Mouses

 

The Best Computer Mouse for 2020

In its most basic form, a computer mouse is simple hardware—a sensor on the bottom, two buttons and a scroll wheel on top—that lets you interact with programs as though they were extensions of your own hand. But while a mouse is simple in concept, the market for them is a scattered field of mouse genres, prices, and designs. You need to know a little about the landscape when you go shopping for a new model.

Over time, distinct classes of mice have evolved, each made for different computing situations. The most common of these is the mainstream desktop mouse, designed for use with a desktop or laptop PC at a desk or table. Aside from the inevitable right and left mouse buttons, the usual features are a clickable scroll wheel and, in some cases, additional thumb buttons that let you navigate forward and back in your web browser.Travel mice (or "mobile mice") offer 

many of these same features but come in a smaller size. They're designed to fit easily into the pocket of a backpack or laptop bag. For this same reason, however, travel mice tend to be small for most hands—you can use them just fine for short stints, but they become uncomfortable over long periods due to the unnatural grip required. Generally speaking, travel mice are wireless and battery-powered, so you may want to bring along a spare set of AA or AAA batteries if that is what they use.

Beyond these "ordinary" mice are two key mouse genres: the gaming mouse, and the ergonomic mouse. There's a lot of variance within each, and some crossover among all of these classes. (For example, a few "travel gaming" mice exist.) Let's take a look at the gaming field first, then move on to other genres and aspects that affect all mice.