In 1985 Microsoft described the new mouse's body: "With wrap-around command buttons designed to fit naturally in the palm of any size hand. Details may sound a bit droll. but the benefits are very practical." It boasted "twice the resolution of most other mice—200 points per inch."
Microsoft Mouse version 5.0, the gray-eyed mouse, claimed near-silent operation on all surfaces. Microsoft received an award for this hardware.
The mouse's steel ball tracked quietly due to its rubber-like coating. A twist off retainer ring allowed easy access for cleaning the ball. Slightly larger than Microsoft's original mouse, its lines were more curved, its buttons more accessible.
The round plug attached to a bus card installed in an ISA expansion slot in the computer, thereby leaving the serial port free. The D-ring plug is easily distinguished from the later PS/2 round plug by the bar on the bus plug across a part of the inner opening. Furthermore, the PS/2 has 6 pins but the D-ring bus has 9 pins.
Note: in 1993 the Microsoft Mouse 2.0 was released yet this version is called Microsoft Mouse 5.0. Is this a countdown from 5.0 to Microsoft Mouse 1.0?
Profile of the Microsoft grey eyed Mouse
Underside of the Microsoft grey eyed Mouse