Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse, Light Grey - CZV-00001

Comment

I purchased this to save a precious USB slot on a Surface Book 2. This was meant to replace a Logitech. I read the reviews before purchasing and I dont understand the positive reviews - its like people have never used a quality mouse before. Motion is slow and jerky and so is scrolling. Additionally, the curve of the Arc Mouse is just uncomfortable which makes the unpleasant slow/jerky motion feel even worse. Beautiful design but I would never want to use it for a mouse - Im not willing to destroy my wrist in order to look cool. It lasted 2 minutes before I plugged my Logitech back in and decided that I would rather have a USB hub than use this mouse. Sad waste of $60+ that would have bought a lot of quality ramen.

Show more

Comment

Like - This mouse looks awesome! Dislike - They mouse connects exclusively through Bluetooth. This wouldnt have been an inconvenience IF the designers wouldve occurred that the user wouldve wanted to use it with more than one device. In other words, the mouse doesnt support saving more than one Bluetooth profile, so you end up going though the inconvenience of pairing it up with every single device you want to use it with. In other words, if you intend to use this mouse in a KVM scenario where you share your mouse with more than one computer, forget it. This is not they kind of mouse that you need. - The batteries dont last very much, and it doesnt come with built-in rechargeable batteries either. - This is NOT a standard mouse replacement. - The looks and feel are totally inversely opposite. This mouse feels SO uncomfortable!!! Yes, you can get used to it, but I had a hard time trying to adapt. - The mouse is foldable. Meh, that a nice to have, I wonder when its going to stop working because of it... Plus, that rubber is not going to last very long. Use it for - Im a software programmer and I wanted to use it for my two desktop PCs and switch between the two, but unfortunately, this gadget (I wont even call it mouse) doesnt do the job. I highly recommend for this type of scenario that you get a real mouse or if youre into Bluetooth, get one of those mice with a reasonable implementation of Bluetooth with profiles you can select. - The Natural Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse were GREAT! Except for the construction materials which were cheap, but they devices worked as intended. This new good-looking line is several steps backwards unfortunately.

Show more

Comment

This is my third MS Arc mouse. These seem to last about 18-24 months, then they die (even with new batteries). This one is by far the worst of the three Ive owned. Theyve changed the design a bit from the last one I had, which is fine. However, if I let the mouse sit for more than about 5 minutes without moving it, it apparently goes to sleep and loses the bluetooth connection to my computer. Then it takes 1-2 minutes to reconnect. The same thing happens when I activate the mouse by bending it (turning it on). It takes about 1-2 minutes to connect. If I use the mouse continuously, it works fine as long as I dont stop using it for more than a couple minutes. Ive never had this problem with previous versions of this mouse, and Im using the same Surface Pro 3 laptop that I had been using with the previous two.

Show more

Comment

I was very excited to receive this new mouse from microsoft and it looked very nice after taking it out of the box. However, after using it I can say that it is not worth your time. The delay on the mouse is attrocious because of the bluetooth connection - I would just get a wiresless mouse with a USB port connection instead. Sometimes the mouse wont even connect to my laptop or will just disconnect out of nowhere. I tried it out on my roommates laptop and am running into the same issues with it as well. It also does not function well on some surfaces as well (even if they are flat). For instance, sometimes I will use the mouse on the plastic pad directly under my laptop and the mouse will not pick up that I am moving it. l I would return this and get my money back if I could. Not ideal for gaming or any other laptop use as I have used it for my Electrical Engineering programs. The only positive things that this mouse has going for it is that it is portable and it look and feels nice. Otherwise, the mouse functionality sucks. DO NOT BUY THIS MOUSE.

Show more

Comment

I wanted to like this product so much, I really did I had the older version of the Arc Mouse for several years and LOVED it. When my older one finally wore out, I logged on to buy another. When I saw that there was a newer model, I figured I would try it out. I am constantly having to pick the mouse up and put it back down for it to move again. It will move well for a bit, then stop moving and I have to pick up/put down for it to work again. It may be the BT on my machine, I dont know, but this mouse wont work for me. Unfortunately, I waited too late to return it so now it will be mine in all its sub-optimal performance forever, in a drawer, while I go back to the older model that works like a champ and is perfect for travel.

