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Best Mouse For Programming?
LosManos writes "Which is the best programming mouse? Mandatory musts are wireless, and that it doesn't clog up like old mechanical mice. Present personal preferences are for: lots of buttons, since if I have moved my hand away from the keyboard I can at least do something more than move the pointer; sturdy feeling; not too light, so it doesn't move around by me accidentally looking at it." What would you recommend?
Since when can you use a mouse in Emacs or VI?
I use my mind to program. Mice are pre-occupied with
fleeing from cats to be bothered with the mundane tasks of
programming.
Yours Monadically ( If you'll excuse the pun),
Kiglore Trout
Why is wireless a must? Do you enjoy changing batteries or having your mouse accidentally dropped on the floor? Do you enjoy troubleshooting why you suddenly lost your signal?
I've found most KVMs make it so my wireless input devices don't work. :(
Just stick with Dell stuff, that solves the problem of it moving when you look at it, cause shortly it won't move at all! It'll feel like a brick, so it won't be too light! If you've moved your hand away from the keyboard...well we all know what your actually doing, but calling it programming is a novel idea anyway!
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Isn't this kind of like asking, "What are the best training wheels to use on the Tour de France?"
Elite programmers should be using an environment where they don't have to use the mouse at all, or use it minimally. They know key commands for everything, except maybe when you want to test out a mouse feature, in which case you can't assume the user has a cool mouse anyway.
Information theory is life. The rest is just the KL divergence.
Mouse? for Programming? unless it's GUI stuff, NO mouse is preferred. Vi please
I use a keyboard with an IBM trackpoint so i don't keep moving my right hand between keyboard and mouse. It takes a little to get used to it, but it worth the try! http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/healthycomputing/trkpnt.html
I never want to have to worry about replacing batteries, recharging, or waiting for the mouse to make up from sleep on anything as core to my workflow as a mouse.
Personally I think that any good gaming mouse works well for coding. You've got your extra buttons (which mostly just give you an extra forward/back in your browser) and good accuracy. I'm a fan of my Razer Diamondback, although by this point the grippy paint they put on it is coming off so it looks a bit shabby.
I would say with 100 certainty that your keyboard is ten times more important than your mouse for programming. The mouse just has to not get in your way.
Seriously, once you get used to key bindings, you end up being much faster in ide's like vim and emacs than with a mouse (yeah, I consider them ide's).
It takes some time thought, but believe me, it's worth it.
I don't think I've ever heard of any real programmer needing a mouse to code. Is the submitter one of those clueless code mashers flooding the industry that call themselves "developers" that I keep hearing about?
Mighty Mouse writes all my code. Underdog tests.
There simply isn't a better mouse in the world. All the fancy X11/Compiz shortcuts you actually need can go on it, rechargable batteries, easy to move and most of all, incredibly ergonomic.
Plus that endless scroll feature is perfect for grokking long walls of code.
The Logitech Marble Mouse trackball has four buttons, sturdy, and won't cause your neck to get strained from the fine motor control required to move a regular mouse. Mine has a USB cable; I do not know if a wireless version is available.
Wireless with built in rechargable battery that lasts several days easily for me. Lots of buttons, the scroll wheel is very nice, you can keep it in standard click mode, or use free scrolling, or toggle between the two easily; automatically or manually.
Fully programmable with lots of buttons, forward/back, and the cool thumb quick flip thing.
It contours very well in the hand, and I really like the extra lip under the thumb. It has some nice weight to it, but it's not too heavy to be tiresome. Overall it's the best mouse I've every owned.
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I do all my programming by floating through a giant VR simulation of the computer's memory with various bits of code randomly located in countless giant towers. I don't see why you would need a "mouse" for such a thing.
I thought it was known that the Kensington Turbo Mouse was the best ever made. My missile Command scores have never been better since I got mine. One at home, one at work.
First of all, I'd suggest not wireless if you are worried about it 'moving' around with you not looking. Almost any wireless mouse I've used does that sometimes, with the exception of Gyration. (Microsoft, Logitech, and several off brands) Second of all, if you want sturdy feeling, you might go for one of the cases based on the Logitech mx500 (including the G5) or some of the similarly shaped Microsoft mice. (Unless you are left-handed.) The Logitech mx518 I'm using has at least 3 buttons which can be mapped to something useful. (Intended as forward, back, and app-switch. I think you can remap the +/- resolution buttons, but I haven't bothered)
Because we all know the future of programming lies in mouse gestures.
C'mon guys, give him a break. After all, he couldn't really ask which keyboard was best for it, now could he?
There is no -1 Disagree mod. Slashdot.org/faq defines mod options. USE IT.
I just have to say I love my Logitech G9. It's quite ugly but functionality wise it rocks. It's wired though..
I recently finally broke my last Logitech cordless mouse, which had lasted a good 200 three foot drops onto a hard surface (dogs, clumsiness, etc). I finally gave in and tried wireless (I hate wireless in nearly all its forms), and picked up a Logiitech MX Revolution. Apart from the fact that I have to keep a clear line-of-sight between the mouse and receiver (stupid for an RF device if you ask me, but whaddyagonnado)...the mouse has been fantastic. It has a shedload of buttons and two, count em, *two*, mouse wheels. Good stuff.
Wireless or not doesn't matter.
Small footprint for usage.
Easy to clean by popping out trackball.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/2987&cl=us,en
the mouse I use for programming is an older variant of this one. I've been quite happy with it. scroll wheel has nice feedback for flipping thru code, it's heavy and has a nice solid feel.
I am in no way affiliated with logitech, I just like their stuff.
In Soviet Russia jokes are formulaic and decidedly non-humorous.
I'm enjoying my Logitech MX Revolution, has 3 buttons, a thumbwheel and a scrollwheel with swivel(so, 5 buttons total).
The click lock is the best feature for the scroll wheel. I hate not having it on my other system.
I've used one for close to 6 years. Although it might be lacking a lot of the buttons and geek coolness factor, I find my wrists don't hurt in using one. I also stick to the corded version. The mouse just sits there.. why worry about batteries dieing?
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/159&cl=US,EN
Quite possibly the worst ask-slashdot question ever. While we're at it, let's also discuss the best mousepad for programming as well as the best type of wood for desks for programming.
Always proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
Been using one for 6+ years. Won't use anything else.
Stick Men
You're welcome.
Admit it, you don't really want a mouse, you want jedi powers.
