I go through about a "mouse" a year, though I use a track ball (Logitech). I'm probably what they consider an Industrial User since I work at home so I use my computer for work and my own use. I finally figured out when to stop trying to get the cut and paste to work (it drops stuff randomly when the left button finally dies) and just get a new one. I also finally read the box and it is supposed to last for five years, so Logitech owes me a few. For my use, this is the best design so I'll keep replacing these as long as they'll make them.

Keyboards and mice can be fairly inexpensive. After looking around (I'm also a touch typist, so I rely on those little bumps on the F and J keys) I settled for a $15 Microsoft keyboard. The trackman ball costs $30. $45 a year is less than I spend to maintain my truck, but it is the same process--you change out some things more often than the rest in the life of a device or machine.

So--change the battery if you have one, or go buy a new mouse. And check into the keyboard also. Is it full of cracker crumbs and cat hair, muting the connections between the keys and their sensors? Time to shoot some air through there or replace the keyboard also.

I use wired keyboard and mouse. Wireless means more batteries to keep track of and something lumpy to plug into an over-full surge protector or crowded back of the computer. The wire is simple and elegant. I'm not drifting all over the room with these devices, so wireless is not an improvement, in my opinion.

SRS