[tutorial] make the most of your mouse!

[Lord Orwell]

(note to mods: Wasn't sure this was appropriate for tutorial area so put it in chitchat)
I thought i would share this information. I would say that most people who use this forum today do a lot of web searching, window-zooming, media-playing, etc. Well what if i told you that you can do all this from your mouse? A three button mouse can recieve some of this functionality, but a 4 or 5 button one really shines here.

Yes, i am sure you are aware, that multi-button mice all come with some form of controller software that lets you assign different functions to each button. However, all programs are not created equal. Microsoft's intellipoint software really shines here. It lets you assign ANYTHING to any button, including:
# web and media controls
# keypresses such as ctrl-alt-del or shift-f1
# A hot-press to a custom zoom window
# a visual task switcher unique to intellipoint but vaguely resembling the way OS10 does it.
# A different set of assignments for each program!

This last feature is very interesting. I can assign the side buttons to forward and rewind a DVD in media player AND forward/back a browser window and whatever else i care to have them do in other programs.

"So what" you say? " I don't have a Microsoft Mouse!"
That's nice, but IT DOESN'T MATTER, thanks to a little device that probably came with your mouse:

You are looking at a USB to PS2 adapter. While it's hooked up as USB, your computer can't be fooled as to what kind of mouse it is, but the PS2 port can't tell the difference in mice brands. I personally use a wireless rechargeable 5-button mouse from a company called Nexxtech which only cost $20 american dollars. Works great with Intellipoint softare. This software is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mo.../Download.mspx
Choose your OS and pick an IntelliMouse from the drop-down. When setting up the program, simply choose a mouse in the list with the same number of buttons as yours.

Note that besides these benefits there are other ones of using the ps2 port, including port power usage and bandwidth usage of the usb ports, as well as freeing up a usb port.

-Lord Orwell

[timeshifter]

It'd be nice if I had PS/2 ports... as it is, I dislike how easy the pins are to bend, and Logitec mice come with the SetPoint software, which is powerful in its' own right and can be made infinitely more powerful, probably even surpassing MS. Oh, and it works with every Logitec mouse out there.

[Lord Orwell]

mine came with Itouch software. I will visit their site again and check that one out.

[wossname]

You only need a mouse if you've got a monitor, such things I find mere decadent frivolities!

[penagate]

Real men use keyboards and command lines.

[opus]

Real men talk with real women not computers ;-)

[wossname]

Speculation.

[Disiance]

Speculation.

Begin.

[timeshifter]

If an electron being held in absolute zero temperatures was placed in the path of an electron traveling at 99.999% the speed of light, what would happen to the elephant on the other side of the room?

[Mark Gambo]

If an electron being held in absolute zero temperatures was placed in the path of an electron traveling at 99.999% the speed of light, what would happen to the elephant on the other side of the room?

This . . .

[timeshifter]

Why did I ask...

[Disiance]

Why did I ask...

It's pure speculation, but I believe you asked because you wanted something like that to be the answer.

[Mark Gambo]

Why did I ask...

It's pure speculation, but I believe you asked because you wanted something like that to be the answer.

[timeshifter]

It's pure speculation, but I believe you asked because you wanted something like that to be the answer.

This may also be speculation, but if I wanted that to be the answer, why would I have needed to ask in the first place?

[Disiance]

To speculate on your speculation of previous speculation: I think I said you wanted an answer like that, not that specific answer. Sometimes you fish for a Rainbow Trout, other times you don't care what exactly you catch. This time you didn't care.

[timeshifter]

But I can speculate fairly confidently that even in light of the speculations and counter-speculations, I did NOT have se*cough* did NOT want an ugly female involved in the speculations.

[opus]

Are you sure that this elephant is female?

[mendhak]

I find your mouse tutorial highly informative. I was so inspired by it that I used my mouse to click on the "Post Reply" button in order to convey my thoughts to you in an appropriate manner.

[wossname]

Heisenberg's elephant did it, it was elsewhere at the time.

[Mark Gambo]

. . .I did NOT have se*cough* did NOT want an ugly female involved in the speculations.

That is the problem with your original hypnosis, who said that person depicted is an actual Human Female, hmmm?

[timeshifter]

Now you're bringing a hypnotist into this? what's wrong with you?!?

[Mark Gambo]

Now you're bringing a hypnotist into this? what's wrong with you?!?

Hehehe, I meant Hypothesis

[timeshifter]

You're on a roll here.

[Lord Orwell]

OK I can understand why a cat would end up in a thread about mice, but why is the elephant here? Rumor has it they are scared of them.

[Disiance]

More than just rumor. MythBusters had an episode on it, one mouse did scare the elephants away, though I postulate that the elephants just weren't used to it.

And since we're just adding random images:

[Lord Orwell]

Dr. Dis... Why do people dress up animals, and then be surprised when they get mauled?

[opus]

That's not an animal, it's our well-known forum member Disiance.

That's the way you look, when living a mile high!