Help me mouse around?
June 2, 2006 2:29 PM Subscribe
I am starting a gig that will have me working at my client's site on a regular basis using my laptop (iBook g4), and I would like to get a mouse to make life easier. Help me figure out my best option.
[BTW I read this post about battery life]
My first instinct is that for convenience's sake a wireless mouse is the best idea, but there are a couple of very different options. Since the iBook has Bluetooth, I was looking at those and I find that a) the options are quite limited and b) you pay a premium for bluetooth.
So the other possibility is an RF radio mouse. There are way more options available, but I wonder if having the receiver dongle sticking out of the iBook's USB port is a pain? Beyond that I have never really used one of these, so what's the performance difference between RF mice and bluetooth?
What is your favourite and most effective and portable input solution? I would love to read various people's suggestions and cautions!
[BTW I read this post about battery life]
My first instinct is that for convenience's sake a wireless mouse is the best idea, but there are a couple of very different options. Since the iBook has Bluetooth, I was looking at those and I find that a) the options are quite limited and b) you pay a premium for bluetooth.
So the other possibility is an RF radio mouse. There are way more options available, but I wonder if having the receiver dongle sticking out of the iBook's USB port is a pain? Beyond that I have never really used one of these, so what's the performance difference between RF mice and bluetooth?
What is your favourite and most effective and portable input solution? I would love to read various people's suggestions and cautions!
Best answer: I've been doing the same thing (with the same iBook G4) for several months. I went with the Mighty Mouse because I couldn't find any Bluetooth mice that I really like. The cord is only mildly annoying.
posted by sharkweek at 2:51 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by sharkweek at 2:51 PM on June 2, 2006
I work all day with an Apple Mighty Mouse and I absolutely love it. Highly recommended.
posted by markmillard at 2:54 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by markmillard at 2:54 PM on June 2, 2006
Response by poster: 4/4 so far have chosed wired mice - very instructive!
Maybe the emphasis of the question should be changed slightly to: has anyone found a decent wireless solution?
posted by mikel at 2:59 PM on June 2, 2006
Maybe the emphasis of the question should be changed slightly to: has anyone found a decent wireless solution?
posted by mikel at 2:59 PM on June 2, 2006
Fwiw I rarely use a mouse with my powerbook, but for my desktop I've had both wired and wireless, and vote for wired as being just less hassle. I've had both rechargeable and change-the-battery wireless mice and neither has an advantage over the lightness and simplicity of wires. (Must be optical, though!)
A colleague just got an Innovations Micro Mouse for her laptop, which is cute, small and fairly light, but needs an RF thingy. If it was bluetooth then I might want one myself.
posted by anadem at 3:12 PM on June 2, 2006
A colleague just got an Innovations Micro Mouse for her laptop, which is cute, small and fairly light, but needs an RF thingy. If it was bluetooth then I might want one myself.
posted by anadem at 3:12 PM on June 2, 2006
Last time I needed to bring my iBook to a client site (for a couple of weeks), I used the Mighty Mouse. Worked fine. I find that Bluetooth mice have a tiny bit of latency in responding and that they are ridiculous with the power consumption.
posted by lackutrol at 3:20 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by lackutrol at 3:20 PM on June 2, 2006
Or rather I should say I've heard they are ridiculous with the power. I haven't used one myself long enough to figure that out.
posted by lackutrol at 3:21 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by lackutrol at 3:21 PM on June 2, 2006
I've started doing some 3d stuff, and having a multiple button mouse is indispensable. I've started using the Microsoft Bluetooth mouse -- expensive, but worth it. And no, battery life isn't that much of an issue with the mouse, but it is if you're working unplugged with the laptop.
I was already used to RF wireless meece, so I didn't have a problem adapting to any delay the bluetooth mouse gives if there actually is one. I haven't noticed, which means it's either so small as to be unnoticeable or is just plain not there.
posted by SpecialK at 3:35 PM on June 2, 2006
I was already used to RF wireless meece, so I didn't have a problem adapting to any delay the bluetooth mouse gives if there actually is one. I haven't noticed, which means it's either so small as to be unnoticeable or is just plain not there.
posted by SpecialK at 3:35 PM on June 2, 2006
I got a Logictech MX 500 for my Powerbook, and I love it. The thumb buttons are well-suited to back and forward browser commands, and I use the tiny button near the scrollwheel to activate Exposé.
posted by hyperizer at 3:47 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by hyperizer at 3:47 PM on June 2, 2006
Best answer: Just bought a microsoft wireless notebook mouse for about $29.99 at Rat Shack*. I'm in largely the same situation as you -- I work 2-3 days a week at a client site, using my laptop as my primary computer, doing web dev.
