain, that's pretty much exactly what I needed to hear, 'cos I ordered the Logitech a couple of days ago. I can cope without the extra button easily, and doubt I'll even be using the Webwheel function.

Can't wait for it to arrive. At the moment I'm stuck with a plain, two-button ball mouse. When you're used to scroll wheels and thumb buttons, it's pretty debilitating