PC Hardware Annoyances

MOUSE ANNOYANCES

MAKE MOUSE TRAILS EASIER TO FOLLOW

The Annoyance:

I may be getting older, but other people must also find it hard to follow the mouse zipping across the screen. How can I make it easier to see?

The Fix:

You can tweak the mouse using a couple of simple tricks. Open the Mouse control panel, and then click the Pointers tab (see Figure 1-4). Use the drop-down menu and select a large or extra-large scheme. A bigger pointer is easier to see, right? If you still need help, click the Pointer Options tab and check the “Display pointer trails” box. Adjust the trail length until you can follow it easily.

Figure 1-4. Larger mouse pointers and trails can make the mouse much easier to see.

MOUSE HELP FOR SOUTHPAWS

The Annoyance:

Is there a law against left-handed discrimination? If so, I plan to sue every mouse manufacturer on the planet. How am I supposed to use this right-handed mouse?

The Fix:

Work with me here-this is an easy fix. Open the Mouse control panel and click the Buttons tab (see Figure 1-5). Check the “Switch primary and secondary buttons” box to reverse the left and right mouse buttons. This at least gets the buttons right.

Figure 1-5. Reversing the mouse buttons is a big advantage for southpaw users.

Manufacturers sell a lot of mice in an ergonomic shell tailored to the right ...