...so you go to the form on the MS website to get this software update. Huge list of hardware. My mouse? Not listed. I have a Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000. (I read the label on the bottom of the mouse, just like the page instructions say.) In the list, you'll find these close-but-not-an-exact-match entries:

Intellimouse Explorer for Bluetooth
Wireless Intellimouse Explorer for Bluetooth
Wireless laser mouse 5000
Wireless mouse 5000
Wireless optical mouse 5000

Why does MS make *you* do the work? I have an MS mouse. I want the new software. How do I just, you know.... *download the new software*?

Here's the cherry on top: I go to the System Pref pane for MS Intellipoint, click the "you may never notice it or think to click it" green arrow to check my software-update settings, and I do indeed have checked for it to look for new software "periodically," whatever that means. Their own software doesn't even see the availability of the new software. No update notice is pushed to me.

Thing is, I really like the hardware -- I've owned 5 MS mice, they're great.

Sigh.