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Lets start with the Bluetooth offering, Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth. It is stated to work at up to 30 feet from the supplied receiver – sorry I do not have a room anywhere near that size to disprove the claim – so I take that as true. I did use it around 10 feet away with no problem except seeing the screen to do anything useful.

This is a second generation Bluetooth rodent and features a tilt wheel. Between the normal two buttons is a wheel and this not only scrolls back and forward but also side to side the latter movement is extremely useful with large spreadsheets.

Up to seven Bluetooth devices can be connected to the supplied transceiver provided with the rodent. So not only can you control your mouse but also other devices that include syncing PDA’s or suitably equipped mobile phones.

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The mouse is a conventional shape and is also optical so there is no ball to get dirty and providing you give it a clean flat surface it should work fine. I remember seeing an early demonstration where the lady was using her leg to run the mouse on, for some reason I cannot remember much about what was displayed on the screen. However optical technology works on bouncing light signals so glass is a bad idea.

Apart from the buttons and wheel mentioned there are also two extra buttons on the left side to allow you to move backwards and forward through Internet pages.

Now onto the Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer, this unlike the Bluetooth offering is both PS/2 and USB. The layout of the mouse is almost the same as the Bluetooth one. In fact a cursory glance would find only the small Bluetooth logo to tell them apart. Perhaps that is why Microsoft decided to colour the Wireless mouse. I have the Crimson Fire version that has the middle of the unit in a sort of metallic crimson finish. I am told that Grey, Platinum and Cobalt Basin are also available.

Batteries are stated to last up to six months certainly a lot longer than earlier wireless offerings. I have used the IntelliMouse Wireless using both the PS/2 and Wireless connection. With early versions of Windows having a USB mouse was a problem as during the boot up of a new PC it would find no mouse and then controlling a PC without a mouse is rather difficult – I have always been the master of understatement – and often the only way was to start initially with a PS/2 offering then swap for the USB one. This problem now seems to have been rectified, certainly on a couple of recent PC’s it has recognised the USB mouse and allowed it to work.

There is software and to get the best from either rodent it needs to be installed but basic functionality is there to make the software installation something that does not have to be done immediately.

The Dabs prices are, £36.98 for the Wireless version in whichever colour you desire and £49.98 for the Bluetooth version, remember the latter includes the transceiver that can be used with other Bluetooth devices.

Link :www.dabs.com/uk search for Microsoft IntelliMouse then select your choice.