Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse On Mac

Microsoft has been making computer mice for many years and is considered one of the top peripheral manufacturers. The Arc Mouse series has seen many revisions, which I pointed out in a recent article highlighting Microsoft's convoluted naming scheme.

• Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse Mac
• Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse Macbook Pro
• Surface Arc Mouse On Mac

The new Surface Arc Mouse is part of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro (2017) wave and brings a hardware redesign, some new colors, and a few changes. I spent the last month with it, and this is what I think.

What is the Surface Arc Mouse?

Microsoft Windows Mac OS See more operating systems. Special Offers. Reduced Price See more special offers. New See more conditions. Compatible Devices. Product Title Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse, Light Grey, CZV-00001. Average rating: 0. The travel companion for your Surface. Slim, light, and ready to travel, Surface Arc Mouse is designed to conform to your hand - and snaps flat to fit easily in your bag. The next generation of our best-selling Arc Touch Mouse, Surface Arc Mouse features numerous refinements, including the ability to scroll both vertically and horizontally. Jul 03, 2019 Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse is such a premium portable mouse from Microsoft which offer so many configuration options through the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center tool. Now you’ve known all the possibilities of the Surface Arc Mouse, and if you have any questions or problems with the procedures detailed in this tutorial, please leave a. May 25, 2017  Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse is a great mouse but it has its defects when it come to using it with mac PC. Why NOT to buy Microsoft ARC TOUCH BLUETOOTH for. Apr 15, 2011  Installing Microsoft Arc mouse on Mac OS is quite easy. Just follow these steps and you will able to install Microsoft Arc mouse on your Mac. When you plug in the USB receiver of Microsoft Arc mouse, Mac OS detects it automatically within a fraction of second. May 22, 2019 On the bottom of Microsoft Arc Mouse, press and hold the pairing button until the LED light begins to blink. On your Surface or Windows 10 PC, select Start Settings Devices Bluetooth & Other Devices Add Bluetooth or other Device Bluetooth. Tap or select Microsoft Arc Mouse in the list of Bluetooth devices. Tap or select Pair.

The new Surface Arc Mouse ($79.99) is the latest revision to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition (SE) ($69.99), which is still available from Microsoft. I'm a huge fan of the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE, so the new Arc Mouse has a high bar to cross to win me over.

The main feature of the Arc Mouse remains unchanged: the mouse lays completely flat when not in use, which also disables the Bluetooth. Folding the mouse into the arc position enables Bluetooth and gives it an ergonomic grip that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. It's a brilliant design.

Arc Mouse is best thought of as a travel mouse, hence the co-branding with Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. Of course, you could just as easily use it with the Surface Studio or any Windows 10 PC desktop or laptop that has Bluetooth 4.0.

At just 14 mm thin at its thickest point, the flat Arc Mouse easily slips into a bag making it the best travel mouse around, because there is no rounded bulge. The ability to bend it to an arc is bizarre yet awesome since no other mouse does this trick.

Surface Arc Mouse design

Slim, light, and ready to travel, Surface Arc Mouse is designed to conform to your hand – and snaps flat to fit easily in your bag. The next generation of our best-selling Arc Touch Bluetooth Mouse, Surface Arc Mouse features numerous refinements, including the ability to scroll both vertically and horizontally. Connects via Bluetooth.

Coming in three colors – cobalt, burgundy, and light gray – the Arc Mouse is just as stylish as the Surface PC lineup. There is also a Microsoft Arc Mouse ($79.99), which is the same hardware, but in matte black and without the Surface branding.

The Arc Mouse is very minimalist. The top button area is just a large, single surfce that resembles a trackpad. There are right- and left-click abilities as expected, but there is unfortunately no gesture support, which would have been a killer feature.

Surface Arc Mouse technical specifications

Powered by two AAA batteries, the Arc Mouse should last up to six months depending on usage. There is a small door with a latch in the head of the mouse for the batteries on the underside.

Also on the bottom is the Bluetooth pairing button. You simply hold the button for about 10 seconds, and the Bluetooth light will blink rapidly. Just pair the Arc Mouse to Windows 10 using Settings > Devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth. The system downloads a small driver from Windows Update.Then the mouse is all set, with no OS restart required. The mouse can be paired to only one PC at a time.

The bottom houses the battery compartment and Bluetooth sync button.

The Arc Mouse is smooth and lacks the tackier grip of the all-black Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. There is still the soft-touch rubber in the bendable tail, but it is more muted this time with a silkier feel.

The Surface Arc Mouse looks fantastic, has no creaks, and feels substantial, but it is also extremely light and portable. It accurately matches the look and feel of the Surface PC line.

Surface Arc Mouse: What's different?

Microsoft ditched the scroll strip from the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. That strip is used for navigation and acted as a particular point on the mouse head for that function. There was an ingenious haptic feedback system where that scrolling activated a tiny speaker and motor to simulate a physical scroll wheel. It's a weird but satisfying experience.

