How To Pick The Best Computer Mouse

To interact with your PC, you’ll need to purchase a mouse. This, along with the keyboard, is what allows you to interact with what you see on the screen of your monitor.

There are many different mice and mice designs available on the market and it can be difficult to decide which to purchase. After all, who knows the difference between an optical sensor and a laser sensor?

This guide will teach you about the most important things to consider when picking a computer mouse.

Mouse Design

Everyone knows what a standard computer mouse looks like. However, that is not all there is on the market. There are a couple of other types of computer mice that are available and for many will be a better fit for many users.

The three most common types of computer mice outside of the standard are travel mice, gaming mice, and ergonomic mice.

Travel Mice

Travel mice typically look very similar to regular mice. The main difference is their size.

Since travel mice are designed to be portable, they are much smaller and made to fit into a pocket. To avoid extra bulk, they are also wireless and operate using a Bluetooth connection and an internal battery.

The main downside to travel mice is that since they are smaller, they are not as comfortable as large mice. Someone with larger hands may find them very difficult to use after only a short period. Since they are typically battery-powered, you will also need to charge a travel mouse regularly to ensure that it doesn’t die while you’re working.

Gaming Mice

Gaming mice are the most expensive type of computer mouse that you can buy. They are designed to be extremely fast to prevent any sort of lag while gaming.

They typically feature components such as laser sensors and gold-plated USB connectors. These mice can also be programmable. 

If you are not interested in gaming, these extra features will be mostly useless, but for a gamer, they can make a big difference.

Ergonomic Mice

Ergonomic mice, although not as expensive as gaming mice, also carry a high price tag.

These mice are specially designed to reduce stress and the hands and wrists. They do this by placing the hands and wrists in a neutral position that will help to prevent wear and tear over time. 

They look very different from a regular mouse, but if you’re someone that works on a computer all day, an ergonomic mouse could be a lifesaver.

Sensors

Computer mice operate using a sensor located on the bottom of the mouse. This sensor tells the mouse whether or not it has moved. There are two types of sensors that are typically used in computer mice, optical sensors and laser sensors.

Optical Sensors

Optical sensors use a combination of LED lights and a photo sensor. The LED light illuminates the surface beneath the mouse and the photo sensor rapidly processes images of the surface. That way, when the mouse moves it will detect a change in the surface and move the cursor accordingly.

This is the more common of the two types of sensors and doesn’t require a special surface to work on.

Laser Sensors

Laser sensors are more common among gamers and people that demand high sensitivity from their mice. They work in the same way as optical sensors but use a high-accuracy laser instead of an LED to illuminate the surface.

For laser sensors to work consistently, they must be used on a mat that is specially designed to be used with a laser sensor mouse. If you use them on other surfaces you may notice issues with lagging or the mouse not detecting motion at all.

Connection Type

The last factor you should consider before making your purchase is the connection type. Most wired mice are connected using a USB cable. This ensures that the mouse can respond quickly and you won’t have to worry about your mouse dying in the middle of work.

Now, with wireless everything becoming more popular every year, you can find an assortment of Bluetooth-capable mice on the market. The benefit of these mice is that you don’t have to deal with an additional cable cluttering up your desk. You are also able to use the mouse with laptops that do not have the ports to use a regular mouse.

The downside to wireless mice is that since they are battery-powered, you’ll need to regularly charge them to prevent them from dying.

Key Takeaways

Your computer mouse is one of the key tools that you use to interact with your computer. It allows you to open files as well as move things across your screen. 

There are several features that you should consider when picking your computer mouse. These features are the mouse design, the sensors it uses, and the connection type.

By understanding the options available in each of these categories you will be able to pick the best mouse for your individual needs.