Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse

The Arc Touch Mouse is very well finished and it looks and feels like a quality product. When flipped up into its arched position, the mouse is a good height—your hand is well supported and rests in a comfortable position. The notches in the virtual scroll wheel can feel quite disorientating at first, as they actually feel very realistic. The noise the mouse makes when you fold it out inspires confidence. The product certainly seems sturdy, although you do have to wonder just how long it will last if you fold and unfold it every day.

We were also curious to find out whether pressing too hard on the mouse would make it snap back into the flat position. There's no risk of that though, unless you try really, really hard, or if you're a bit quick off the mark to start using it.

Not suitable for games

This mouse is totally unsuitable for use with fast-action games such as FPS—believe us, we experienced it first hand at a DigitalVersus staff LAN gaming party! Its shape isn't conducive to fast, reflex-type movements, and the touch-sensitive scroll wheel isn't accurate enough for precision control. Plus, there just aren't enough buttons for gaming and its clicks feel short and unpleasant (Ed. but at least you'll have a good excuse if you get massacred at a LAN party!).


It's a real shame this mouse proved a hindrance in games, as unlike most mice, the sensor handles acceleration and fast movements incredibly well. In fact, it only loses track once you reach speeds of over 2.3 metres per second. That's very unusual score for a mouse primarily aimed at office computing, and especially for one with a BlueTrack sensor!

Teething troubles

We reckon the mouse's short, hard clicks and the virtual scroll wheel's lack of precision will bother most users. Only those who use the Arc Touch Mouse for the most basic IT tasks will be able to get used to working with it.

Accuracy is particularly a problem when scrolling slowly: we found ourselves moving two notches instead of three and vice versa. It's only in free-wheeling mode and with big, fast movements that the virtual scroll wheel feels natural and accurate. You start scrolling with a flick of the finger, then as soon as you touch the sensitive zone again, scrolling stops straight away.


The sliders underneath the mouse could also be improved. They just don't glide well enough for our liking—listen carefully and you'll even hear them scraping rather than sliding.

Making a mouse with such a super-slim design inevitably means there's no room for buttons on the side. Given that most users will spend plenty of time on the web, the absence of Forward and Back buttons could prove irritating.

While we're on the subject of suggesting new features for version two of Microsoft's mouse, we'd also rather see a slim, rechargeable battery than two AAA batteries. This could improve battery life and could be easily recharged using the kind of removable magnetic USB cable supplied with the SideWinder X8. Just an idea ...