Thinkpads Forum

Hey all!

So I'm pretty new to laptops (the T42 i got yesterday being my first one). So I'm just getting used to the trackpoint and the touch pad.

My question is...for heavy work...I'm probably going to get an external mouse (aka. for CAD)...which one's do you recommend?

Link would be great!

Thanks for any help you can provide

Others may have specific models in mind, but I mainly would suggest an optical USB mouse of a smaller size that compliments the design of your new laptop. I bought a Belkin optical USB mouse for less than $20 that I am satisfied with. There are probably nicer ones out there if you want to spend the money. I really didn't look too hard. I just went and bought what fit my criteria at Best Buy.

I also have a Belkin optical mouse. I bought it in Circuit City more than 2 years ago and it's still working perfectly.

Well...thats sound pretty simple and good to me!

Thanks for the help!

Just get a quality $15-$20 normal logitech or ms mouse. I prefer one with a few extra buttons (for back/forward scrolling in firefox and so forth) but a simple 3-button will do. I don't recommend one most of those mini travel mice unless you want to put yourself on the fast track towards RSI, especially if you're using it a lot for stuff like CAD.

Don't get the logitech v500 portable cordless like I did if you need a middle button, because it DOESN'T HAVE ONE. (Instead it's got a touch panel in the middle for scrolling.) Which makes it absolutely useless for Linux work. A nice $30 mistake for me...

if your TP has bluetooth, then how about an impressing and excellent-piece bluetooth mouse from dell by kensington.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/Prod ... sting.aspx

i got mine with a $50 coupon, acc. & elec. 10% off and free shipping.

Scorpiontico, how does that bluetooth work?

For now, I'm eyeing the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse - Slate. Its normally $45-50 but Amazon has it for $25 after a 5 dollar rebate:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... c&n=507846

I'm not sure I understand the difference between something like this and the bluetooth that Scorpiontico pointed out....can anyone clarify?

Thanks.

I had a microsoft wired notebook mouse but the buttons because a bit soft after about 4 months of use. Switched to the wired Logitech notebook mouse and have been happy with it after about 6 months.

I purchased a mini USB mouse with my TP, my girlfriend borrowed it now it's hers, she loves it.
I'm trying my best to get use to the TouchPad, this way I have less stuff to walk around with.
You may want to check out these links:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... suggestion

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... suggestion

For heavy CAD work you might want something more than a basic mouse.... something like a graphics tablet or trackball. They're more expansive but give much finer control.

If you do ge a mouse, I'd recommend avoiding mini or travel versions, which tend to be too small for extended use IMO. Get a high-end logitech or MS version instead, which will be a bit more ergonomic and will have additional buttons you can program if needed (though try them without the supplied drivers first... you'll be surprised what features work with just generic drivers in XP when you just plug them in and go).

I use a wireless MS Intellimouse 2.0, which has four buttons and a wheel, all of which work fine without installing the bloatware MS drivers it came with. Wireless in this case is RF I think, not bluetooth. I haven't tried a bluethooth mouse yet.

Good recommendations, thanks. The only reason I'm hessitant on wireless is b/c I do play games and I may play games from time to time on my Laptop (First person shooters in particular)....in which case wireless are notorious for lag and etc. Unless a good amount of people can vouch for wireless being good for gaming, I'll probably stick to the more traditional wired. Even in this case, I don't want to spend more than $40 bucks though....may be that narrows it down a bit?

I've not noticed any lag with my MS wireless mouse, though I also don't play games. I would imagine that bluetooth mice might have more of a lag simply because the computer has to receive and process the bluetooth signal. I have no specific experience tho.

$40 online will get you a pretty decent logitech or MS mouse.

STS06 wrote:Scorpiontico, how does that bluetooth work?

For now, I'm eyeing the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse - Slate. Its normally $45-50 but Amazon has it for $25 after a 5 dollar rebate:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... c&n=507846

I'm not sure I understand the difference between something like this and the bluetooth that Scorpiontico pointed out....can anyone clarify?

Thanks.

if you TP is bluetooth enabled (came with or installed on your own the BT antenna) you will only need to purchase the mouse, non BT wireless mice require an external antenna (usually like a memory flash stick that connects thru USB ports.)

My BT rocks man, pretty light, compact and useful (con: the dark blue color, at least is dark). DELL only has this one, cheap. if you dont like it then look somewhere else, im sure there are alot BT mice styles.

good luck with your purchase.

ps:i had like 3 regular wireless mice that always gave me trouble, especially their range of use... but BT is another story, trust me (or trust kensington).

Several comments above are about looks and cost.