The design of the new Surface Arc Mouse has more rounded corners than the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. Additionally, the Surface Arc Mouse is symmetrical whereas the previous version was larger at the top compared to the tail. These changes make the Surface Arc Mouse slightly wider in the tail where the palm of your hand is placed. The arch is also a smidge higher compared to the older version. Both changes make it feel significantly different compared to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE.

The original Arc Touch Mouse SE (left) versus new Surface Arc Mouse (right).

Finally, on the bottom, Microsoft hid the ribbed nature of the bendable tail. That was an excellent choice as there was something kind of creepy and reptilian about the ribbed tail with the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE.

Surface Arc Mouse: Mixed feelings

For design, the Surface Arc Mouse looks fantastic. However, compared to the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE I don't care for the performance. The original Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE fits better in my hand, and I was a huge fan of the haptic scroll strip. The right and left click buttons are also more discernable on the original, whereas the Surface Arc Mouse is one big button with left and right pressure points.

To be fair, you can get used to the new Surface Arc Mouse. Also, by removing that haptic strip, Microsoft can now include horizontal scrolling, which is significant. Nonetheless, that horizontal scrolling gets mixed reviews due to some responsiveness issues.

The original Arc Touch Mouse SE (left) versus new Surface Arc Mouse (right).

Vertical scrolling is neat. You can use one, two, or even three fingers anywhere in the top half for scrolling and it works well. The action is smooth and responsive. Users can adjust the settings for scrolling under Windows 10 settings.

My biggest issue with the Surface Arc Mouse is that I just didn't immediately love when I started using it. I did, however, have that reaction to the original Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. From that perspective, I have a tough time recommending the Surface Arc Mouse as an 'upgrade' if you are enjoying the older version. If, however, the haptic scroll strip and lack of horizontal scrolling drove you nuts, it could be worth the investment.

Contoured edges and a thin design make the Surface Arc Mouse very unique.

There are also the usual potential issues with Bluetooth. Some people detest Bluetooth mice and keyboards due to signal interference that can cause noticeable lag on some PCs. I did not notice that issue with the Surface Pro or Surface Laptop, but I am sympathetic to the complaint. Still, the convenience of 'click and go' and no wires using the Surface Arc Mouse is desirable.

The Surface Arc Mouse also feels less precise than a wired mouse, and sometimes I felt I had to re-click to enable an action.

Surface Arc Mouse review: Concluding thoughts

The Surface Arc Mouse is likely the best travel mouse you can get if you want the most compact, no-fuss setup. The design and colors are outstanding, the build quality is fantastic, and it's just a very cool device. The design is an improvement over the original Arc Touch Mouse SE - it's smoother, cleaner looking, and more elegant.

I think the overall experience is above average, but I'm not ready to give up my Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE. I find its performance and ergonomics are just better. The good news is that mouse is still available, and I may pick up another since mine is getting long in the tooth.

The new Surface Arc Mouse (front) has a higher arch than the older version.

Microsoft played it safe with the Surface Arc Mouse and missed an opportunity to try something new. It's very minimal and conservative. Had the top of the Arc Mouse acted as a Precision touchpad with gesture support, I would have been more intrigued.

Pros:

• Brilliant design.
• Super portable and convenient.
• Comfortable to use with smooth navigation.
• Matches new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop.

Cons:

• Not as good as Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE.
• Accuracy seems off at times.
• Right and left click buttons take time to get used to.

Related tip – Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center

Windows 10 lets you do some basic configurations for the Surface Arc Mouse and other Microsoft Arc mice, but there is a separate Win32 application you can download for free from Microsoft that enables even more features.

This app has a bevy of options not found in the default Windows 10 settings.

The Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center provides advanced settings that many users will want, including:

• Reverse scrolling option for vertical and horizontal scrolling.
• Three-finger click (new Surface Arc Mouse).
• Scroll sensitivity.
• Disable smooth scroll mode.
• Touch Strip – turn down or disable vibration/sound (Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse SE).

I consider the app a must-download if you want to tweak your Arc mouse. Ironically, those on the Surface Laptop who are using Windows 10 S cannot install this application unless they switch to Windows 10 Pro.

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The Microsoft Surface Precision mouse went on sale earlier this fall for $99 at the Microsoft Store. Co-announced with the new Surface Book 2 series the Surface Precision mouse brings desktop and professional-level features to the growing Surface mouse line.

I've been using the Surface Precision for the last few weeks and don't have anything negative to say about it. The features are useful, the ergonomics are fantastic, and if you are looking for a high-end, non-gaming mouse for work the Surface Precision mouse should be on your shortlist.

Surface Precision features

The Surface Precision mouse brings many semi-unique features to the table including support for running on three PCs at the same time. Its focus, however, is on the build quality, ergonomics, and overall usage.

Eschewing 2.4GHz connection and requiring a dongle, the Surface Precision mouse uses Bluetooth Low Energy and is compatible with all modern Windows PC and even Apple Mac OS X (but wired).

