What criteria do you look for when buying a mouse?

[Chai]

Since I'm eying a new mouse, and some of you have just gotten a new mouse, what do you think is the most important to you?

- Ergonomics
- Features
- Looks
- Reliability
- Price

This is how I sort my priorities.
1. Ergonomics
2. Features
3. Reliability
4. Price
5. Looks

[Falcone]

To me form factor

Must fit nicely to my hand not too big not too small, rite now IE is the best for, Logitech just dun fit rite. And of course price.

1. Ergonomics
2. Price
3. Reliability
4. Features
5. Looks

[PsYkHoTiK]

Hmmm. Thats a tuffy.. I look for all of those...

To me:
1. Ergonomics - It has to fit my hand well now doesnt it? The way the mouse's layout. Grips in the right places. Well placed buttons (change program , not that I use it anyways..) I like smooth contour. My hand is big.
2. Reliability - It has to last. A good warranty just incase it goes FUBAR. The things on it must last (grips, printing, color)
3. Looks - No point in it having great features if it looks like smothered turd. Must be pleasing. Not too big (or else you'll be dragging more weight).The colors must really suit each other.
4. Features - the mouse must have something interesting to offer. Extra buttons that are usable in gaming. Great color choices. Lovely design,
5. Price - This is LEAST important. This is as, you'll definitely be paying more for the performance you get. I dont mind paying more just to have improvements in the other categories.

What is most important, is that you give things a try and be open about any new changes. No such thing as a perfect mouse.

Plus, perfection is subjective from individual, to individual. If it suits u enough, get it. Regardless of what people say. I bought a RM60 mousepad. Was heavily laughed at, but I enjoyed its slickness.

[peaz]

1- Ergonomics - You're gonna use the mouse indefinately... where can settle for a crap mouse?
2- Features - Yes.. features is important.
3- Reliability - Still important to me but secondary.. if it dies.. i'll just get another one
4- Looks - acutally not important at all but...
5- Price - this is the least of importance... Chai and Adrian knows i dun mind spending a tonne of good stuff...

[Chai]

1. Ergonomics - To me, MS always have an edge in ergonomics. Because they place their priority just like me, ergonomics a lot more than looks. Just look at their designs, buttons are extremely well placed, extremely comfortable to hold at. Only recently they started giving different color choices, but their mouse are still very nice to hold at.

2. Features - It's nice to have a lot of features, but it's useless if you don't use it, like the tilt scroll and the program button on Logitech. The most important features I want is 5 buttons, good software. That is basically all I need.

3. Relibility - I want the buttons to continue working after heavy torturing, the tracking to work as brand new. MS never disappoint me in this department too. None of my MS mouse have failed yet, even the old ones!

4. Price - Like what Psykhotik said, you get what you have paid for. Simple as that. Don't expect a cheap mouse to be good.

5. Looks - This is my least important criteria, that is why I'm never a fan of case modding, making my desktop looks nice, lights...etc...Why waste my time making my system looks nice when no one will see it? Post picture on the internet? Self Satisfactory? Unlike Psykhotik, I place the color fading under this category, because it affects its looks. Yup, MS mice's paint will fade after heavy usage. But I honestly don't care much. It's just like those toothbrush with the color indicator. If it fades too much, it's old and it's time to change.

There is such thing as a perfect mouse. IE3 is my dream mouse. It has everything I want/need. The only complain I have is the fading color, since I place the looks priority at the last, it doesn't concern me.

But I can't say the same for IE4 though, buttons are not as well placed, the software is a tad lacking compare to IE3. Which is why I'm still thinking whether to get IE4. IE3 was a different case when I wanted to get it a few years back.

[Adrian Wong]

1. Ergonomics - Super important to me. I'm starting to get symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome!

I like my IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0 (should write a review on it) but its ergonomics are not perfect, at least not for my hands. I don't like the side buttons.

But then again, the IE 2.0 may be perfect for other users who have BIG hands.

When it comes to such things, it's best to try it out yourself and decide if the mouse is suitable for you.

2. Features - I'm no power user. But features like a scroll wheel, wireless connection, accurate and sensitive sensor and of course, a fast response time; these are important to me!

3. Reliability - The mouse is an important HID (Human Interface Device) for me so it won't do for it to die on me when I'm working on something important. Especially if I paid a bomb for it!

4. Looks - I don't mind unconventional looking mice. But no neon-coloured mice, please!

BTW, I will take offence if the colour of an expensive mouse fades. I think colour adhesion should not be a problem when you are paying top dollar for the mouse.

5. Price - I don't mind paying money for a mouse that fits all the criteria above. But don't expect me to foot money blindly. I will compare the mouse with its competitors and decide whether it offers value for money.

[zy]

Originally Posted by Falcone

To me form factor

Must fit nicely to my hand not too big not too small, rite now IE is the best for, Logitech just dun fit rite. And of course price.

1. Ergonomics
2. Price
3. Reliability
4. Features
5. Looks

same here!
no $$$ to buy expensive mouse..
using a cheap rm40 samsung mouse..

well .. at least its confortable for me
dont like using mini mouse ..
dun like using A4 tech .. qualiy .. sux..

[goldfries]

- Ergonomics (yes, must fit my hand. i must feel nice when i hold)
- Price (yes, must fit my wallet. i must feel nice when i buy - usually RM 60 to 80 range)
- Reliability (no such thing as use 3 month and go mice heaven type)
- Features (nahh i don't care much. just 3 buttons 1 roller is good enough. MUST have optical sensors. when i move, it feels nice = pass test.)
- Looks (generally if it meets the above, it looks nice already. i don't like fancy mice - if i want them fancy i'll get a hamster and dress it)

the only mouse i buy so far are from Logitechs (yes, yes i know MS are great. i know. i would recommend them to people too......pls don't flame me on this. )........yeah. i have 2 opticals, 1 roller if office. 2 opticals at my Gf family and 1 roller too. and all from me......wahh. that's 6!! (i didn't realize that).

[Dashken]

1. Looks - Yup, this is the first thing that attracts me, the color, attractiveness, etc. Bought MX500 because of this too. I like the color. Actually I fell in love with its looks.

2. Ergonomics - This comes second, closely behind the Looks. Well, since I'll not be able to get a feel of both MS and Logitech's mouse, I'll go with looks and the overall shape. But sad to say... MX500 is a little too big for my hand. Yeah, it's weird. My hand isn't too small but it just doesn't fit right. And I feel that MS is bigger, so... what mouse is suitable for me?

3. Reliability - This is very important because for the past few years, I've been changing mouse like nobody's business. So, I would like to at least get a mouse that can last me at least 2 years if not more.

4. Features - This is not very important to me. I mean I still haven't try any mouse that have the features that I wanted. All I want is the natural feel, like where I want the cursor to go, it goes, effortlessly of coz. And well-placed buttons. I like the scroll-down button on MX500. Great feel to it but not the scroll-up and the change-program ones though.

5. Price - I don't think anyone will get a mouse costing more than RM300 right? Like that I better get another hdd.

[PsYkHoTiK]

Originally Posted by Dashken

1. Looks - Yup, this is the first thing that attracts me, the color, attractiveness, etc. Bought MX500 because of this too. I like the color. Actually I fell in love with its looks.
:

Me too. the first time I saw this mouse was in a magazine. It was actually a MX700, but its just the same. With the exception of the change program button, the rest are just nice for me.