Experience using Microsoft IntelliMouse1.1a. Territory of "budget" mice

"Old school" - game Mouse Microsoft IntelliMouse1.1a

Optical sensor with 400 DPI

Standard polling rate: 125 Hz
Interface: USB, PS/2
Number of buttons: 5

Mouse weight: 145 grams

The Microsoft IntelliMouse1.1a gaming mouse is the best mouse in the price segment of ~1000 rubles ($30).

I have been using this mouse for 3 years, so I can tell you in great detail about all the nuances of this gaming device.

This mouse does not pretend to be the best design; it does not have unnecessary bells and whistles, fashionable “show-offs”, or various design solutions that contribute to the commercial promotion of the product.

However, this does not prevent it from being very popular and recognized among gamers. “T-shirt” – that’s what this mouse is lovingly called; it has the most comfortable shape for the hand. This is the case when the mouse becomes an extension of the hand and lies comfortably in it.

Many manufacturers of game controllers copied the design of the legendary Microsoft Intellimouse 1.1 a.

The most famous manufacturers are SteelS eries Kana, Zowie AM. Rest assured, armed with such a rodent, you are ready for long battles without your hand getting numb.

The next important quality inherent in this work of science and technology is the optical laser. The optics of this mouse performed well in the game, showing high accuracy, no glitches in the game, and supports high FPS movements (up to 6000 fps), which is a significant advantage of this device. The sensitivity of the mouse is rigidly set, dpi = 400. However, for owners of monitors with a high resolution, for example 1920 by 1080, 400 dpi may not be enough.

However, the vast majority of professional players use a dpi sensitivity of 400-500, even in expensive mice that support up to 5600 dpi. This makes it easier to control movements in the game and develop muscle memory of hand movements.

Cons and Microsoft's disadvantages Intellimouse 1.1a:

• High lift-off height. It is necessary to lift the mouse to a significant height from the gaming mat so that it stops catching movements.
• In particularly tense moments, squeezing the mouse tightly will jam the left side button, which I used to enable voice in Teamspeak. That is, the location of the left side button itself is not entirely successful.
• Scroll wheel bug. I used the scroll wheel to jump, after half a year of using the mouse, this bug made itself felt. It looked fun. Imagine an important match, you strafe around the corner, take aim and... jump, becoming an easy frag for the enemy! It seemed as if the mouse lived its own life, deciding at what moments to add fuel to your cauldron of gaming emotions. This problem is very, very common in all Microsoft 1.1a mice. You can eliminate it by removing all the binds on the wheel, i.e. without using scrolling in the game.

After a long period of use, the sensitivity of the left mouse button slightly deteriorated, but this did not greatly affect the overall result.

After 3 years of use, the wire at the input to the mouse frayed, and if I really wanted to, replacing it would not be difficult. In general, the fact that the device worked flawlessly for 3 years can be considered an advantage.

Advantages and benefits of Microsoft Intellimouse 1.1a:

• Perfect shape and excellent optical sensor
• The mouse is easy to clean and does not get dirty much; it holds well even with a sweaty hand.
• The T-shirt is practically immortal, it can withstand falls, blows and other punishments that can arise in the fragile mind of a gamer.

According to the manufacturers, each of the buttons of this mouse is designed for 1 million clicks, the scroll is designed for 85 thousand revolutions in the direction “from the user” and 100 thousand revolutions in the direction “to the user”.

• The mouse is unpretentious to the surface ( play mat), the best mat for this rodent would be the SteelSeries QcK+.
• Durable skateboards (glides, stickers on mouse feet), included in the kit, are of excellent quality.

My attitude to the modifications of Microsoft Intellimouse 1.1a.

In addition to the standard versions, there are different mods - from Fnatic, Steelseries, Zowie. They have a brighter design, sometimes different (Teflon legs), and the same filling ( economic problem : Is a fashionable inscription and 10 grams of paint worth the ~$30 difference in money?).

Connection:

• It is better not to use a PS/2 adapter to connect a mouse, because... it is slower than usb and works at low speeds.
• There are no utilities included with the device, and software, standard frequency usb polling was 125 MHz, which corresponds to 8 milliseconds of delay in responding to mouse movements. To reduce this delay it is necessary to increase the operating frequency of the USB port. I have empirically determined that the optimal frequency for this mouse is 500Hz. Believe me, Microsoft will not support a higher frequency of the USB port, and besides, 1000Hz loads the system.

