IN COMIC book lore, Spider-Man can stick to any surface.
While not as heroic, Microsoft's latest Explorer Mouse is just as super because it can be used on just about any surface.
From wooden tables, granite tops, carpets, the jeans I'm wearing and my sling bag, every movement of the mouse is reflected in my laptop with pinpoint precision.
Microsoft Explorer Mouse
$109.90, from authorised retailers
The trick, Microsoft says, is its new BlueTrack Technology, which produces a beam four times the size of those from the current crop of laser and optical mice, offering better reflection and hence greater mobility of the cursor.
Geekspeak aside, what matters most is if the device works better than its wireless laser and optical counterparts.
In this instance, the Explorer scrolls past the rest with ridiculous ease.
Now, anyone who has ever tried working in bed, on a sofa or at coffee joints know that, chances are, you'll need to lug a mouse pad too.
The red laser devices simply don't play well on most non-traditional surfaces.
Using an older Microsoft optical mouse, I ran a few comparisons across a granite kitchen table, a dark wood table, my pants, shirt and bed. Not surprisingly, the Explorer scored better on every test.
Short of glass surfaces, which allow light to pass through, the Explorer certainly lives up to its name.
On flat surfaces, the mouse's response is like any other, with smooth shifts of the screen cursor accompanying every slight nudge of the mouse.
The same experience proves true even on non-flat surfaces like your body or a pile of shirts. I can imagine this will be a boon for the frequent traveller stuck in transit lounges with little time to waste. Just whip out the mouse and zip it across your lap or any airport sofa.
With uneven textures such as cloth or granite, I expected some resistance from the on-screen cursor but there is not much drag to speak of.
Physically, the Explorer is no different from any typical electronic rodent - it has the same scroll wheel and button layout - except that it has a cool blue hue emanating from its base.
It comes with a transceiver that can be tucked into the base (so you won't misplace it). Once the transceiver is attached, the blue light is shut off to prevent battery drain.
There's also a base to charge the single AA-sized battery the mouse runs on.
Set-up requires installation with the software CD. This takes less than five minutes and the mouse is good to go.
By the looks of it, it will be going everywhere with you.
Final say
Short of using it on glass surfaces, the Explorer moves beyond the performance expected of a normal mouse and carves a new path.
This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Oct 1, 2008.
