what kinda mouse?

TU
Posted By
Terri Underhill
Sep 3, 2003
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1191
Replies
25
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Closed
I have the ms track ball explorer 1. The ball is dragging to bad to use so I’m in the market for a new mouse…I went to the roller ball mouse cause of my tennis elbow but am wondering which mouse is the most precise for detail?
thanks in advance,
Terri

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B
BLUDVLZ
Sep 3, 2003
Optical.

I personally LOVE my Mouseman 2+ Optical mouse. Great contoured design; fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. Has 4 buttons and a scroll wheel. It’s a couple years old, and probably has been phased out by now, but there should be a comparable mouse in the current Logitech line.
JB
John Bristow
Sep 3, 2003
"Terri Underhill" wrote in message
I have the ms track ball explorer 1. The ball is dragging to bad to use so
I’m in the market for a new mouse…I went to the roller ball mouse cause of my tennis elbow but am wondering which mouse is the most precise for detail?
thanks in advance,
Terri

I prefer to use a small graphics tablet, it beats any mouse or tracker ball I have ever used.
W
whozit
Sep 3, 2003
If the ball isdragging, but didn"t used to, you simply need to clean it is all. Remove the ball (they pop out)and wipe the three little rollers with a VERY barely damp, soft cloth to get all the gagas out. You’d be surprized how much dust and oils from your hand collect in there! Wipe down the ball before you replace it, too.
P
Phosphor
Sep 3, 2003
When I used ball mice, I cleaned the rollers and the ball with a Q-tip and 90% isopropyl alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol with oil! NO!!!) For really crusty build-up on the rollers, I’d scrub them off with a hard ink eraser.

Go Optical, and leave the cleaning behind. And cut the cord and go wireless…just make sure you start using rechargable batteries or you’ll go broke buying throw-aways.
DP
Daryl Pritchard
Sep 3, 2003
I like my use MS Optical Intellimouse Explorer for Bluetooth quite well, except for the long name. 😉 The price is steep too at around $80. Prior to that I used the corded Optical Intellimouse but it is now doing duty as my mouse at work. The beauty of the latter mouse is that it is smaller than many of the newer contoured mice, plus it is ambidextrous so lefties need not be concerned. The precision of both mice seems suitable for Photoshop but for high precision I still grab my pen instead. The Intellipoint driver software for the MS optical mice is also quite nice in allowing you to customize the mouse button functionality.

Regards,

Daryl
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 3, 2003
I have both the Intellimouse Explorer Optical (corded) and one from Logitech. I like the logitch MUCH better and they claim to have a more precise optical engine, which, I must admit, seems to be true.

This is the one I bought:
< http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=products/details& CRID=3&CONTENTID=4998&countryid=19&languageid=1>
M
Madsen
Sep 3, 2003
Terri Underhill wrote:

but am wondering which mouse is the most precise for detail?

I just love my Logitech MX700. The most precise mouse I’ve ever had and I’ve had many.


Regards
Madsen.
GH
Grass Hopper
Sep 3, 2003
I have a Logitech Trackman Marble and love it.
BB
brent bertram
Sep 4, 2003
Another vote for the Logi MX700 .

🙂

(Hi GJO ! )
GH
Grass Hopper
Sep 4, 2003
(Hi bb! GO BLUE!!!!)

😉
JH
Jake Hannam
Sep 4, 2003
Terri,

Since you are on a Photoshop forum, is it fair to assume you use it for editing photos and/or artwork?

Rather than getting another mouse, have you considered the Wacom Intuos digitizing tablets? They come with a wireless mouse (three button, thumbwheel) AND a digitizing pen. The mouse works fine for all ‘regular’ Windows work and the pen is indispensable when using Photoshop or most other graphics programs.

The price is much higher than for just a mouse, but IMHO well worth it!

<http://www.wacom.com>

Jake
TU
Terri Underhill
Sep 4, 2003
Thanks everyone for your info. At least I know what to start looking for.My mouse has a crack in it and has scratched the ball so it has to be replaced:(I use Photo Shot 7 and PSP 7 some with my digital photography…I just got the Epson 2200 printer and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed…actually, I’m feeling pretty ignorant trying to figure out what kind of paper is the best to practice with…I’m itching to print a pic I got of a bobcat on some 13 x 19 semigloss paper I picked up and I’m afraid I’ll get a print setting wrong:(
TU
Terri Underhill
Sep 4, 2003
Okay ya got my curiosity up..what size tablet do you use? And is this something that can only be ordered over the net? The pen sounds like a pretty handy tool too.
Thanks,
Terri
EB
ellie brown
Sep 4, 2003
Terri,

I found a Wacom tablet at a Comp USA store. My tablet is a 6×8.

I’m looking for a left handed mouse.

Prior to that I used the corded Optical Intellimouse but it is now doing duty as my mouse at work. The beauty of the latter mouse is that it is smaller than many of the newer contoured mice, plus it is ambidextrous so lefties need not be concerned.

I’d rather have one that is shaped for the left hand like the Logitechs I’ve seen are shaped for the right. Anybody know of one?

Thanks,

ellie
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 4, 2003
Terri,

I have a tablet as well, but I have never been able to make the transition from the mouse to the tablet.

For me, it has to be either/or, I can’t have both. The issue is that when you draw a selection, say a rectangular marquee, I find that I lose control of the pen in those micro-movements, on the tablet, when you release the button. In other words, I have trouble stabilizing the pen to "let go" when I want it to.

I only bring it up to say that a pen is a great idea – especially when you think of how dexterous you are with a real stylus versus a mouse; but I don’t know that the transition is easy, which can be risky with an input device that is pricier than a mouse. Just a thought.

