Comparison Microsoft ARC Touch Mouse vs Microsoft ARC Mouse

— Optical. The working element of an optical mouse consists of an LED that illuminates the underlying surface and an optical sensor that photographs this surface at high frequency. On the basis of a number of received images, the mouse electronics concludes about the direction and speed of movement of the manipulator and outputs the corresponding data to the computer. Optical mice are inexpensive, reliable enough and not too demanding on the working surface. Initially, they were poorly compatible with certain types of surfaces — mirror, fur, leather, etc.; however, in most modern optical sensors, this drawback is eliminated, and mice of this type are often quite "omnivorous".

— Laser. According to the principle of operation, laser mice are similar to optical ones (see above). The main difference is that they do not use an LED, but a laser, to illuminate the image. Thus, a narrower beam directivity is provided, and as a result, more accurate cursor positioning, which is especially important when working with complex detailed graphics, in games, etc. Theoretically, the laser is less versatile and not compatible with such an abundance of surfaces as optics, but this difference is noticeable only on specific surfaces like fur, polished metal, etc. But the unequivocal disadvantage of this technology is the higher cost.

— Optical, Bluetrack. Optical models (see a...bove) using a sensor with BlueTrack technology. This technology was originally developed by Microsoft, but nowadays it is also found in other manufacturers. The most noticeable difference between such sensors and conventional optical ones is the blue colour of the LED (hence the name). In addition, the design provides for a number of improvements: an increased area of illumination of the surface under the mouse, high resolution of the matrix, coated optics. Thanks to this, BlueTrack mice have high accuracy and are able to function even on “difficult” surfaces such as glass, polished stone, carpet pile, etc.

— Optical, V-Track. Optical sensor using V-Track technology. This technology was developed by A4Tech and is used primarily in mice of this brand. One of the key features of V-Track is that the beam of light in such sensors falls on the work surface vertically (rather than obliquely, as in conventional optics). In addition, the light spot size is very small, the light density is high, and the photodetector lens has a very narrow aperture, which gives a large depth of field. Thanks to these improvements, V-Track provides very high accuracy and (according to the creators) is able to work even on volumetric mechs, where other types of sensors are useless. However, mice with this feature are not cheap.

— Laser, V-Track. Laser sensor using V-Track technology. For more information about this technology, see above, but here we note that the use of V-Track in laser mice allows you to get rid of the main drawback of such devices — sensitivity to non-standard surfaces. At the same time, the positioning accuracy characteristic of laser sensors is further increased by V-Track. On the other hand, the price of such devices is high. Therefore, the combination of a laser sensor and V-Track is extremely rare, mainly in premium gaming mice from the same A4Tech.

— Hybrid. The combination of two sensors in the mouse at once — optical and laser. Such a combination allows you to combine the advantages of both technologies and partially compensate for the shortcomings: in terms of accuracy, hybrid mice are not inferior to laser ones, while they are not so sensitive to non-standard surfaces. At the same time, the presence of two sensors significantly affects the price of the device, while it is possible to achieve similar characteristics with one sensor — due to the BlueTrack or V-Track technologies described above. Therefore, hybrid systems have not received distribution.

The direction the mouse is facing. Specified only for models with additional specialization or design features — namely, for laptop, gaming and vertical mice. Here are their main features:

— Laptop. Mice well suited for use with laptops. Most of these models have compact dimensions — the length of the case in them is less than 110 mm, and often less than 100 mm. This makes it easy to transport along with the laptop. And larger devices are considered laptops if such specialization is somehow indicated by the manufacturer. In addition, this category includes most models with a Bluetooth connection (see "Connection type") — such a module is found in almost any modern laptop. And wired laptop mice can be equipped with a wire winding system that allows you to adjust the length of the cable for different situations and twist it compactly for transportation.

— Game. Mice designed primarily for use in computer games and intended for gamers — including professional e-sportsmen (although the price category and capabilities of different models, of course, may vary). Such devices are often made in a characteristic "aggressive" design, with unusual patterns, logos, coloured backlighting (in some models — with effects), etc. On the functional side, gaming mice are distinguished primarily by increased sensor accuracy, as well as the presence of various specialized feat...ures — such as additional buttons with the ability to “attach” certain game actions or even a sequence of actions to them, a triple-click (“queue”) button, a sniper button, DPI switching (see below), weight adjustment, etc. Note that narrow the specialization of such models can be different: there are both universal gaming mice and devices optimized for a specific genre (shooters, RPGs, etc.) or even a specific game.

— Ergonomic (vertical). Mice of a specific design: the surface on which the hand is placed during work is not located horizontally in such models, but with an inclination to the right (in left-handed models — to the left). As a result, the body height is noticeably greater than that of traditional models — hence the name "vertical". And the user's hand actually covers such a case from two sides: on one side (on an inclined surface) there is a palm, on the other (in a special recess) — a thumb. This position of the hand is considered more natural and comfortable than the classic horizontal position, it reduces the load on the joints and ligaments, thus reducing fatigue and the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome and other disorders. Vertical models are well suited for those who have to work at the computer for a long time — except that it may take some time to get used to the unusual shape after a traditional mouse.

