what mouse should i get

[Sifaga]

looking for a xmas present for me,

yeah i know its sad

just for home use, surfing

just a basic cordless one ? laser ?

microsoft or logitech

about $70 AUD / $40 USD

[ZAPPER]

I can't really tell which to buy but I may be able to give some tips. Wireless seems great as far as the wire doesn't get caught on everything on your desk and you can spread out when you use it, The cons? Cost is relative to features and what you don't mind paying. Battery life and cost, to me batteries are a pain in the ass. In my house if it takes batteries it probally don't work right now (I got two young kids) I bought a trackball thinking that it would work better on my cluttered desk. It was a little longer and fit my hand better than the standard mouse, but the ball gave my thumb cramps when I tried to use it with my cad programs. I liked the extra buttons but didn't really get to use them that much because I went back to my old mouse. All in all I would consider a wireless with the extra buttons and scroll wheel and a little extra length on the body if you can find one.

[thecoalman]

I have a logitech cordless optical MX duo (mouse and keyboard) As I said before somewhere here you would have to pry it from my cold dead hands to get it off of me.

One thing, not sure how the others are but get yourself some rechargeable battereis or you'll be working for duracell.

[ZAPPER]

Coalman:
Are you satisfied with your rechargable batteries. I bought a system a few years back and didn't think that they stayed charged as long as I would have liked. I mean they seemed to run down way faster than regular batteries.

[SLICK RICK]

This is the one I use and it works great..

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=products/details&CRID=486&CONTENTID=6831&countr...9&languageid=1

[Sifaga]

two votes for the Logitech® Cordless MX™ Duo

its made up of the MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse

and the Cordless Elite Keyboard

i may have to up my Xmas budget

[ZAPPER]

"i may have to up my Xmas budget"

Have you been good? (oops I really don't want to go there) Go ahead and spoil yourself, you deserve it

[Sifaga]

you arm twister you,

youve convinced me now i just have to convince the boss

[ZAPPER]

Yes it would be terrible if the one you have now got busted and the one you want was the only one that the store had in stock

[Sifaga]

I like the way your mind works

[ZAPPER]

And the salesman said it works great with the new 60" plasma TV (Nah, better just stick with the mouse)

[thecoalman]

This is the one I use and it works great..

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=products/details&CRID=486&CONTENTID=6831&countr...9&languageid=1

That's nearly the same one I have but mine isn't rechargeable. Which is why I use rechageable batteries I swear you could go through 2 alkaline batteries in 1 to 2 weeks if heavily used.

[Cobra]

The Microsoft wireless mice are very good.

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=002

I have the leather one. It is comfortable, tracks perfectly with no delay, the buttons are perfectly placed and the batteries last six-seven months under fairly heavy use.

[Grant_H]

What is the max range on those cordless devices, Basically can I have my pc in one room and LCD monitor mouse and keyboard in another?

[Capmaster]

I'm not sold on the wireless mice yet. I just made the transition from the roller mouse to optical at work - Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer USB. I have the middle (wheel) button set up to double-click 8)

At home it's wired too - both are Intellimouse (1 USB, 1 PS2) still with the roller balls. I like them fine

[Garibaldi]

I would recommend Logitech over Microsoft, Logitech has great qualtiy. I have a logitech corded optical scroll mouse and it works great. I really would recommend getting an optical over a wheel mouse though, because an optical will last longer and have overall much better precision and perforance.

[888888]

I had a Logitech wireless mouse once and had to change the batteries WAY too often. From then on, I promised myself only to get corded mice.

Here is a link to what is supposed to be a good deal:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001YGIB0/ref%3Dnosim/slickdeals/102-6207657-7553746

[thecoalman]

and have overall much better precision and perforance.

That is great point, if your doing a lot of fine work with images.

[glockjs]

dont plan to play any fast paced games with the wireless mouse...i switch back to my normal optical mouse cause the wireless would lag like a motha and always get me killed

[Garibaldi]

that is great point, if your doing a lot of fine work with images.

Exactly! It can be very frustrating trying to do detailed work with a bad mouse.

[waheed]

Or maybe consider Bluetooth mouse. can be used over 30 feet away.

[Goober57]

Coalman:
Are you satisfied with your rechargable batteries. I bought a system a few years back and didn't think that they stayed charged as long as I would have liked. I mean they seemed to run down way faster than regular batteries.

Here are 2 places that I have purchased batteries from.
I'm satisfied with both of them.

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/
http://www.batteryspace.com/

Batteryspace has a forum that might answer some of your questions.

[thecoalman]

Coalman:
Are you satisfied with your rechargable batteries. I bought a system a few years back and didn't think that they stayed charged as long as I would have liked. I mean they seemed to run down way faster than regular batteries.

Here are 2 places that I have purchased batteries from.
I'm satisfied with both of them.

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/
http://www.batteryspace.com/

Batteryspace has a forum that might answer some of your questions.

I missed that question Zapper, I think tha's true of any recargeable battery. They lose chargebility ofver time too. I have a set of six with a charger for 4. I always have fresh batteries. Better than spending money on regular ones. On another note my keyboard has been on the same batteries for a year.

[Sifaga]

thankyou to everyone,

i got enough info now to go in and buy one

I'll look at the Logitech MX 510 or something similar

thanks again

[ZAPPER]

Goober and coalman thanks for the input. It may have been as far back as Ten to 15 years ago that I bought the battery system, I am sure that things have gotten better. It also looks like they have gotten cheaper.

Coalman, a year out of any battery is good by my standards! I swear that I buy a big lead acid battery at least once a year for any one of my vehicles, tractor, mower,welder whatever. If I could keep even one flashlight in working order for a year I would be a happy man ( I got two young'uns that think that a flash light is a toy and not a tool) With all of the flash lights, remotes, gizmos and gadgets I got around I guess I should just go ahead and drop a couple hundred and get set up right with rechargables. Damd, "a year" you say, Well... Doggie...!

[thecoalman]

Coalman, a year out of any battery is good by my standards! I swear that I buy a big lead acid battery at least once a year for any one of my vehicles, tractor, mower,welder whatever. If I could keep even one flashlight in working order for a year I would be a happy man ( I got two young'uns that think that a flash light is a toy and not a tool) With all of the flash lights, remotes, gizmos and gadgets I got around I guess I should just go ahead and drop a couple hundred and get set up right with rechargables. Damd, "a year" you say, Well... Doggie...!

Sorry, a year on the alkalines. I was just trying to point that the keyboard uses very little battery. I think the mouse uses a lot because there is light on it that is constantly on. Think it's used to illuminate the surface the optical eye is seeing. You would think they would have put some kind of motion sensor on it to turn the light on.

I usually get about 5 or 6 years out of batteries on my trucks.... Good thing they are about $175 and I need to buy two per vehicle. AS for the flashlight problem..... Good Luck My cousin had some really cool flashlights for kids, you shook them and they charged. No batteries at all, weren't very bright though.

[ZAPPER]

Coalman
I kind of worded things wrong up there. I don't have to buy a new battery for each peice of equipment every year. I meant that at least one of something or another craps out every so often that it seems like I am always at he parts store. My brother claims that he is happy with the new dry cell batteries that he runs in his tow trucks. I am going to give one a try next time around.

[Goober57]

My cousin had some really cool flashlights for kids, you shook them and they charged. No batteries at all, weren't very bright though.

I realize that this is straying off topic but last year I switched to nimh batteries and led flashlights. Bought them a few days before the huge blackout!

Not sure if the nimhs would work in a mouse but it's better than tossing batteries in the garbage!!!