“Microsoft’s newest mice, based on its IntelliEye technology,
attempt to abolish this kind of do-it-yourself rodent surgery [for
cleaning]. IntelliEye replaces the ball-and-roller mechanism with
an optical sensor and a red LED that take 1,500 snapshots per
second of whatever’s beneath the mouse. A DSP (digital signal
processor) chip compares the images to discern mouse movement.”
“…you can plug this mouse into your system and configure it as
you would a mechanical IntelliMouse. The fact that IntelliMouse is
a Microsoft product and does not officially support Linux turnsout
to be a nonissue, as you can do all the configuration you need with
Linux’s own mouse-configuration tools.”
“If you’re sick of cleaning your mouse and losing your mouse
pad under desk debris, consider one of Microsoft’s racy
rodents. They’re not the cheapest mice available, but for
people who use their computer systems heavily, they’re one Redmond
product that’s worth the price.”