Recommend a mouse or other pointing device

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#1 Post by **K. Eng** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:56 pm

My old mechanical Intellimouse 1.1 (2 buttons + scroll wheel) has been acting up. The left button sometimes registers two clicks instead of one and I think it is time for a replacement.

Can anyone recommend a mouse that is in the $25 or less range and is comfortable to use? I would prefer a USB/PS2 device so I can use it with a wide variety of systems.

Thanks in advance

christopher_wolf · #2 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:09 pm

An optical mouse, first off; I would go with a Microsoft IntelliExplorer. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, jut optical with two buttons and a scroll wheel/third button. The one I have also has a rocker wheel as well as the web navigation buttons on the side.

Here is the one I have; http://tinyurl.com/oeb6q

Works great.

Orevin · #3 Post by **Orevin** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:17 pm

I would go with a Logitech or Microsoft. You should go to an electronics store and test some mices, then compare the prices for the ones that feel good in your hand.

#4 Post by **K. Eng** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:53 pm

I went to CompUSA to test out a few mice. None of the Logitech ones seemed to fit right. I guess I'll get another Microsoft one.

pphilipko · #5 Post by **pphilipko** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:40 pm

I have the Logitech G5 laser mouse, and it is utterly perfect. It glides along smoothly, and the accuracy is beyond words.

I must warn you to stay away from cordless mice; I had quite some trouble with the batteries.

#6 Post by **K. Eng** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:25 pm

I am not a fan of cordless stuff either. I'd rather have the piece of mind (and slight inconvenience) of a wire.

Does anyone have any insight into whether a trackball or mouse is better in ergonomic terms?

christopher_wolf · #7 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:02 pm

K. Eng wrote:I am not a fan of cordless stuff either. I'd rather have the piece of mind (and slight inconvenience) of a wire.

Does anyone have any insight into whether a trackball or mouse is better in ergonomic terms?

For most people? A mouse would be more familiar. A regular mouse at standard sensitivity, however, requires involvement of the arm and at least part of the upper torso (Experiment, ping the anterior portion of your armpit where you have your fingers in your armpit and your thumb just below where you can feel the ball-and-socket joint of your shoulder. Now move a mouse across a mousepad quickly whilst going from Point A to Point B on the screen without overshooting; you can feel that muscle contract and relax.) If, however, you customize the mouse to high sensitivity and what "feels good" you won't have to move it much and it just involves your wrist and lower arm.

The trackballs are similar to a highly sensitive mouse in the sense that they involve only the fingers and lower arm and don't have to be "shoved around with precision;" which can make your arm sore. The same can be done with a normal mouse by increasing the sensitivity in the OS via software and using finger+wrist extension and retraction. Some trackballs are "thumb-balls" where they involve using the thumb to manage the trackball while the fingers remain static, others are the classic, large trackball design...just more comfortable because they accomodate the arch of the hand at rest.

At that point, whether one uses a trackball or a mouse, is simply a matter of preference.

Cordless isn't worth it unless you *really* have a cluttered operating surface and an extra wire would be more hassle than simply charging the batteries in the mouse in a cradle.

dsigma6 · #8 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:06 pm

ive been using a microsoft intellimouse optical for a good number of years. at first i wasnt sure how long it would last, how accurate it would be- but i just realized i havent thought about that in years. a friend bought it for me, and its one of the best cheap computer gifts ive received.

definitely cheaper than $25.

dsvochak · #9 Post by **dsvochak** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:07 pm

A few years ago my wife had a rotator cuff injury. We got one of these:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product ... _Mouse_USB and it worked so well I got one for our desktop.

You can set it in a comfortable position and do everything you want to without moving your arm.

#10 Post by **K. Eng** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:54 pm

I decided to use my spare Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 4.0. It is brand new and I had initially kept it in storage, but I am slowly getting used to it.

I would have prefered to buy a trackball or one of those Logitech G5 gaming mice, but as I am a bit short of cash now it will have to wait.

whitney · #11 Post by **whitney** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:34 pm

dsigma6 wrote:ive been using a microsoft intellimouse optical for a good number of years. at first i wasnt sure how long it would last, how accurate it would be- but i just realized i havent thought about that in years. a friend bought it for me, and its one of the best cheap computer gifts ive received.

definitely cheaper than $25.

As others here: the MSFT Intellimouse Optical has been the best I've ever used. It's just right for my hand size and it's so sturdy...the only flaw was that the wheel's detents got smooth after several years...called MSFT and they sent a new one, free...within one week.

The best 5 button mouse, I've ever used.

Recommend a mouse or other pointing device

Recommend a mouse or other pointing device

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