Pointers for Choosing the Right Mouse
Just about every desktop computer on the market comes with a mouse, and most people stick with the standard issue. But a number of companies make “pointing devices” that, in some cases, are better than the mouse your PC was born with.
Microsoft Corp., a leading manufacturer of mice for PC makers and the aftermarket, has come up with a number of innovative designs ranging from a device that uses a wheel to a ball-less mouse that has an optical sensor to track the cursor as you move it about a desktop or other surface.
The IntelliMouse IntelliEye and the IntelliMouse Explorer represent a significant design shift. Instead of using a standard ball, the underside of the mouse has an optical sensor--actually a tiny digital camera--that, according to Microsoft, takes 1,500 pictures per second of the surface below the mouse. On-board digital-signal processor chips analyze those pictures and translate movement of the mouse into movement of the on-screen cursor.
The basic IntelliMouse with IntelliEye costs $54.95 and looks pretty much like a regular Microsoft Wheel mouse. IntelliMouse Explorer ($74.95) is bigger and has much more stylized design, including a lighted red area at the rear that doesn’t serve any function but looks very cool.
In addition to the two standard buttons and the wheel, the Explorer version has two extra buttons on the side that, by default, act as forward and back buttons when using an Internet browser. The buttons can be programmed to perform other tasks. The wheel on all wheel mice is also a programmable button if you push down on it. Unlike standard Microsoft ball mice, both IntelliEye mice come with a lifetime guarantee in the U.S. and Canada.
The biggest advantage to the optical sensor devices is that there are no moving parts that wear out or get dirty.
Design is also a factor. Both mice are curved in such a way as to fit nicely into a right hand. The curve on the less expensive mouse is somewhat subtle, making it also usable by lefties like me, but the curve on the Explorer version is far too pronounced to use with your left hand.
The new mice, by the way, can plug into either the USB port or, with the supplied adapter, to a standard PS/2 mouse port. Because of the USB connector, they also work on Apple’s iMac, iBook or any other USB equipped Macintosh. Personally, I’m not fond of the hockey puck-shaped mouse that comes with the iMac, so the Microsoft mice or just about any other USB mouse could be a relief for iMac users.
IBM Corp. doesn’t have ball-less mice, but if you like the pointing stick built into all IBM ThinkPad notebook PCs, you might also like its ScrollPoint mouse for desktop PCs. The ScrollPoint uses a “mini-stick” that you can use to scroll up, down, sideways or even diagonally. It comes with some IBM-brand PCs or you can purchase it separately ($29) for use with any PC.
Of course, there are many other devices on the market including track balls from Logitech, Kensington and other vendors. Unlike a mouse, these devices stay in one place and you move the ball itself.
Another option is an electronic touch pad, such as the GlidePoint (starting at $39 from Cirque https://www.cirqueshop.com), which is similar to the touch pads built into many notebook PCs.
Standard mice have a ball that when moved across a surface, moves rollers inside the mouse case. The trouble is the ball picks up dirt and dust from your desk, mouse pad and the air that it transfers to the rollers. When the rollers get dirty, the mouse starts to work erratically until it’s cleaned. Also, standard mice don’t work well on some surfaces. For best results, you need a mouse pad. But even with a pad and a clean mouse you sometimes get jerky an uneven movements.
Because Microsoft’s new IntelliEye mice have no moving parts, you don’t need a mouse pad or, for that matter, a desktop. You can drag it across almost any surface including your pant leg or an airline seat. It won’t, however, work properly on glass or other reflective surfaces so if your desk has a glass top you still might need a mouse pad.
If you have a regular ball mouse that is starting to act up, you can probably improve its performance dramatically just by cleaning it. With most mice, you can turn it over and twist off the cover that holds the ball in place. Turn off the PC and clean the ball with alcohol and use an alcohol soaked cotton swab to clean off the rollers. Blow out any debris and wait for the alcohol to evaporate before you reassemble the mouse. Make sure that the clip that holds the ball is firmly locked.
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Lawrence J. Magid can be heard at 1:48 p.m. weekdays on KNX-AM (1070). He can be reached at larry.magid@latimes.com. His Web page is at https://www.larrysworld.com. On AOL, use keyword “LarryMagid.”