For about two weeks I remembered to just grab my regular wired mouse, but this week I happened to forget. I had about 10 minutes before work to pick one up in downtown SF, and Radio Shack was the closest shop.
I like Microsoft mice, in general (I should mention this, because I know a number of people who much prefer logitech mice to microsoft mice). My reason for this is generally disliking mice is bullshit buttons on the side that you click by accident -- Logitech seems to have this design type more frequently, though I will admit microsoft has erred in the past.
My second biggest pet peeve is having the damn cord stick on something while I'm trying to use it, and my third biggest pet peeve is having the danged mouse cord wrap itself over all the other cords in my messenger bag -- it sucks to untangle earphones, cellphone chargers and mice at 9 o clock on a monday morning. My fourth is mice that feel cheap and plasticky -- ie, I like some weight to my mice.
Anyways, that was my motivation to buy a wireless mouse in this particular case. I also own a recent fullsize mouse model by microsoft that I use at home, and I've been happy with it.
Anyways, to make a long story short, I've been *very* happy with it. I was a bit worried at first that it would be too small for my hand and cause some kind of repetitive stress disorder (I wear about a medium to large in gloves), but it's been surprisingly comfortable. My only gripe is that I typically have to login before XP recognizes it, but it's only happened once or twice.
Overall, I'd give them a shot. The cost is higher, but it's much easier to carry -- also, I like being able to position it wherever is comfortable for me on the desk easily.
* I was pressed for time. Keep reading.
posted by fishfucker at 4:46 PM on June 2, 2006
For about two weeks I remembered to just grab my regular wired mouse, but this week I happened to forget. I had about 10 minutes before work to pick one up in downtown SF, and Radio Shack was the closest shop.
I like Microsoft mice, in general (I should mention this, because I know a number of people who much prefer logitech mice to microsoft mice). My reason for this is generally disliking mice is bullshit buttons on the side that you click by accident -- Logitech seems to have this design type more frequently, though I will admit microsoft has erred in the past.
My second biggest pet peeve is having the damn cord stick on something while I'm trying to use it, and my third biggest pet peeve is having the danged mouse cord wrap itself over all the other cords in my messenger bag -- it sucks to untangle earphones, cellphone chargers and mice at 9 o clock on a monday morning. My fourth is mice that feel cheap and plasticky -- ie, I like some weight to my mice.
Anyways, that was my motivation to buy a wireless mouse in this particular case. I also own a recent fullsize mouse model by microsoft that I use at home, and I've been happy with it.
Anyways, to make a long story short, I've been *very* happy with it. I was a bit worried at first that it would be too small for my hand and cause some kind of repetitive stress disorder (I wear about a medium to large in gloves), but it's been surprisingly comfortable. My only gripe is that I typically have to login before XP recognizes it, but it's only happened once or twice.
Overall, I'd give them a shot. The cost is higher, but it's much easier to carry -- also, I like being able to position it wherever is comfortable for me on the desk easily.
* I was pressed for time. Keep reading.
posted by fishfucker at 4:46 PM on June 2, 2006
I've got an A4 Tech Wireless and Batteryless Mouse, it uses an inductive power mouse pad. For travel, I've got a Bluetooth mouse but I usually end up using the A4 Micromouse, its optical, tiny and never runs out of batteries (and has a cool LED!).
posted by fenriq at 9:25 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by fenriq at 9:25 PM on June 2, 2006
I bought a GE USB laptop mouse with a retractable cord. It's a tad too small, but the retractable thing sells me on it. You just sort of yank both the mouse and the usb connector, and they snap together, sucking the cable in from both ends. It's really neat!
I paid $8 for it at Home Depot.
posted by evariste at 10:03 PM on June 2, 2006
I paid $8 for it at Home Depot.
posted by evariste at 10:03 PM on June 2, 2006
Oh-it's optical and it has a scrollwheel, too. Pretty decent for 8 bucks.
posted by evariste at 10:04 PM on June 2, 2006
posted by evariste at 10:04 PM on June 2, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Having to worry about batteries doesnt sound so appealing to me. Is there a particular reason wireless is more convenient?
posted by vacapinta at 2:49 PM on June 2, 2006