Polling frequency USB port	Reaction time

Conclusion: in a number of quality indicators gaming mouse such as better shape, durability, value for money and not being affected by commercial solutions, the Microsoft Intellimouse1.1a is the best mouse for CS. Professional gamers have been using it for 8 years now, this is high recognition and a sign of quality!

Almost all hardware companies now produce their own gaming mice, from Thermaltake before Cooler Master and relatives. We will talk about the most common devices among eSports players, and will focus on choosing a high-quality rodent for FPS shooters, based on our own observations and reviews of players in Counter-Strike. It is generally accepted that it is CS players who are the most scrupulous about the “mouse issue.”

But first, let’s define what a high-quality gaming device should be like. We addressed this question to the champion WCG Ukraine 2004, ex-team player GSC GameWorld And Explosive — Alexey Maletsky: “In my opinion, a mouse should be ergonomic, it should have no more than five buttons, not too many fancy settings that would distract from the game itself, and it should also be time-tested.”. Let’s add on our own: it would be nice if the rodent lacked acceleration and the price wasn’t too steep.

Our review will cover the products Razer, SteelSeries, Microsoft And Logitech, and Zowie. We won’t bore you with technical parameters, since you can always look them up on the manufacturers’ websites ( www.razerzone.com , steelseries.com , www.logitech.com etc.), but let’s quickly go through each of the mice.

At that distant time, when I just started playing Counter-Strike, and that was about eight years ago, there were, by and large, only two noteworthy manufacturers in our market - Logitech And Microsoft. True, some old-school players preferred ball mice from Mitsumi.

But the MX line from Logitech was ahead of the rest - Logitech MX300, Logitech MX500,Logitech MX510 etc. Swiss mice cost as much as half an airplane, but they were of very high quality and served their owners for five or six years, or even more. Agree, it was nice to receive a five-year warranty when buying a mouse from Logitech. About two years ago, weighty MX500 as part of my friend’s experiment, she fell from the second floor, but even after that she continued to work as if nothing had happened (this trick is unlikely to be repeated by any modern mouse).

The legendary ones were breathing in the backs of the Swiss Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 And Microsoft Intellimouse Optical, or simply Microsoft 1.1a. It is these seemingly simple mice that will later become the favorites of professional players.

In fact, mice from Microsoft among professional players are now successfully competing with sophisticated models from 2011 due to their low price, excellent sensor and optics. But they have one minor drawback - the scroll wheel. Most CS players rely on scroll jumping, and for many “shirt” owners, after some time, fighters began to jump spontaneously. This infection, of course, can be cured by direct surgery, but disassembling the mouse for this is frankly shameful.

These models have already been discontinued, and find Microsoft 1.1a or 3.0 Every day it becomes more and more difficult. It is completely unclear why, having given birth to such popular mice, the Microsoft Hardware division went into the gaming line Sidewinder, which sank into oblivion almost unnoticed.

Nowadays most of the mouse market has been captured Razer and a Danish company SteelSeries. The Danes began their long journey with the production of rugs Steelpad, but having bought the company Icemat, decided to expand their range - and now they produce, in addition to playing surfaces, manipulators, “ears”, devices for Xbox And so on. And SteelSeries mice are used by players of such teams as SK Gaming, Natus Vincere, Fnatic, Evil Geniuses.

The most popular models of this company are SteelSeries Kinzu And SteelSeries Xai. Since Microsoft 1.1a was gradually discontinued, which did not stop gamers all over the world from loving it, SteelSeries first released a modified 1.1a called IMO SteelSeries Edition, with improved coating and its own Teflon glides (legs).

It was simply swept off store shelves. The Danes assessed the demand for mice of this form factor and decided to release their own analogues of 1.1a. Thus the optical mouse was born Kinzu and laser Xai. Both of them are shaped very much like the old Microsoft 1.1.

The youngest in the line - Kinzu, a small mouse with standard two buttons and a wheel. An affordable price and a well-promoted brand have allowed it to become one of the most popular today. The mouse has more cpi (up to 3200 versus 400 for MS1.1), thinner wire and better coverage. The Kinzu's scroll wheel is also much better than the 1.1a's. It comes in three colors: standard dark gray, white and red. The white one is aimed at the Asian market, and you won’t find it here during the day.

In reviews of owners of this device, there is often a mention of acceleration (and for eSports players this is a very bad sign). Many people complain about the poor quality of the factory legs; Most likely, after purchasing you will have to stick others. There are also problems with the click; a double click occasionally slips. But perhaps the most unpleasant thing is the fragility of the rodent. A rare Kinzu lives for a year without breaking down.

