One of the latest hardware devices coming out of Redmond is all about the latest cutting-edge technology, improvements to past products while still providing essential functionality for your laptop. This device is just one of the new high-precision and laser mice Microsoft has released this year. Does this mouse live up to its promises? Read on to find out.

• New! Proprietary High Definition Optical Technology puts ultimate performance in the palm of your hand. Microsoft’s new line of High Definition mice uses technology that is two generations ahead of standard optical and laser mice. These mice are equipped with the exclusive Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System for smoother tracking, 1,000 DPI for more responsiveness and 6,000 FPS for better precision.
• New! Compact Tilt Wheel features an innovative design specifically developed for notebook mice. The smaller wheel scrolls horizontally as well as vertically, making it quicker and easier to navigate long Web pages or spreadsheets.
• New! Magnifier tool enlarges any section of the screen, enabling real-time magnified viewing and editing of images, documents, Web sites and more. Simply push the Magnifier button and move the cursor over any portion of the screen you want to enlarge.
• New! Integrated buttons, compact shape and ambidextrous form deliver new ways to click with maximum mobility. With four customizable buttons including the Tilt Wheel and Magnifier tool, sculpted finger grooves and rubber side grips, this notebook mouse makes everyday mobile PC activities easier and more comfortable than ever before.
• Snap-in receiver conserves battery life by automatically turning off power when snapped into the bottom of the mouse. Delivering an average of more than six months of battery life with one AA battery — longer than previous Microsoft wireless notebook mice^{1 — this mouse reduces inconvenient work stoppages required to replace batteries or recharge. Designed small for added convenience, the receiver plugs directly into any USB notebook computer for at least three feet of wireless freedom.}
• Wireless freedom allows you to sit back and click up to at least three feet away from the receiver, eliminating the inconvenience of connecting your mouse to the laptop with cumbersome cables.

Setup & Installation 

Setup: The installation is quite simple. Just plug in the mouse to your laptop USB port. You may have to push the connect buttons on the mouse or receiver if Windows does not automatically detect, however I did not have to do that. To use the magnifier or to use the advanced functionality, you must install the Microsoft IntelliPoint software (see below).

Microsoft IntelliPoint Software

If you want to customize your mouse, you will have to install IntelliPoint 5.4 (about 60 MB), which requires a restart. To customize your mouse keys, select either "Mouse" for the Control Panel or "Microsoft Mouse" from the program menu. On the buttons tab you can click on the different buttons and reassign the keys to a variety of functions. In this software you can also change your pointers, other pointer options, view which hardware is connected, change scrolling options, and view wireless features. The software is easy to use and is required for advanced functionality of the mouse.

Mouse Design

The mouse has nearly same shape and design as the first generation Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse released last season, though Microsoft improves on the design by giving this mouse a more streamlined, ambidextrous feel. The Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 4000 is about 3.5 inches long, 2 inches wide, 1.5 inches high and weighs just a few ounces. The mouse includes four buttons (two on top, the wheel and one side). One of the new features of the mouse is the magnifier button. This new magnifier allows you to bring an zoom box on the screen in all types of programs. One really cool thing about this feature is if, for example, you use it in Excel, Word, etc. you can edit within the zoom box. This feature is a much improved version of the accessibility magnifier feature within Windows.  The side button is meant to be the magnifier, but you can reassign that functionality if you wish. Of course, the mouse has the Tilt Wheel technology included, which allows you to scroll left and right as well as having the additional button. The scroll wheel is the standard transparent white, and is much smaller than last year's model. The top is metallic titanium, with two black buttons going the whole length of the mouse with matching plastic material on the sides, and a plastic bottom. The side button is small and well integrated into the sleek design. Because the mouse is ambidextrous, both left and right handed users will be able to use it. The USB wireless receiver (Microsoft Notebook Receiver 2.0) is about 2.5 inches long and .5 inches wide, with a connect button and a indicator light and fits snuggly on the bottom of the mouse when not in use. The receiver is approx 33% smaller than last year's version. The Microsoft Optical Technology Logo is on the bottom. There is a open button on the bottom which pops out the battery compartment (single AA - Energizer Battery included) at the front of the mouse.

Microsoft High Definition Optical Technology

Microsoft has provided a well deserved update to an already great optical technology. This product includes the new Microsoft High Definition Optical Technology which aims to improve performance at much higher levels than the previous optical technology. The technology is 6000 frames per second (FPS) - an improvement over the 2500 FPS of most of the previous optical mice. Other technology improvements that have been made include 1000 dots per inch (DPI) resolution (responsiveness), 85 million operations per second (MOPS), .18 CMOS technology (preciseness) and the Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System (smoother tracking). Microsoft optical technologies have been well tested for many years now and work smoothly on most surfaces. It has been broken-in well with previous mice, so you know you won’t have any problem. 
 

Final Comments

I feel the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 4000 is a good replacement to last year's model. The mouse design has been improved over last year's, the notebook receiver is much smaller, and the mouse still provides all the standard features (such as the Tilt Wheel) you have come to expect from Microsoft mice. The already great optical technology has been vastly improved to be more responsive, more precise, and much smoother with Microsoft's new High Definition Optical Technology. In addition, not only is the magnifier feature great for accessibility reasons, but also allows easy editing of small text, data, etc.  If you are in the market for a good notebook mouse, that doesn't need to be as responsive as Microsoft's laser version, I definitely recommend you purchase the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 4000.