64 PCWorld JANUARY 2021REVIEWS BEST WIRELESS MICE
Some mice include extra buttons that can be configured.connectivity is latency. If your input doesn’t
register onscreen nearly instantly, you
productivity will quickly take a hit. A
mouse’s responsiveness is even
more critical when gaming, where
quick reflexes can be the
difference between virtual life
and death.
Unfortunately, there’s little
agreement around which
connectivity method is faster. Gaming
companies like Razer and SteelSeries
claim RF connections have the advantage, and
that is likely true for gaming. But the latency
difference between Bluetooth and RF, which is
measured in tenths of a millisecond, is
probably negligible for productivity. In our
tests, we saw little difference between the two
types of connectivity during basic work tasks.Ergonomics
Mouse use has been implicated in repetitive
stress injuries for years, and manufacturers
have responded with all kinds of quirky
designs they claim will prevent or relieve wrist
and arm pain. They have tweaked the mouse’s
sculpt, button position, and shape seemingly
every which way to facilitate a more natural
angle for your arm when it’s moving and at
rest. But just because the box says a mouse is
ergonomic doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to
reduce your discomfort. The only way to tell
for sure is to use it for a period of time, and
unfortunately retailers don’t typically allowtest drives.
Still, for designers, PC gamers, and others
who spend continuous hours using a mouse,
prioritizing an ergonomic model is probably
worth it. Just remember, the type of mouse
you use is only one factor in minimizing RSIs,
and your habits may be an even more
important factor (go.pcworld.com/hbts).Programmable buttons
While the functions of left and right buttons
and the scroll wheel are clear, many mice
include additional buttons on the side and/
or top of the mouse that you can configure
for custom tasks. Mapping these buttons
to things like the back button of your
browser, cut and paste commands, or
other repetitive tasks can save you a lot of
time in the long run. Typically, if a mouse
comes with a half-dozen buttons, it will also
include the manufacturer’s software for
programming them.