My mother-in-law bought this for me when I switched from a desktop to a laptop. I thought it was ridiculous, especially since she spent 70 bucks on it. 2 years later and I hate having any other mouse in my hand. Good weight, fits well with my hand (hope you're not a lefty), plays well with Mac, doesn't eat batteries, has bindable keys, etc.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/165&cl=us,en
"My fingers Emit sparks of fire in Expectation of my future labours." William Blake
In that case, I would suggest teh One Button Mouse!
A serial Mouse Systems mouse with a middle button. Goes along great with your IBM Model M keyboard.
Howdy.
While taste in mice and features vary, one thing I would vouch for, if you're right handed and have a full keyboard, is to learn to use your mouse with your left hand. I worked with Gene Korienek in the early 1990s and we discussed how to optimize mouse motion. Since the page navigation, Return key, and numeric pad are all on your right side, using your mouse with your left hand will make you more effective for some activities such as using spreadsheets, Photoshop, web surfing, etc. I went "mouse southpaw" since then -- super-comfortable.
Now... for programming I use MacVim and a number of plug-ins and extensions. When I'm programming, unless it's something that's got a GUI or it's iPhone/Mac specific, I seldom use the mouse. One of the biggest advantages of using a keyboard instead of a mouse is sensory memory. There are actions in Vim (and possibly TextMate, emacs, etc.) that you can execute automatically, without thinking about the exact key press sequence, and without having to lift your hands off the keyboard. Check into any of these editors, add the appropriate plug-ins (e.g. "UNIX is my IDE") and see what works best for you. I went from keyboard-only (TurboPascal, Turbo C, vi/UNIX) to GUI IDE (Smalltalk/V, Symantec Cafe, Visual Studio, IDEA) back to keyboard-only for most programming tasks. Now my coding is split between keyboard-only (scripting, Java, C, assembler) and GUI/mouse for only a few environments that leave you no other option (Xcode/Interface Builder).
Cheers!
E
http://eugeneciurana.com | http://ciurana.eu
I have a Logitech MX5000 wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo.. The mouse is nice since it has quite a lot of buttons (easy 'forward' and 'back' buttons around the thumb) for web navigation .. I count 11 buttons in total on that mouse. Good charge lifetime and has a 'base' to recharge on maybe once a week. The keyboard is nice to use, however there is a stutter problem when you first type a key after sitting for a while.. the character will come up two or more times! which is a pain in the ass if you are typing login credentials or something fast before you notice.
so you want a mouse to do you programming? does you boss know about this ad?
I would absolutely recommend going with a gaming-grade mouse like the Logitech G9, Creative Fata1ity 2020, or one of the new OCZ mice if you need something less expensive. The ones I mentioned have user-adjustable weights, lots of buttons, and ultra-accurate laser tracking. They are wired (reliability, etc...) but you might be able to find something comparable in wireless trim.
Best of luck - a good mouse is a very valuable computing asset.
And here's why:
There are more than 100 programming languages.
There are so many skill sets in each of them among programmers,
Programmers like those in the general population, have their own definition of "best".
Who will say what language is best for a particular kind of programming?
Bottom line: Invalid question, so it should not have been asked.
Works good and is super easy to navigate once you get used to it. It resists crud build up - and it's stationary on your desk. Knowing how free desk space is at a premium in the real world of programming, this works out very, very well. My biggest use of it? The scroll wheel is invaluable for paging through long docs.
My Thinkpad X61's touch point is perfect. It's in the middle of the keyboard, so there is minimal hand movement to move the mouse when typing. It moves much better than the touchpad because you don't need to reload once you reach the edge of the sensitive location. It also takes up very little room, so it works on the plane, etc.
Logitech MX-518 is the best gaming mouse I've ever used. High precision, no drift, works great on a variety of surfaces.
When I showed up for my first day of a programming job a few years ago (at a game development company), guess what mouse was plugged into my machine? Yep, an MX-518.
I have one at home, one at work and I've always been more satisfied with them.
I like the Logitech VX nano. While the flame bait of using a mouse while programming is quite tempting even to myself, in a rare moment of reflection, I realized I don't know everything, and occasionally I have to use the intrawebz to learn that which I do not know. Also, sometimes I must slashdot. On such occasions, I like the vx nano. The spinny scroll wheel, and right left scrolling ... lots of buttons. Very tiny receiver.
I happen to love this mouse. have two of them, one for the office and one for home.
I've converted a friend of mine as well. He now has 3 for office, home and travel.
Don't be put off by the gamer-mouse facade, it's a workhorse... for a mouse anyway.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/187&cl=US,EN
The real question is... What's the best type of chick to give a blow job so you can crack ssl encryption faster when you have a gun pointed at your head?
because the dark hair won't reflect into your eyes and distract you from the computer monitor so you can hack it in 60 seconds. unless you need the challenge.
Evoluent Vertical Mouse
If you have to use a mouse, it might as well be one that isn't going to destroy your wrist.
It might clash with your stereotypical clicky keyboard but it'll fit right in with that ergonomic keyboard that you actually use.
Logitech MX series.
Light, precise, lot of programmable buttons and lag free.
Do not use wireless if you need reliability.
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
I don't get why you would need a mouse for programming.. programming languages are typed, no?
Sorry for being off-topic, but what do you guys think is the best keyboard out there? I recently got a Model M keyboard (from Unicomp) and I can't say its worth the price. Also, I feel like the newer the keyboard is, the harder it is to program in (due to location of the arrows and/or the buttons gives little tactile feedback). Anybody else feel the same way?
You need:
- a mouse that can be used left handed, placed to the left of the keyboard, this allows for hours of stress-free usage
- a corded mouse with relatively few buttons, it is lighter, cheaper to replace
- a good quality keyboard that you can use for hours comfortably
The only time I ever use a mouse is when I'm trying to aim for the middle of a line so I can edit something there (I'm sure real programmers have ways to do this really efficiently with a keyboard but I haven't bothered with them, just using gedit myself). For that your only need is accuracy. How high can you score in an FPS with your mouse? Trackpads are, of course, right at the bottom.
I don't remember who made it but one of the guys I went to college with had himself a mouse where a simple usb cord acted as the charger cord and the mouse could be used while it was charging. In essence the mouse was wireless unless the battery ran out, then it was just wired until it was charged up again. Thing still had a scroll/tilt wheel and 7 buttons.