For those who disapprove of wireless connectivity besides used to recharge the non-replaceable battery, the micro USB port also serves as a wired-connection overriding wireless. Surprisingly, not many mice offer a true USB mode, so it's great to see here as an option.

There are three buttons on the side – all of which are programmable – and a metal scroll wheel that offers detent or smooth scrolling options by clicking a button behind the wheel.

There is also a toggle switch on the bottom for three PCs. Users can switch between 1,2, or 3 on the bottom for each paired PC on the fly.

The mouse supports 400 to 3,200 dot-per-inch (DPI), which is user configurable in the accompanying Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center software.

Surface Precision design

Made from plastic and machined aluminum and weighing 135 grams, the Surface Precision mouse has an ergonomic rounded back and thumb rest. That rest prevents your thumb from dragging on a mouse mat and makes a big difference for overall comfort.

The scroll wheel is grippy with little wiggle or rattle. The detent scrolling (a.k.a. 'clicky') feels nearly as perfect as using a Precision touchpad tuned by Microsoft. For those who prefer free scroll that option is here and can be manually enabled on the fly.

My only concern with the Surface Precision mouse is long term that gray Surface color may pick up – or at least show – dirt more easily than traditional dark or black mice. Of course, being mostly plastic/rubber (Thermoplastic Elastomer or TPE) it should be readily cleanable, but time will tell if it stains or not.

Surface Precision software

While users do not need to use the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center software Windows users are strongly encouraged (and even prompted) to install it.

Like all high-end mice with configurations, the Mouse and Keyboard Center lets users configure the buttons, set DPI, add macros, check battery life and more. It's excellent software that is also quite stable.

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That software also lets you use the Smart Switch feature which allows users run the mouse on three PCs at the same time. The process is simple: pair the Surface Precision mouse to three different PCs. Each PC also needs to be running the Mouse and Keyboard Center software. On any PC, enable the Smart Switch feature.

Once running, when you bring the cursor to the edge of the screen it will pause for second and jump to the other PC seamlessly. Users can configure the ordering of the PCs too and change them at any time. If you don't want to include a PC, you can just toggle it off. There is also an optional notification that can pop up to let you know the mouse as jumped to another PC.

While not everyone will use Smart Switch for those power users who work on a desktop PC and a laptop, it's a killer feature. I had no problems using it.

Additional options like program-specific settings, assigning macros to those programmable keys, or even running keyboard shorts are all possible, but reserved for those who need particular functionality.

Finally, it should be noted that for those using the Surface Laptop and running Windows 10 S, they will not be able to install the Mouse and Keyboard Center software as it is still a Win32 app that needs to be downloaded. Hopefully, Microsoft will be able to port it to the Microsoft Store using its desktop bridge in the future to fix this oversight.

Surface Precision performance and conclusion

The Surface Precision mouse feels great to use. The ergonomic design is bang on, and the scrolling and clicking feel great. Indeed, the clicking is on the quiet side, which is a good thing for those who hate sharp, high-pitched clicks from constant usage in quiet environments.

Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse Mac

Relying on Bluetooth is not without its risks, however. Depending on your device, drivers, and any possible interference from nearby devices, you could experience the usual Bluetooth oddities. Many companies avoid this by using a dongle with a 2.4GHz channel for the radio. While more reliable, that technology does require a USB Type-A dongle, which not only takes up a valuable port but is quickly lost. Moreover, it does not help when using across three devices at the same time.

Being able to plug in for USB wired-mode is a great feature, however. While you do need to plug in to recharge the battery should last around two to three months. I have seen some complain that Microsoft should have used a USB Type C plug, but that component is larger than the micro USB, costs more, and it's not clear what real advantage it would have for everyday usage.

I found the DPI settings OK as well even on a large 27-inch 4K display where high precision movement is needed.

Compared to the Logitech MX Master 2S, which I reviewed recently, there is not a whole lot of difference. Both run around $99, are ergonomic, run over Bluetooth, have similar DPI settings, and excellent software. The Logitech does have an optional 2.4GHz dongle, but it cannot run in USB wired mode. I also found the Logitech louder for clicking and not quite as comfortable compared to the Surface Precision, but those are personal preferences. The Logitech does have a favorite thumb scroll wheel, but in my usage, I never took advantage of it – your experience may vary.

Pros:

• Very good design and comfortable to use.
• Excellent buttons and scroll wheel behavior.
• Wireless (Bluetooth) or wired (USB) options.
• Long battery life.
• Robust software that lets you run on three PCs at once.

Cons:

• Reliance on Bluetooth can be problematic for some.
• Not overtly better than Logitech MX Master 2S.

Overall, I can recommend the Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse. It looks great, runs well, and it brings some advantageous features to the table for those who need advanced and customizable features. While not a travel mouse per se it is a bit flatter than the Logitech MX Master 2S making it not a bad choice for slipping in a bag. Of course, if travel is your priority Microsoft has the very portable Surface Arc Mouse, which is a better fit.

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Microsoft Surface Arc Mouse Macbook Pro

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