One last thing: you have a new 2200 printer and need a starting point for getting your prints to match screen and to begin controling your variables.

IMO, the absolute best place to start is Ian Lyons’ site on color management <http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps7-colour/ps7_1.htm>. It’s an easy read that should take about 15 minutes, but man is it ever worth it. Check it out.

Peace,
Tony
M
Madsen
Sep 4, 2003
YrbkMgr wrote:

I have a tablet as well, but I have never been able to make the transition from the mouse to the tablet.

I had the same problem when I bought a tablet for a couple of years ago. It wasn’t a Wacom Intuos though. It was the cheaper Wacom Graphire.


Regards
Madsen.
P
Phosphor
Sep 4, 2003
I have a tablet as well, but I have never been able to make the transition from the mouse to the tablet.

Yep, it doesn’t seem to suit everybody. It’s quite a steep curve to get the hang of it though. It took be about a week to start feeling really comfortable with the wacom and I’ve never used a mouse since. I don’t have a problem with selecting/browsing the web/drawing etc, plus my wrist and arm and much less tense these days. Just horses for courses I suppose though!
JM
John Mensinger
Sep 4, 2003
I’ve been thinking about trying a tablet as well, but for now, my Logitech Trackman Marble wireless is the best pointing device I’ve ever used. Whenever I try to use a more standard mouse, (say on someone else’s system), I feel like I’ve gone from a Ferrari to a wheelbarrow.
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 4, 2003
Helen,

and I’ve never used a mouse since

That was my point, really. You can develop the skill, but I think it’s much harder to go back and forth between mouse and tablet. The way you stabilize your hand on a mouse is much different than the way you do it with a tablet. But hey, some people are ambidexterous too, so it may not be hard for some people to go back and forth.

I’d give my right arm to be ambidexterous.

Madsen,
That’s the one I have. I know there’s a huge difference between the Graphire and Intuous, but I’m not convinced the mechanics of it are different, if you know what I mean.

Peace,
Tony
B
brundlefly76
Sep 6, 2003
I have to give another opinion here – I have had one for a few months now, and I only have one complaint – but its significant…

My favorite mouse is the older USB MS Intellipoint Explorer, and I think I’m pulling my old one out of the closet and switching back to it. The MX700 is beautiful, ergonomic, precise, and has excellent battery life – but like many cordless mice it is too heavy because of the batteries.

Especially when playing games I find either the weight is making my moves stop short at slow speed because of gravity and friction, or continue too far because of momentum with fast long movements. When using it for non-game work I dont actually continuously slide it wround the screen like the MSIE, but kind of drag and stop to different locations, and my wrist gets tired much faster. Its really subtle but a problem after 8 hours. It feels wonderful when I switch beack to the MS after using the MX700 all day.

It took me many weeks of using it and fiddling with settings before I realized what it was about the mouse that bothered me, now it drives me nuts.

YMWV however, and with this exception, which is probably very subjective, the MX700 is about as good as mice get.

"brent bertram" …
Another vote for the Logi MX700 .

🙂

(Hi GJO ! )
JH
Jake Hannam
Sep 6, 2003
I have the older Wacom Intuos (not the II). Mine is one of the larger versions (9×12). Actually, that measurement is a little misleading as far as the size of the tablet (it’s footprint on your desk).
The 9 x 12 refers to the ‘drawing’ area of the tablet. The actual footprint is more like 12 x 16. The net effect of this is that you have the equivalent of a small table to work on. The drawing and mousing area is a little larger than an 8×10 sheet of paper.

Even though it takes up a lot of desk space, it does have the advantage of giving me a large flat surface for mousing and using the pen. I could see where people might have a problem with a smaller tablet because their arm and wrist would not be on a totally flat, large surface and that could cause problems with carpal tunnel, etc. I’ve been using my Wacom for four or five years and could never imagine going back to a mouse. I even got my boss to buy me one for work.

The tablet came with a wireless mouse and a wireless digitizing pen. The tablet (USB or serial) senses where the pen or mouse is located on the work area. I use the wireless mouse for ‘regular’ work (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, internet, email, etc.) and use the pressure-sensitive pen for graphics like Photoshop and Painter. The mouse, in my opinion, is more responsive than any mouse I have ever used. And the pen allows you to work at the pixel level.

If you can afford the larger tablet, I highly recommend it to avoid some of the concerns others described here.

P.S. People who have the smaller tablets often use them in their laps like you would a sketchbook or notepad.

Hope this helps.
Jake
TU
Terri Underhill
Sep 8, 2003
Well I’d thought I might try the tablet but after talking to some friends that don’t like there’s I guess I’ll play around with an old mouse I have that doesn’t have a roller ball and see if it’s to painfull on my elbow and thumb.
thanks everyone!
Terri
P
Phosphor
Sep 8, 2003
I’d give my right arm to be ambidexterous.

😀
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 8, 2003
Glad somebody got it.
M
Madsen
Sep 8, 2003
YrbkMgr wrote:

I’d give my right arm to be ambidexterous.

LOL.

Madsen,
That’s the one I have. I know there’s a huge difference between the Graphire and Intuous, but I’m not convinced the mechanics of it are different, if you know what I mean.

I know what you mean.
The problem with the Graphire pen is in my opinion that the button is placed at the wrong place. When I’m holding a pen I prefer to hold it close to the tip which means that I have to move my fingers to press the button. At the end of the day I felt as if someone had hit my right hand with at sledge hammer and after around fourteen days with the same sensation, I gave up.


Regards
Madsen.

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