To be honest though you might just take a look at trackballs, I know they aren't as popular as they used to be but I like using them when I code mainly because my desk becomes covered with paper trash, empty chips bags, and cans of beer in short order and I run out of room for the mouse to move around in.
"We don't need to see..."
Wait. I mean,
I want a mouse that is not wireless (so it doesn't lag and weigh a ton), Has a real ball, because I need an excuse to stop every few months and scraping sludge off the mouse rollers is a nearly perfect pastime, has 3 buttons only, because lots of buttons are stupid and useless, is not overbuilt and expensive but light as a feather, so the pointer goes where I am thinking.
Oh, and no trackball. I hate those.
Anyone?
The mouse was invented for throwing at other programmers. That's why they have wires. So you don't have to get up to retrieve it.
The best mouse is a keyboard, preferably an ergonomic one. They have lots of buttons, come in wireless versions, and don't clog up. Seriously, I've been programming since like 1985, and in all that time, I've never needed a mouse to do anything with programming. What do you need a mouse for?
are for red wines. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Must
...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
How can I make the mouse pointer ARROW fade away?
You know, like magic somehow?
I am building a kiosk and that pblm is killing me (winDoz).
Not that I don't want to get in this wonderful discussion, but damnit, someone point me to a trick or sw solution...!
Personally I like my G7 because it's wireless but has two Li-Ion batteries that are easy to change. One is recharging while the other is in use.
Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
But don't the 'trodes itch after a while?
http://michaelsmith.id.au
I just want to say: WTH. Slashdot, really.
That's what I was thinking: "A mouse for programming, WTF?"
The best mouse I have ever owned is my Logitech MX518. Previously I was a big fan of the regular Microsoft ball mice. I am a "twitch" gamer so I value high performance and accurate mice. Anyway, back to the MX518. As it's optical it never "clogs up" and it's wired so it always works 100% of the time with no batteries and no matter what interference is around. It has a variable sensitivity right in the mouse (no software needed) and has a high sample high for quick movement.
I rather enjoy the texture and customizability of the Logitech G5. It's got a DPI controller on the top so when I need to do some precise photoshop work I can move slower. It's got a variable weighting system so you can have as much inertia as you prefer. It's teflon feet are very easy to slide, and the wheel has left and right tilt as well as Logitech's great scroll feel. In the end though, the G5 is a desktop mouse, with a braided wrapped cable that reaches forever and would seriously get in the way of a portable notebook environment. If you absolutely must have a wireless mouse, I have to recommend getting one of Logitech's non-bluetooth mice, the responsiveness when coming off idle time is faster than the bluetooth models. Any of them will work great and have good battery life, but the ones with the nano-receiver are better for portable use, just leave it in your notebook and don't worry about losing it. Regardless though, if you're developing at a desktop, get the G5, it's the best mouse in the history of Logitech.
Virtual albino mice are useful for viral assessments.
Now I play (and work) with my wireless optical rat in front of my Logitech S510 keyboard and shoulder pain is a distant memory.
I found this little gem at Best Buy (and got my girl to get me a discount ;) and it really is nice and comfortable, 6 buttons (left, right, wheel click, wheel scroll, and a button on the left near the thumb) - I use the thumb button to scroll through multiple tabs in Notepad++..
The precision on it is good enough for gaming and Bluetooth means standards compliant and goes everywhere (i.e. not any stupid "2.4GHz" custom protocol USB dongles or so floating around which you need to carry with you. The MS BMfN doesn't come with any transceiver, it assumes you already got one. I got a cheap $7 pico BT 2.1 adapter (the one where it's about 1/6th of an inch bigger than a USB connector) which works great with it.
I like my logitech MX Revolution. plenty of buttons, and super fast scrolling when you need
Microsoft 8000
You can also use it left or right handed
Any mouse that makes your hand happy, and pleases you.
I happen to really enjoy my Razer Copperhead, and the Logitech mouse I have at work. I like that they are symmetrical, and not at all tied to whether I use them left or right handed. Some people love "ergonomic" mice, I don't. Go to the store and feel some mice. Not everyone holds a mouse in the same way, so you will want to find one that works for you. You've already cut off many (all) mice that I like by requiring a wireless mouse ... but as with all interface devices, your preferences are more important.
Consider a trackball, also.
I use the cheapest keyboard I can find, and a microsoft standard optical mouse. The keyboard takes a hell of a bashing, and i tend to replace it every few months. Hence my preference for the cheapest keyboard -- but that's not your question!! I have tried using wireless mice, but i get really really pissed off when they run out of batteries. But what pisses me off more is the weight of the batteries -- I'd much rather use a wired mouse, deal with the cables, and have a mouse with the minimum of inertia. This makes for a pointing experience that's the best you can possibly get, i.e. your pointer gets to its destination as quickly as it possibly can. This indisputably permits the optimum computing experience! Eschew cordless mice, their batteries mean that the mouse weight is a lot more than it needs to be, which means that the lag in getting to your intended cursor point is much bigger than it needs be. Microsoft bashing aside, I've found that their mice are more accurate and faster than any of their competition -- the bottom line is that if you care about cursor accuracy and responsiveness, MS bog-standard corded mice are honestly the last word in responsiveness to your whims. Why do you want wireless anyway, apart from the cool factor? I long since moved past that, preferring only bending the hardware to my will. I've been through numerous keyb/mouse combinations in my long programming career, and have found all keyboards and mouses lacking. The best keyboards I've encountered have been [paradoxically] the cheapest ones I could find. I tend to go through several keyboards a year, due to my propensity to smack them really hard [and break them][because stupid people piss me off]. Seriously, go for a Microsoft standard 2-button wired mouse, and a really cheap keyboard that you're comfortable typing on & don't mind replacing frequently. I'm a big-earning shit-hot programmer, and that's what works for me! PS posting anonymously cos i don't wanna brag.
I personally use a Logitech MX Revolution http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/130&cl=US,EN I highly recommend the Hard plate mouse pad too made by RocketFish, I use the "Control" side of the pad. If it gets dirty, you can simply wash it off. http://www.rocketfishproducts.com/pc-67-3-rocketfish-gaming-mouse-pad-black.aspx The mouse doesn't require batteries, has a recharge stand and the battery life is wonderful. I can go at least 1-2 weeks at 8 hours of coding each without having to worry about putting it on the charger. If I do have to charge it, no more than 15-20 minutes for a full charge and I'm ready again. I haven't had any issues with any operating system either, no scuffing issues, etc...
