Microsoft
Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse: the legend of the 2000s reinvented
Aprox. 35€
See specificationsMythical mouse of the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the 2000s, Microsoft's IntelliMouse knew several evolutions before disappearing after the last model released in 2006. It returns more than a decade later with its share of improvements and always the same comfort.
Positive points
Comfort of handling.
Good handling.
BlueTrack sensor compatible with most surfaces, including glass.
Bad points
Classic dial, without horizontal scrolling.
Our review
Presentation
Soberly named Classic IntelliMouse, this resurrection of Microsoft's iconic mouse is primarily intended for office use and not really for video games. For players, it will rather turn to the Pro IntelliMouse, identical shape, but with a more powerful sensor. The latter is unfortunately not available in Spain at the time of writing.
Ergonomics
The new IntelliMouse takes up, so to speak, the features of the last version released in 2006, the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0. Same size, same curves and always a metallic gray hue, however lighter on this Classic version and enhanced with a small white light area at the base of the mouse for a pretty nice futuristic look.
The mouse always follows the curves of the hand very well. The palm comes to rest naturally and the large hands will appreciate the rather relaxing position.
However, this comfort is not at the expense of handling, since if the Classic IntelliMouse is large enough, it remains fairly easy to handle thanks to its curved and especially rubberized edges. The fingers adhere very well to the material used and it is very easy to lift the mouse to center it thanks to its reasonable mass of approximately 103 g. The glide is also fairly fluid thanks to the four PTFE pads which also do not generate too much noise.
The manufacturing quality is neat. There is no excessive play or rattling from the wheel or the sensor lens when the mouse is shaken. Let's just hope that the rather tender slice material will resist wear well after several months of use.
In terms of buttons, no upheaval, but the essential is there and Microsoft indicates for each the number of minimum activations planned. The two switches of the main buttons are thus given for 10 million clicks, when the lateral ones are limited to 100,000 clicks and that of the scroll wheel to 350,000 clicks. We appreciate the slightly concave shape of the main buttons, designed to better accommodate the fingers, while the two side buttons are judiciously positioned and are distinguished from each other by touch, the most forward being so to speak hunchback. The wheel, for its part, is both soft and notched, pleasant to use despite the absence of free scrolling mode such as that offered by the Precision Mouse, for example. We may simply regret the absence of a button allowing the change of sensitivity of the sensor on the fly, but for a mouse rather dedicated to office automation, this is not handicapping.
Precision
Office mouse requires, Microsoft opted for a BlueTrack sensor on this Classic IntelliMouse. No speed record point with this one, since you have to be content with 1.02 m / s, but to work, this proves to be quite sufficient, especially as the exchange frequency of 1000 Hz with the computer ensures good reactivity. Players will nevertheless find fault with very fast games, in which the mouse must be both precise and quick in the most abrupt movements. However, there is an acceleration phenomenon under these conditions, which can be disturbing when aiming quickly and well, in particular at low sensitivity. You can play with this Classic IntelliMouse, but it is clearly not its primary purpose. It is undoubtedly for this reason that Microsoft offers its Pro IntelliMouse, which we therefore hope to see arrive one day in Spain.
The sensor sensitivity of the Classic IntelliMouse can otherwise increase to 3,200 dpi from 400 dpi and in increments of 200 dpi. That's enough to work, even on multiple Ultra HD screens.
But the most interesting with this sensor is at the level of its surface recognition. Indeed, it is able to work on transparent and reflective materials like glass, although we always recommend the use of a good mouse pad to improve the sliding comfort and the precision, while reducing the pad wear.
Conclusion
Always as pleasant to use, the IntelliMouse has done well to return to this Classic version. We would have appreciated an even faster sensor for video games, but this is reserved for the Pro version, which unfortunately has not yet crossed the Atlantic. However, for office automation, the BlueTrack sensor proves quite convincing, and it is ultimately the main thing.
Specifications