There's a Mouse in the House (Super Flexibility Now Less Expensive)
                                 Mike Guffey

    A mouse?.  Me?  Need a mouse?  What for?

    These are the questions I asked  myself  each  time  I  read  computer
    magazine  advertisements  for  "mouse"  input  devices.  These strange
    little devices have been the hallmark of MacIntosh-type computing  for
    some  time.  Why  would I consider one for my non-Apple computer?  Why
    indeed.

    A "mouse" input device is small enough to fit  in  the  palm  of  your
    hand,  has  one  or more buttons, and is attached to the computer by a
    slim chord (a tail).   Its  primary  function  is  related  to  cursor
    movement.  As the "mouse" is moved, so moves the cursor.  A nd lately,
    the "mice" on the market have been getting  "smarter".   They  can  do
    more  than  just  move  the  cursor for graphics applications.  As one
    mouse ad points out,  much  of  what  you  do  by  hand  (and  several
    keystrokes)  can  be automated and simplified into r ist movements and
    mouse "clicks" (pressing one or more of the buttons).

    [Using a mouse requires that your system have at least 128k RAM  (256k
    is better) and a color or mono graphics card.]

    Some software is more suited for use of a mouse than others.  In fact,
    software can be categorized as  "mouse-based"  or  "keyboard-  based".
    Most  mouse-based software can be used without a mouse but may be slow
    and kludgy as you wait for the cursor to catch up with the cursor  key
    commands.   Some  software  works well "with" or "without" (although a
    mouse makes things easier).  An example  is  Borland's  REFLEX.   What
    many  don't realize is that even keyboard based, non-graphics software
    may be enhanced by usage of a mouse.

    A mouse  can  eliminate  the  tedium  of  memorizing  cursor-movements
    commands,  especially in word processing software.  If you use several
    types of text editors, remembering which-command-does- what may become
    tedious.   There is an added mobility in skipping th rough paragraphs,
    highlighting text, or inititiating multiple  commands  with  a  single
    keystroke.    Extensive   editing  can  become  significantly  easier.
    Integrated software packages typically make  excellent  use  of  mouse
    "power".

    Make  no  mistake,  a mouse works best in graphics-oriented situations
    such as  "paint/draw"  programs  or  in  (C)omputer  (A)ided  (D)esign
    applications.   But  don't  exclude  it  from  the  realm  of possible
    alternatives and add-ons.  The  price  of  these  devices  has  bee  n
    falling  steadily.   LogiTech  is currently promoting its "serial bus"
    (i.e.  serial port input) mouse with three  programmable  buttons  for
    $99.   While  this  mouse  won't do everything more expensive versions
    will, it may be worth considering.

    Let's look at the "limitations" of a $99 mouse.   First,  it  is  only
    available  in  a  serial  version.  This means that you either need to
    dedicate a COM port to it, or hook up an A/B switch.

    (You cannot use a "Y" cable because the mouse will interfere with  the
    other  device  and  vice-versa.)  More  expensive products may also be
    available in a version which works with a game or joystick port.   The
    LogiTech  C7,  called  the  LogiMouse,  has  three  butt ons.  All are
    programmable with strings of up to 30 characters  or  commands.   More
    expensive  versions  may  allow  the insertion of much longer and more
    sophisticated strings (even paragraphs) or allow calling  up  a  menu.
    The  C7  cannot  do this with the packag ed software (although if used
    with other inexpensive memory resident software it may do as  well  or
    better).   Whether  or  not these "limitations" seem significant, they
    should be considered before disregarding alternative products at twice
    the price.

    What  should  you  look  for  in  a  mouse, at any price?  First, it's
    installation should be =very easy=.  This is often characterized by  a
    short  user  manual.   (The  user  manual  should specifically address
    compatibility with "popular" software.) The  ability  to  ins  tall  a
    mouse  "driver"  (i.e.   MOUSE.SYS)  at  boot up is desirable, but not
    necessary (especially if you have limited disk space).  The ability to
    vary  the ratio of mouse movement versus cursor movement is important.
    If the mouse requires a pad to

    track movement, this will add clutter and limit flexibility.  Under no
    conditions should the mouse itself require an additional power supply.
    One cable is all you should tolerate.  And the mouse  software  should
    allow  user-definable  "click"  buttons  and  the  ability to redefine
    cursor keys which may no longer be needed.  These are the minimums.  A
    bundled text-and-graphics editor is a desirable feature.

    Okay,  so the ads made me peripherally aware that "mice" are available
    with a variety of features and in a price  range  from  $99  to  $199.
    What  pushed me over the edge?  How did I catch "mouse fever"?  It was
    a single applications package that had the most  ef  fect.   Borland's
    REFLEX  documentation  lists  the  mouse  options  in  context without
    pushing the idea of a mouse.  The information is there if you need  it
    and  easily  disregarded  if  you  don't.   For  those  who have never
    considered a mouse, the program works very w ell without one.   But  I
    happened to get involved in a process of editing and designing several
    forms for database  entry.   Because  no  two  forms  were  the  same,
    automating   the  process  with  keyboard  definition  software  (i.e.
    SmartKey or ProKey) wasn't worth the time.  One afternoon,  as  I  was
    saying  to  myself, "there's got to be an easier way", my eyes fell on
    one of the ubiquitous REFLEX references to mouse software.  The  rest,
    a s they say, is history.

    I began reading the mouse ads more carefully, examining what each said
    or failed to say.  But the  price  put  me  off.   Most  were  in  the
    vicinity  of  $200.   My own standard for "affordable" peripherals has
    long been $79.  An arbitrary standard, yes.  But one whic h allows  me
    to  consider an ever-growing array of products as both "necessary" and
    worth owning.  An extra twenty bucks for a $99  mouse  was  easier  to
    swallow than an extra hundred.

    What  I  found  was that for most applications, a less expensive mouse
    (in my case the LogiMouse) was perfectly suitable for  all  my  needs.
    Compatibility  isn't  a  problem.  All but a few mouse- based products
    will work with either the MicroSoft Mouse or the PC Mouse "standards".
    (You  may  want  to  verify  this before buying a mouse at any price.)
    Logimouse will work with either standard and allow  you  to  configure
    the   mouse   "driver"   if   your   application  requires  it.   Most
    keyboard  based  software which uses  cursor  movement  sequences  and
    command strings is made more flexible with "mouse power".

    This  is  not a review of the LogiTech mouse (although it does satisfy
    all of the above "mouse minimums").  There is no disgrace in  spending
    too  much  for  added computer flexibility.  After all, you never know
    when  t  he  added features you never use now may come in handy later.
    But why pay more than you need to?  Using a mouse is easier  and  less
    expensive than you may have thought.

    As you get used to it, you may  find  you  can't  do  without  it.   I
    acquired  a  bargain-basement  mouse.   Suddenly  designing forms with
    REFLEX went from tolerable to enjoyable.  Data entry was less tedious.
    Ways to use the device are more common than I had andtic ipated.

    But  BEWARE!   Go "mouse-shopping" with care.  Don't spend too much or
    too little.  All of your  future  computing  may  be  affected.   And,
    ultimately,  you may find yourself infecting others with "mouse fever"
    as you tell them of "mouse power".