Attention technophobics. Don't scurry away with your tail between your legs and leave the mouse buying decisions to someone else. Read onward for tips on catching ---that is purchasing--- your next mouse.

What's the Meaning of This?

Scroll Wheel--A mouse with a scroll wheel lets you scroll up and down the monitor screen without moving your hand or the mouse. Your finger works the scroll wheel.

Tilt Wheel-- With tilt wheel technology, the entire scroll wheel tilts, enabling you to scroll from side to side.

Optical Sensor--LED-based optical mice use parts such as a tracking sensor that sends images (a tiny camera takes 1,500 pictures every second) to a processor that analyzes the images. The processor then essentially tells your computer the coordinates of your mouse movement so it can move your cursor. No dirty interiors to clean (no ball), no mouse pad needed, smoother responses.

Track Ball--In short, typical track ball mice contain a ball visible on their underside that touches your mouse pad and rolls when you move the mouse. Working in conjunction with other mechanical parts of the mouse, it communicates to the cursor to move similarly. Track balls need cleaning when dirt, accumulating inside near and on the ball, interferes with smooth usage.

Wireless--A wireless mouse is cordless and uses radio frequency technology to relay coordinates of mouse movement to a receiver or transceiver connected to your computer. Some cordless optical mice can be used in the air during presentations. Mice may need battery replacement or set in a rechargeable battery base station. Some mice have a "sleep" feature to prolong battery life. Bluetooth® and WLAN (wireless local area network) are wireless technology terms associated with unrelated wireless formats. Watch for packaging terms like Bluetooth® enabled device and WLAN enabled device.

Short Cut Buttons--This mouse feature allows you to program frequently used commands such as "page up"or "page down" that you then utilize with a click of a mouse button.

Connectivity--When you connect a wired mouse to the computer, you'll use connectors (Connectivity requirements should be listed on the product box): 1) The standard PS/2 connector socket on your computer appears round with six tiny alignment pins forming a circle; or 2) The USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector is a tiny rectangular socket [Digital cameras and printers often connect to USB ports].

Adapters are sold that can change your connectivity options from PS/2 to USB. If your office has a lot of older computers still in usage, you may find PS/2 ports on them for the mouse. However the USB connector is quickly becoming the norm and new computer models always have several USB ports available.

Price--Mouse prices really do vary from your average $20 mouse that gets the basic job done to upscale mice with more features that run $50 to $100.

Comfort--Choose a size and shape that fits naturally and comfortably in your hand. Mice come in kids' sizes to extra large adult sizes and for ambidextrous, left and right-hand users.

Performance--Determine what type of software applications you most utilize with your mouse. For instance, if you do lots of graphic design elements in your work, you'll want a mouse that gives you more precision.

If you basically just move your mouse around with your hand for simple word processing applications, an ordinary inexpensive track ball mouse will be just fine.

Do you scroll a lot or use other mouse features? Do you use your thumb on the scroll wheel or your middle finger on the scroll wheel? If you scroll down long copy on the Internet or other documents, comfortable scroll wheel placement features will be important to you.

Style--Choices include various colors, textures, patterns and graphic imprints.

(c) Karen Porter