Things are a little better with Xai. As SteelSeries stated, professional players from teams such as Evil Geniuses And SK Gaming. Many people were waiting for the release of this mouse.

The older sister Kinzu has a sophisticated laser sensor with five thousand cpi, a settings screen and a lot of other goodies. But it also costs much more. The family resemblance is obvious - mice have common shortcomings. Xai owners note that its laser sensor quickly becomes clogged, requiring constant cleaning of the mat.

Just recently the Danes released a new SteelSeries Sensei, which is very similar to Xai. In fact, this is an improved version of it, more beautiful and technologically advanced. According to the manufacturers, when developing Sensei they took into account all the wishes of Xai owners and made the mouse more reliable and accurate. The device has its own 32-bit processor, but I personally don’t quite understand why it is needed at all.

The Sensei is the first mouse from SteelSeries to feature customizable backlighting for the logo and wheel. As you can see, the fame of Razer's illuminated mice gives the Danes no rest.

In 1998, the company appeared in the USA Razer- a future leader and, perhaps, the first manufacturer whose products are focused exclusively on the gaming sector. Their first truly successful mouse was an optical one. Razer Viper with beautiful red lighting. After it there were no less popular Razer Diamondback, Razer Copperhead, Razer Krait, Razer Salmosa and others. This company's favorite feature is to use the names of lizards, birds and spiders in the names of their products.

In the mouse field, Razer is now the main competitor to SteelSeries. Although the Americans have more than a dozen models and their modifications, we will focus our attention on only two: Razer Deathadder And Razer Abyssus.

First Razer Deathadder, released a couple of years ago, was vaguely reminiscent of Microsoft 3.0 in shape, had an infrared 3G sensor with 1800 dpi, three modes for saving profiles and silent Teflon legs. Excellent ergonomics and bright design (shimmering snake logo plus luminous scroll) almost immediately made it a bestseller. The model is aimed at players who hold the mouse with their entire palm when playing (the so-called palm grip style). At the time of its release, it was a truly revolutionary rodent, which seemed to have everything a professional player needed. They even released a special version for left-handers.

Now the model with 1800 dpi is practically no longer available for sale; it has been gradually replaced by an updated version with a 3.5G sensor at 3500 dpi. “Fashionable” ones began to appear Razer Deathadder for popular games like Guild Wars, Dragon Age 2 And Transformers.

At one time I owned a Razer Deathadder and saw only two drawbacks in this mouse: backlighting and glossy sides. Apparently, a small miracle happened - just recently the Razerites, having heard enough reviews, released Razer Deathadder Black Edition, in which there is no longer a backlight, and the plastic is more matte.

Razer Abyssus in its segment it is the successor to the Razer Salmosa, and in technological terms it is a complete analogue of the Deathadder 3.5G. This rodent is much smaller and made for those who control the mouse with their fingers (fingertip grip). If you have your sights set on it, be sure to hold it in your hands before purchasing - the shape of the mouse is quite specific and will not suit everyone.

Logitech Over the past couple of years, it has lost its leading position in the mouse market, although it has not forgotten about new products either. However, the first models of their gaming G-series - G3, G5, G9- did not gain much fame. The Swiss relied on laser sensors, and at that time they could not successfully compete with optics in terms of stable operation. Of the entire G-series, only the optical one was successful G1, granddaughter of the legendary Logitech MX300.

Now the Swiss are trying to regain their previous positions, and recently an updated version was released MX518 - Logitech G400. Basically, the mouse has everything ( optical sensor, familiar shape and quality build) to compete with the popularity of the Logitech MX518.

And we will finish our short review on mice from Zowie. A newly created American company that employs legendary team players S.K. according to CS 1.6 - Emil Christensen (HeatoN) And Abdisamad Mohamed (SpawN) , so far there is nothing special to brag about. Like SteelSeries, Zowie initially launched its version of Microsoft 1.1a and only then decided to introduce its own developments.

Zowie entered the market with gaming models EC-1 And EC-2. The shape of the mice is absolutely similar to the Razer Deathadder; one, however, is slightly smaller than the other. Unlike the Razer Deathadder itself, they have different optics and no backlight. In our area, these rodents are rare, but judging by the reviews of Western players, they do not cause any particular complaints.

A rare guest on Russian mouse pads, mice from Zowie look similar to Razer's, but their filling is different.