Show more

Comment

If youre looking for a mouse that can be used to browse the Internet and do very basic computer tasks, this is your mouse. If you plan to use this mouse for professional use, I strongly suggest buying a gaming mouse for the same $60 price tag. Lots of mice work on Windows. There is no need to buy one that is functionality reminiscent of pairing your Windows machine with an Apple Magic mouse. Aesthetically, it is a beautiful mouse. Taking it out of your bag at work or in a cafe and snapping it to its "on" position is incredibly satisfying. The feel of the mouse is mostly nice, however I noticed that it really can feel flimsy on a tight grip or a rough surface, making it difficult to control accuracy. I get that the mouse is supposed to be portable, but I think it needs more weight in the base near the palm to become more accurate. This mouse still needs some serious work. I bought it to pair with a device using a high end Bluetooth interface card, thinking I would have stellar connection performance. This mouse lags A LOT. I spend my days working with code and prototypes. Not much is more frustrating than selecting several lines of a document to have the mouse lag on the last click and trash your objective. The left and right click is not overly defined. I felt that I had to really concentrate to right click certain menus when deep in work. I thought at first it was the batteries. I tried replacing them. I tried using a better mouse pad, ending up with what I use to game on my desktop. I tried updating my interface card and tried different drivers. Nothing helped. You can get the same functionality by sacrificing a USB port and getting a $9.99 mouse with a dongle or going with a $49.99 wired gaming mouse and the reliability will be 100 times better.

Show more

Comment

I’ve used Microsoft mice for a long time, since the 1980s, actually. (Time flies!) This mouse has some great design ideas but is ultimately so flawed that I returned it. First off, there’s no driver or software for macOS (which is odd because previous Microsoft mice supported it just fine). Using the default Bluetooth pointing device drivers the mouse works, however scrolling with the touch surface is stuttering, imprecise and extremely frustrating. The more serious issue is a mechanical design flaw: because of the way the mouse button are bent over, pressing the mouse button will invariably move the mouse a little bit and thusly also move the mouse pointer. The only way to prevent this is sort of clamping down on the mouse which will fatigue your hand really quickly. Unfortunately, unlike many other Microsoft mice I’ve used before, this one is so flawed in this basic design feature that it is inherently broken. Perhaps a future iteration can fix this (shallower bend angle?), and provide Mac drivers as well.