Big, heavy, lots of buttons, left or right handed, wireless
The Kensington "expert" trackball. Here Big and sturdy, stays in one place so you can whack the scroll ring or paste button without looking. Most of the time my hands are on the keyboard, and when they're not I don't want to go mouse hunting. Not cheap, but TANSTAAFL.
The best mouse that meets your needs, would actually be a gaming mouse (macro's, programmable buttons etc), however, wireless is tricky in this area.
There is a new mouse on the market, "Razer Mamba" http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-mice/razer-mamba/ - meets all your requirements and more.
I'm rather fond of this one:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-EM500GPL-Ergonomic-Mouse-EM500GPLLARGE/dp/B00008KWWF
It has a couple of benefits over the EVM:
1) it has a base that your hand can rest on.
2) the main buttons are thumb-activated, which is good if you were getting pain from finger movement.
The main disadvantage is the lack of a scroll wheel, but I've gotten so used to button scrolling that I don't find this to be a problem.
A mouse is a very personal thing, and a new one typically takes some getting used to. Some people will like it, others will not.
p.s. They have a wireless version too now, apparently.
Save from the stupid name, and about a second or two of delay it takes to "wake up" after not being used for something like a hour, I must say I love it.
Bluetooth means no range problems ever, which is absolutely abysmal with "normal wireless" mice (I had both IR and radio and both sucked totally). It has a very decent optical system. It's big, rather heavy but ergonomic (for righties, thumb space very comfortable but right-hand only.) It has two extra assignable buttons (though downloading some 50MB of drivers to do that that is somewhat silly). The wheel moves very lightly but not too lightly. A pair of some 2000mAh accumulators lasts about a week until recharge (I keep two sets, one always in the charger, one in the mouse.)
BTW, the mouse is suboptimal for gaming, because it has pretty low resolution and minimally delayed response time, but I found these not to matter the least bit with normal usage - web, programming etc. The delay and resolution problem is noticeable only when sniping, doesn't affect normal usage.
45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
I'd mod this up if I could. It's the best peripheral I have ever used. It feels like a big old vintage trackball from Missile Command or Centipede, and it has a bunch of good options for the 4 buttons and the mousewheel. It's very precise and easy to control. Great for massive copying and pasting jobs.
Here's some related desk pr0n...
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-- The unsig...
But, he does not do C#.
You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
much better than a trackpoint.
logitech rx1500.
I was going to ask:
"What question can I ask that so lame as to be pointless, and will still enrage enough people to cause a flamewar?"
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Suprisingly it seems that HP still makes a good 3 button optical mouse. http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product.asp?sku=2545791&pagemode=ca
Just go to the store, pick up every mouse you find and speak directly into it.
"Computer?"
The first one that answers you is the one you want.
I really am hooked on my logitech g9.
It's got an ass-load of buttons, on-the-fly sensitivity, and it's weight adjustable.
You can buy different grips to get a good hand-feel.
Yes, it's meant for gaming, but it's very functional. Though it's corded.
It's not cheap enough to try out though. It requires acclimation since it is a radically different design from any other mouse.
It's like a street rod. dropped and chopped.
They're using their grammar skills there.
Ah, this is why I don't read /. any more! I'd forgot. Pointless comments to a straightforward question by know-nothings thinking themselves savant.
I don't need to use the mouse ever. Spotlight and expose allow you to never leave the keyboard when you need to launch the app, switch the app, or go to a different window of an app.
I also edit my stuff in Vim in terminal. And nothing is faster to edit text than VIM. Even in Eclipse I have (somewhat limited) vi plugin, and Netbeans has proper vim plugin implementation in nbjvi.
Seriously, you should avoid the mouse as much as you can if editing text (which is what programmers do 99% of the time) efficiently is your goal.
As the island of our knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.
If you have a long career, you will probably need this mouse. I would have had to quit years ago if this mouse was not available.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ergonomics/home/products/ergonomicmouse/
a mouse that works and has a scroll wheel is about the only requirement for programmers.
Now if you find yourself editing images in Photoshop or GIMP for your programs, a mouse with a tilt-wheel can be really handy for moving around in zoomed in fat-bits mode to review your graphics or touch up pixels.
But generally I think a keyboard is the tool that programmers must be particular about. Generally the less you use a mouse the more programming you may be doing. Programmers love obscure hot keys for common actions, and will spend the time to build up muscle memory with their important tools. A mouse is for selecting stuff (you shouldn't be cutting and pasting too much, that's not code re-use), and you may find that you perform a dozen or so regular tasks that can be done through hotkeys in your IDE or editor.
(note: I use nvi, zsh, gdb, cscope, doxygen and make for my development environment. my opinions are not likely mainstream.)
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
I have been using the logitech MX Revolution for a few years now and i have never had a problem with it. It has a great feel and with the ability to flick the scroll wheel and spin down a long page of code you can move around the page very quickly. Best mouse i have ever used. I am thinking about buying another one for my laptop. Kinda pricey but the battery life is really good.
I don't know how any mouse would benefit programming, but for serious computing IMO one needs a 3 button mouse. Not these half-button-half-wheel monstrosities that seem to have permeated the market nowadays. For a good old model I can't go past the A4tech 4-button mice like this one.
Pros:
Three actual buttons on top, requiring the same amount of pressure per button is a must-have feature AFAIAC
Natural locations for each finger, without requiring heavy sideways movement.
Two scroll wheels (okay I only use one, but just emphasising the fact that it is *separate* from the buttons)
Thumb button is nice
Wired. Though not so popular now I consider this a pro since I don't like replacing batteries.
Cons:
Opto-mechanical, ie not optical. This is a show-stopper for many.
Obsolete. They're PS/2 only and hard to find these days.
Any modern mouse that had three proper buttons on top would probably do just as well. Does anyone know of any?
"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
I love basic Microsoft mice: Simple, wired, two buttons, and a scroll wheel. No drivers, extra buttons, or other weird stuff. I even use them with my Macintosh.
No, I will not work for your startup
I use a trackball myself. While coding I practically only use it while scrolling. It's easy on the hands, it doesn't move around (and during long programming and terminal sessions you might actually forget where you left the mouse) and you can program your mouse that for example if you click both left and right at the same time that you want your balls to do the scrolling - in any direction.
