The different computer mice

A mouse is indispensable for those who want to work comfortably on the computer. You won’t get very far with just key commands and arrow keys. Even on a laptop with a touchpad, it is sometimes more pleasant to connect an external mouse.

Touch screens are the future. Just look at tablets and phones. Computers are also increasingly equipped with touch screens. Open menus or execute commands with a swipe or tap in the right place on the screen without the need for a separate input device. Entering something on a touch screen requires little explanation, unlike a mouse. Think of former prime minister Wim Kok who used the mouse as a kind of remote control. The disadvantage of touch screens is that the choice is limited and that they are often more expensive than regular screens.

The oldest type of computer mouse is the mechanical mouse. Inside these mice is a rubber ball that protrudes slightly at the bottom. By moving the mouse over a smooth table surface or a mouse pad, two rollers (horizontal and vertical) rotate that direct the mouse pointer to the right place on the screen. Mechanical mice can only be used on smooth surfaces and are prone to dust and dirt, requiring frequent opening for cleaning. Mechanical mice are hardly sold anymore.

The optical mouse does not require a mouse pad and can be used on all kinds of surfaces. Most optical mice still have problems with highly reflective, clear, or absorbent surfaces. These types of mice are equipped with a laser or an LED light and a mini camera that detects the movement relative to the surface, such as a desk. Most mice that come with a new computer are of this type.

The trackball or back mouse is an inverted mouse that remains in a fixed place. You move the large mouse ball on top of the mouse with your fingers or thumb. Thanks to the special shape, the user’s hand assumes a more relaxed position. This reduces the risk of wrist complaints that can lead to RSI. At first, a trackball may feel a bit strange if you are used to a mouse, but you get used to it quickly. Due to its shape, a trackball is also suitable for left-handers.

A trackpad (Mac) or touchpad (Windows) are built into laptop computers as standard. The touch surface is often located in the center below the keyboard. The cursor or mouse pointer is controlled by moving a finger across the surface. By tapping with one finger, the touchpad mimics a mouse click or you can scroll by moving two fingers on the trackpad at the same time (Mac). The disadvantage is that the surface is small and therefore slower than a normal mouse. Because you often cannot move to a place on the screen in one movement, the speed is on average 25 percent lower than with a normal mouse.

Vertical mice work like a regular mouse, but you don’t have to turn your wrist, so that RSI complaints occur less quickly. The mouse is higher and resembles an old-fashioned joystick. The buttons are on the side and are easy to operate. Often available in left- and right-handed variants. Then there are computer pens intended for precision work, such as drawing. These are usually supplied in combination with a tablet (touch surface, not to be confused with the standalone device) as the surface. These tablets are available from mini format (A6) to very large (A3).

Most mice have two buttons and a scroll wheel that allow you to quickly scroll through documents or websites. There are also variants with a button or with an additional button for operation with the thumb. There are models that are attached to the computer with a cable and there are wireless mice that require a separate battery. With the wireless types, there is often a choice between control via a USB transmitter/receiver or via Bluetooth. In one case you plug a separate USB receiver into a free USB port to be able to use the mouse, in the other case no free port is needed but you use the bluetooth network of the computer to control the mouse .