On Point: New Mouse Technologies
Michael S. Lasky
POINTING DEVICESToday's advanced alternatives to the traditional mouse provide plenty of ways to make pointing simpler, more precise, and more comfortable. I looked at shipping versions of new products from Logitech and Microsoft that play off the designs of conventional pointing devices but optimize them with the latest in optical and tactile technologies.
Logitech's $40 IFeel Mouse and $60 IFeel MouseMan add responsive vibration to give you palpable feedback when the cursor moves over icons, menus, hyperlinks, and bookmarks. Meanwhile, Microsoft's $45 Trackball Optical and $75 Trackball Explorer combine an improved version of the vendor's IntelliEye optical technology with dynamically different trackball positioning.
Logitech's two IFeel mice, ensconced in the same housing as previous Logitech devices, are the first mainstream mice to incorporate a revolutionary new technology from Immersion called TouchSense that gives tactile feedback to users.
The IFeel Mouse is a traditional wheel mouse designed for left- or right-handed users; the wheeled IFeel MouseMan, which is sculpted to fit the hand's contours, is for righties only.
So why make a mouse that vibrates on cue? Ostensibly, as Web pages and Windows screens grow more cluttered, zeroing in on the exact place to click becomes more difficult. I tested the IFeel mice on a variety of Web sites as well as on my busy Windows 98 desktop, and they did help me target where I wanted to click.
Though the IFeel software works in Internet Explorer 5 and in Netscape 4.5 or later, it requires you to install IE 5 before it will load the necessary drivers. It may conflict with touchpad devices on some notebooks, too.
These minor complaints aside, at only $10 more than their unfeeling counterparts, either Logitech device would make a handsome investment, especially as more software is written to exploit the TouchSense technology.
Trackball and Chain
Trackballs are the pointing device of choice for many people whose hands cramp when they use a conventional mouse. Microsoft's two new right-hand trackballs rely on optical tracking technology that replaces internal moving parts with an optical sensor that takes "snapshots" of the trackball at 2000 images per second, providing the user with precise pointer movement from a device that stays stationary on your desk.
The difference between the Trackball Explorer and the Trackball Optical, other than price, lies in how the trackball itself and the customizable buttons are positioned.
The Explorer's large red ball sits atop the contoured, bulbous, silver and slate device, with the wheel and the left and right buttons situated where your thumb naturally rests. Two customizable buttons to the right of the trackball rely on your pinkie and ring fingers for operation and are more difficult to manipulate for any length of time.
The Trackball Optical puts the ball on the left side for the thumb to navigate, leaving the scroll wheel and left and right buttons in a more conventional location on top for easier clicking. Two customizable subordinate buttons are also on top, but once again one of them requires you to use your pinkie, which I found to be a very inefficient arrangement in the long run. I liked both trackballs, though only you can judge which is right for you. I definitely recommend that you try before you buy.
| Buying Information |
IFeel Mouse, IFeel MouseMan Tactile feedback feature enhances already superb optical mice, making them the best yet. Requires installing Internet Explorer 5 even if you use Netscape. At only $10 more than their nontactile cohorts, these mice are a good investment. List price: IFeel Mouse $40, IFeel MouseMan $60 Logitech 800/231-7717 http://www.logitech.com |
| Buying Information |
Microsoft Trackball Optical, Microsoft Trackball Explorer Two choices with optical technology; differing comfort options. Some buttons require inefficient pinkie manipulation; Explorer is overpriced. The Optical is the better value, providing similar features for a lower price. List price: Optical $45, Explorer $75 Microsoft 800/426-9400 http://www.microsoft.com/hardware |