Mouse!

N

Nil

I've been using an el cheapo Belkin mouse on my Windows XP desktop
machine for the past couple of years, which actually felt pretty good,
I realize now in hindsight. I was forced to give it away recently and
have been using a no-name spare since then, and I absolutely hate it.
So, I'm shopping for a good new one.

I want a wired, non-ball-type mouse, fairly large to fit my large
hands, with a scroll wheel that can be configured to push for a double-
click. Solid feel, maybe a little on the heavy side. Don't need a bunch
of extra buttons. Must be able to do both USB and PS/2 connections.

I bought a Microsoft "Comfort Optical Mouse 3000" that was on sale for
a mere $8 at Staples yesterday, but I'm going to return it. It meets my
basic criteria pretty well, but I don't like its feel - the scroll
wheel has no ratchets, which makes it harder to control, and wheel is
difficult and finicky to push down (you have to do it at a precisely
awkward angle or it doesn't register.)

So, does anyone have a favorite that they would like to recommend? I'd
spend up to maybe $40 USD, though cheap is best.
 
F

Flasherly

I've been using an el cheapo Belkin mouse on my Windows XP desktop
machine for the past couple of years, which actually felt pretty good,
I realize now in hindsight. I was forced to give it away recently and
have been using a no-name spare since then, and I absolutely hate it.
So, I'm shopping for a good new one.

I want a wired, non-ball-type mouse, fairly large to fit my large
hands, with a scroll wheel that can be configured to push for a double-
click. Solid feel, maybe a little on the heavy side. Don't need a bunch
of extra buttons. Must be able to do both USB and PS/2 connections.

I bought a Microsoft "Comfort Optical Mouse 3000" that was on sale for
a mere $8 at Staples yesterday, but I'm going to return it. It meets my
basic criteria pretty well, but I don't like its feel - the scroll
wheel has no ratchets, which makes it harder to control, and wheel is
difficult and finicky to push down (you have to do it at a precisely
awkward angle or it doesn't register.)

So, does anyone have a favorite that they would like to recommend? I'd
spend up to maybe $40 USD, though cheap is best.

I love my big ball-mouse, Logitec marble mouse. Also have a ball-
mouse mounted in the middle of the keyboard's spacebar. Both work,
though exclusively use the Logitec, which is my second in the same
model. Better built, I hope, with three metal ball-bearing stand-
offs, instead of plastic I wore out that they used before. Left- or
righty-handed its shape is a pronounced elongation. Super action.
Not near as fancy as they get for push-button and scrolling, far from
it, but a 4" movement to my left hand to access the arrow is nice.
Takes getting used to, but ultimately fast for typing. Two levels of
orientation that drives everyone else nuts (left-handed for almost all
righties, as am I, a righty, and Logitec's actual software orientation
which is surprisingly sophisticated). Once used to and good to go for
an lefty convert, though, it would drive me nuts if I had to switch to
another mouse.

I use a regular setup, though, again Logitec, on a glass-top coffee
table for my multimedia. IR Base to computer unit, receiver/
transmitter, black mouse and keyboard, with probably 4 batteries to
keep up with a LaCross charger. Runs forever, many months on a
charge, and can't say how pleased I'm with that Logitec. Very
reasonable, maybe a $30 package.

Beyond which gets into game, editing and CAD mousers -- where they're
priced for the sky's the limit.
 
N

Nil

So, does anyone have a favorite that they would like to recommend?
I'd spend up to maybe $40 USD, though cheap is best.

Thank you, everyone, for all your suggestions. They are all good ones.
I've decided to keep my $8 Staples mouse for the moment. I think I
really need to try them out before buying, so I'll make the rounds of
the local computer and office stores over the next couple of weeks to
see if I can find any of the ones you suggested. So far, I've
discovered that most of them have only wireless mice, with maybe one or
two token wired ones.

The Microsoft Comfort Mouse I bought at Staples does have one very nice
feature - a button on the side that can be programmed to pop up a quick
magnifying glass. It's very conveniently implemented. It's a software
feature, I know, so probably any MS mouse with an extra button can be
made to do it. Otherwise, the scroll wheel on this thing is very
uncomfortable, and the push-to-double-click feature is really annoying.
You have to crook your finger and pull it toward you, like a trigger,
and about a third of the time it doesn't fire because I've pulled it at
slightly the wrong angle. So, this one will be given away or go into
the spares box after I replace it.
 
N

Nil

You really do need to try out a mouse before buying it. Easier to
return to a local vendor if you get it home and decide you really
don't like it after more use.

Right. You can't really tell how big it is, and you can't get the feel
for the buttons. I'd have been annoyed if I had ordered this Comfort
Mouse on-line and waited for it, only to discover that it's so un-
ergonomic.
I already have the Logitech LX3
Optical Mouse so I had no problem buying a couple online as
backups.

I was thinking that, too - when I find one I like, I'll got a spare,
too (if it's cheap enough.)
Staples online says my store has this Logitech mouse, which looks
similar to the one I posted about: Logitech® Mouse M110, $14.99.

Let us know what you finally purchase.

Will, do. Thanks again.
 
N

Nil

I love my big ball-mouse, Logitec marble mouse.

