Mouse worn down
from the hunt for Internet news? Time to find a replacement
for the overworked, understated input device that came with
your state-of-the-art computer? Brace yourself, because the
once-mundane beige rodent is now squeaky with slick technology
and juicy color.
*The tools featured here can be found at most super-computer
and office chain stores; we listed the most competitive
prices.
MICROSOFT INTELLIMOUSE EXPLORER
$75 at CompUSA,
OfficeMax and Staples*
The mightiest of them all, this brand-new mouse with the
glowing scarlet abdomen does everything except scurry across
the desk for you. Powered by an optical eye--a miniature
digital camera that takes pictures to find its way instead
of a rubber ball that feels its way--the Explorer is more
sensitive and fluid than average critters. It won't work
on glass (any clear surface befuddles the eyeball), but
it glides smoothly over other terrain, including skin, clothing
and crumbs. Bye-bye cutesy mousepad. A whopping five buttons
grant lots of options but may take some getting used to:
two standard clickers nestle the wheel, which serves as
a programmable third choice, and two thumb controls are
intended for surfing back and forth between Web pages, though
you can program them for your most frequently used tasks
such as cut-and-paste or automatic double click. Is it worth
$75? Computer junkies will find the benefits (such as good
arch support for the right hand) as mouth-watering as baked
brie, but remember that the Explorer has no rubber ball
to clean and replace, so when it dies, you can't just give
it a transplant.
MICROSOFT WHEEL MOUSE
$29.99 at CompUSA, Staples,
Circuit City, Office Depot and OfficeMax
Most new mice come equipped with a wheel that allows you
to autoscroll vertically and zoom without clicking any arrows
or pulling any menus. The Microsoft Wheel was the first
of its kind and remains the cheapest. This bottom-liner
eschews ergonomics for a traditional oblong that can be
handled by righties and lefties, and in addition to the
wheel, it comes with two familiar clicking buttons. It's
your basic mouse of yore, only faster and smoother. Double
the price and you can get the IntelliMouse, which boasts
a palm-friendly molded shape, but you'll end up paying more
for design and plastic than performance and it comes in
a righthander's model only.
LOGITECH TRACKMAN MARBLE
$59.99 at CompUSA and
Staples
A mouse and trackball combined, this futuristic device
is shaped like a cute little paw and leaves the cursor control
up to your thumb. The red marbled trackball is placed comfortably
near your thumb, and the scrolling wheel, which acts as
a third programmable button, is wedged between the two standard
buttons. Unlike with the Microsoft IntelliMouse Trackball,
the functions aren't crowded: Everything is laid out nicely
here, with your middle finger designated for scrolling,
your pointer for clicking and your ringer for alternate
clicks. But the target market is pretty narrow: If you don't
want to control things with your thumb, or your right hand,
this simply isn't for you.
KENSINGTON ORBIT
$30 at Office Depot
A mouse and trackball combined, Part II, in the ambidextrous
version. You've got your standard trackball here that fits
comfortably in the palm of your hand: Two buttons on either
side of the mystic blue control ball serve as two standard
clickers. From the originators of the trackball, this model
is more comfortable than most copycats and sports a sharp
design. An added bonus for gamers: The Orbit facilitates
quick maneuverability, perfect for illicit games at the
office.
LOGITECH CORDLESS WHEEL MOUSE
$40 at Office Depot
Gone are the days of leashing your mouse to your computer
or clearing a path for an unreliable infrared sensor. Thanks
to digital radio technology, you don't even have to shove
the crap off your desk to use this model. Complete with
a scroll and zoom wheel that doubles as a third button,
the Logitech model gives you a 6-foot range--a whole foot
more than the Microsoft version--that'll work through and
around the piled-up papers and pop cans. A receiver plugs
into the computer and catches the mouse's radio signal without
requiring a line of sight. If form is as important as function
to you, pay the $10 extra for the Logitech Cordless Mouseman
Wheel, a bigger, ergonomically correct (albeit right-handed)
model. You've got to feed these mice well, though: batteries
(it takes a watch-sized lithium) last about six months.
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Willamette Week | originally
published October 13,
1999
|
