How to avoid the common mouse traps

Computer pointing devices have come a long way since 1964, but features, purpose, and comfort still matter

In 1964, inventor and all around science man Douglas Engelbart changed the way people interact with computers forever by putting two metal wheels in a small wooden shell. The result: the wheels moved a graphical cursor up and down and side to side on a computer screen. The mouse was born.

Since then, the mouse has changed a lot. From metal wheels to rubber balls to lasers, the very basic mechanics of the mouse have evolved. Modern mouse devices have gone from one or two buttons to several. In 1995, the addition of a wheel to scroll up and down was a revolution in and of itself.

The Globe tested four modern versions of the computer mouse: the Microsoft BlueTrack Explorer Mouse, the Razer Lachesis, the Logitech MX 1100, and the Humanscale Switch Mouse.

Our expert, Will Smith, is the editor-in-chief of Maximum PC magazine, one of the leading monthly enthusiast publications. When it comes to computers, he's seen it all.

"The number one thing most people need in a mouse is comfort," Smith said. "If the shape and button placement isn't comfortable in your hands, then you need a new mouse. This is different for everyone, depending on the size of your hands and the way you grip the mouse."

The second most important criteria, Smith said, is the sensor. "Your mouse should track well on whatever surface you use regularly," he said.

The four mouse devices we tested are each very different. The Microsoft mouse ($79.99) is wireless, but other than that, it's a very traditional mouse. It has four buttons and a wheel, and it felt extremely comfortable in our hand. The four buttons don't get in each others' way, either.

The Razer Lachesis ($79.99) is an established and popular gaming mouse, used for mouse-heavy computer games. You're not going to find it in many offices.

Smith puts it best: "The Lachesis is very good for gamers, but not so hot for normal folks."

The Logitech MX 1100 ($69.99) is a balance of both worlds. It's a very traditional mouse, but it has popular gaming features such as thumb-side buttons and being able to change the motion sensitivity via onboard buttons.

Then there's the Switch Mouse ($120) made by Humanscale, a company known for its ergonomic chairs and workstation accessories. It's the most expensive mouse on the list, but your wrists will thank you in the long run. It's also the only mouse we tested that drops the popular wheel in favor of a directional dish - to prevent repetitive motion problems, the company says.

This is a legitimate concern to keep in mind. "If you use your mouse for an hour or two and your wrist and hands hurt, you need a more comfortable mouse," Smith said. And we found, despite its massive length, that the Switch Mouse was the least straining on our hands.

MICROSOFT BLUETRACK EXPLORER MOUSE $79.99 (Available Jan. 10)
Pros: The Explorer is a solid mouse with responsive buttons and excellent tracking on the screen. It's wireless, comfortable, has great battery life, and recharges on the included cradle.
Cons: It's built for righties. Our expert was concerned about rooms with high electromagnetic interference messing with the wireless sensor on the mouse. This may be a concern in some business applications.
Final word: This one had everything we need.

LOGITECH MX 1100 CORDLESS LASER MOUSE $69.99
Pros: The 1100 is a great overall mouse for gamers and traditional computer users alike. The coolest thing about the 1100 is the scroll wheel, which locks for typical clicky-click scrolling and unlocks for hyper scrolling.
Cons: It's mainly for righties. It doesn't have a recharge cradle, so you'll be using up plenty of AA batteries. Buy some rechargeable batteries.
Final word: Logitech makes a great product. If you're a gamer, you might also check out the Logitech G5 Laser gaming mouse.

RAZER LACHESIS $79.99
Pros:It fits both hands perfectly. The Lachesis is one of the best pure gaming mice out there, with all the buttons and the ability to scroll through levels of sensitivity via onboard buttons.
Cons: It's really only for gaming. For other uses, you'll press the sensitivity buttons and get frustrated when the mouse is suddenly flying across the screen or slowing to a snail's pace.
Final word: If you are a big time computer gamer, your friends will be impressed by this mouse. Razer makes a range of slick gaming accessories, and this is just one of them.

HUMANSCALE SWITCH MOUSE $120
Pros: The mouse is comfortable, and it gets the job done.
Cons: Gosh it's ugly. It's also quite expensive - the Switch Mouse was the most expensive on the list with the fewest features, unless you count your wrist and hand health as a feature.
Final word: You might be able to stave off wrist surgery another 10 years with this investment.