Choosing the right pointing device is crucial for computer users. Built-in options include touchpads and pointing sticks, while external options include wired or wireless mice. Each has its pros and cons, with external mice offering the most accuracy. Optical and laser mice are preferred over mechanical ones, and adjusting sensitivity can improve performance. Ultimately, it’s about finding what works best for each individual user.
With all the point-and-click actions required for day-to-day work, not to mention gaming, pointing devices have become an important part of any computer system. Laptops and notebooks are made with or can accommodate a variety of pointing devices. Finding the one that works best for you can mean the difference between hours of enjoyment at the keyboard, or frustration and, in some cases, fatigue and even pain.
Pointing devices built into notebooks include the touchpad and pointing stick. Some laptop models incorporate both, while others have one or the other. If the built-in devices do not satisfy, you can use an external wired or wireless mouse. Let’s take these choices in turn along with the pros and cons.
A touchpad can take some getting used to, but it can be a welcome relief compared to an external mouse. The touch-sensitive pad sits below the spacebar, controlling cursor movement with the light touch of a finger. Using a touchpad eliminates the need to extend an arm out to the side to grip and control an external mouse. It also eliminates repetitive finger movements used to click the external mouse buttons. Instead you tap the pad to emulate a click, with optional thumb buttons located below the touchpad.
While many people find a touchpad preferable to a mouse, typists might like the pointer. This is a miniature joystick located in the center of a QWERTY keyboard nestled between the G and H keys. Applying pressure to the pointing stick moves the cursor in a similar direction. Sensitivity can be configured to taste, keeping the pointing stick easy enough to manipulate without causing accidental cursor movement with arbitrary swipes while typing. The buttons sit below the space bar, and the stick can be configured to translate a tap into a click.
Of all pointing devices a pointing stick has one major advantage: a typist does not have to move his hands from the foothold or start row of the keyboard to use it. For this reason alone many typists won’t buy a notebook that doesn’t have a pointing stick.
Despite the benefits of touchpads and pointing sticks, nothing compares to the accuracy of an external mouse, and in some cases, that’s all that matters. Video and graphics editing is especially easier using an external mouse, as are games, and some people simply prefer it.
These are three types of mice: mechanical, optical and laser. A mechanical mouse uses a rubber ball on the underside to calculate position. The ball can get dirty, and this type of mouse has largely been replaced by optical and laser mice. An optical mouse uses light to calculate your location and is very accurate and reliable. A laser mouse uses laser light and is even more accurate than an optical mouse, making it a favorite among gamers. However, it’s also more expensive than an optical mouse, the de facto standard.
A wired external mouse plugs into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, but most mice manufactured today are wireless models. A wireless mouse comes with a USB adapter that has a receiver. The mouse, powered by a battery, transmits movement to the receiver using 802.11b, 802.11g or Bluetooth frequencies. Finding the space to use the mouse might be tricky if you like placing your notebook on your lap, but if you want an external mouse, you should be happy with an optical or laser model.
With the wide range of pointing devices available, it’s just a matter of finding the one that best suits your needs. If you are currently dissatisfied with a built-in device, you may consider accessing the configuration software to change the settings. In some cases, adjusting the sensitivity and optional features can make all the difference.
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