I currently have a Logitech TrackMan Wheel (cordless version exists) and a TrackMan Marble.
If you want a classic mouse I would suggest the Apple Mighty Mouse: it has a trackball in the middle that you can use for scrolling - in any direction.
There are also keyboards that have trackballs built in but I don't like them. The ball is in the wrong position, is too small and/or is mechanical.
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I've been using the Mouse-Trak Professional for over ten years, daily use (coding and gaming). It looks awesome, it feels awesome, it IS awesome. I think they even make one with a USB interface nowadays.
logitch vx and mx are my mice of choice for many years. not too hot for the nano.
Forget a mouse, forget wireless unless you're using a laptop.
The best dang "mouse" I've ever found is a Microsoft Trackball Explorer. Five buttons plus scrollwheel. I've used xmodmap to remap the buttons to help alleviate some nascent carpal tunnel symptoms. I own two of them, using one at work, and one at home. It does tend to get a bit gummed up on the trackball bearings, but about once a week I just swab around them with whatever pointy object is handy (paper clip, pen, thumbtack), and all is well. It'd probably help if I didn't eat junk food while working on the computer, and thus get all that goo on the trackball itself.
Unfortunately they stopped making it a few years ago. And when I say "unfortunately", know full well that I refuse to give Microsoft a dime for anything other than Trackball Explorers and keyboards, so you know the Trackball Explorer has to be awesome to overcome my loathing of Redmond.
Cyrano de Maniac
That's what I do, I have both a Marble Trackball from Logitech and a Logitech mouse. Each has strengths and weaknesses.. The trackball lets me do most day to day activities without mouse fatigue and the mouse lets me use photoshop without going insane.
Since my Apple II days 20 years ago, the Kensington Expert Mouse easily fits into the top 5 best money ever spent on a peripheral.
In case you wonder what the other four are: Sound Blaster Pro (on a 486), 64KB 80 column card (on an Apple), a Dell 2005FPW IPS LCD, and the original Mockingboard (Apple)
Back to the topic, for the attention-deprived, a plug for my recommendation: Logitech Trackman Wheel. It's not actually manufactured any more, but is still available through any number of sources. And it's so robust, it'll last forever.
I have been offering this device to users for almost ten years. For some, it is uncomfortable for a day or two after which users become grateful disciples and permanent customers.
Scrolling can be accomplished using any finger with or without bending the finger.
Live Long and Prosper - Thanks Leonard. You are missed.
I use a gaming mouse for leveling my programming skill
Use a trackball (e.g. Logitech Marble Mouse) for a couple of days whilst coding.
I doubt you'll go back.
You get a high precision with a trackball combined with the fact that you don't need to shunt your arm around to move the pointer - obviously your fingertips have much finer motor control than your shoulder/arm. For me it seems to really suit my use patterns when coding.
Gaming etc is another matter - have to use a mouse for that.
My laptop trackpad functions as my mouse. What makes this different is that it's the only human interface device I use on the laptop.
I send the video to a separate widescreen monitor. I use an old school keyboard connected via AT-PS2-USB connectors (yes, it works, even numeric keypad with numlock). The laptop monitor is turned off, and the case is open wide enough for me to put my hand in there; but not wide enough to get in the way of anything else or obstruct the monitor.
So, I get all the ergonomic advantage of a full-sized PC with a trackpad. Once you go trackpad in this situation, you'll wonder why anybody would ever want to slide something around on a surface. The laptop is heavy enough to keep the pad still. I guess this might be why you don't see separate trackpads sold very often. They'd need weight or sticky pads to keep them in place on your desk, and it's hard to sell dead weight or a sticky desk to people.
In the past, my laptop saw much service as a truly mobile device; but recently it's stayed "docked" most of the time. It's nice to know I can take it about and use it like a regular laptop. So. Not only do I never want to slide something around my desk again, I really don't want to go non-mobile again either.
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
You forgot to mention probably the best feature of this wheel for programming. The main scroll wheel is able to disengage notchyness and freewheel through your code at an outstanding rate. Also good for slashdot skimming. :)
Oh, and the second central button automatically searches any selected text in your favorite search engine, which can be good as it works within any app.
http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/micro-innovations-launches-battery-free-wireless-mouse/
Cheap, economical, 5 buttons, scroll wheel, wireless, battery free, optical, good resolution and sensitivity. Did I miss anything?
As a software developer, the biggest risk you'll have is just wearing your hands/arms/wrists out. The "best" device of any kind should be the one which minimises the amount of strain.
For the mouse, the first thing is to avoid it as much as possible. Learn your keyboard shortcuts. Reaching for the mouse on a regular basis will only strain things. Placing 20 buttons on the mice will only encourage you to use it, when in reality your hands should be staying put on the keyboard.
The second thing is to get a mouse that places the minimum strain on your arms. I use an Evoluent Vertical Mouse, but I imagine you can find similar (and less extreme?) mice around. I spent a few hundred dollars on physio due to wrist pain, and it didn't go away. I spent $80 on the mouse and the pain evaporated in two weeks. That was the "best" hardware investment I ever made.
Any optical mouse by logitech. I prefer fast RF wireless.
SlimBlade Media Mouse: http://us.kensington.com/html/14488.html
SlimBlade Media Notebook Set: http://us.kensington.com/html/13872.html
The mouse has an Apple style 360 middle ball and the keyboard has no number pad, fast short throw keys and both an Apple command key and a Windows button. These three features and their performant software literally improve my speed and physical comfort more than do Logitech's wired game-grade products which I also have but do not use in favor of Kensington's Media Notebook Set. I run Linux and VNC into Linux, Windows, and OS-X boxes.
I concur with everyone else that replied in some variation of: "Mouse for programming? Real programmers don't need mice, just a keypad and a text editor!"
Yeah, there's an emacs command to do that, good 'ol C-x M-c M-giantVRsimulation:)
Two main mouse buttons, a scroll wheel that also tilts and acts as button #3, and two convenient thumb buttons on the side. I have two now, one for the desktop and one for the laptop. Say what you will about their OS division, but MS makes (or puts their name on, anyway) damn fine hardware.
There is the best programming mouse
I've recently gone through a mouse buying binge. Most of them have a right handed ergo shape, I use the mouse with my right hand, so it's not an issue for me. My hands/fingers are probably larger than average, but I use a claw grip, so most most sizes work fine. Strangely I hadn't ever really noticed there were categories of mouse gripping before starting this odyssey.
