netbook mouse etc.

Jo-Anne wrote:
"Rick" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm about to order a netbook with WinXP (as well as a case and a DVD
burner). I know I'm going to want at least a mouse (travel size) to go
with it. Can anyone recommend a particular mouse--or even a type of
mouse? I suspect they're all optical these days, but is wireless the way
to go, or are those on a retractable cord OK?

Is there anything else that would be good to have for travel with the
netbook?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
Logitech makes a very nice wireless mouse for portables

Thank you, Rick! I just asked others about whether there's a difference
between a wireless mouse and a cordless mouse. I guess I considered the two
terms interchangeable. Now I'm thinking that maybe you can't use a wireless
mouse unless you have Bluetooth. Is that correct?

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne



With respect to mice, wireless = cordless, but these two terms are not
quite synonymous with Bluetooth.

Instead of a wire connecting the mouse to the computer, communication
between the mouse and the computer is by radio, which means that there
must be a receiver and a transmitter in *both* the mouse and the computer.

"Bluetooth" is a proprietary name for a low-power, short-range, radio
technology. http://www.bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Technology/
Laptops and netbooks may come with a Bluetooth receiver/transmitter
built-in to the computer. In this case, all you need is a Bluetooth
mouse, which has its own receiver/transmitter.

A cordless or wireless mouse uses a different kind of radio technology.
Because this is different than the radio technology used in Bluetooth or
in "wireless network (wifi)" systems (which might also be built-in to
your computer), if you have this type of mouse, you must connect the
correct receiver/transmitter to the computer using a USB port. For
desktop work, this might also incorporate a cradle in which the mouse
can recharge. For laptops, the receiver/transmitter looks like a USB
flash memory stick, about 1 to 3 inches long. More recently, the devices
have been greatly shortened so they only stick out about 1/3 inch after
they are plugged into the USB port. These are frequently called "nano"
mouses or nano transceivers.

--
Lem

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ap...0th/index.html

"Lem" lemp40@unknownhost wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
"Rick" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm about to order a netbook with WinXP (as well as a case and a DVD
burner). I know I'm going to want at least a mouse (travel size) to go
with it. Can anyone recommend a particular mouse--or even a type of
mouse? I suspect they're all optical these days, but is wireless the
way to go, or are those on a retractable cord OK?

Is there anything else that would be good to have for travel with the
netbook?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
Logitech makes a very nice wireless mouse for portables

Thank you, Rick! I just asked others about whether there's a difference
between a wireless mouse and a cordless mouse. I guess I considered the
two terms interchangeable. Now I'm thinking that maybe you can't use a
wireless mouse unless you have Bluetooth. Is that correct?

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne

With respect to mice, wireless = cordless, but these two terms are not
quite synonymous with Bluetooth.

Instead of a wire connecting the mouse to the computer, communication
between the mouse and the computer is by radio, which means that there
must be a receiver and a transmitter in *both* the mouse and the computer.

"Bluetooth" is a proprietary name for a low-power, short-range, radio
technology. http://www.bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Technology/
Laptops and netbooks may come with a Bluetooth receiver/transmitter
built-in to the computer. In this case, all you need is a Bluetooth mouse,
which has its own receiver/transmitter.

A cordless or wireless mouse uses a different kind of radio technology.
Because this is different than the radio technology used in Bluetooth or
in "wireless network (wifi)" systems (which might also be built-in to your
computer), if you have this type of mouse, you must connect the correct
receiver/transmitter to the computer using a USB port. For desktop work,
this might also incorporate a cradle in which the mouse can recharge. For
laptops, the receiver/transmitter looks like a USB flash memory stick,
about 1 to 3 inches long. More recently, the devices have been greatly
shortened so they only stick out about 1/3 inch after they are plugged
into the USB port. These are frequently called "nano" mouses or nano
transceivers.

--
Lem

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ap...0th/index.html

Thank you, Lem! This is the clearest explanation of Bluetooth and wireless
connections that I've read. It's a tremendous help.

Jo-Anne

"Lem" lemp40@unknownhost wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
"Rick" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm about to order a netbook with WinXP (as well as a case and a DVD
burner). I know I'm going to want at least a mouse (travel size) to go
with it. Can anyone recommend a particular mouse--or even a type of
mouse? I suspect they're all optical these days, but is wireless the
way to go, or are those on a retractable cord OK?

Is there anything else that would be good to have for travel with the
netbook?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
Logitech makes a very nice wireless mouse for portables

Thank you, Rick! I just asked others about whether there's a difference
between a wireless mouse and a cordless mouse. I guess I considered the
two terms interchangeable. Now I'm thinking that maybe you can't use a
wireless mouse unless you have Bluetooth. Is that correct?

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne

With respect to mice, wireless = cordless, but these two terms are not
quite synonymous with Bluetooth.

Instead of a wire connecting the mouse to the computer, communication
between the mouse and the computer is by radio, which means that there
must be a receiver and a transmitter in *both* the mouse and the computer.

"Bluetooth" is a proprietary name for a low-power, short-range, radio
technology. http://www.bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Technology/
Laptops and netbooks may come with a Bluetooth receiver/transmitter
built-in to the computer. In this case, all you need is a Bluetooth mouse,
which has its own receiver/transmitter.

A cordless or wireless mouse uses a different kind of radio technology.
Because this is different than the radio technology used in Bluetooth or
in "wireless network (wifi)" systems (which might also be built-in to your
computer), if you have this type of mouse, you must connect the correct
receiver/transmitter to the computer using a USB port. For desktop work,
this might also incorporate a cradle in which the mouse can recharge. For
laptops, the receiver/transmitter looks like a USB flash memory stick,
about 1 to 3 inches long. More recently, the devices have been greatly
shortened so they only stick out about 1/3 inch after they are plugged
into the USB port. These are frequently called "nano" mouses or nano
transceivers.

--
Lem

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ap...0th/index.html

Thank you, Lem! This is the clearest explanation of Bluetooth and wireless
connections that I've read. It's a tremendous help.

Jo-Anne