IntelliMouse is a brand of computer mice

Mouse (computing)

In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...

 from Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...

. The IntelliMouse series is credited with a number of innovations. For example, Microsoft was among the first mouse vendors to introduce a scroll wheel

Scroll wheel

A scroll wheel is a hard plastic or rubbery disc on a computer mouse that is perpendicular to the mouse surface. It is normally located between the left and right mouse buttons.- Functionality :...

, an optical mouse

Optical mouse

An optical computer mouse or "optic mouse" uses a light-emitting diode and photodiodes to detect movement relative to a surface, unlike a mechanical mouse which has a ball which rotates orthogonal shafts which drive chopper wheels for distance measurement.- Early optical mice :Early optical mice,...

, and dedicated forward and back buttons on the side of the mouse for easier web browsing.

Microsoft also introduced one of the first mainstream ergonomic mice, the Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000. This mouse features an unusual design in which the user's hand is tilted at an angle to reduce compression of the nerves in the wrist (unlike conventional mice, which have the user's palm facing down).

The current IntelliMouse lineup includes a number of models, both wired and wireless, and including the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0. They use IntelliPoint

IntelliPoint

Microsoft IntelliPoint is the Microsoft brand driver for Microsoft's IntelliMouse series of mice. Microsoft has released versions for both Windows and Mac OS X ....

 drivers. The main competitor is Logitech

Logitech

Logitech International S.A. is a global provider of personal peripherals for computers and other digital platforms headquartered in Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland. The company develops and markets products like peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, microphones, game controllers...

.

The Intellimouse was introduced in 1997.
All older Intellimice share their design with the older Microsoft Mouse.