I started with a somewhat ancient but excellent:
Intellimouse Explorer 3.0
Which I had recently replaced the buttons on. As a result it was feeling just a bit off, brand new buttons are harder to press. Also my desktop resolution had increased from 3200x1200 in 2002, to around 6500x1600 today. And I knew a higher DPI mouse would speed up navigation around the larger space. So I decided it was finally time to go mouse shopping.
I tried, in order:
Razor Deathadder
Logitech G9
Logitech VX Nano(this one is left handed friendly)
Logitech MX 518
Logitech MX 1100
Logitech VX Revolution
Criterion for selecting the above, were either wired, or if wireless, a multi-month battery life with user replaceable standard(aa or aaa) batteries. I mostly use low self discharge(Sanyo Eneloop) NiMH batteries in the cordless mice, and they do last 2+ months without needing a recharge. The lack of user replaceable batteries ruled out the MX Revolution, which I otherwise probably would've given a try.
The Deathadder: Nirvana, if I'd stopped here, I would've thought it was perfect. This mouse is super comfortable, and awesome for long term use. It's nearly identical in shape to the IE 3.0, so the learning curve was virtually nil. I immediately noticed an advantage to the higher DPI, especially on the desktop, but, not as noticeable when gaming. The only slight problem was the scroll wheel, it feels a bit rougher, than the old, well broken in, IE 3.0 scroll wheel. But... I had already ordered a G9 before I received it, so the saga continues.
The G9: Nirvana++ but with one large annoyance. It looks very different compared to the IE 3.0, but with a claw grip, it feels similar enough. And I found it very comfortable for long term use. It's ++, a free scroll capable scroll wheel, which I immediately fell in love with. The on the fly DPI switching is nice, but I pretty much found the fastest that was not too fast, and stuck with it. The large annoyance with the G9, the middle mouse button is entirely too hard to press, both in desktop apps(opening new tabs in a browser), and games(selecting menu items and such). Another note on this mouse, I found the precision grip body to be very abrasive feeling, it feels like sandpaper to me. But I've had other people try it without issue, so it must be me. Luckily, the default wide grip doesn't have that issue. I haven't messed with the weights, the default weight seemed fine to me.
So at this point I had a clearly defined goal, a comfy mouse with a free scrolling scroll wheel, that doesn't take extreme force to click, so on with the search.
The VX Nano: This mouse has a separate middle button, which is nice and easy to press. Instead of acting as a button, pressing the scroll wheel, allows you to enable/disable free scrolling. This mouse is quite comfy, and in general lives up to the 4.5-5 star reviews it has received everywhere. Problems, it takes me a minute or 2 to retrain myself when I switch between it, and a mouse with a clickable scroll wheel. The forward and back buttons are in a sub optimal location, not a big issue for me, since I almost never use them. Though I really should start using them. The main reason I never got used to them was due to the use of a KVM switch that only emulated a 3 button mouse for the last 6+ years. The nano receiver is really nice, plug it into your laptop and forget it. So I stuck it on my personal laptop, and bought a second one, which I used it with my desktop for a few weeks, while I waited for something else to go on sale. I currently use the second one with my wor
Bought my girlfriend an IBM USB keyboard with Ultranav, which is just the silly marketdroid name for the pointer stick. This is about the most effective way to avoid moving your hands off the keyboard, short of a head-mouse. I bought one for my girlfriend with RSI. She also has a SmartNav head mouse, but she uses the *keyboard*!
http://amzn.com/B00009APTK
You'll probably reduce your movement of hands off the keyboard by a factor of 3, at least!
Screw the mouse! Just about any programming task that might use a mouse can be done more quickly (and less irritatingly) with a keyboard once you learn how. My optimum setup is a Kinesis Advantage keyboard, paired with a Wacom tablet.
While pricy, I've found the Kinesis to be worth every penny. The plethora of thumb keys allows me to keep not only my hands at the keyboard, but also my fingers positioned at the home row. No big moves for backspace, delete, page up/down, home. Ctrl and Alt are also thumb keys, eliminating the little Cut/Copy/Paste dance. The keys are also closer together, ergonomically positioned, and have delightful response. My only complaint is that the ESC and the Function keys are tiny little rubber buttons on top. Still, compared to the standard, and even "natural" layouts, it's far, far superior imho.
But I digress. Next comes the usefulness of the Wacom tablet. While excellent for graphical apps, I've found it exceptionally poor for programming-type tasks. Which is why I use it. The sheer irritation of having to move my hand, pick up the pen (if I can locate it!), hover over the pad to find the pointer on screen, do my business, then set the pen down before returning the keyboard is motivation enough for me to learn, remember, and use keyboard shortcuts as often as possible. A bit painful for the first few days, but a huge time saver in the long run. Any minor task that I might otherwise use the mouse for, after using it once or twice I'll be giddy to find a keyboard replacement.
-- I prefer the term "karma escort."
A classic tale:
Me: Type dir then enter
User: it says bad command or filename
Me: huh? retype it. dir then enter.
User: it says bad command or filename
Me: Type this exactly, D-I-R then hit the enter key.
User: OH! I was typing in direnter.
"Good news, everyone!"
anyone know of a good printer for gaming?
Are there any other applications that offers similar functionality to emacs' secondary selection?
When programming, I'm mostly using the keyboard. So the most important feature for mouse is that it's very fast to switch between mouse and a keyboard. The integrated touchpad of my laptop wins any external mouse on this.
When you code, at least when you do things like I do, that is, you are using vim and a lot of xterms, it's best to have something that enables you to move your pointer without you having to move your hand a lot. What I have at work is a Thinkpad keyboard (Lenovo/IBM make those) which has a pointing stick in the middle. It's not made for accuracy (for that I have a separate mouse next to the keyboard. Which is a simple Razer Copperhead gaming mouse. The point is, you shouldn't have to move your hands too much when you code. Especially when all you do is changing xterm.
For those that use other development environments the answer may be different.
There is a reason why there is no such things as programming mouses...because programmers rarely using mice...
A better solution would be to learn how to use keyboard shortcuts.
I'm happy with 2 buttons and a gesture utility (StrokeIt for Windows, xGestures for Mac OS X) especially when combined with a macro utility (QuicKeys for Mac OS X).
Best thing to have is not mouse but a pointing device near keyboard. I have Mousetrapper Advance and its awesome.
