Rating: 
Summary: Blue Light Special
Review: About a week ago, while on a mouse hunting expedition at the local computer store, prompted by my utter failure to successfully come to grips with a well-known optical wireless mouse, I decided that my layout wasn't right for the wireless route and opted to return to the cord. With that in mind I began searching the shelves for a particular (again well known) model which happened to be out of stock.Well, needing a mouse and feeling adventurous I opted for the new IBM Optical Navigator Mouse. Retailing at $35 to $40, it's in a comfortable price range for optical mice in general. Setup was a piece of cake. The drivers and included Mouse Suite software were a breeze to install. As is typical nowadays, the mouse can be run from a USB or a PS2 port. Once it was hooked up I experienced the big surprise (having done my usual poor job of box reading). The scroll wheel glows with a really - I mean REALLY! - cool blue light. What a thrill. I just love seeing it sitting on my desktop in the dark! The mouse body is shaped much the same as the newer Logitech types, with a deep undercut area for your thumb. Though clearly not for left-handers, this thing is comfortable as it can be for a righty like me. It's actually a 4-button setup, with the usual two top buttons and (unusual blue)scroll wheel. The fourth button is a thumb button which, unlike most such buttons I've encountered on other mice, is almost completely out of my way until I need it. The mouse is all black (or at least a dark, dark gray) with dark rubber-textured sides. It's an optical mouse (duh!)and glides as smooth as silk. Not too heavy or light in the hand. I use a slightly textured black mousepad and couldn't be happier with the movement. Scrolling was extremely smooth, too. The wheel has a good smooth feel to it. The optical sampling seems superb. There is no jerkiness or lag whatsoever. This is the most precise mouse I've owned (and I just ditched a Razer 2000 for it!!). The software allows the usual myriad of adjustments and button assignments. I know it's just a mouse, but it really is one of the most pleasant computer hardware surprises to have come my way in a long time. Not only is the IBM Optical Navigator a great product from a price and performance standpoint, it's one of the coolest looking things out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Looks Good, But Lacks Performance
Review: After My Microsoft Intellimouse wore out, I wanted to try another optical mouse. After looking around, I Found The Optical Navigator. It looked really great in the picture, and had great reviews, so I though I'd give it a try. It really does look as cool as the picture. The motion-LED on the bottom is bright red, and the scroll bar glows bright blue. But that is all that I really like about it. I've found that the styling is generally uncomfortable. I can't rest my hand on the mouse: If my fingers are on the buttons, the rest of my hand has to be perched over the back end of the mouse. This isn't terrible, but it's not really comfortable. If I had smaller hands, I think I'd find it much better. The other major gripe I have with it is that the cursor is undependable and jumps. I didn't realize how bad it was until I had used another mouse for a couple of months. When I came back to the Optical Navigator I was amazed at how badly it jumped around the screen. I'm finding that I'm getting far better at Windows keyboard shortcuts than I'd really like. At this point I'm probably going to buy another mouse - maybe another Intellimouse or a Logitech equivalent. I'd reccomend doing that directly rather than buying this mouse first.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent mouse, Looks VERY cool
Review: Are you a person with larger hands? Does you hand hurt from using a small junky mouse? Do yourself a favor an BUY IT. I am not the biggest guy, but my hand was killing me using a regular mouse. This mouse is perfect. I bought this along with a padded rest for my wrist, and I can work all day in comfort(I am a computer guy and spend 8+ hours a day in front of a computer). My wife also likes it, and her hands are tiny. What you can't see in the picture is that the mouse is actually pretty tall, and overall I would say its 15-20% larger than a "Standard" mouse. It supports your hand and allows it to relax. Also, the scroll wheel glows blue and it looks really cool. I don't want to go on and on, but this is one of those...items that will really improve how you feel working on the computer. Dollar for dollar one of the best computer related purchase I have made in years, and I have 5 computers! (and a lot of other computer junk:)
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible Drivers : Buy this mouse if you want to waste money
Review: Both this and a similar optical USB wheel mouse that IBM sells are great for smacking against the floor and not much else. I smashed mine yesterday because I was so sick of having to plug it into my USB card 50 times before the computer would recognize the damn thing EVERY TIME I TURNED ON MY COMPUTER. At first, I thought maybe there was something wrong with my computer (Compaq Presario 2100z), but my friend bought a fricking IBM USB mouse for his Dell laptop and had the exact same problem. Only buy this mouse if find some masochistic pleasure in plugging and unplugging things millions of times and you want to expose your USB card to way more wear than it's made for.
