Choosing the Right Mouse

Your first mouse was probably shaped like a bar of soap, had very low resolution, and had to be disassembled and cleaned periodically. Today’s mice are very different, with sleek designs, high resolution, and improved optical technologies that rely on sealed electronic sensors that never get dirty. The problem with these advancements is that choosing a mouse is often confusing. Here are some hints to help you make the best choice for you.

Pick the Right Size
Most modern mice are bigger than the earlier models and are designed to fit comfortably in the adult hand. If you have small hands, however, or if you are buying a mouse for a child, smaller-sized mice are available. If you are looking for a smaller mouse, you might also want to consider notebook mice, since they are intended to be used in cramped spaces and tend to be smaller than desktop mice.

Choose a Contour
Most modern mouse designs are symmetrical, meaning that each half of the mouse is a mirror image of the other half. Older mouse designs tended to be asymmetrical — curved to one side, usually to the left so the thumb rests on the inside of the curve and the little finger rests on the outside of the curve. With both mouse designs, the bottom end of the mouse is usually wider than the top end, giving the mouse more stability in the hand. Which mouse shape you choose depends on what feels better in your hand, but recent studies have suggested that modern symmetrical mice are more comfortable and less fatiguing than asymmetrical mice.

Ball or Optical?

The first mice worked on the simple but ingenious principle of a rubber ball that turned plastic rollers. Unfortunately, these rollers collect lint, hair, and oil, and dirty rollers make it very difficult to move the mouse with accuracy. Newer optical mice solve this problem by replacing the ball and rollers with electronic sensors. Since they have no moving parts, optical mice don’t get dirty, and their increased precision makes optical mice an excellent choice.

Wired or Wireless?
A wired mouse has a flexible cord that plugs into the computer; it draws its power from the computer itself and needs no batteries. A wireless mouse has no cords and transmits its information to a small receiver that plugs into the computer; wireless mice usually need two AA batteries for power. Mice with cords are sometimes easier to use because you don’t have to worry about pointing the mouse at the receiver (some mice are very picky about this), and you don’t have the extra hassle of keeping your mouse in batteries. Also, some of the newer wired mice have very thin, flexible cords (sometimes they’re even retractable) that help you keep the desktop neat. I still prefer my wireless mice because that’s one fewer cord to get twisted and tangled around the computer.

How Many Buttons?
The first mice had one button, and then for years the industry standard was two buttons, but today all the major mouse manufacturers offer both two and three-button designs. Microsoft Windows has built-in support for the left and right mouse buttons, but if your mouse has a middle button, it can usually be configured to perform a specific action, such as move to the next window, exit the current program, press the Alt key, and so on. A middle button can be a great benefit if you remember to use it (I have never gotten into the habit of using a middle button). One of my current mice has two additional “thumb buttons” that I do use frequently. The thumb buttons are along the left edge of the mouse; they’re both configurable, but by default one of them acts like the Back button on a web browser, and the other activates an on-screen magnifier that has proven to be very useful.

Mouse Wheel
The mouse wheel on my two Microsoft optical mice was a great surprise for me, because I didn’t expect it to be useful and yet I end up using it all the time. It is very easy and very convenient to scroll a document or a web page up and down smoothly using the mouse wheel, without having to move the mouse or use the keyboard at all. This is the single feature I miss the most when I use other mice.

Mouse Pad
Most modern mice can operate without problem even on smooth desks and table tops, but any mouse will benefit from the use of a mouse pad. Mouse pads provide friction for ball mice and a consistent surface for optical mice, leading to more precise results. Many mice come with their own mouse pad, but if you don’t have one, you can buy one from a local computer or office supply store. (Staples.com sells a no-frills mouse pad in your choice of five colors for $3.28.) It’s important to keep mouse pads clean, even if you use an optical mouse. Periodically wipe the surface of the mouse pad with alcohol to remove dust and debris.

Take It For A Test Drive
Researching your options online will give you an idea of what’s available, but before you buy a mouse, go to your local computer center and try out the display models. Do not skip this step! It doesn’t matter how many features are packed into your new mouse; if it doesn’t feel good in your hand, it’s not the mouse for you. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your mouse — make sure the fit is perfect.

Filed Under Windows How-To's