Cost differntials in mouse types are not meaningful in my view .. and looks -- well each to is own.

I think functional capability vs intended use should be the first question.

I am a sporadic heavy AutoCad user, Photoshop, etc. As such I have acquired a number of different mice over time to reach MY comfort level. I have several corded models that I never use any more (some people prefer and stay with corded because they can't misplace it).

My workhorse mouse is MS Wireless Intellimouse (NOT version II). While a little chunky (129mmL, 80mmW, 47mmH) and a battery hog this 4-button plus wheel model has great compatiblity with AutoCAD .. as well as all my other apps. My MS-WIM-II (with the addtional E-W scrolling feature) collects dust .. as the E-W does not work for me, the N-S does not work in Lotus-123 .. and the button programming utility has fewer choices .. one of which (ESC) I value highly but is missing.

Another of my mice that I use on the road is Logitech's "Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks". This compact 2 button plus wheel model (106mmL, 56mmW, 37mmH) has a switch to shut off when not in use ... a great feature. I find it works adequately ... though I am so used the the extra buttons on MS-WIM that their absence is annoying at times.

My third currently active mouse is a BT model "Stowaway Travel Mouse" by ThinkOutside. This mouse defines SMALL for me (87mmL, 50mmW and 35mmH). But it also has a shut off switch .. two buttons and wheel. It works well with my notebooks ... and it works very well with my PPC an HP-hx4705, a VGA model with 16 bit color. This Bluetooth mouse also functions well in my PPC environment which includes also a 'full size' folding BT keyboard, and DeLorme's BlueLogger GPS receiver. I'll probably get a BT headset .. and have no idea how all will work at the same time.

Of the three mice the BT model seems the easiest to connect. The other two tend to interfere with each other's driver ... thus I keep a copy of their installation files on the HDD to reinstall when either jumps off the track.

I almost forgot that the trusty ThinkPad Trackpoint is always there to jump into action. My A31p's don't have trackpad (or whatever they are called) .. I never took a liking to them.

Hope this adds a bit this subject.

Frank K-F

I'd suggest two mice... One good-sized optical cordless mouse of a well-known brand (Logitech Optical Click mouse works for me, it all comes down to choosing one that fits your hand properly) for your usual desktop workspace, and a small corded optical for use on the road. Like someone else here mentioned, these small mice tend to get you on the fast track to RSI as your fingers get cramped after a while, but it makes for a change and is quicker than the trackpoint.
Use the full-sized mouse at your normal workplace with the PS/2 connector in a docking station and the trackpoint will switch off automatically, meaning you won't move the cursor when you you accidentally hit it (I'm not a blind typist, move my hands rather energetically from left ro right across the keyboard, and so I tend to hit the pointer now and then).

I have the little mini-mouse that came free with the free case (and free shipping) when I bought my little Bessie (nickname for my ThinkPad). 95% of the time I prefer the little eraserhead embedded mouse, but when it comes to touching up photos, etc., a "regular" mouse is critical.

That said, I had to use the desktop supplied at a hospital I visited today, and using a huge, slow regular wheel mouse was downright painful.

.. an update

My recent post on this thread praised my MS Wireless Inrellimouse Explorer .. working with AutoCAD etc...

Well, two days ago it jumped off the track .. acting erratic, buttons responded unevenly, scrolling was sluggish. Nothing I tried .. fresh battery, blow off dust, reinstall .. worked to recover its performance. A new experience for me. (BTW I do not have any beverages near my TP or in my work space.) The fact the the TrackPoint functioned well suggested to me that the issue was with the MS-WIE.

Since I am in the middle of several projects and I need my AutoCAD ... I went mouse shopping earlier today. I picked up a Logitech MxLASER Mouse .. without any prior recommendation ... and inquired about returns before buying, as I did not know what to expect.

Well after installation I discovered that indeed this mouse is more capable then the 5 button MS-WIE. It has more buttons (9 or 10, depending how you count) and more options to customize.

While I haven't found that the MxLASER driver utility has the application specific customization that the WIE has, I customized it for my AutoCAD ... and it works very well on also with PhotoshopCS, Spreadsheet, Word processing, Browser, File maneger. This is a step up from the WIE.

So it looks like the MXLASER is a keeper!

Frank K-F

Yeah I opted not to buy that Microsoft wireless mouse. Instead I went with a wired Logitech mouse...big as a regular mouse but thats ok....for gaming or even cad, I think its the better choice. So thus far, I've only bought Logitech mice and they haven't dissapointed me. I don't hear as many favorable remarks about Microsoft mice as I do about Logitech...thats all I can say. Good day!