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OptoRite ML100 Laser Mouse Review

When I hear the name "OptoRite" the first thing I think of is CD and DVD drives. For several years now OptoRite has made some of the most reliable drives for an inexpensive price. It only makes sense that one of the best in optical drives would jump into other optical computer hardware. Introducing the OptoRite ML100 laser mouse. Before now Logitech held a lone spot in the laser mouse world. All I can say after trying out the OptoRite ML100 Laser Mouse is Logitech better take note!

Company:

OptoRite, www.optorite.com

Price:

$29.99 US at NewEgg.com.

Ratings

Price:
Install/Setup:
Usability:
Support:
Average Rating:

Pros:

• Laser precision
• Glides easily yet feels sturdy in your hand
• Very comfortable mouse ergonomics

Cons:

• No "on-the-fly" dpi resolution adjustments

Getting Started

In the last few years there have been some tremendous advancements to the mouse. From added buttons and increased optical resolution to better ergonomic designs. We have come a long ways from the early days. Logitech, Microsoft, and many others have realized the value in creating a comfortable and well made mouse to a computer user's health and satisfaction. Late last year Logitech announced the MX1000. The worlds first laser mouse.

But why laser? Why does it matter? My optical mouse seems to do just fine. The nearly singular wavelength of laser light is capable of revealing much greater surface detail than the red light-emitting diode (LED) found in today’s optical mice. A laser mouse has a huge increase in sensitivity to surface detail than LED optical mice. Hence, the laser can track reliably even on tricky polished or wood-grain surfaces. Thus giving you more precise movements with your pointer. In addition to precision, a laser mouse will also be quicker than your optical mouse (depending on system performance and stability of course).

Right away I noticed and liked the nice smooth look of the ML100. The red color was clean and definitely eye catching. The USB interface is easy and simple to use as you would imagine. Windows recognized the mouse and default drivers were ready to kick in. If you want, the mouse comes with a disk providing a utility allowing you to map the many buttons to perform specific actions.

The other thing I noticed right away is how fast this mouse moved. I found my arm and hand tensing up rather quickly as it moved much faster than my Logitech MX510. I remember when I moved from a trackball mouse to an optical mouse... I experienced similar tension in my arm and hand muscles. But I also knew that once I used the mouse for a few days and adjusted to the new motions and feel things would be fine. Sure enough, after a few days of using the mouse my arm was relaxed as it should be when using it.

Click on picture to enlarge image

Usability

When using the OptoRite ML100 you will notice that is glides easy. It does not feel heavy or sluggish in your hand. This mouse also fits nicely in my hand. With some mice I feel like I am holding a child's toy as they feel too small. I also like the feel of the scroll wheel. The wheel is smooth, not choppy.

With moving to a more precise mouse I did find that with certain activities and applications I felt like I needed to slow things down. So I was playing with the mouse sensitivity settings in Windows. This made the mouse feel better. The only bad thing was I had to jump into the mouse settings to increase or decrease the sensitivity. Now keep in mind, your preferences will be entirely different than mine. When gaming I like the precision and response this mouse provides. But I found when I am developing or working in a spreadsheet or word document, I preferred less sensitivity. This is where a programmable option to increase or decrease the laser resolution on the fly would be nice. I know Logitech released this type of functionality with their optical MX518 gaming mouse a few months ago. Although I haven't used one yet, the functionality does sound very useful.

OptoRite ML100 Laser Mouse Specifications

Adding It All Up

Whether you are working away in a spreadsheet, surfing the internet, playing Solitaire, or fragging in CS:Source, this mouse is smooth. This mouse is fast. This mouse is precise. This mouse is just plain awesome!! Once you adjust yourself to the response and quickness the laser's 1600dpi resolution provides, you will not want to go back to a normal optical mouse again. With a new technology such as the laser tracking on this mouse I would have expected to pay at least $50 US. Come to find out, you can buy it for $30. If you are in the market for a new or better mouse. This mouse should be on your short list.

Because of the great value and great usability, we are awarding the Optorite ML100 Laser Mouse the UpgradAdvisor.com Recommended Upgrade Seal of Approval!

Buy yours today at NewEgg.com!

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