Using mouse if you write much isnt ergonomical at all and will cause you hand problems before or later
http://www.mousetrapper.com/
Logitech VX Nano
It's what you throw at pacman to stop him from eating your core!
clitmouse.
It's not a mouse really it's a trackball, and it's not wireless, but it is the best pointing device I've used for programming.
I like to keep my eyes on the code, and I use vim so I don't reach for the mouse a lot, but when I do I want to find it in the same place on my workstation every time. That's the best thing about a trackball, they don't move, the wires don't move and don't get snagged or tangled so who needs to mess with batteries or recharging. Give that ball a flick and the pointer scoots across the screen, so much better than doing push, lift, pull, drop circles with my poor old wrists.
Long time ago when I worked on Windows I used all four big buttons programmed for click, double click, hold down, and left click. Now I work in KDE, use the mouse much less, and almost never double click.
If you can find one get the old Expert Mouse. The new Expert Mouse Pro has extra buttons and a wheel and has suffered much cost reduction, it's is cheap crap compared to the original.
An important thing to remember, mice are for poking and hoping, exploring programs you have not seen before, when you know what you are doing working with a mouse versus a keyboard is like pointing and grunting versus fluent conversation.
It took a real world war to end the airplane's patent wars. - Fâché Rouge -
If you need a mouse you're doing it wrong.
I've always found Microsoft mice to be cheap, sturdy and reliable.
I use a Contour Roller Mouse and like it very much. It takes a bit of getting used to since its motion is somewhat different than a conventional mouse or trackball. This keeps my hands close to the keyboard at all times. The newer models have a number of buttons. I originally got it on the advice of an industrial ergonomist to address shoulder and neck pain from long hours at the computer (something that it has, indeed, improved significantly), but now find that I am more productive in all applications except CAD and graphics work. It is a bit expensive, but constitutes an interesting alternative.
Use a track pad.
You idiot! Those towers are _silos_, and nothing is better at getting into granaries than a _mouse_!
I use a mouse to get from window to window sometimes, but most of the time I use hot keys in my editor. I guess no mouse at all is really required.
Even john Guber, a mac user, sais, " every time you move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse, god kills a hamster." It might have been someone a different mac programmer . Any way, EVERY IDE, and programmers text editor makes provisions for you to use the mouse as little as possible: from allowing EMACS or VI(M) bindings or just having good keybindings in the first place.
I can't stand the lag on wireless mice, so I never touch them if I can avoid it.
But anyway, if you are using a mouse for development you are probably doing it wrong. Keep your hands on the keyboard as much as possible. Learn how to do everything from the keyboard. Reaching for the mouse is a cache miss, and it is going to be at least an order of magnitude slower than performing the same action with keyboard shortcuts. Really, it's true. If you have a local Emacs or vi guru, watch him/her and see how fast they go. The editor becomes and extension of the body, kind of like driving a car.
Unfortunately, a lot of IDEs have very fundamental flaws requiring the mouse, or discouraging the keyboard. One of the best, and most common examples of this is the search dialog box. If and editor brings up a new little window for search, rather than an integrated one, find a new editor because that one is crap. It's slow, meaning you can't hit ctrl+f or whatever and immediately type your search in because there is a delay. It also has focus issues. And it probably doesn't search incrementally either.
I switched to a trackball at home and love it. Considering picking one up at work. No real need for wireless with a trackball as you don't move the device. No huge mousepad needed. Fits next to my huge IBM Model M keyboard and takes up a little less space that a slim keyboard and normal mouse. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get used to it there is no going back. Haven't yet tested it with games, but that isn't really my main concern as I've been playing my PS3 and Wii more of late anyways. It's also REALLY funny when people try to use my computer. :D
I have used A LOT of mouses, some $100 were used only like five minutes. The best mouse you can use for programming or anything is the wireless logitech G7 but unfortuntely I don't know if you will be able to find it right now. Avoid any bluetooth crap, you can also use logitech G9 but this one is wired. I think there is an updated version of the G7 right now, but be sure it uses the 2.4Ghz tech.
Isaac Lascasas.
...for programming, but for everyday tasks (which include pouring down code), i keep coming back to the Microsoft basic optical mouse. Very cheap, rugged, accurate and damn comfortable.
I know bashing Microsoft is sort of a recreational activity here, but they sure sell some nice hardware.
I strongly recommend the pandimensional mice who had the earth ordered to the Magratheans. Their grasp on all things technological is unmatched, just don't let them talk you into selling them your brain - the replacement brain they'll try to push on you is a low-end model that can only say What? and Where's the tea?
If possible lose the mouse. Programming is always faster when time lost moving your hand between the mouse and keyboard is eliminated. Try using Vim or Emacs and learn the hotkeys. You'll be quick in no time and learn some great text-wrangling.
I am developing a Kinetica OmniHamsterMouse, that uses small coils and weights that function as a little dynamo to charge the battery. It has a (detachable) USB wire as well, so any excess power generated by violent Hamstermouse moves will charge a laptop battery. Additional solarpanels can be placed on top of the mouse, so when your hand is on your keyboard (or somewhere else), the last bit of light in your room is captured to charge the battery ! Inside the HamsterMouse, you can replace the optical sensor module with a HamsterRunningWheel (tm) and actually place a small hamster with GPS in it, so it will act as a sort of powersteering for your crazy mousemoves.. no more RSI ! Of course it comes with sedative pills to keep the hamster from running amok. Modulair hydrogen and -nuclear power units are being developed, so you will no more risk running out of power! If you place orders now, you will receive 2 genuine OldSchoolMice. You know, the ones they used back in 2008. Always works!
I use Wacom's smallest tablet (so I can reach any part of my screen without having to move my arm too much). I hold the pen in my hand even while typing since I don't use my right index finger for typing (I'm a quick 4 finger typist).
Anyway, I find it really easy to highlight lines of text. It also has 2 programmable buttons on the pen plus 4 programmable buttons on the tablet.
Most people give up too quickly on tablets. Making the switch will absolutely slow you down for a week or two, but once you get used to it, you'll never use a mouse again.
People who say "money does not buy happiness" are just people without money trying to make themselves feel better.
For programming, use vim and stay away from the mouse. For general use, though, I'd go with one of these: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/166&cl=us,en
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
I'm actually quite fond of the Evoluent ergonomic mouse. Not a lot of whizbang features, but it's wireless and my shoulder doesn't hurt at the end of each day anymore.
