Microsoft has been in the business of programming operating systems for decades and in recent years especially also their peripherals have come into light. However, it would be a mistake to say they are new players in the game as they have had years of experience, a hefty R&D budget and hey, their first mouse popped into the market back in 1983. Today we will be taking a look at a mouse that has captivated public attentions since its launch in 2008, the Arc mouse.

Inspiring its name is its arced design which sought to combine the comfort of a desktop mouse and the portability for a notebook mouse. To achieve this Microsoft has pulled a few clever design features. Read on to get a better understanding of the Arc mouse and get our take on it.

Specifications

Microsoft Arc Mouse

Dimensions: 2.32 x 4.44 inches (extended), 2.32 x 2.90 inches (folded)

Weight: N/A

Connectivity Technology: Wireless 2.4Ghz (30 Ft range)

Sensor Type: Laser

Sensor Sensitivity (DPI):

Buttons Quantity: 4

Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous

Color(s): Red, Green, Blue, Black, White, and Purple

Warranty: 3 Years

Price: $35

Microsoft did not skimp on the packaging: by matching the packaging to the simplicity and individuality of the Arc mouse they have made it an eye-catching product. Enclosed in the top half of package is the mouse which reflected on the bottom half in a white outline. Inside the class continues as all the goodies are hidden from view in the lower half. Not only were we more than satisfied with the aesthetics of the packaging but the quality is also grade A.

The package includes the Arc mouse with a USB wireless dongle, a travel bag, batteries and the necessary documents. The mouse comes in six different colors: green, purple, white, red, black, and blue. As you can see from our mouse it’s not a typical green, it’s more of a dark olive green. The same goes for the other colors; they have a creative tint to them.

The key behind the Arc mouse is its design. Its arc like shape is said to be not only stylish but ergonomic as well. Embedded into the surface are three buttons and a scroll wheel. Like most mice, there are left and right click buttons on the front on either side. The Scroll wheel can be clicked and there is a back button on the left side towards the front of the mouse. The buttons have decent feel to them and are relatively silent but the back button is in a rather irritating location. Even with very large hands you will have to shift your thumb forwards half an inch in order to reach the back button, heck it’s easier to just go and hit the back button inside the window you are browsing.

Overall we have to say that the mouse is not ergonomic enough to be called so. The mouse is not uncomfortable but it is simply also not ergonomic. The offset weight offers a very heavy laggy feel, whether you like it or not depends on your personal preference. (We will get into detail about its performance later on in the review.)

Continuing with its design, the portability stands out. Incorporated into the rear half of the mouse is a hinge. This allows the mouse to be folded to 60% of its original size. The great part of this is that you do not even notice it can fold while the mouse is in use. The movement when folded is smooth and it holds shut or open.

Grooved into the inside of the mouse, near the rear is a magnetic area to store the USB adapter while on the go. The adapter itself is pretty small but not a nano receiver. When plugged into a USB port it sticks out a bit over a third of an inch, meaning you cannot leave it plugged in on the go.

On the battery front, the Arc mouse utilizes two AAA batteries that allow the mouse to be used up to 30 feet away from the adapter.  The battery life of the mouse can be above average so long as you remove the adapter when not in use.  If your battery is running low on juice the battery status indicator, hidden in the crack between the buttons, turns red.  According to Microsoft the batteries should last four 6 months.

In regard to the performance, the Microsoft Arc mouse fulfilled our expectations. Movement was slightly off from the average mouse as the laser sensor is placed towards the front of the mouse. From what we were able to gather Microsoft hasn’t publically released the DPI of the laser but we estimate it is somewhere between 800 at 1000 DPI. For what the Arc mouse is designed to deal with, regular day tasks, it is plenty.

Movement was fairly smooth and snappy. Initially we had received the first generation red version of the mouse on several computers but continuously ran into issues as it continuously kept running off and bouncing about on its own. It did function fine with any Windows Vista machine but our XP / 7 computers and Toshiba notebooks all ran into the issue. The issue, however, has been successfully resolved in the newer version, in our case green version of the mouse.

Finally, also in regard to customer support we have good things to say. Initially we had a red edition of the mouse, fortunately Microsoft showed its worth with its great customer support. Not only was it simple and very friendly, they took a customer first approach and were quick in shipping the replacement mouse at no charge.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Arc is a mouse for fashionistas. Its unique and stylish form is attractive for users looking to be hip on the go. For people looking for ergonomics for long time use, look elsewhere, a mouse such as the Microsoft Notebook Mouse 5000 will be a more effective solution. Microsoft has many resources and provides great support so one does not have to worry if they run into issues within the 3 year warranty period.