# Tell me about your (computer) mouse **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376 "2010-03-22T19:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kjbrasda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/74df32/32.png) [@kjbrasda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjbrasda)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/21 "2010-03-23T07:05:42Z")
pen tablet here too. Wacom Bamboo. Simple but all I really need. tap for left click, top button for right click, bottom button for center click. I have music controls on the upper right of my keyboard: a volume dial, stop, play, mute, forward, back. Also shortcut buttons for mail, my computer folder, calculator, and browser controls. I can’t say I used them much, and it’d be nice if they were programmable, but there they are. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/22 "2010-03-23T13:25:37Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I have a Logitech MX Revolution cordless mouse. I don’t use all of the programmable buttons, because I can’t think of anything that I could really speed up by using them. However, I really like the dual-mode scroll wheel, and the placement of the backwards / forwards buttons. I also like the shape of the mouse.My one complain is: it picks up cat hair. I have to clean the sensor at least one a month. I use this one as well, and I love it. I do have all the buttons programmed. Bonus: I also have an ergonomic keyboard, and because of this combo, no one ever wants to sit at my desk! I don’t have to worry about cat hair, because we have no cats in the office. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/23 "2010-03-23T13:36:14Z")
At home, I have an Intuos tablet, and at work, it’s a very basic two-button Microsoft optical wheel mouse. Mainframes can only handle just so much gee-whiz technology, and scroll wheels are just beyond that limit. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/24 "2010-03-23T13:49:36Z")
I may give it a try. I will just have to acclimate myself. The reason I got a cordless mouse is because my sweet dog which lays at my feet was always hogging the cord. He would roll over and the mouse would get ripped out of my hand and I would have to thread it back to my tray. ☹ Also no cleaning, Huge plus! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/25 "2010-03-23T15:23:43Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Mice are the unholy creations of Cthulhu. Give me a trackball. A nice simple Kensington Orbit. I forgot to mention: I’m left-handed, so none of those mice shaped for right-handed people are any good. ---
**Author:** ![GreatStuffMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f04885/32.png) [@GreatStuffMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreatStuffMan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/26 "2010-03-23T15:57:40Z")
At home, I have a [Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0](http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/images/signature/MK_po_ime3_detail_1.jpg). At work, I have a [Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000](http://www.activewin.com/reviews/hardware/mice/com3000/loresproduct1.jpg). They’re both standard configured. I like the one at home better, it’s my third one. The one at work, I just… deal with. Though it’s nothing wrong with it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/27 "2010-03-23T20:41:31Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I forgot to mention: I’m left-handed, so none of those mice shaped for right-handed people are any good. As a lefty, I love right handed mice. That leaves my left hand free for picking up a pen and taking notes. [Mine’s a Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=logitech+trackman+wireless&oq=&gs_rfai=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=222261873806409771&ei=fCapS_StEJO2sgPjnZmCAw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers). Cordless because when I’m gaming, the mouse is between me and my keyboard. Righthand on mouse, lefthand typing. Now if Logitech would get around to making an updated version of that, I’d be in heaven. A couple of programmable buttons, and update the digital radio (with it’s huge puck) wireless connection. If you have pets with fur, trackballs are the only way to go. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/28 "2010-03-23T20:56:47Z")
> [@GreatStuffMan](#): > > At home, I have a [Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0](http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/images/signature/MK_po_ime3_detail_1.jpg). > They’re both standard configured. I like the one at home better, it’s my third one. The one at work, I just… deal with. Though it’s nothing wrong with it. 🙂 At home I’m on my second Intellimouse Explorer (1.0 I assume.) The first one needed replacing when the wires in the cord broke from years of use, IIRC it was right where the wire went into the mouse. For general browsing I just use the thumb button for Back. While gaming I usually have the back thumb button reload and the front thumb button switch ammo type. At work I just have a standard MS Intellimouse Optical. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/29 "2010-03-24T01:01:33Z")
I have one discontinued MS Trackball Explorer left (at work), and if it dies I’m not sure what I’ll do. They’re on Amazon, used, for [$199](http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z)! At home now I have a thinkpad laptop, and I love the [trackpoint thingie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick)- don’t have to lift my hands from the keyboard to navigate. ---
**Author:** ![Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayesian_Empirimancer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/30 "2010-03-24T02:39:35Z")
I’m using a cheap logitech mouse, and this silly touchpad thing. My question is, is it worth it getting a high tech mouse, costing in the hundreds, for basically word processing? Are they that useful? And anyone that’s used a wireless mouse, how good are those? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/31 "2010-03-24T06:13:39Z")
I don’t use a mouse, I use wishing and hoping. Not really, I use a Wacom tablet. But even when I do use a mouse, I use two buttons. I’ve never even middle-clicked or scrolled. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/32 "2010-03-24T06:43:19Z")
I have been using a Logitech Trackman Wheel for probably 10-12 years now. I have never managed to find another thumball and the last time I tried to find the Trackman Wheel at Staples, the young whippersnapper working there had never even heard of a thumball. The buttons on the one I have now are starting to fizzle out. I WILL find a replacement. Logitech CAN NOT discontinue this mouse. Ok, apparently I looked in the wrong place. A quick Google search tells me that not only do they still sell them, they finally make them cordless. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376/33 "2010-03-24T11:59:28Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I have a Logitech MX Revolution cordless mouse. …However, I really like the dual-mode scroll wheel… I have the [Logitech Performance Mouse MX.](http://reviews.cnet.com/mice/logitech-performance-mouse-mx/4505-3148_7-33769469.html?tag=mncol;lst) The most useful feature for me is the wheel, which is like that of your MX Revolution. For folks who haven’t used one, you should check out this line of mice. Unlike most, the wheel on this mouse is made out of metal to give it some mass/inertia, and is mounted on a very low-friction bearing. One single flick of your finger, and you can scroll through a very long document or web page without stopping until you bring your finger back down on the wheel to brake it. With this mouse, I’ve reset my CAD/solid-model software to zoom in very small increments with each “click” of the wheel, so now when I free-spin the wheel as described above, I get very smooth, progressive zoom action. The downside is that the bearing has so little friction that occasionally it’s hard to get the wheel to stay absolutely still. In situations where this is important, the Performance Mouse MX (and the MX Revolution, it sounds like) have a toggle button that changes the wheel over to a standard detent/click behavior; this prevents unwanted wheel motion and gives you the ability to move the wheel in discrete increments. I like it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-computer-mouse/533376.md?page=1)