Cons: no charging station; needs double A batteries.
http://www.evoluent.com/
Logitech MX1000 is the best mouse for the money.
not to light or heavy. Long battery life. Wireless. Laser. 10 buttons. Easy to config. feels good in hand. works on almost any surface. decent charge time. My current MX1000 is over 2 years old still holds a charge for 72 hours of HEAVY usage.
Since this thread is recognizing the 'real' question, I'll add one of the Kensington Trackballs to the list.
It doesn't matter that it's wired because you never move it. It's always where you expect it, it works with large hands, saves on RSI, has lots of buttons, a scroller, and these days they're optical and USB.
I hate mouses.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
Favourite mouse I've ever used: Razer Diamondback.
It's exactly the opposite of everything you think you need, but probably difficult to find anything better.
Light, well balanced, has a nice thin cord, so you don't notice it's there, but still don't have to deal with wireless lag/dead batteries.
Stay away from the lachesis though. I got one of those, and it's junk compared to my old Diamondback. Tracking issues, and problems with the wheel/centre button. Twice the $, and I'd trade it for another diamondback any day.
Also, don't overlook the importance of a good keyboard. It'll make way more difference than your mouse. My favourite cheap(ish) board is the fujitsu 4725 (or 4726, etc.). If you're willing to spend the $, something with cherry microswitches is best. one of the Das Keyboards, or if you like to code in the dark, Deck legend. I have one of those and it's great. Unfortunately they only have the red with linear keys.. It's easiest on the eyes in the dark, unlike the overrated retina scorching fugly blue that's so popular lately. I'd like to get another one with the tactile keys, but I've either gotta wait until they have them in red or green, or I'm going to have to transplant the diodes myself (btw, they have the schematic for download, and don't void your warranty if your mods are competent)
Yeah, there's an emacs command to do that, good 'ol C-x M-c M-giant-vr-simulation
there, fixed that for you
Can be used left or right handed
bluetooth, battery lasts for days
lots of buttons that can be programed
moderate weight, doesn't move if you look at it
twittering as stocktradr.
there is a patent pending keyboard that integrates pointing into the keyboard.
it gives the user total control of the computer screen. it is not commercially available.
the user can instantly point, click, type or scroll in any order all while the users fingers are all on the home row.
i use a proto-type of the keyboard everyday for stock trading.
i have used it to do a trade that was up 6000%.
in trading, time is important.
i put all my trades up in real time. so you can check it out. go back in my 7,534 updates.
i have about 690 followers. i get about 3 to 10 people a day. it depends on what i talk about.
i am teaching the correct way to stock trade. i call it open source stock trading.
a trader will continuously make money with a complete trading plan.
all that is required is a trading account. everything else is free.
the reason people are down 30, 40, 50% in their retirement account is because they do not have a complete trading plan.
you may be one of them.
what we are also learning is: what is twitter?
from my experience twittering, I want to write a book about twittering and stock trading.
moving your hand repetitively from keyboard to mouse is a waste of time.
the stand alone keyboard and mouse are OLD technology.
as i tell my 690 followers, you always want your competition to use OLD technology.
programmers using a stand alone keyboard and mouse or just a keyboard using what I call finger gymnastics, or short cut keys. ctrl.s for example are at a disadvantage.
that is a good thing if you are competition.
if you work on a keyboard for 8 hours. about five minutes per hour is wasted moving from keyboard to mouse and back.
that is 40 minutes per day. say that 40 minutes is worth $10 per day. over 200 working days that is $2000 of wasted time.
whatever you programmers make. put in your hourly rate.
I have used the keyboard with gVim. it works great.
with autocad. great.
with an integrated pointing keyboard the gui and cli become one.
imagine two hands on the keyboard and a third hand on a mouse. that is the kind of performance this keyboard has.
i am typing with it right now.
anyway. people are using advanced keyboards to get work done very quickly.
working with a stand alone keyboard and mouse is like working in slow motion.
twittering as stocktradr
I just love that feature on my Logitech Revolution: you give the wheel a spin and zzzooom down the page. But that one uses a proprietary dongle, which sucks. Finally, finally (!) they released a Bluetooth mouse with "hyper-fast" scrollwheel: the m555b. I just ordered one on ebay today (they aren't showing up in stores just yet). We'll see how it turns out.
Of course you also need a middle mouse button. With the Revolution you can use the wheel (as with most mice), only if you have remapped the action to toggle between free-scroll mode and click-to-click (the mode I never use anymore) to some other button. (If you succeed in changing the mapping to toggle modes, the mouse remembers, so you only need to do it once.) But the wheel is harder to press than most mice. The m555b though appears to have a real middle button, so I will find out when I get it whether it acts like a normal middle button on Linux.
There is also a corded cheap USB version, the RX1500, so I got one of those for work, too. Again, we'll see about the middle button...
My previous choice has been the Evoluent vertical mouse. At least it has 4 buttons plus the wheel, and it's very comfortable and ergonomic, and the wheel click is kindof loose and easy, but it's not free-scrolling. The one I have at home is getting worn out (keeps dropping off the USB bus randomly) and the one at work doesn't get along with the slick desk surface that I have now, since it's not a laser mouse.
The best mouse is no mouse at all, and use as many keyboard shortcuts as possible. If you are a GNU/Linux user, that won't be of much problem, since the only cases when you have to use mouse are with using a web browser, or transitioning between applications. If you are a Windows user, you may simply activate the "Mouse Key" to mandate most of short-range mouse work to your keyboard numeric pad. In addition, Windows has much better GUI keyboard support in Vista, and it may reflect that Microsoft sees the needs from advanced users and programmers. Although having a Logitech cordless mouse at moment, I have my hands on keyboard for some 70 percent of all my time. I use both Windows Vista and Ubuntu (in a VM). It is so cool to finish most of tasks via a keyboard while others around you are moving their hands and pointing like a fly. Andrew S. Tanenbaum (author of MINUX, which in turn Linux derives from) wrote on his homepage that "Mom told me that it is impolite to point others".
mouse? i use the keyboard to program... i prefer trackball, everyone says its crazy :D
wireless?
if you program a lot, you will have to stop and recharge all the time.. me, i program pretty close to my monitors/keyboard so.. i use wired mouse * ~
good luck finding your uber programming mouse!