I need a good wireless mouse
April 7, 2014 9:28 AM Subscribe
I want to buy an inexpensive wireless mouse, but my efforts so far have just frustrated me. I'd like to keep this around $25.
I am currently using an older Logitech MX720 and it's terrible - it doesn't track well, and moving across the screen takes forever. I can't tell if this is because it is an old mouse, or if it's the surface I'm trying to use it on (just a normal table made out of wood, most of the time), or what, but it's very frustrating. It also goes through batteries like no one's business, which I'm not a big fan of either. I'm broke, and I've already purchased a mouse on the advice of a friend that turned out to be miniature, so I don't have a big budget to spend. $25 should cover me for a decent mouse that just works normally, right?
Here are the specifications that I'd like to meet:
- Normal-sized mouse (I have really small hands, but the mini-mouse I purchased originally drove me nuts and hurt my hand)
- Wireless (I use a second monitor that connects via USB and having all those wires doesn't work for me)
- Under $25, but the lower the price, the better
- Works on wood, varnished wood, or ceramic tabletops (I work a lot at coffee shops)
If this is just an impossible thing to find, can someone recommend a decent wired mouse that uses USB instead? I'd prefer to keep this wireless, but that's something I can compromise on if I must.
Thanks!
I am currently using an older Logitech MX720 and it's terrible - it doesn't track well, and moving across the screen takes forever. I can't tell if this is because it is an old mouse, or if it's the surface I'm trying to use it on (just a normal table made out of wood, most of the time), or what, but it's very frustrating. It also goes through batteries like no one's business, which I'm not a big fan of either. I'm broke, and I've already purchased a mouse on the advice of a friend that turned out to be miniature, so I don't have a big budget to spend. $25 should cover me for a decent mouse that just works normally, right?
Here are the specifications that I'd like to meet:
- Normal-sized mouse (I have really small hands, but the mini-mouse I purchased originally drove me nuts and hurt my hand)
- Wireless (I use a second monitor that connects via USB and having all those wires doesn't work for me)
- Under $25, but the lower the price, the better
- Works on wood, varnished wood, or ceramic tabletops (I work a lot at coffee shops)
If this is just an impossible thing to find, can someone recommend a decent wired mouse that uses USB instead? I'd prefer to keep this wireless, but that's something I can compromise on if I must.
Thanks!
I have 3-4 (for different offices, home - and a couple of them are wooden desks) Logitech M325 and M5XX (forget the exact model #) and they have suited me fine. The older models will run on 2AAs, but newer ones (Released in the past 2 years or so) should only take a single AA and they normally last me >months on a charge. I also them off not in use and that likely helps.
If you're low on cash, you may want to simply just make sure that your current mouse is clean. Even without a mouse pad, gunk and shiz can accumulate in there and may be making things difficult. You can take a toothpick to clean out gunk for the scroll wheel and a can of compressed air would be helpful too. Also, check out the settings for mouse (done in windows settings) to make sure that your scroll speed is to your liking.
posted by fizzix at 9:46 AM on April 7, 2014
If you're low on cash, you may want to simply just make sure that your current mouse is clean. Even without a mouse pad, gunk and shiz can accumulate in there and may be making things difficult. You can take a toothpick to clean out gunk for the scroll wheel and a can of compressed air would be helpful too. Also, check out the settings for mouse (done in windows settings) to make sure that your scroll speed is to your liking.
posted by fizzix at 9:46 AM on April 7, 2014
Wow, I didn't realize that the Logitech M505, the mouse I use at work, is $45, but I can vouch for it being pretty much perfect. Tracks really well on my varnished wood desk. And I haven't changed the batteries in years.
posted by General Malaise at 9:48 AM on April 7, 2014
posted by General Malaise at 9:48 AM on April 7, 2014
I have a Logitech M305 and a Logitech M510 (one at home, one at work) and both are great. The 305 is smaller/cheaper (not mini though), but M510(?) has a better hand-feel. I've never had the issues you described and batteries last at least a few months (the work mouse is turned off every night and over the weekend).
posted by melissasaurus at 9:48 AM on April 7, 2014
posted by melissasaurus at 9:48 AM on April 7, 2014
I have a Logitech M310 wireless mouse and it's served me very well on a variety of tabletop surfaces.
posted by joan_holloway at 9:57 AM on April 7, 2014
posted by joan_holloway at 9:57 AM on April 7, 2014
I have a Logitech M315 and I love it. I have big hands and it's not too small for me, so for smaller hands, it should be good.
You can find for $15 or so @ Amazon.
posted by SoulOnIce at 10:20 AM on April 7, 2014
You can find for $15 or so @ Amazon.
posted by SoulOnIce at 10:20 AM on April 7, 2014
I have a Logitech M705, $40, it really does get three years to a battery. It tracks totally normally.
I have 2 Logitech M325 at home and one never needs a new battery and the other needs a new battery every 6 months. So there is some variation. These track fine.
On all three of these mice I never turn them off.
posted by bdc34 at 10:30 AM on April 7, 2014
I have 2 Logitech M325 at home and one never needs a new battery and the other needs a new battery every 6 months. So there is some variation. These track fine.
On all three of these mice I never turn them off.
posted by bdc34 at 10:30 AM on April 7, 2014
You may be able to adjust the speed at which the pointer moves in your system's mouse settings control / preferences panel.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:40 AM on April 7, 2014
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:40 AM on April 7, 2014
Bad tracking on a Logitech laser mouse tends to be a mix of failing battery and insufficiently textured surface. My m510 will track passably on an untextured Ikea white laminate desk with fresh batteries, but that starts breaking down over a few months. I've finally given in and picked up a mouse pad. But on a wood table with exposed grain, you ought to have plenty of texture (though plausibly it may be somewhat uneven.
One mouse in your price range not to get is the M560, which is a shoddy piece of work, insulting the the Logitech mouse brand.
posted by wotsac at 11:01 AM on April 7, 2014
One mouse in your price range not to get is the M560, which is a shoddy piece of work, insulting the the Logitech mouse brand.
posted by wotsac at 11:01 AM on April 7, 2014
SonR and I both have M315s picked up at Target for $10. He uses his a lot more than I use mine (mine gets used with my netbook when I travel, his is his primary input device), and I think he's changed batteries once since he got it 2+ years ago.
Try putting a piece of paper under your mouse when working on a really smooth surface -- that's what we do when we use the glass table in the den.
posted by jlkr at 11:54 AM on April 7, 2014
Try putting a piece of paper under your mouse when working on a really smooth surface -- that's what we do when we use the glass table in the den.
posted by jlkr at 11:54 AM on April 7, 2014
Best answer: The Logitech Anywhere mouse is probably what you need, but higher than your price limit. It even works on printed bedsheets. However, you may be able to solve your problem just by using a mouse pad.
posted by sageleaf at 1:15 PM on April 7, 2014
posted by sageleaf at 1:15 PM on April 7, 2014
Response by poster: Paper didn't work, but I tried a mousepad and am happy enough. If I get this summer job I'm in line for I will definitely pick up one of the recommended mice.
I found the M315 to be way too tiny. That's the other one I bought. It was just uncomfortable!
posted by sockermom at 5:39 PM on April 7, 2014
I found the M315 to be way too tiny. That's the other one I bought. It was just uncomfortable!
posted by sockermom at 5:39 PM on April 7, 2014
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posted by jangie at 9:37 AM on April 7, 2014