Laptop Mice

Buying a laptop mouse

Connectivity

If you're shopping for a laptop mouse, your first decision is what type of connectivity suits you best? Should you go for a wired or wireless mouse? A wired mouse plugs into your laptop via a USB cable which is how it gets the power it needs to operate so there are no batteries to worry about. If you opt for a wired mouse, ensure the cable is long enough to allow you to work comfortably as many laptop mice have short cables. The cable material is worth looking at too; you'll want one that's durable and doesn't get tangled up easily. Wireless mice give you the freedom to work unhindered and reduce cable clutter but on the flipside, you'll be relying on batteries for power which either need replacing or recharging when they run out of juice.

Wireless laptop mice fall into two types based on how they connect to your laptop; radio frequency (RF-based) and Bluetooth. RF-based mice require a USB adapter (or dongle) to be plugged into one of your laptop's USB ports and give you a working range of about 10 metres with fast response times. They use less power than Bluetooth mice and are easier to set up - you simply plug the adapter into a USB port and wait for the laptop to detect your mouse. A Bluetooth laptop mouse doesn't need an adapter so can be used with any laptop or computer that has Bluetooth connectivity without tying up any ports. Bluetooth mice use more power and can be slower to respond but you don't have to worry about plugging in or losing a dongle.

Sensitivity

Laptop mice use optical sensors to detect movement. The sensitivity of the sensor is measured in DPI (dots per inch) and the higher the number, the more sensitive the mouse. Sensitivities range from 800 - 6000+ dpi but unless you're a gamer looking for high resolution motion tracking, anything up to 2000 dpi is fine.

Ergonomics

Don't overlook the size and shape of the mouse. Many laptop mice are designed for portability and are smaller than desktop versions which can cause unnecessary strain on your hand and wrist. A comfortable mouse fits the shape of your hand with an area to rest your thumb when it's not being used. Ergonomic mice are available that are specially designed for hand and wrist comfort to minimise the risk of repetitive strain injuries. There are also mice designed specifically for left handed and ambidextrous users.

Build quality

If you want a mouse that'll be used frequently that will stand the test of time, build quality is important. Buttons need to click smoothly and the mouse should glide effortlessly and work properly on most flat surfaces. Many mice feature padding on the base called feet. These can degrade quickly and easily on budget models so for heavy users it may be worth investing in a more durable, premium mouse.

Buttons

Pretty much all laptop mice come with the standard left and right buttons plus a clickable scroll wheel but there are plenty of mice offering extra buttons, functions and customisation features. Examples include mice with back and forward buttons for web browsing, programmable mice useful for gamers running macro commands and mice you can customise physically to alter the balance, weight or feel.