* * *

One of the main factors when choosing a mouse is the comments of the owners (and certainly not marketing advertising from manufacturers). And be sure to hold the new item in your hands so as not to buy... um, a mouse in a bag. In future issues, perhaps we will look at the best to date gaming headphones and rugs.

) this series I have reviewed a significant number of mice produced by Logitech. However, no one can live by Logitech alone, so it’s time to take on other manufacturers, especially since Logitech mice I've run out :) What will we look at in today's review, already the third in this series? These will be several mouse models from Microsoft that are no less “popular” than Logitech, and not so popular Mitsumi products. So, today the following models will walk the catwalk:

Model	P/N.	FCC ID	Approximate price (wholesale) *
Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.1A (USB)	X03-29687		$5.5
Trekker Wheel Mouse 3.0A (PS/2)	X05-53753		$7
Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical 1.0A (USB, PS/2)	X06-26230
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0A (USB)	X05-97278		$33
Mitsumi ECM-S3102		EW4ECM-S3102	$4.20
Mitsumi ECM-S5002		EW4ECM-S5002
Mitsumi ECM-W5103			$18
Note *	Approximate Wholesale prices, are given solely for relative comparison of the models presented in this review

Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.1A USB Compatible

I'll start with perhaps the most popular brand - the so-called "bent Microsoft". This model has been produced for quite a long time and has won the love of many users (and previously for several years it was produced in virtually the same form, but without a wheel). It was nicknamed “Bent” for its unusual, seemingly curved, body shape. From an ergonomic point of view, it cannot be said that this design decision turned out to be the best. I never liked the shape of the IntelliMouse 1.1A, and it seems to me that there are many mice in the world that are superior to this one in terms of ergonomic performance. However, many users are satisfied with everything about it, and it’s probably not for nothing that it has become one of the “people’s” mice.

Apart from the form, there is nothing particularly remarkable in IntelliMouse 1.1A: two buttons, a scroll wheel and a light gray interface cable (1.9 m long), ending, in our case, with a USB connector (not far from which the filter is located). That's probably all. Although... For those for whom the use of this port is contraindicated, I hasten to inform you that the same mouse is available in versions for both PS/2 and a serial port.

The internals of the Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.1A USB are not surprising, but they make a good impression. Under the cover, as in other mice, there is a printed circuit board with optoelectronic pairs and a chip installed on it. The interface cable is connected to it using a connector, which is good news (the manufacturers did not skimp). What’s especially nice is that the Omron D2F-01F-T microswitches installed on the board are made in Japan, and not in China.

Trekker Wheel Mouse 3.0A PS/2 Compatible

The Trekker is one of the simplest mice sold by Microsoft. Two buttons, a scroll wheel and no sophisticated shapes - that's what this mouse is all about. But she has plenty of shortcomings.

The first thing that catches your eye, but, in my opinion, is not a drawback, is the absence of any mention of the manufacturer as top cover body and on the label. It's a small thing, but I would like it. And the first drawback of the Trekker is its body: with a shape quite usual for mice, it is too small, both in length and width - a sort of “children’s” mouse. On the one hand, it seems to fit normally in the hand, but on the other hand, it constantly tries to either slip out of it, or, conversely, get completely under it :) At the same time, using the buttons becomes very inconvenient. The scroll wheel behaves tolerably and did not cause any complaints from me: covered with good non-slip rubber, it rotates very quietly, clearly recording each click.

But the Trekker's "legs" made me sad. Turning the mouse over, I discovered that it did not have any trace of the usual fluoroplastic “legs”, and those that did exist were molded as part of the body. Imagine how quickly they will scratch compared to fluoroplastic ones. And how will the mouse slide on the mat after this... Of course, if you use it on a silk mat, this will protect you from such a misfortune, but in my opinion, using such an expensive mat with such a cheap mouse is unreasonable.

I did not find any other shortcomings noticeable when looking at the mouse from the outside. All that remains to be said is that the interface cable is 1.91 m long and ends with a PS/2 connector of a standard green color.

The insides of the Trekker weren't as bad as I expected after inspection. The interface cable, laid around the entire perimeter of the mouse, has a filter, and with printed circuit board connects using a connector. The ball is covered with a dome that protects the optical system from excessive contamination. But the microswitches did not impress me - there is no mention of the manufacturer on their body, and appearance doesn't inspire any confidence.

Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical 1.0A USB and PS/2 Compatible

This is Microsoft's first optical mouse, as evidenced by the version number in its name. However, as they say, the first pancake is lumpy. This mouse cannot be called completely successful, although it has many positive qualities.

The first thing that catches your eye even before you take the mouse in your hand is the presence of a filter on the dark gray interface cable (length 1.9 m) and a USB-PS/2 adapter supplied with the mouse. Let's take the IntelliMouse Optical 1.0A in our hand. The well-thought-out ergonomics of the housing are immediately noticeable. However, there is still one drawback: although the mouse fits very comfortably in the hand, it is extremely inconvenient to use the two additional buttons located on the side walls of the case. You have to choose - either hold the mouse comfortably and not use the buttons, or use it, but the hand holding the mouse will be suspended all the time. This is perhaps the most significant design flaw. In general, the case is made of very high quality. Thanks to its roughness, the hand is positioned comfortably and securely when working. All this emphasizes the not-so-cheap origins of the mouse.

The internal world of IntelliMouse Optical 1.0A is no less rich than the external one. Having opened the case (to do this, you need to unscrew the two screws located under the fluoroplastic “legs” of the mouse), you will find a printed circuit board with the Microsoft logo and a few elements located on it electrical diagram. The interface cable is connected to the board using a connector, and Japanese-made Omron D2F-01F-T microswitches are installed under the two main buttons. I was unable to determine the manufacturer of the remaining three microswitches (for two additional buttons and the scroll wheel). Among other elements, the IntelliMouse Optical 1.0A has two LEDs. Why two? Well, one, as you would expect, is for the optical system of the mouse, and the second is for beauty: it just highlights the “red eye” located at the end of the case.

Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0A USB Compatible

Judging by the name, you might think that Explorer 2.0A is the next version of the optical mouse just described. But in fact, this is a completely different mouse with a new body design and new internals. It has only the name in common with the previous mouse, and even then it has undergone changes.

Unfortunately (in my opinion), the new case design was not very successful. The designers eliminated the problem of the inconvenience of using additional buttons, but for some reason they ruined everything else. And everything about this mouse seems to be good - the shape, size and location of the main and additional buttons... But the whole picture is spoiled by the size of the body itself - it is simply gigantic. With such a size and such a hunchback, it is inconvenient to use the mouse - in addition to moving the mouse on the carpet, sometimes you have to move your hand on the mouse itself.

What else? The rest of IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0A is quite normal. The interface cable (length 1.9 m) ends with a USB connector, near which there is a filter (no adapters are supplied with the mouse). The color of the mouse, the “red eye” at the end of the case, well-designed buttons - all this is wonderful. But, but, but... The dimensions of the case still spoil the whole impression.

The IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0A's internals are impressive. All microswitches installed in it (Omron D2F-01F-T) are made in Japan, the interface cable is equipped with a connector and, like some mice from Logitech, the electrical circuit elements are mounted on two printed circuit boards. One of them has an optoelectronic pair for the scroll wheel and two microswitches. The second (larger) contains two chips, an optical system LED, three microswitches, a red-eye LED at the end of the mouse body and other small elements. As you can see, the IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0A is a bit more complex than its predecessor.

Here, before starting to describe mice from Mitsumi, I should make a short digression and talk about why I included Microsoft optical mice in the review. Yes, they are far from the cheapest, and they can hardly be classified as a “budget” sector. But, nevertheless, I did not describe the boxed versions of these mice, but products sold for sale in plastic bags, in my opinion, have the right place in this series of reviews. This is the reason I included them here.

Mitsumi ECM-S3102

The most ordinary two-button mouse, nothing special. For some reason, I personally associate its rectangular body with rounded corners with a hippopotamus :) Due to these very rounded corners and small bumps on the left button, working with it is quite comfortable. There is nothing else noteworthy about the ECMS3102. The interface cable (length 1.77 m) ends in a green PS/2 connector. There are no filters installed on it and no adapters for connecting to a USB or serial port are included.

Having unscrewed two self-tapping screws and lifted the housing cover, we find a small printed circuit board with the Mitsumi logo. The ECM-S3102 uses HIMAKE DMBL microswitches. In addition to them, the printed circuit board contains an interface cable connector, a chip from the ECM, elements of optoelectronic pairs and a small number of other small parts. In my opinion, there is nothing more to consider and describe about this mouse.

