Connection
The type of connection used by the mouse.
All types of mouse connection can be divided into
wired and
wireless. There are also
combined models that allow both methods; however, for a number of reasons, they have not received much distribution.
Wired mice can vary in connector type; however, the universal standard nowadays is USB, other options are much less common (see "Cable" for them). Anyway, such mice are much cheaper than wireless counterparts, moreover, they do not require batteries / accumulators and have an almost unlimited lifespan. On the other hand, the wire restricts mobility and can be inconvenient when connecting, especially if the computer is located far away or in a hard-to-reach place.
Wireless devices, in turn, can connect via
radio,
Bluetooth, or
Wi-Fi ; in some models, two options are combined — at the user's choice, (usually radio and Bluetooth). Regardless of the interface used, all such models are more convenient than wired ones due, in fact, to the absence of a cable; and their range is at least a few metres, so a wireless mouse can also work as a kind of remote control. At the same time, a wireless connection is more expensive than a wired connection, and besides, it requires autonomous power supply — as a result, the per
...iod of continuous operation of the mouse is limited.
As for the different types of wireless connection, here are their features:
— Radio. To connect over the air, usually, a wireless adapter is used, which is connected to the USB port of the computer. This method is convenient in that it can be used with any computer, including systems that do not have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules. The disadvantages of this option include the fact that the adapter requires a free connector; as a result, with a small number of USB ports, difficulties can arise. However, this moment, if necessary, can be easily corrected by connecting a USB hub; so it is this connection method that is most popular among modern wireless mice.
— Bluetooth. The main advantage of this connection method is that many modern devices — laptops, most monoblock computers, smart TVs, etc. — have built-in Bluetooth modules. Thus, you can connect the mouse to such equipment directly, without occupying hardware connectors. And for PCs not equipped with internal Bluetooth modules, appropriate adapters are available (which may even be included with the mouse). In addition, some advanced models with such a connection are able to remember several Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them literally “with the touch of a button”. The Bluetooth communication range is at least 10 m with line of sight.
— Wi-Fi. A rather specific option, which is extremely rare — in certain models of laptop mice (see "In the direction"). In many respects it is similar to Bluetooth — in particular, it is designed mainly to work with built-in modules and allows you to use a mouse without occupying hardware connectors. At the same time, the range of communication via Wi-Fi is much greater. On the other hand, this advantage is not of fundamental importance, and on the technical side, the creation of Wi-Fi mice is associated with certain difficulties. That is why this type of connection has not received distribution.Bluetooth version
It is worth noting that any version of Bluetooth is able to pair devices with each other. And even if both devices have a different version, the connection will occur on the lowest of them — the protocols are interchangeable.
Range
The range of the wireless connection provided in the mouse (see "Connection Type").
Almost all modern wireless models work confidently at a distance of at least 2 – 3 metres. So you need to pay attention to this parameter mainly when you plan to use the mouse at a greater distance from the computer — for example, when working with a projector at a presentation. At the same time, when evaluating the range, note that it is indicated for perfect conditions: the absence of interference and obstacles in the signal path, the full charge of the battery in the mouse, etc. In fact, the communication range may be somewhat less, so when choosing, it is worth taking a certain stock. Nevertheless, according to the claimed range, it is quite possible to evaluate the practical capabilities of different models and compare them with each other.
Sensor resolution
Resolution of the sensor responsible for tracking mouse movements on the work surface. Specified in DPI — dots per inch.
The physical meaning of DPI as a whole is as follows. The sensor of a modern mouse works on the same principle as the camera matrix, and consists of pixels. And DPI is the number of pixels that fall on 1 inch of the underlying surface (length or width), "visible" by the sensor.
It is believed that more DPI means a more advanced sensor and mouse in general; nowadays, models for
3500 – 5000 DPI,
12000 DPI,
16000 DPI even
more are not uncommon. In a way, it is — high resolution contributes to accuracy. However, the only thing that is directly determined by this indicator is the speed at which the cursor moves across the screen: the higher the resolution of the sensor, the greater the number of pixels that the cursor will move when the mouse itself moves a certain distance. At the same time, it is worth recalling that too high a speed is even more undesirable than too low. So the real need for high DPI (
1000 and above) arises mainly when working on large screens (4K resolution and more); for more modest displays (HD and Full HD), smaller values are often enough.
Inertial wheel
A wheel with an accelerated scrolling mode that allows you to scroll through a large “sheet” of pages in text documents, spreadsheets or on Internet resources in just one movement.
The inertial wheel is a hallmark of a number of Logitech mouse models.
Battery capacity
The battery capacity in a mouse affects how long it can operate without recharging and determines how often the device will need to be charged. Although manufacturers usually specify the operating time, the capacity helps assess the battery's resource under intensive use or when additional features, such as backlighting, are activated.