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Microsoft Pro Intellimouse

2022-03-28T19:45

One morning as I sat down for work, I noticed how sore my left wrist had become. It felt like the beginnings of RSI. Something needed to change before it got bad. I'm still not sure what set it off; perhaps I was using my computer on the couch too much. This was before I started messing with my environment to deal with Monterey.

To avoid aggravating it further, I put away my Apple Magic Trackpad (which I use with my left hand) and swapped it for a mouse (which I use with my right hand) for the day. I don't think I've used a mouse on a Mac for more than a few minutes. I can't stand the Magic Mouse which is what every mouse using Apple owner seems to have.

I was using the cheapest, nastiest Microsoft Mouse I've seen — in true Microsoft Fashion it's called Microsoft Wired Basic USB Optical Mouse for Business. It's flimsy and just like a real mouse, squeaks if you squeeze it too hard. Out of mere curiosity, I had a look around what other mice are sold these days. I learnt that Microsoft has re-released (twice) the Intellimouse. I've always had a soft-spot for Microsoft mice but never the Intellimouse. I found the angled sides difficult to grasp. In the 2000's when they were originally sold, I always used the Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical. I didn't think of it as an expensive or even a particularly good mouse; it was just a regular old standard-issue Microsoft Mouse. Watching and reading through the comments on this video, it seems that the Wheel Mouse Optical might have a little cult following of its own.¹ So maybe there is a small chance of Microsoft Reissuing it. But if I were to dream of my ideal mouse, it would be the Microsoft Mouse of the 90's with a scroll wheel and optical sensor rather than a ball. And some thumb-buttons too, while we're at it. That mouse was a great shape.

The local computer store had the Pro Intellimouse cheap, so on an impulse I bought one. The technical specs seem pretty special — well, the numbers all go high. I guess that's good. I don't know much about mice. What I can say is that it works really well. Better than any other mouse I've ever used. To justify it, I figured that if the shape sucked, I could transplant the electronics into a new shell carved from a lump of wood. Maybe even a replica of a 90s Microsoft Mouse.

After a few weeks of use, I'm please to say that I do really like it. In time, I might even become an Intellimouse convert. I'm certainly in no rush to swap back to the Magic Trackpad.

To make it better in MacOS, I've used a few tools. I use `intellimouse-ctl` to adjust the hardware settings like dpi, polling rate, lift-off distance and led colour.² I only used it to turned off the LED. I liked the default settings. And I used SteerMouse to reverse the scroll direction and sensitivity of the mouse wheel.³ It is so dumb that MacOS still doesn't offer a way to configure a mouse wheel for reverse scroll direction, and the TrackPad for natural scroll. I also used it to change one of the side buttons to open Mission Control.

After deciding that I liked the mouse, stripped it down and repainted the top in Torquay Sand — the same colour as my keyboard. I found this great video showing how the mouse comes apart.⁴ I gave it three coats of colour and three coats of clear. Wet-sanded off the orange peel then cut and polished it. I have terrible luck when painting, and this job was no exception. I dropped it down the veranda stairs and onto the driveway just after I finished polishing it. It only chipped one corner but it could have been so much worse. I touched it up with a brush. It's not great, but it's not bad enough to sand back and start again.

I was using a scrap of sheep leather as a mousepad/coffee-cup coaster. More the latter than the former, which is good because it's a shit mousepad. It's slow and grippy, but it does feel nice to touch. Since I think this mouse might be a keeper, I've also bought a great big deskpad. My scrap of leather now just serves as a coaster — a job it can do well.

Side of Mouse

Back of Mouse

My Desk

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1. This Mouse Is Older Than Me WTF! Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical (WMO) Review

2. intellimouse-ctl

3. Steermouse

4. Making a custom Microsoft Pro Intellimouse

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