Show more

Comment

As a long-time techie and gamer, Ive been through a few PC accessories. Lately, in terms of mice, Ive settled on the Logitech G600 MMO mouse, which is great for both gaming and productivity at my desktop. I recently picked up a Surface Book for travel/school/portable computing. I love the trackpad, as its the best of any device Ive used - its spacious, its precise, and it supports a decent number of multi-touch gestures, which are really quite neat. However, I wanted a portable mouse for precision and for light gaming, but I needed something light, portable, and wireless. I was also especially looking for a flatter mouse that would comfortably fit in my laptop case without a bulge. Thus, I decided to give the Surface Arc Mouse a try (in light grey, to match my Book). Design: 4/5 - The mouses design is sleek, minimalist, and creative. I have to give props to the Microsoft team for building a folding mouse, which is a great solution for a portable mouse which is easy to pack away. Its also quite aesthetically pleasing. However, Im docking a point for the single-button design. While I understand that the primary purpose of this mouse is for portability, having to pick up all but one finger to right click (or to pull an additional finger to middle click) is inconvenient. Thats also not to mention the fact that I cant play shooters, as I cant hold right click to aim. I did know this going into the purchase, though. Performance: 5/5 - I havent had enough time with the mouse to investigate the bluetooth connectivity issues that other reviewers have mentioned. The mouse is quite easy and simple to use (pairing is incredibly easy), and I love that its bluetooth, which doesnt require an additional dongle or cable. The tracking takes a bit to get used to, as the sensors at your fingertips rather than in the middle of the mouse - using this mouse, I realized how much I use my wrist, palm, and side fingers to make precise movements. The tracking is acceptable once you get used to that, though. Features: 2/5 - My greatest gripe with this mouse is that its features are very limited, especially when compared to the Surface trackpad. Before I get into that, Ill discuss the pros: the highly marketed touch scrolling is fantastic and well-implemented, in my opinion, and I appreciate that I can change sensitivity/direction using Mouse and Keyboard Center. I also love that I can have multiple fingers on there and only need to move one finger to scroll. However, some of Microsofts design decisions were a bit questionable, namely the single-button design (and not including a click-on-tap feature). I have to raise my other fingers to right click, and I have to pull my ring finger over on top of the mouse to middle click (another MKC feature). I also cant simultaneously left and right click, nor can I use either click with the middle mouse button (which is generally okay since you can scroll while clicking). My biggest gripe, though, is the lack of touch gestures like those available on the touchpad, and the lack of options in using the mouse. I would love to be able to use three- or four-finger gestures to switch apps or control my music, and I really think the mouse could be so much better if that were possible. Value: 3/5 - Ultimately, Id argue that the extra cost of this mouse over other portable bluetooth mice comes from a few sources: the flat design, the bending feature, touch scrolling, and Microsoft branding. In terms of raw performance, many other mice will do significantly better than this one at a similar price. I personally think I paid a bit more than the mouse was worth ($63), but for me it was worth it as a fun gadget with a nice design that I can toss into my laptop case without second thoughts. I intend to use it for a bit longer before updating my review, at which point I think Ill be able to say whether it was truly worth it or not.

Show more

Comment

I very much wanted to like this mouse thanks to the flat design, but it is not comfortable to use at all. The folding design that creates the gap in the middle turns out to be critical for quick movements of the mouse. I’ve been trying to force myself to get used to it after a few months and still find myself getting frustrated and going back to the trackpad or touchscreen. The build and material is great, however. The fold flat is incredibly handy for grabbing the mouse as you bounce from conference room to conference room. The durability is also unexpectedly great as I have sat on it in my back pocket many times forgetting it was there until after the meeting. The right click is also troublesome and difficult to get used to. Not only do you need to click on the right side, but you can’t have your index finger testing of the left side or it will register as a left click. This seems very unnecessary from a design standpoint and another difficult piece to get used to. Lastly, I had to mess with settings several times and even install additional Microsoft software to get the scrolling smooth in all applications. For being a Microsoft mouse and me using it on a Microsoft Surface Pro, you’d think it would “just work.” All in all, I’m going to keep try using it to get more used to the gap. After all the other complaints, it’s the gap that I still struggle with. For $60, it’s a fashionable mouse, a usable mouse, but not a user friendly mouse. If you absolutely must have the folding, try it, otherwise keep looking.

Show more

Comment

I ordered the blue one, which was back-ordered, so it took nearly three months to get. Thats not a ding on the quality of the mouse, but was disappointing. After using the mouse for a few hours I have only one gripe. Because of decades of using two-button mice, I keep two fingers on the mouse. In order to right-click, I have to lift my index finger off the mouse completely. Otherwise, the click is registered as a left-click, even if clicking on the right side of the mouse. Id hope that a driver update can cause click location detection to take priority over the presence of a second finger on the mouse. Otherwise the mouse is smooth and sleek. Ive been using the previous versions of the Arc for the better part of a decade and have been happy with them. I suspect that I will (unfortunately) get used to having to lift my left finger to right click, but will hope that Microsoft decides to make this behavior more natural soon instead. Be sure to download the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center app from microsoft.com. It allows you configure the buttons, a three-finger click, scroll direction, etc. The mouse works normally without it, but you have a few more configuration options with it.

Show more