Mitsumi ECM-S5002 (PS/2 SCROLL MOUSE ELEGANCE)

The contours of this mouse are similar to the ECM-S3102 described above, but, unlike it, it has increased angularity, so it didn’t give me any association with a hippopotamus;) In addition to two buttons, the ECM-S5002 has a lever that performs the same functions as and a scroll wheel. For convenience, it is covered with non-slip grooved rubber. However, this lever has one significant drawback. Being at the same time a third button, it has too much travel when pressed, and it is possible that scrolling down may be triggered accidentally. Everything else about this mouse is quite acceptable. It lies comfortably in the hand, the buttons are quite large (though they click a little loudly), and the interface cable (1.69 m long) ends with a green PS/2 connector. Adapters for USB or COM were not found in the kit, but they did not forget to put a CD with drivers (for Win 95/98/NT) and a small advertising brochure in the box.

As with the previous mouse from Mitsumi, to vivisection the ECM-S5002 you need to unscrew two screws. Under the cover there is an impressively sized printed circuit board with a minimal set of elements for the mouse's electrical circuit. But although the set is minimal, the manufacturer did not skimp on the connector for the interface cable. In addition, the ECM-S5002 uses good microswitches: for the two main buttons and the button under the lever it is Omron D2FC-F(M) made in China, and for the scroll buttons (lever) it is Omron B3F.

Mitsumi ECM-W5103 (IR WIRELESS SCROLL MOUSE AVANTGARDE)

The housing shape of the ECM-W5103 is exactly the same as the ECM-S5002 described above. The same angularity, the same buttons and the same lever that replaces the scroll wheel. However, this mouse is no longer a simple one, but a wireless one. Despite all the similarities with the ECM-S5002, instead of an interface cable, an IR LED is mounted in the left front corner of the case, and turning the mouse over, you can find a compartment for two AAA batteries. A small IR receiver can be attached, for example, to the side or bottom wall of the monitor (for this, a small piece of self-adhesive Velcro is supplied with the mouse). An interface cable (length 1.79 m), ending with a crimson PS/2 connector, allows you to remove the receiver at a sufficient distance from system unit PC, and for haters of the PS/2 interface, a PS/2-COM adapter is included. But do not forget that the receiver and mouse must be within line of sight of each other, and any interference with the IR rays will make the mouse impossible to operate.

Having tested the ECM-W5103 in practice, I found that the mouse works stably at a distance of 3.60 m from the IR receiver. It will work at a greater distance, but in order for the receiver to “see” it, you will have to put an optical sight on the mouse :) Among the negative qualities of the kit, I can note the impossibility of checking the battery discharge level - this function is missing in the driver. I didn't find any other significant flaws.

Opening the mouse did not disappoint. Chinese Omron D2FC-F microswitches are installed under the main buttons and the lever button. For the scrolling buttons, the same Omrons are used, but B3F (as in the case of the ECM-S5002). Naturally, there is no trace of an interface cable connector on the ECM-W5301 printed circuit board.

This is where I ran out of inexpensive mice from Microsoft and Mitsumi, but this review did not end. It remains to tell you how the rodents described above behave on various carpets and at an increased polling rate of the PS/2 port (for mice with a PS/2 interface).

It would be completely illogical to assume that the optical-mechanical mice described in this review on different surfaces will behave similarly to mice from previous reviews of this series: different manufacturers and, as a result, different materials and design solutions for the “legs” of the mice. I conducted tests on two types of mouse pads - with a fabric cover and with a plastic cover with fine embossing. The results were as follows: Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.1A, Trekker Wheel Mouse 3.0A and Mitsumi ECM-S5002 moved more freely on a plastic mat than on a fabric mat. All other mice liked the fabric covering more than the plastic one. I was pleasantly surprised by the Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0A: a similar mouse, but bought almost a year ago, did not like to roll on any surface at all without sticking strips of tape on its “legs”, but the copy provided for our review is already deprived of this lack. However, the behavior of both optical mice on the plastic mat was out of the ordinary. We can say that the cursor was not controlled at all. This also surprised me, because several IntelliMouse Explorer mice that my friends bought more than six months ago worked perfectly on such carpets.

To study mice with a PS/2 connection, I used a set of utilities from the "PS2 Rate Adjuster PLUS" software package. To increase the port polling frequency, I used the "Adjust PS2 Rate" utility, and for its subsequent control - the "Check PS2 Rate" utility. As a result, I received the following results:

This concludes my research on mice from Microsoft and Mitsumi. And in the next review I will introduce you to the SVEN brand and begin to introduce you to the A4 Tech brand...