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High-Quality 3-Button Mouse For X?

An Anonymous Coward whispered the following question into my ear last night: "Does anyone know a good-quality, high-resolution three-button mouse that works nicely in X? I'm talking about just three buttons and no 'Internet' gizmos."

10 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. I feel dirty recommending it... by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 2
    But I just picked up a Microsoft Intelli-Eye mouse. Smoothest damned thing I've ever used, and it works on everything. I don't have to worry if my mouse surface is perfectly flat anymore, and the stupid little wheel works in X. Haven't been able to get the two side buttons to work yet, but that's probably because I'm using XFree 3.3.5 and not 4.0 (I'm sticking with what works, for now.)

    Anyway, it kicks the crap out of my old mice, but, at $65, you might not think it's worth the price.

    - A.P.
    --


    "One World, one Web, one Program" - Microsoft promotional ad

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  2. Hell, just buy and I2. by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 2
    They're like 400 bucks now for a 200 MHz R4400. Not exceptionally fast, but it'll run the latest IRIX release (6.5.5? That's the last I remember SGI sending me anyway) at a reasonable speed.

    The granite mouse goes well with the granite keyboard and monitor, too. . .

    - A.P.
    --


    "One World, one Web, one Program" - Microsoft promotional ad

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  3. Trackballs? by bluGill · · Score: 2
    Related to mice, are there any decient trackballs? Preferiabbly something that won't make my wrists worse?

    I know one person who said he put a track ball on the floor, and used is feet to point. I'd like to try it, but most of the old style track balls I've seen are two buttons, and I don't think I could press a button and move the ball at the the same time. (This being a physical problem with the location of the buttons, not a comment on my [poor] coordination)

    1. Re:Trackballs? by cr0sh · · Score: 2

      Access Micro has one on this page called the "AOC FINGER TRACKBALL" that seems kinda interesting.

      Two buttons on the top near the trackball, and one "trigger-style" for your index finger. The trackball (and top buttons) are controlled with your thumb.

      It doesn't seem like a good trackball for use at the desktop level, since you have to "fit" your hand around it. However, it seems perfect as a navigation tool for a virtual environment (may be good for Quake, too!). I bought one of these for just that purpose (VE nav, not Quake)...

      --
      Reason is the Path to God - Anon
  4. Wheel mice by ptomblin · · Score: 2

    Why would you *not* want a wheel mouse? These things are great, whether it's scrolling a long page in Netscape or switching weapons in Quake3.

    --
    A "freaking free-loading Canadian" stealing jobs from good honest hard working Americans since 1997.

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    The next Cmdr Taco duplicate will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!
  5. Microsoft Intelli-eye by Booker · · Score: 2
    Yeah, yeah, it's Microsoft. And yes, it follows the MSNC (Microsoft Standard Naming Conventions). But you can get this wheel mouse with optical tracking from buy.com for $20 (when they get it back in stock) or at CompUSA for $30. The wheel functions as the third button, and of course it's got the nice scrolling feature, too. It's USB, but it comes with a PS/2 adapter. No ball to clog up with muck, no skipping... it's so smooth it's almost freaky. I am completely sold on this thing. If MS would stick to hardware they just might win my heart! :)

    ---

  6. Re:i like logitech by Cato · · Score: 2

    I use the Logitech Cordless Mouseman Wheel mouse, which is very nice, and can be used in left or right hand. I set it up as Intellimouse-Serial under XFree86. It's very nice to have one less wire trailing around.

  7. Re:Perplexing by Detritus · · Score: 2

    I don't know why everyone seems to hate the Apple iMac mouse. I find it to be comfortable and easy to use. A second button would make it more difficult to use, at least for the way I hold the mouse, with my forefinger on the button's dimple and my thumb and ring finger on the sides of the mouse. When I use multi-button mice, I like the cheap Logitech three-button mice. They fit my hand and I don't have to move my fingers around to click the buttons.

    --
    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  8. Re:i like logitech by Mignon · · Score: 2

    I second that. In /etc/XF86Config, I use mouse protocol "MouseManPlusPS/2" for mine.

  9. i like logitech by bodosom · · Score: 2
    logitech makes a nice three-button mouse and a somewhat easier to find four-button mouse that is identical (the fourth button is under your thumb). logitech also has very nice software for windows.

    i use one because the button activation pressure is low enough that i can use it all day without any rsi problems. button pressure is why i don't like wheel-mice. of course the best solution is a sun mouse but you have to buy an adaptor box which makes it a bit pricey.