Do you have any experience with the current "Logitech Marble Mouse" -
I'm assuming this is a different product...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104249

I'm interested in these stationary pointing devices. I'm sure it would
take some getting used to, but I might be willing to put the effort
into it.

No scroll wheel equivalent, it seems. That might be a deal-beaker. I
never used to think that was useful, until I finally got a mouse that
had one. Now I could hardly live without it.
 
F

Flasherly

Do you have any experience with the current "Logitech Marble Mouse" -
I'm assuming this is a different product...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104249

I'm interested in these stationary pointing devices. I'm sure it would
take some getting used to, but I might be willing to put the effort
into it.

No scroll wheel equivalent, it seems. That might be a deal-beaker. I
never used to think that was useful, until I finally got a mouse that
had one. Now I could hardly live without it.

No, no scroll wheel. I have scroll wheels on my Logitec IR and a
mouse at work. The present Marble looks exactly like mine, in all
likelihood is except for software. A nice batch of standing reviews,
too. The scroll "function" as Logitec touts it, is going to be
software. If so, it's not the same as a built-in, hardwired scroll
wheel. What I have in those assignable side buttons, two of the four
-- one is assigned to scroll (had to check -- although I never use
it), while the second is assigned to switching tasks, which I do use
regularly. I've adapted to it, as I mentioned, and for strictly
typing purposes, when I do have to be interrupted to get around on a
mouse, nothing I've found is as convenient or fast as having learned
to use my left hand only, not my arm, on that marble mouse a few
inches at the left side my present keyboard (the last of the great
Focus tactiles -- what's left when Focus came out of Northgate Omni
Keyboards, ages ago when Dell packaged them with $2000 286 machines).
So -- I've already warned you, if you want to learn this product,
you've been apprised. Logitec marble mousers are addictive.
 
K

Krypsis

I've been using an el cheapo Belkin mouse on my Windows XP desktop
machine for the past couple of years, which actually felt pretty good,
I realize now in hindsight. I was forced to give it away recently and
have been using a no-name spare since then, and I absolutely hate it.
So, I'm shopping for a good new one.

I want a wired, non-ball-type mouse, fairly large to fit my large
hands, with a scroll wheel that can be configured to push for a double-
click. Solid feel, maybe a little on the heavy side. Don't need a bunch
of extra buttons. Must be able to do both USB and PS/2 connections.

I bought a Microsoft "Comfort Optical Mouse 3000" that was on sale for
a mere $8 at Staples yesterday, but I'm going to return it. It meets my
basic criteria pretty well, but I don't like its feel - the scroll
wheel has no ratchets, which makes it harder to control, and wheel is
difficult and finicky to push down (you have to do it at a precisely
awkward angle or it doesn't register.)

So, does anyone have a favorite that they would like to recommend? I'd
spend up to maybe $40 USD, though cheap is best.

Quite a lot of Microsoft mouses on sale here at various places aren't
genuine. They are cheap Chinese knock-offs that have few of the
"features" of the real thing. One of the ways to identify these in the
past was the incorrect logo printing on the top of the mouse. I've
stayed away from Microsoft mouses since I paid good money for one once.
It was dead in no time but looked 100% like the real deal to an amateur
like me.

I quite like my Logitech M-BT58. It works well, has only 2 buttons and a
nice notchy scroll wheel that doubles as a "double click". I have some
similar HP ones and a Belkin that came with a laptop bag. These are all
standard shaped mouses. I don't like those funny ergonomic things as
they give me a pain in the mouse hand.

I don't know what my Logitech is worth new as I bought it second hand at
a swap meet on a whim. It has proven to be reliable however. I picked
out the one with the least wear on the buttons.

Some of the really cheap mouses have lousy glide pads that come off
after a while. They also usually have very noisy buttons that start to
give trouble after a short while.

Any ex-lease computer sale places near you? Here they often sell a
pallet of mouses for a few dollars. The blokes at the swap meet buy a
pallet load of these and then sell them individually for 5 to 7 dollars
each and make a killing.
 
N

Nil

Quite a lot of Microsoft mouses on sale here at various places
aren't genuine. They are cheap Chinese knock-offs that have few of
the "features" of the real thing. One of the ways to identify
these in the past was the incorrect logo printing on the top of
the mouse.

I'm pretty sure this one is authentic - I just noticed there's one of
those holographic "Genuine" stickers on the bottom, like what they put
on their software boxes. Of course, those can be faked, too.
I quite like my Logitech M-BT58. It works well, has only 2 buttons
and a nice notchy scroll wheel that doubles as a "double click".

I'll keep and eye out for one. I remember seeing those around quite a
bit several years ago.

The thing is, few retail stores carry more than a token selection of
wired mice. They're all about wireless. And I'm wondering if I really
want a high-resolution one - my temporary MS mouse is 1000 dpi, and it
feels too finicky to me. I'm thinking I might be more accurate with a
lower res mouse than this.

I'm going to visit the largest retail computer store in my area,
Microcenter, today, so maybe I'll find a good one. If not, I'll start
hitting up some of the few remaining small mom 'n pop computer stores,
hoping that they have some new-old-stock or used mice.
 
M

Man-wai Chang

So, does anyone have a favorite that they would like to recommend? I'd
spend up to maybe $40 USD, though cheap is best.

Find a store that offer sample mouses for you to place your hand on.

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