Track And Roll
The Age
Thursday June 26, 2003
The modern mouse may be a feat of engineering, but, as Dan Kaufman reports, it might be more than you need.
he once-humble mouse has grown up. Not long ago it was the simplest and most-overlooked part of a PC, something that people replaced only when one broke. Now it is a high-tech device that can cost more than a printer or scanner.
For most people, the three features to look out for are ergonomic design, wireless connectivity and optical tracking. Many mice have all three - hence the high price tags. The question is whether you need all these features.
The most important feature, without doubt, is ergonomic design. A truly ergonomic mouse (although many specialists argue there is no such thing) is one that fits the contours of your relaxed hand and allows you to move it around without gripping it tightly. You should also be able to press the buttons without straining your fingers. To allow this, the mouse needs to have an arch on the left side (assuming you are right-handed), because a relaxed hand is never flat. The design should also allow you to keep your hand, wrist and forearm in alignment.
The way you use your mouse is also important. Many people control it from their wrist; you should instead use your shoulder and elbow to move it so that your hand and forearm are always straight.
If you have trouble doing this or have a repetitive strain injury and find existing mice hard to use, a device worth looking at is the 3M Renaissance Mouse. It looks more like a joystick than a mouse and it keeps your hand in a handshake position. For more information, visit the website (cms.3m.com/ cms/GB/en/0-170/ckceiFQ/view.jhtml).
Left-handed users are not well-catered for, as few mice are made for them. A notable exception is the Contour Perfit Mouse (lefthandmouse.com), although the Kensington Orbit trackball (kensington.com) may also be worth a look.
Once considered a novelty, optical tracking is rapidly becoming the standard and has three advantages over a mechanical ball: first, it is a lot more accurate; second, it can work on most surfaces, which means you don't need a mouse mat; and third, it does not get clogged with dust and dirt. It is the last benefit that is most useful for the average user, since almost everyone will find the mechanical mouse getting so clogged up it becomes unusable.
Wireless connectivity, which essentially means the mouse is cordless, is also more common.
Unlike a conventional mouse, wireless mice need new batteries every couple of months. The exception is the Logitech MX 700 mouse (see breakout), which has rechargeable batteries.
The software that comes with a mouse lets you change various settings. One tip is to increase the mouse speed so that you don't have to move the mouse as much to get the icon where you want it onscreen.
FOUR TO CHOOSE FROM
Logitech MX 700, RRP $159 ***
logitech.com
The sexiest-looking mouse of the four, the MX 700 is the least comfortable because its arch may not be high enough to support your hand properly. It does have bells and whistles: it is wireless, has optical tracking, scroll buttons, a wheel, back and forward buttons and a button for switching applications.
Goldtouch Mouse, RRP $132.80 *****
goldtouch.com
The most comfortable mouse of the four reviewed, the Goldtouch's main attraction is its ergonomic design; the shape fits most hands almost perfectly, allowing it to stay in a natural "repose" position. It is also the simplest. There is no cordless version and only two buttons and a scroll wheel. Nonetheless, the comfort factor more than makes up for this.
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer, RRP $149.95 ***?
microsoft.com.au
The Intellimouse Explorer is for those who want everything: a cordless, optical, ergonomic mouse with browsing buttons and a scroll wheel. It is comfortable and works well but there are two gripes. First, the scroll wheel, placed between the two main buttons, is too high, which means fingers splay around it. Second, after it has been stationary, there is a lag between when you start moving it and when the screen icon moves.
The Evoluent Vertical Mouse optical, RRP $99 **?
f1computing.com/prod04.htm
The Evoluent has a vertical design that keeps your hand in a handshake position. This position is comfortable but the instant you relax your index finger, it moves out of alignment with the left button. To keep your finger in the right place, you have to keep it tensed.
ALL UP
For sheer comfort, there is no beating the Goldtouch mouse. Microsoft's IntelliMouse comes a close second for ergonomics, which is worth looking at if you want a wireless mouse, although the time lag can be annoying.
© 2003 The Age