Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!boulder!seri!wind55!marshall From: marshall@wind55.seri.gov (Marshall L. Buhl) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Mice - what do I want? Message-ID: Date: 9 Aug 90 15:25:22 GMT References: <15319@reed.UUCP> Sender: news@seri.gov (news) Organization: Solar Energy Research Institute Lines: 59 minar@reed.bitnet (Nelson Minar,L08,x640,7776519) writes: >I am a little bewildered at the choice of mice out there. Foremost, what is >the difference between a bus mouse and a serial mouse? One assumes that a bus >mouse plugs into the bus (with its own adapter), while a serial mouse plugs >into a serial port. Seeing as how I do not own a serial port, why should I >not get a bus mouse? If you don't have a serial port, you MUST get a bus mouse or spend a lot more on the serial port. Bus mice cost ~$10 more than serial mice. A serial/parallel card will set you back $40-$50. >Do bus mice work equally well in ATs and XTs? (I have an AT). All bus mice I've seen are 8-bit, so they should work in virtually any PC except for the PS/2's that use MicroChannel. I have both bus and serial mice and cannot detect any difference. >Do I need to worry about what sort of driver I get to go with the mouse? Are >they all the same? One should come with your mouse. No. They aren't all the same. Example: I use Logitech mice. The come with their own drivers. They are also MS Mouse compatible, so they WILL work with a MS Mouse driver. However, you will lose the ballistic features of the Logitech mouse if you use Microsoft drivers. >Does a trackball mouse exist for the IBM? Yes. Logitech makes a nice one called the TrackMan. I bought one recently for my users to try out. It's different than a mouse and takes getting used to, but the person that used it first seems to want to keep it instead of his mouse. It's good for cramped areas like his. >How much should I pay? If you are interested in quality, I recommend either the Logitech P9 or the Microsoft Mouse. The price varies depending on what software comes with it (they often bundle paint or CAD programs with the mice). I think the Logitech P9 Bus mouse is about $75-$80 without extra software. Of course, you can go to a computer store and spend $100+ if you prefer. I paid $77 for that serial TrackMan. My ComputerLand catalog wants $115.95 for it. If you are looking for something in the $25-$50 range, ask someone else. >Thank you. You're welcome. -- Marshall L. Buhl, Jr. EMAIL: marshall@seri.gov Senior Computer Missionary VOICE: (303)231-1014 Wind Research Branch 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401-3393 Solar Energy Research Institute Solar - safe energy for a healthy future