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.

The presence of a touchpad in the design of the mouse.

The touchpad is a surface that is sensitive to finger touch. It provides additional ease of use and often expands the functionality of the mouse; but the specific dimensions, location and capabilities of such a surface may be different, they should be specified separately. So, one of the simplest and most common options is a narrow oblong insert between the main buttons. This insert usually replaces the scroll wheel and has the corresponding functionality; it features embossed elements for a comfortable feel, but it can still take some getting used to. On the other hand, the sensor is more reliable and durable than the wheel due to the absence of moving parts.

Another common option, more advanced, is the touchpad, which replaces both main buttons and occupies the entire front top of the case. Such a surface, in addition to traditional taps, often also supports gesture control — for example, horizontal scrolling with a swipe in one direction or another, zooming with two fingers, etc.

In addition to those described above, there are other, more specific options for touch panels — for example, side, under the thumb.

The number of buttons provided in the design of the mouse. However, the term "buttons" can also refer to specific hardware solutions — for example, a solid touch area used in many Apple mice counts as two buttons, because. it is divided into two working areas. But the clickable wheels, as well as the power button, are not taken into account in this calculation.

The minimum number of buttons for modern mice and other similar manipulators is two : this is the number that is necessary for comfortable work in most modern operating systems. If there are more than two keys, this means that there are additional buttons responsible for specific actions. So, even relatively inexpensive devices can be equipped with 3 – 4 buttons ; in addition to the 2 main buttons, they can have, for example, 2 side thumb keys, or 1 double/triple click button (see below). Solutions for 5 – 6 buttons are extremely popular nowadays; among them are many gaming mice, where the mentioned thumb buttons are supplemented with a double / triple click, a sniper button and/or a DPI switch (see also below about these functions). And in the most multifunctional models, 7 – 8 buttons and even more can be installed. In some cases, this number exceeds a dozen and a half; such mice are usually gaming devices designed for RPGs and other simil...ar genres where it is important to have a wide range of actions at your fingertips.

The presence of the mouse side buttons — under the user's thumb.

The traditional, most popular option is two buttons, which by default are responsible for the “Back” and “Forward” commands in the browser, system file explorer, etc. There are more of these buttons in gaming mice; some of these models even have an interchangeable side panel that allows you to install a different number of side keys, as desired.

Anyway, the side mouse buttons provide additional convenience and expand the list of features available from the device. At the same time, the buttons are always at hand, in fact, in instant access. This is especially handy in games: some frequently used actions can be tied to the side keys, such as reloading or a special attack. However, even in everyday use, it is much easier to press a button on the mouse than to move the cursor to the Back or Forward icon every time in the same browser.

The number of scroll wheels the mouse has.

The traditional, most common option is one wheel, which is used by default to scroll the image up and down. Models with two wheels are much less common; the second wheel in such devices, usually, is located under the thumb and is responsible for horizontal scrolling by default. Such mice will be useful primarily for designers and layout designers working with large-format materials — although usually the functions of the second wheel can be reassigned, which can be useful for other categories of users. However, the second wheel significantly affects the dimensions and cost, so in most cases it is more convenient to get by with an alternative option — a 4D wheel (see below) or programmable buttons (see above). That is why "two-wheeled" mice are not widespread.

The Left-Handed filter helps quickly find mice that don't force left-handed users to adapt to non-ergonomic designs: these models have the right body geometry and logical button placement, making handling as natural as it is for right-handed users with standard models. This category includes several different designs. Firstly, there are models made exclusively for the left hand, where the body and side buttons are mirrored, so everything presses naturally. Secondly, it includes symmetrical mice without additional side buttons: they are universal, do not press on the fingers, and are ideal for those who value simplicity and comfort without extra elements. Thirdly, there are symmetrical options without side buttons but with additional buttons on top — a compromise when extra buttons are needed without anchoring to the right side of the body. Lastly, symmetrical mice with buttons on both sides fall here: a left-hander gets the same quick actions as a right-hander, but it's worth remembering that different models have different implementations of button deactivation/remapping, which affects convenience.

The total weight of the mouse. For models with a wired connection, usually, it is indicated without cable, and for devices with weight adjustment (see above) — without weights.

This parameter is important primarily for professional gaming applications, although it is often relevant for ordinary users. Theoretically, less weight promotes speed and reduces fatigue. At the same time, in fact, much depends on the personal habits and preferences of the user: a mouse that is too light may “not be felt in the hands” and not give familiar feedback. Therefore, although most mice have a lower weight limit of 60 – 80 g, however, even among professional gaming models there are much more massive devices — 120 – 140 g or more. The lightest variety of "rodents" is laptop (see "In the direction"), among them devices come across and less than 60 g.

Also note that the weight to some extent depends on the size and “tricked out” of the device, but there is no unambiguous dependence here: models similar in size and functionality can differ markedly in weight.