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Ask Slashdot: Where Can You Get a Good 3-Button Mouse Today?

guises writes Ever since mouse wheels were introduced the middle mouse button has been sidelined to an inadequate click-wheel function, or in some cases ditched altogether. This has never sat well with me, a proper middle button is invaluable for pasting, games, and navigation. More than that, my hand categorically rejects two button mice — the dangling ring finger causes me genuine physical discomfort. I have begged Logitech on multiple occasions to make just one, among their many screwy specialty mice, to replace the Mouseman which I loved so dearly. I thought for a moment that I had been answered with the g600, only to find that they had put the right mouse button in the middle.

So my question to Slashdot is: where does a person turn for a three button mouse these days? I've only found two, both ergonomic and priced accordingly. I use the Contour and like the shape and wheel position, but would love to find something wireless and with a higher DPI sensor.

9 of 431 comments (clear)

  1. Simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just glue three Apple Mice together.

  2. Performance Mouse MX by dandaman32 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can't recommend enough the Performance Mouse MX enough.

    While it does have the middle button integrated into the scroll wheel, once used to it you will find it completely intuitive. I middle click hundreds of times a day and only found it difficult during the first two weeks of owning the mouse. 5 years later I still prefer the Performance MX over anything else.

    To middle click I typically shift my index finger over a centimeter or two. My hands are slightly above average size and ergonomically the PerfMX is perfect for me.

  3. just swap the buttons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    xmodmap -e "pointer = 1 3 2"

  4. Middle wheel/button seems to work ok, no? by dbrueck · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Can you share details on what the problems are with the clickable middle wheel? You mentioned it's "inadequate", but what makes it so? Just wondering because I use the middle-button/wheel all the time and it seems to work as well as the other buttons - no discomfort, no extra thought, etc.

    1. Re:Middle wheel/button seems to work ok, no? by Nemosoft+Unv. · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's harder to push and often inadvertently invokes a scroll event. Plus, you need to bend your middle finger to push it in properly, otherwise you may perhaps click the left or right button as well. To be honest, I think a mouse with side buttons is a better choice; and I don't really buy the 'dangling ring finger' argument; mine is always holding the mouse with the ring finger; my pinky is just below that, holding the mouse too. Unless you have really Rachmaninovian hands, there's no need for fingers to dangle.

      --
      "Fix it? It has been disintegrated, by definition it cannot be fixed!" - Gru in Despicable Me.
  5. hp 3 button mouse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
  6. Re:Just hope middle click paste still works in fut by HalfFlat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The erosion of middle-button paste functionality is a continual frustration.

    There are cultural differences between the Windows and Macintosh personal computing worlds, and that of X11 on Unix workstations. While always allowing customisability, we should hold on to the good ideas of the past, rather than dismiss them as being unfamiliar to the personal computer user.

    What irks me especially is that the same forces that are driving us towards a Windows-like experience on the Linux desktop are also removing the ability to easily customise our environment, if only to retain the functionality that is being deprecated or dismissed. (I'm looking at you, GNOME.)

  7. Reprogram the G600 by Cinder6 · · Score: 5, Informative

    A lot of people are suggesting that the G600 might be reprogrammable, but they all note that they don't have the mouse, so they don't know for sure.

    I do.

    I just checked it, and you can reprogram the primary mouse buttons to anything you want. You can also set that as the mouse's built-in configuration, so you don't need to use the drivers and the settings will be persistent across computers. Have fun.

    --
    If you can't convince them, convict them.
  8. Re:Not programmable? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, I can confirm that.

    I have used the G600 for a long time now and the way it works is that you need a computer with the logitech software installed, reprogram all the buttons any way you want (you can move the right click button to the side shift-function button and then program the middle button however you want) then save the profile into the mouse memory which will let it remember those settings on any other computer without the drivers installed (with the exception of some game-specific macros).

    Most of the recent logitech mice are capable of this.