I KNOW computer mice are only a small, unimportant part of today's systems, but I'd like to know more about computer mice. In the past, many of the mice I've used with my PCs have always had compatibility problems with several programs on my system. Isn'tthere a standard mice makers have to follow? And how expensive are good mice? JAY MICHAELS Discovery Bay In today's world of graphics-based intuitive computing, mice are far from ''unimportant''. The devices, made popular by the Apple Macintosh and now by Microsoft's Windows program running on PCs, have become an integral part of desktop technology. No Windows user would be able to survive long without one, and no sane Mac user would even switch on his machine if a mouse was not attached to it.
If you buy an Apple Macintosh, you get a mouse as part of the deal. That is also true with many PC compatibles today. They are loaded with Windows and have a mouse.
If you need a first mouse for a PC or want to replace an old one, you can expect to pay between HK$100 and HK$1,500. To make the choice, you should consider three things: the feel of the mouse; the reliability of its hardware; and the flexibility and compatibility of its ''driver'' software (the program that comes with the mouse to integrate it with your computer).
Microsoft sells lots of mice, but they aren't cheap. The new Microsoft Mouse for the PC sells for more than the average mouse - US$109 (HK$850) - and claims several justifications.
Firstly, compatibility. Microsoft makes the foundation software in almost all PCs - DOS and Windows, as well as many popular application programs. Microsoft has also been one of the most popular sources of mice for years. So, Microsoft's drivers have become the standard. When you buy a PC mouse, you want it to be ''Microsoft-compatible''.
Secondly, the Microsoft mouse's driver offers more flexibility. There are lots of choices you can make on screen to affect how the cursor behaves: whether it is big or small, leaves a trail as it moves (to make it easier to find on a poorly lit screen),''snaps'' to the nearest Windows command choice, jumps to the middle of the screen, and the like. These are fun to experiment with, but it is not something many people make regular use of.
The Microsoft mouse is also built from ''high quality components''. These are claimed to make it less likely to fail.