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The humble computer mouse might not be something that most of us pay too much attention to and we’re usually content with the one supplied with our PC. But what happens when it goes wrong? Or maybe you’re fed up with all the wires on your desk and want a cordless one. Or why not one of the new fancy optical mice that everyone else seems to have these days? It’s never easy to pick the right accessories for your PC and that is probably why you’re reading this review right now.

The Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer is the latest generation of optical wireless mice from Microsoft and this is the top of the range model. The IntelliMouse Explorer is available in four different colours; metallic grey, platinum, metallic blue and black leather. My review sample was metallic blue and looks very stylish. The first three are made entirely out of plastic, whereas the black leather model is actually finished in black leather, but it commands a price premium over the other three.

This mouse definitely looks good, but that’s not reason enough for me to buy a peripheral. Luckily the Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer is a very comfortable mouse to use, especially as the design incorporates two grooves where your fingers normally rest which makes it extra comfortable to hold. The lower body of the mouse has also been somewhat widened to make it yet again more comfortable to hold, while the middle has been tucked in. These middle and lower parts of the mouse are also coated in a soft rubber material to add to that tactile feeling.

As with most mice you’ll find two buttons on top of it and a scroll wheel. There’s also an additional two buttons on the left hand side that can be accessed with your thumb. These two buttons default as forward and back in most applications but can be completely customised using the supplied drivers.

The scroll wheel is the most revolutionary part of this mouse, as it doesn’t just scroll and click as most other mouse wheels do; it actually tilts from side to side as well. This can be very handy if you work on large spreadsheets or anything similar, as it allows you to scroll side ways, not just up and down. This means that you don’t have to move the mouse to the same extent which might in turn prevent some strain to your arm. On the down side, the scroll wheel doesn’t click as you turn it. It’s a small point, but here at TrustedReviews we most definitely prefer a clicking scroll wheel.

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