In late 2008, the computer mouse turned 40 years old, and it would be an understatement to say that a lot has changed in the world of computers throughout those 40 years. As our computers have grown to be more sophisticated machines, so have computer mice. They have multiple buttons and functions and come with or without cords. Some mice have large, ergonomic bodies, while others tout a sleek, small appearance. If you’ve been living with the same mouse for a long time, you might be surprised to discover all the new features mice now have.

Anatomy Of A Mouse

One of the first things you might notice while shopping for a mouse is that some of them have lost their tails in the past few years. Wireless mice are growing in popularity because they can be used with your desktop computer and then easily packed up for use with laptops. Wireless mice come with a receiver that slips into the USB port and bridges the communication between your mouse and your computer. Having a wireless mouse is beneficial because you won’t have a cord to get tangled up with the others, and you won’t be tethered to a particular spot. If you are too far away, however, the connection could suffer. Wired mice are more reliable in a general sense, but you are limited to the amount of cord you are given.

Optical and laser technologies have replaced the rolling ball that used to be on the underbelly of older mice, communicating the moves it makes to your computer. Both optical and laser technology digitize that communication, but differ in the type of light used to follow the movements. Optical mice use an LED (light-emitting diode), and laser mice use a laser to track the movements of the mouse.

In this article, we’ll show you several different kinds of mice and explain the features each have so you can better understand which kind of mouse is right for you.


Belkin Washable Mouse

The Belkin Washable Mouse is for the household with the motto, “accidents happen.” If this sounds like your home, you’ll be happy to find that the Washable Mouse has a water-resistant surface that can handle spills and be rinsed off in the sink. This is also handy when the cold or flu bug is circulating around your office and you want to crank the good hygiene up a notch.

This corded, desk-top mouse has a scroll pad rather than a wheel, but it works virtually the same way for scrolling up and down Web pages and documents. Additionally, it’s compact for portability or for small hands.


Kensington Ci70 Wireless Mouse

The Ci70 Wireless Mouse is a thin, flat mouse, designed to be portable and take up minimal desk space. According to Kensington, the Ci70 Wireless mouse is 35% smaller than the average desk-top mouse. The Ci07 comes with a USB wireless receiver that you can store in the mouse’s underbelly, but it also comes with a USB cord to connect your computer and the receiver so you can keep the receiver and the mouse in close proximity. This is needed because the 27MHz wireless technology doesn’t allow the receiver and the mouse to be far apart without sacrificing connectivity and communication.

To preserve the battery life, the Ci70 will sleep when your computer does. According to Kensington, this will also protect the optical sensor and increase its longevity. To use the mouse after it has been idle for a while, simply click the mouse and move it around.


Kensington SlimBlade Media Mouse

The SlimBlade Media Mouse works as a Desktop navigator, but it can also be a remote control for the media on your computer. On one side, the Slim-Blade Media Mouse has left- and right-click buttons, along with a scroll ball that allows for 360-degree scrolling. When you turn the mouse over, there is a control pad that lets you skip tracks, pause and play music or videos, and adjust volume.

The Kensington Slim-Blade Media Mouse uses 2.4GHz wireless laser technology that provides you with a 30-foot range, which is helpful for controlling media across a room. The wireless receiver fits in the mouse next to the batteries for portability and to prevent the compact receiver from getting lost.


Logitech MX Air

The MX Air works both in the air and on surfaces to navigate your computer’s Desktop, and it also features multimedia buttons for controlling music and movies. Logitech’s Freespace motion sensing lets you maneuver the pointer around your Desktop while you are holding the mouse in the air. Like remote controls for your TV and stereo system, you can hold the MX Air in your hand while you pause and play media, skip tracks, and control the volume. The 2.4GHz technology allows up to 30 feet of space between you and the wireless receiver. Additionally, the MX Air has a touch-sensitive scroll panel, rather than a scroll wheel. When you are not using the MX Air, you can set it in the rechargeable dock that comes with the mouse.

The MX Air is easy to use once you get used to it. Because it’s not like normal mice, it does take a bit of practice to become comfortable using it in the air, and you don’t have as much control over the MX Air while it’s airborne as you would with a normal desktop mouse. Once you have used it a few times, it will get much easier. Using the MX Air on a surface is just like using any other mouse.


Logitech LX3 Optical Mouse

The LX3 Optical mouse provides an affordable option for a corded mouse. The LX3 Optical mouse is designed with soft-touch sides, along with other features that make it comfortable to use. Additionally, the LX3 Optical mouse has tilt scrolling, and its scroll wheel can also zoom in on documents, such as photos.


Microsoft Arc Mouse

Switching between a desktop PC and a laptop PC is easy with the Arc Mouse. This wireless mouse has an arch design that folds for portability, but is comfortable enough for everyday use with a desktop computer. The wireless receiver clips to the bottom to prevent it from getting lost, and has a range of up to 30 feet.

The Arc Mouse has four buttons (including the scroll wheel) that you can customize after downloading the (free) Intellipoint 6.3 software from Microsoft. You can program buttons, such as the button on the left side of the mouse, to perform functions, such as zoom, or minimize or maximize windows. If you use it on a Windows Vista computer, the default function is to prompt Flip 3D.


Microsoft Explorer Mouse

The Explorer Mouse is large and comfortable to use thanks to its ergonomically designed exterior. This wireless mouse touts the ability to work on almost any type of surface, such as wood, carpet, and marble, thanks to Microsoft’s BlueTrack laser technology. The wireless receiver clips to the underbelly of the mouse, and it has a range of 30 feet. By downloading Microsoft’s Intellipoint 6.3 software, you can customize the Explorer Mouse’s five buttons to perform almost any task. Additionally, the Explorer Mouse has a rechargeable battery.

Notebook Mice


Logitech V550 Nano Cordless Mouse For Notebooks

The V550 Nano Cordless Mouse For Notebooks is a good companion to your laptop because of its Clip-and-Go dock. The adhesive-backed Clip-and-Go dock sticks to your notebook and has a notch that lets your V550 Nano mouse clip onto your laptop so you won’t have to carry the mouse or worry about it slipping out of your arms. It’s small and lightweight for portability, and it has four buttons, including one button that works with Vista’s Flip 3D feature. The receiver, which is no bigger than a nickel, slips between the batteries for easy storage and loss prevention.


Targus Retractable Optical Stow-N-Go Laptop Mouse

The Stow-N-Go Laptop mouse has a retractable cord that clips to the underbelly of the mouse so your cord won’t get tangled while it’s in your bag. Its scroll wheel has tilt-wheel technology, and the software available on the Targus Web site (www.targus.com) lets you program the mouse’s buttons. You can also change the dpi (dots per inch; this affects the sensitivity of the cursor on the screen) to 1,600, 1,200, or 800 dpi with the button that sits close to the scroll wheel.


by Tessa Warner Breneman

BUYING TIPS • If you spend a lot of time at your computer, consider a mouse with an ergonomic design (even if it’s bigger than other mice) to reduce the likelihood of an injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. • If you switch between a laptop and a desktop computer, consider a wireless mouse that is small enough to be easily transported with a laptop, but is big and comfortable enough to be used frequently with a desktop computer.

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