Rating:
Summary: Stylish
Review: Great mouse, looks good with my IBM T30. One promblem: mouseware software that comes with the product is not updated to Windows XP. I had to go to MicroInnovations web page to get updated drivers because IBM support did not even list the product.
Rating: 
Summary: button on side of mouse
Review: I agree with all of the positive reviews posted with one addition. One reviewer said that the button on the side of his mouse did not work (with a Mac) but that he didn't mind because he felt he would never use the button anyway. Let me tell you that I felt the same way about that button when I installed my mouse and in fact after I first installed the mouse I was accidentally clicking that side button all of the time - with frustrating results. However, once I became accustomed to the convenience of using that button as a back button - I can barely imagine living without it. I use that button ALL THE TIME, when surfing the web and also when navigating directories in Windows Explorer. Now whenever I use a mouse that doesn't have that extra side button, I find myself squeezing the side of the lesser mouse trying to find that button - much the same way as I often "rub" the spot between the two top buttons of an old fashioned mouse that doesn't have a scroll wheel.
Rating:
Summary: This mouse rocks!
Review: I agree with the comment that this is a comfortable mouse for people with larger hands...it's a saving grace, in fact. It is also a nice-looking device, matching style with function. I like the blue scroll wheel light and the feel of all the controls. My only complaint is that something periodically goes haywire, and the cursor moves stubbornly and erratically on screen. It requires a reboot to get it back to normal. This could be a software driver issue. Then again, every mouse seems to have software problems. Maybe it's best not even to install it. ps- I wonder if this thing would work on a Mac. I am making "The Switch". One thing for sure, I will buy a mouse with the same terrific ergonomic shape if I can find one.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect...
Review: I agree with the comment that this is a comfortable mouse for people with larger hands...it's a saving grace, in fact. It is also a nice-looking device, matching style with function. I like the blue scroll wheel light and the feel of all the controls. My only complaint is that something periodically goes haywire, and the cursor moves stubbornly and erratically on screen. It requires a reboot to get it back to normal. This could be a software driver issue. Then again, every mouse seems to have software problems. Maybe it's best not even to install it. ps- I wonder if this thing would work on a Mac. I am making "The Switch". One thing for sure, I will buy a mouse with the same terrific ergonomic shape if I can find one.
Rating:
Summary: A Beauty in the World of Mice.
Review: I bought this mouse for cheap, at $19.97 from a retail store. My initial thought was, "Why so cheap? There has to be something wrong with it." I was wrong. This is a beautifully crafted mouse, both visually and functionally. Works great. Although it only scans at 1500 frames, while other newer mice scan at 6000 frames, you can't tell the difference. Its just numbers. I play games as well as use it for Design and Multimedia creation. And it works fine. The blue scroll-light, as well as the perfect color of the body, sold me right away. I was willing to take the chance at such a good price.Evidently, there was no "chance" to be taken, because it works wonderfully! Why IBM discontinued production of the mouse, we will never know. IBM should have had Logitech and Microsoft running for cover! If you have a silver-, black- or grey-colored case and/or keybooard, buy this mouse now!! Note: Works best with a mousepad due to surface-consistency.
Rating:
Summary: Top quality, and really cool
Review: I can only echo LoopGarou's review. This is a great device.
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