Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 replacement

E

evilpaul

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
183
I've been using an MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 for probably 15+ years now. I probably repurchased three and warranty replaced about as many through MS. My current one has had a wonky scroll wheel (it would just decide to scroll on it's own one tick sometimes) and started taking "click and hold" and "click specified number of times" to mean "hold randomly; maybe click again one or more times unexpectedly" and "click some random number of times" last night. It does this on other machines, the mouse is borked.

I've always loved the Back and Forward thumb buttons on the IE3.0 and kind of wished it had the tilt wheel functionality a lot of newer mice have.

Anyone else used an IE3.0 for a long period of time and replaced it with something they found to be way better? The IE3.0 was no longer available as a replacement so MS offered these alternatives:
Wireless USB
SCULPT ERGONOMIC MOUSE L6V-00001
WIRELESS MOBILE MOUSE 4000 D5D-00001
SCULPT MOBILE MOUSE 43U-00001
WIRELESS MOBILE MOUSE 3500 GMF-00273

Wired
COMFORT MOUSE 4500 4FD-00025
BASIC OPTICAL MOUSE P58-00061

Bluetooth
DESIGNER BLUETOOTH MOUSE 7N5-00001
BLUETOOTH MOBILE MOUSE 3600 PN7-00001
SCULPT TOUCH MOUSE 6PL-00003
WEDGE TOUCH MOUSE 3LR-00004
Click to expand...
My PC doesn't have Bluetooth, but I could buy a dongle if necessary. But I don't really want wireless anyway. I'm sure wireless mice have improved over the ~50ms laggy ones I used years ago, but I don't want to charge my mouse, have to turn it on or off, or use batteries.

I requested the wired Comfort Mouse 4500 since it has five buttons (even if one of them is on the wrong side), but I'd appreciate some suggestions.

I sampled some at Microcenter and Best Buy, what little either place had available as demonstration units, and didn't like a Steel Series one with two thumb buttons AT ALL. They took way too much force to press. The Razer Elite I liked the feel of the thumb buttons, but it didn't have a scroll wheel. It was also kind of pricey. The Razor Chroma had a tilt wheel, but I didn't think the thumb buttons were great, and I think it was on the large side of things for me.

Ideas?
 
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I think shape-, design-, and feel-wise, the Zowie EC1-A is probably as close as you can get. Can't comment on the current revision of the mouse since I got mine before BenQ absorbed the Zowie brand (and made small changes to it), but I bought 2 EC1-As after I found it to be the best replacement for the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0.
 
I love my MS Wireless Optical Mouse. It's been trucking for about 15 years and still works really well, although clicking on the scroll wheel occasionally goes on the blink. I've also worn all of the weird "soft touch" finish from the top of the mouse body. I can't find a decent replacement for it anywhere, so I'm going to keep using it until it finally goes to the great mouse graveyard.
 
Snowknight26 said:
I think shape-, design-, and feel-wise, the Zowie EC1-A is probably as close as you can get. Can't comment on the current revision of the mouse since I got mine before BenQ absorbed the Zowie brand (and made small changes to it), but I bought 2 EC1-As after I found it to be the best replacement for the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0.
Click to expand...

I'm considering this mouse as well it has the same width as a MX518. Although, I wish the scroll well wasn't white/ transparent . They tend to discolor over time.
 
Sixthsense said:
I'm considering this mouse as well it has the same width as a MX518. Although, I wish the scroll well wasn't white/ transparent . They tend to discolor over time.
Click to expand...

Can't say I've noticed that in the 2 or so years I've used my two EC1-As. Plus, the scroll wheel is lit with a bright (but diffuse) LED of varying colors making it appear as if it's that color instead of white/clear.
 
Snowknight26 said:
Can't say I've noticed that in the 2 or so years I've used my two EC1-As. Plus, the scroll wheel is lit with a bright (but diffuse) LED of varying colors making it appear as if it's that color instead of white/clear.
Click to expand...


It will eventually my old Deathadder's scroll weheel was made of the same material. It will discolor over time
 
I would recommend the Zowie EC-1a or EC-2a (what I personally have) as a replacement for the 3.0. I am a huge fan of the 3.0 and used it for many years. I think the closest in shape is the EC1a like someone had mentioned before but I have hands that are on the smaller side and the 2a is great. No BS software, you plug it in and can pick your DPI right on the mouse. Defaults to 400 dpi and 1000hz. Solid feeling on the build as well as the mouseskates.
 
Griff- said:
I would recommend the Zowie EC-1a or EC-2a (what I personally have) as a replacement for the 3.0. I am a huge fan of the 3.0 and used it for many years. I think the closest in shape is the EC1a like someone had mentioned before but I have hands that are on the smaller side and the 2a is great. No BS software, you plug it in and can pick your DPI right on the mouse. Defaults to 400 dpi and 1000hz. Solid feeling on the build as well as the mouseskates.
Click to expand...

EC1 can't do 1000hz without acceleration issues. I wouldn't recommend it, but I guess if you're coming from an Intellimouse you probably don't care about sensor accuracy.
 
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