I had my mouse that came with my computer fail last night.
It would only register movements in the X parameter, it would not register any Y movements(probably the result of too many games of Solitaire).
But, long story short, I went and bought a new mouse, just a cheapie PS/2 and I must say that it works better than the original and it's a lot quieter when you click with it.
Just going through a heap of new product catalogs, it's amazing to see how far the simple thing like a computer mouse has been developed.
Tell me what are your preferences in mice?.

Trumpy,

I've gone through a plethora of cheap mice and finally decided to buy a MS IntelliMouse. It's well worth the money.

Bill

Gidday there Bill,
Yeah, this mouse is only a stop-gap until I get something better.
That MS IntelliMouse sounds pretty cool, what's it worth?.
Also, what sort of features does it have?.
What do you think of these Optical mice?.

A friend of mine recently acquired an optical mouse, and it seems to operate fairly smoothly.

It's one of those with a smoked see-thru casing, so you can be mesmerized by the red LED as you use it! One thing that seems strange though is that a second or so after you stop moving it, the LED switches down to a lower intensity. As soon as you start moving again, it comes up to full brightness.

Not quite sure of the purpose of that.

Trumpy,

It's got a wheel in the middle that is very handy for scrolling. I like it because I've had it a few years already with constant use and no signs of a problem.

Bill

paul — Bright/dim is probably for battery savings.

I like keyboards with a "scratchpad" mouse replacement. Works real well.

I've got one of those mice with the red light in them (the castrato mouse, I call it).

It's great for when you've got the console sitting on the coffee table in the living room and you're sitting on the sofa with the keyboard on your lap and the mouse on one of the cushions. That's how this is set up here at home.

I can't quite get used to them on a smooth piece of wood like a desk though. I much prefer a standard mouse for that.

I don't care much for the "touchpad" type devices. The problem is my hands sometimes sweat a little and it sends the thing into convulsions. Either that, or I'm just a spaz.

What I want to get my hands on someday is an original I-Mac mouse....the ones that looked like hockey pucks. Just cuz it's cute-looking

Silly me -- I didn't think of that!

At COMDEX 1996, Logitech had a Beta version cordless Keyboard and Mouse kit, which used RF instead of Infrared for passing bits back and forth.
Would have purchased the kit, but someone was passing out free T shirts...so priority one took precedence!

After drooling over hundreds of Wide Format Color Printers for hours, remembered the cordless kit...but not where the heck it was at!
Haven't seen of it since

To add in with preferred Mice items, I also love the scroll wheel!
So use to one that I try rolling between L/R buttons on a Mouse Sans Wheel (without scroll wheel), and get funny looks from said mouse owner.

Another fun toy (err... tool!) is the Digitizer Tablet.
Have one which can use either a corded puck, a cordless puck, or a tracing pen.
Very cool!

Lastly, Trumpy's mouse problem (no movement in the Y parameter / up/down direction), may have been from lint accumulation on the Y axis roller.

Just FYI!

Scott35
p.s. edited bad tallkkeengg!

[This message has been edited by Scott35 (edited 08-31-2003).]

Mouse? You guys use a mouse? I'm still a trackball kind of guy. I like the idea of being able to click repeatedly with out the cursor moving. I've got a Logitech with a ball about the size of a pool ball. Most pointing devices are not really sized for my heavy, stubby hands but this one works for me.

I think that a trackball is a better option too. I'm still looking for that lightpen as the best solution, however.

There are blue LED mice out now too.

Ohhhhh, Ahhhhhhh!

FWIW, many problems with mice can be tracked (pardon the pun) down to two things: one is a loose connection at the back of the computer, the other is dust/dirt inside.
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/maintenance/mouse_problem_maintenance.htm

Often times, a good cleaning can make a mouse seem like new.

[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 09-02-2003).]

I have been using A Microsoft trackball explorer for a few months now and it is wonderful, I can program the four button, plus wheel, for what I need it to do at any given time, web surfing, Autocad, etc. It also keeps other people from using my puter.....

I use a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse combo. $125CDN, but well worth it. The keyboard only came in grey so it is hard to see in dim light. I get about 2wk on batteries for the mouse, and over a month on the keyboard.

I love my trackball, I just wish it didn't have to be cleaned so often!

Got the Logitech Gyration cordless mouse and keypad and really like them both. The keypad is small sized, like a laptop, and the mouse is rechargeable. The thing I like most about them is the distance that they will operate from the receiver. Most are only good for a couple of feet. These things will work up to about 25 feet and in another room.

I have a Microsoft Optical wheel (can't live without a wheel now), cost $30.

I bought a ball type wheel mouse to use with the laptop, had to modify the laptop by installing a switch to disable the touchpad so I could fully use the mouse.

Bill,
I've just bought one of them MSIntellimouse(s?)
It's the best thing since sliced bread, next to a toaster IMO!.
There's nothing like a mouse with a clogged up or shiny ball in it to ruin your computer experience.
The scroll wheel is pretty cool too, press it and move the mouse down the page slightly and you can read the page text, while the sreen slowly scrolls upwards.
It's really handy for reading whole threads on this Board.

I have the Logitech LX700 cordless kbd/mouse. It is great. These things have buttons and switches all over them. I am still trying to figure out what they all do.
I am a LaZboy computer guy and not strangling on cords is great.