Microsoft Hardware Blog

When I first told my friends I was coming to work at Microsoft Hardware, they all had lots of requests about mice, for example “Tell them to make a smaller mouse for me!” “Tell them I want more color choices!” After being here a few years and reading lots of comments on e-tailer sites, I’ve thought of a few things I can tell you to help you get a mouse you’ll be happy with.

1)      What size and shape of mouse is best for you? Mice come in two categories of size. Mobile or laptop mice tend to be a little smaller than standard sized mice so you can pack them away more easily. Depending on your mousing habits, you might not need to use a mobile mouse for extended periods of time, so you can get away with a smaller mouse that is more portable. Mobile mice can also work well for people with small hands, like me. If you like a larger mouse, you might actually prefer our SideWinder mouse as your everyday mouse, even if you aren’t into gaming. You can find out the dimensions of any Microsoft mouse by going to the product details pagefor the device and looking at the detailed picture.

2)      What type of connection is best for you? Mice are either wired or wireless. If you prefer less clutter and the freedom of no wires, then a wireless mouse is for you. Most wireless mice require a wireless transceiver to be plugged into an available USB port. Many newer wireless mice, particularly notebook or laptop mice, have very small Nano transceivers that barely stick out from the USB port. If you really can’t stand the idea of carrying around (or losing) a transceiver, you can consider a Bluetooth mouse. To use a Bluetooth device, you must have either an internal or external Bluetooth radio in your computer.

Another factor to consider is that wireless devices need batteries. Some mice are built to use rechargeable batteries and come with chargers. If you use a mouse with alkaline batteries, you can help extend battery life by remembering to turn off the mouse when it’s not in use. A primary advantage of wired mice is that there is never a need for battery replacements.

3)      What type of scroll wheel is best for you? The first scroll wheels had a bumpy feel to them as you roll them. Those are called “detent” scroll wheels. They are useful when you want more control over scrolling a row at a time in an Excel spreadsheet or want to swap weapons in a PC game. More recently Microsoft came out with scroll wheels that give a smooth, continuous scroll experience that lets you glide through long documents. Some people are die-hard detent scroll wheel fans, while others prefer smooth scrolling, so it’s good to know which you prefer and look for that feature in your wheel. Also, some scroll wheels scroll both vertically and horizontally, called 4-way scrolling.

4)      What special features do you need in a mouse? Some people never use more than the basic left click, right click, and scroll, but other people want as many extra buttons as they can get. Some mice are specifically tailored for ergonomic comfort, like the Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, which has a design inspired by the comfortable shape of a baseball and great for people who experience discomfort from standard mice. Some mice come in just one color while other lines have a variety of colors to choose from. Some mice are designed for specific tasks like gaming or giving presentations. BlueTrack mice have special tracking that makes them good for mousing on odd surfaces like your kitchen countertop or upholstered couch. My personal favorite, the Arc Mouse, was designed to be a full-sized mouse that looks stylishly curved, but folds up small enough to fit in my pocket as I run from meeting to meeting. And it comes in purple, my favorite color!

Of course the best way to choose a mouse is to get your hands on it and use it. Many retailers provide sample mice that you can touch or even try out at the computer displays. What features are most important to you when choosing a mouse?