Have just bought MS basic optical mouse for $25 less $10 cashback at Dick Smith.

The scroll wheel is, well basically shithouse. Really obvious gear mechanism, has quite a clickity-clack feel to it, not nice at all. Real letdown after using a mighty mouse on my main machine.

My question, are they like this or is this one flawed in some way ???

A lot of mice are like that. My Logitec mouse (that's on my PC) is "clickity-clacky". For me I personally like it as the wheel doesn't "overspin". Though you can get mice that have smooth scrolling (like the Mighty Mouse, but lots of different brands too)

That sounds a bit like mine. I quite like it but dislike the the mighty mouse. I suppose it depends on what you are used to. Maybe you'll get used to it.

The basic MS mouse is tough as old boots. Mine's about 7 years old (I've worn the pads off it) and it's still going strong.

Yes, the scroll wheel is a bit clacky but you soon get used to that.

The old basic Microsoft optical mouse is a brick. Good size, good feel to the buttons (a firm but quiet click) and the mouse-wheel light but firm without being clicky-clunky. The remaining one I have has had to have the cable cut back twice and the connectors resoldered to its internal board (excessive flexing where the cable enters the mouse causes an intermittent break) but is otherwise going great guns.

The new basic Microsoft optical mouse is a turd. Smaller body, flimsy mouse-buttons, and the click-wheel is stiff, stubborn, and likes to jam hard at one point in its revolution. It also likes to sporadically reset, sending the mouse pointer fleeing to one corner of the screen.

Thanks guys.

Brains, as so often the case, you go that little bit further with relevant information.
James, sounds like you have an 'original' !!

I can see myself returning this, really, the scrolling action is terrible.
Has a nice feel to the click and I need to have the right button as the primary button, which I am able to do in the settings, and I like how light it feels...
BUT, I hate the scroll action.

And this after using the old puck mouse, which must be one of the worst mice ever to come from apple.

So any recommendations for a basic optical mouse with good scrolling action, price range $20 - $30 ????