"BlueTrack" Mouse More Advanced Than Laser, Optical 191
ThinSkin writes "Just when you thought laser and optical mice were enjoying their reign on mousepads worldwide, Microsoft has to come along and introduces their 'BlueTrack Technology,' a mouse tracking system that aims to work on virtually any terrain short of mirrored and reflective surfaces. ExtremeTech reviews the Explorer Mouse and Explorer Mini Mouse, both of which are powered by Microsoft's newest sensor, to see just how well this technology works. Testing on granite, carpet, marble, and other surfaces, the reviewers were impressed with the responsiveness of BlueTrack, but they also noted that laser mice were competitive on these surfaces as well. Even though the mice didn't get a recommendation from the reviewers (price being a major concern), they did admit that this BlueTrack is the best tracking system available today. MaximumPC has some pictures and a brief technical interview."
Re:Oh just stick a 2-axis accellerometer inside (Score:4, Insightful)
All the buttons in the world (Score:3, Insightful)
Mice (Score:3, Insightful)
The Explorer Mouse uses a proprietary, Microsoft-designed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip with advanced algorithms and pixel architecture for more precise tracking.
Get it through your heads, fellows: Proprietary is not an advantage. Patented is not an advantage. Don't go crowing about it! Proprietary is what brought us Windows. Are we supposed to be impressed and go "ooh, more of that"?
Just what we need... (Score:5, Insightful)
From the article:
We got some hands-on time with this handsome wireless mouse and were impressed by its tracking accuracy, stylish design, and mesmerizing blue glow.
Yeah, because we haven't got enough glowing gadgets. I'm not sure who considers "mesmerizing" as a positive aspect of consumer electronics. End the madness, people! Or are you too hypnotized by blue LEDs to move?
Weird (Score:3, Insightful)
I was very convinced that optical sensors was LESS picky than laser ones. Everyone I know have had issues with laser ones (ok, I may not have heard any complaints on the Logitech G5 but..)
Haven't read the article though, just woke up. (My mouse is an optical Razer DeathAdder and works good as long as there are no huge contrasts on the material or on my white melamine (?) desk or white paper. Brown table, piece of unbleached paper box, pants, all good.)
Re:seriously... (Score:5, Insightful)
Uhm...
So you want to spend $120 a year on crap vs. $100 for something good?
Now that makes a whole lot of sense..
Re:Mice (Score:3, Insightful)
What? Yes it is. Its an especially big advantage if the proprietary+patented new tech is actually better.
Of course some open source people might have a cry about "teh evils", but to me that sentance means "You must buy the cool new tracking from us."
Re:seriously... (Score:3, Insightful)
Trackball (Score:5, Insightful)
I use a trackball, it works well on any surface at all - sand, carpet, wood, jello, etc.
How about a trackball? (Score:5, Insightful)
It just fricking rocks. After fiddling around with sensitivity and getting used to in (one or two days) it's the best mouse I ever had.
Never again will I run out of space or need to lift my hand and reposition the mouse.
Of course people who use mice to draw stuff will be somewhat crippled by it, as I have a little more difficulty when using it in order to doodle something quick in paint, but what self-respecting artist uses a mouse as their main drawing interface?
Re:Mice (Score:3, Insightful)
"Propriety" and "patented" are there to show you that they're the only game in town with this technology, and that you can feel secure in buying from them without having to do anything like compare to other vendors, or anything else the intelligent consumer is supposed to do.
Re:Anyone actually read the review? (Score:5, Insightful)
the article suggests that the BlueTrack mouse only has around 800 dpi resolution/sensitivity. but considering that most laser mice have 2000-3200 dpi, BlueTrack doesn't seem more advanced than lasers. the only advantage i can see is that it works on more surfaces than laser mice can. but so do conventional optical mice, which can already go up to 1600 dpi.
the Explorer Mouse is not very impressive or groundbreaking. i'd rather get a hi-res laser or optical mouse by Logitech at a lower price.
Re:Specs better but Technology Point-Less (Score:2, Insightful)
I might be tempted to upgrade if there was a significant reason to do so, like for example, the inclusion of an analog thumb hat switch similar to what the Saitek Cyborg mouse has. Unfortunately, I've yet to see a useable implementation. The Cyborg has a intrusive shelf on the bottom, so either you put your thumb on the shelf (awkward), you to put your thumb on the switch. Another gives no room at all to put the thumb, 'cause the switch takes up the entire face. Still another put it out of normal reach of the thumb forcing awkward finger positions to use it. Just a 4 position hat and not analog...
Quite odd that nobody can seem to get it right.
Re:Mice (Score:3, Insightful)
Proprietary is not an advantage. Patented is not an advantage.
That's not from the article per-se, it's from MS's press release [mshardwareguide.com] that the article quotes. The article tells you it's a quote and uses a different font even so it's pretty obvious.
Patented and proprietary are advantages to MS's investors. That's why they put it in the press release.
Re:Yeah (Score:3, Insightful)
To be honest the parent is probably the target market, i.e. gamers. No-one else spends more than £10 on a mouse because there is no need to, the technology and usability of a £10 mouse is perfect.
Since anyone buying an expensive mouse probably also buys expensive mouse pads, this thing is doubly pointless.
Re:Yeah (Score:4, Insightful)
i bought a razer mouse. not for the blue lights (the only reason i installed the razer driver was to turn the lights off), the gaming gimmick angle, or the razer name, but because it was the only mouse in either of the stores i went to that had the buttons i needed (5) and was actually comfortable in my hand and on my skin. i felt like a chump shelling out 40 bucks for a mouse, but after 2 years with it, i'm VERY glad that i did - especially when i use someone else's computer and their $17 mouse.
without a comfortable, durable interface, a computer is pretty damn useless, imo.