Computer Mice

Guide to Computer Mice and Touchpads

Find and buy the right computer mouse or computer touchpads for your needs
By Greg Brown

	Quick Look at Computer Mice Buy an ergonomic mouse for highly repetitive work Wireless and optical PC mice are good solutions for tight spaces Computer touchpads are the alternative to the computer mouse

It seems like ancient history, but not too many years ago the biggest challenge in computing was making it accessible to ordinary people, not just programmers. Part of the solution was graphical-user interface -- the icons and menus common on Windows, Apple and other popular operating systems.

Once you commit to graphical interface, though, you need a way to "touch" those icons and make them work. Thus, famously, the computer mouse was born. Early PC mice versions were wooden, but the first mass-produced computer mice are not much different that the ones in use today: a plastlic, palm-shaped shell with a wheel on bottom. Move the shell, and an arrow on-screen moves with it. Click a button on the mouse, and the arrow reacts.

Inside, though, they have changed a lot. In this guide, you'll learn:

1. The basics of how a computer mouse works, and the range of computer mice on the market
2. How to buy an ergonomic mouse, and why ergonomic mice are a good choice for some tasks and professions
3. Some cutting-edge technology for computer mice, like wireless, optical, and bluetooth computer mice
4. PC mice alternatives, such as computer touchpads

Action Steps for Computer Mice Smart Shopping

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Computer mouse basics, from simple computer mice through multi-tasking The standard computer mouse comes with a ball or sensor on the bottom and two buttons, left and right. Increasingly, a scrolling track-wheel between the buttons is standard as well. A left-button click will allow the user to select or drag items onscreen, a right-button click triggers a quick menu for other actions.

I recommend:  Basic computer mice are quite inexpensive and easy to buy, while industry standards like USB and common drivers make PC mice functional on nearly any updated computer system, even laptops with computer touchpads built in. Retailers of standard computer mice include office stores like Staples and Office Depot. Check for bulk suppliers of mouse pads at Business.com.

Clicking like crazy? Consider buying an ergonomic mouse 'Ergonomics,' the science of human-machine interaction, is a big deal these days, particularly for corporations with legions of technical, sales and support staff. An ergonomic mouse (like computer touchpads explained below) allows a computer user to do more repetitive PC mice tasks, like filling in sales data, with less risk of repetitive strain injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. A bit more expensive, but often worthwhile.

I recommend:  Here the choices are numerous, but most ergonomic mouse models involve moving the shell less or optimizing the ease of clicking. Take a look at vendor Safe Computing and see more choices for an ergonomic mouse at the Business.com directory on ergonomic mice. Consider computer touchpads, also in this guide.

Computer mice needn't be another boring tool on your desk With each new computer application, a generation of fun, funky or just plain useful computer mice is born. Gaming PC mice come with rapid-fire buttons and high-tech shapes, while portable and executive PC mice are small, discreet and highly functional.

I recommend:  See a selection of computer mice online at Microsoft and Dell. See gaming mice, too, at Razer.

PC mice have evolved from the days of cords and balls If the computer mouse you are using right now has a cord, you probably have had to unwrap it once or twice from other junk on yoru desk. Consider moving to a wireless or Bluetooth mouse. Both PC mice use short-range radio signals to communicate with your computer instead of a cable. Likewise, the days of rubber balls and dirty, faulty contacts at the bottom of PC mice are long gone. An optical mouse uses an infrared light (they actually glow red) to image your desk's surface and calculate movements. Extremely response, and the lack of moving parts makes them nearly indestructible.

I recommend:  Take a look at wireless and optical mice choices from peripheral manufacturer Logitech.

Computer touchpads off an alternative to computer mice If moving a computer mouse around all day isn't an option for your employees, one strong alternative is to buy them computer touchpads. Commonly seen on laptop computers, computer touchpads allow the user to move their finger along a small flat screen in order to move the arrow onscreen, then tap for action. A tablet-style PC, too, allows users to literally touch the computer screen, no PC mice needed.

I recommend:  See computer touchpads at Datavision Ergonomics and ErgoDirect. See more on computer touchpads at the Business.com directory page on computer touchpads.

Tips & Tactics for Best Use of Computer Mice

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• A useful computer mouse is a usable computer mouse. If the base is too big (or too small) for your hand, consider a different model.
• Consider carefully how many buttons you really need. A designer, gamer or engineer might like having a half-dozen mini-buttons under every digit. A business user will likely spend a lot of time undoing unintentional clicks.
• If you buy a corded computer mouse, make sure there's enough slack in the cord to make it reach your work position. Leaning forward to accommodate will lead to neck and back pain. If space is a problem, a wireless computer mouse would be a better choice.