The Comfort Mouse 4500 was part of the trifecta of BlueTrack mice Microsoft announced that are priced at less than $30. The 4500 was the only wired one of the bunch, and it also has the cheapest list price ($24.99). If you use a wired mouse -- for whatever reasons you may have -- the BlueTrack feature can be a nice one to have.
At a Glance
The Good: BlueTrack, programmable buttons
The Bad: high price for wired mice
What is BlueTrack?
BlueTrack Technology is designed to let you mouse on almost any surface. There are a few exceptions -- clear glass and mirrors, for example -- but if you frequently use your laptop on the couch, you’ll find BlueTrack means no mousepad is required. The Comfort Mouse 4500 is the only wired mouse from Microsoft that has BlueTrack; all of the other BlueTrack mice operate off 2.4GHz wireless technology.
Overview
The Comfort Mouse 4500 is almost identical to Microsoft’s Wireless Mouse 2000 . Both can be used in both right and left hands and thus have no discernible ergonomic curves. Both are full-sized mice with rubber sides and smooth-scrolling scroll wheels, and both proved to be comfortable for long periods of mousing. While the 2000 only comes in black, however, the 4500 comes in black, blue, red and pink.
Extras
The 4500 has a five-button design, so you get a pair of extra buttons to program. This was on my wish list for the 2000, although it’s a bummer you have to trade wireless connectivity for it.
Bottom Line
A $24.99 price tag is still quite hefty for a wired mouse, so if you don’t see yourself needing the BlueTrack technology, you can probably look elsewhere. If you have an aversion to wireless mice, or if you’re desperately coveting BlueTrack and extra programmable buttons, the 4500 is your best buy.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
