My age precedes me. Actually, my real age plus a few years precedes me. Sun weathered, balding, an inch shorter than 20 years ago and sporting a beard that would impress Santa Claus.
When I enter a fine business establishment, such as Best Buy, as I did Tuesday afternoon, the helpful staff, most of whom have ages similar to my oldest grandchild, take one look at me and cringe. Eventually one will accidentally meet my inquiring look and respond with, "How may I assist you today?" The very nice young man on Tuesday afternoon couldn't hold back his grin as I said, "I'm searching for a long-tailed mouse." The remainder of our little encounter went quite well and $9.22 later I was on the road again.
I had experienced something computer-related for the very first time. My mouse was hiccuping. It took some time for me to realize something was wrong. First, when I would want to do a copy and paste, I would sweep over the desired words only to have the magic blue "copy" view disappear instead of hold for the "copy" instruction. Next I noticed that when I would click on the little counter to increase the number of copies of a document to be printed the number would jump from one to three to five to seven instead of from one to two to three to four. Later I discovered that when I would go through the process of opening a specific survey file something weird was happening every time. When the screen gave me the opportunity to click on one of a dozen choices such as INVOICES or SURVEYS instead of showing the screen with the hundred potential survey files to open it would open one named 2009FELKINS. I last had any real interest in 2009FELKINS about six years ago. I would then return to the correct page, scroll to the correct file and then open it. Evenually, weird things began to happen in AUTOCAD. That's when I turned to the inhouse techie, Mrs. Cow, and yelled, HELP!. In less than five minutes she declared I needed a new mouse because mine was doing sort of a double click sometimes. For example, the issue with the unexpected opening of 2009FELKINS was that it was positioned in the exact same spot as my pointer had to be to open the SURVEYS option. So, when I would click on SURVEYS, it would open SURVEYS and also react a second time based on the pointer's location to open 2009FELKINS.
"I'm searching for a long-tailed mouse."
😉
I use wireless ones now. I despise the touch pads on laptops, so after struggling with one on vacation a couple of years ago, I bought my first wireless mouse. It was a clearance special at Office Depot. The manager thanked me for buying it.
In the classroom, I could wander around the room and control my ppt lessons with the wireless mouse. See whose phone was active, who was asleep, and who was engaged with the work.
Now my desktop is similarly-equipped. I'm sold on them.
Did you get one with a lazer beam or one will a roller ball?
Years ago when I found out my three button Logitech mouse was being discontinued, I found EBAY and stole about half a dozen. That was when they were going to lazer beam and it was not such a threat as I originally felt was on its way.
Skip forward to today, Because of the many discontinued announcements of the past and the cycle and recycling of computer systems, I have a closet full of computer parts and accessories and cables that would rival many service techies.
Two new roller ball Logitech Mouse complete with serial adapter and all wrapped in original plastic remain.
The long tailed mouse and keyboard comes in handy when the puter gets a bug and you need to give commands during the boot cycle...
I can use any halfway decent mouse, but the keyboard is super important - I hate most of them.
A long time ago I grabbed several keyboards that have function keys on the side as well as the top, because I still use programs that have great shortcuts on those keys, and my fingers have over 15 years of experience with the layout. Also a full set of arrow/home/end keys independent of the number pad. These keyboards have a great feel and have been reliable. Alas, the newer computers don't have a keyboard connection and demand a USB keyboard or wireless dongle.
Not sure if you're asking me or the holy one, but that's very true about the long-tails on interrupted start-ups. I have one of those still in plastic, not a Logitech, but one that came with a desktop that I bought many years ago and have since retired.
The wireless ones are laser. I wasn't careful enough selecting the one for my desktop. It has two buttons on the left side that allow you to move forward and backward on web sites. Problem is, due to the onset of old Arthur in my right hand, I control the mouse with my left hand, and I'm forever screwing up the window.
I CAN be mean
We had an engineer who was a real pain in the behind. He was an intelligent fellow with ZERO social skills. One day I had been reloading some shotgun shells and had a few #9 shot in a baggie in my pocket. The next day at work I poured a few under his mouse. I heard him on the phone with our IT guy telling him that the ball bearings had fallen out of his mouse and he need a new one. EVERY one on the floor had to bite our lips to keep from laughing when the IT guy tried explaining that "mice" don/t have ball bearings.
Andy
Test drive one of the backward style of mouse out today.
One with a roller ball on top that you move with your palm or thumb to maneuver the cursor and then click on your subject.
Several years ago, I went with one contoured to fit the palm of my hand, the Logitech Performance MX, the side buttons are above and below the thumb rest.
One of these roller ball models may find its way into my future.
Hi I'm two days in with a new mouse for Cad work.
Problems started early on with a new HPZ440 that was supplied, just before Christmas, with a wireless keyboard and mouse. The mouse got harder to move and then I couldn't move it to select what I wanted, the pads had worn within two months, it was stopping on the mouse pad. The keyboard is fine.
Our friendly tech guy loaned me a better gaming style lazer mouse with higher dpi and slippery pads.
Previously I had used standard MS corded optical mice, and tried several options of cordless that were too bulky and or heavy (inertia).
The new mouse is a gaming mouse Razer Deathadder 2013 (model RZ01-0084) and Razer Goliathus speed mat (US$52 for both). I the installed software to set up a profile for general computing and high dpi for CAD. My tech guy had me install a utility call X-mouse to map two side buttons to work in CAD to what ever function I prefer, I'm starting with F3 and F8.
I read that some Logitech mice have better software utilities, and do't need the x-mouse work around.
It's corded (braided) but not especially long tailed.
Logitech has SetPoint (75mb) software to customize Logitech mice and keyboard for your needs.
It upgrades at least once a year...