I tend to use either a serial 2-button Microsoft ergonomic mouse for DOS.

A PS/2 Microsoft Intellimouse (with scrollwheel) for 95-ME.

USB (converted back to PS/2) Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer, for XP and Vista.

I have nothing against other brands of mice, I just seem to have ended up with Microsoft ones.

My biggest criteria for mouse choice is ergonomics. I've found as I've gotten older, poor ergonomics can lead to tendon pain.

On my older machines, I use a Microsoft Serial Mouse 2.1a and an Intellimouse (w/ scroll wheel). Both of them are roller ball mice. One is serial and one is PS/2. They're comfortable to use and work perfectly fine. Since they don't get as much usage as modern mice, the rollers don't get that dirty.

For all my other computers, including my Ultimate XP build, I use Logitech G703 mice. They're by far the most comfortable mice I've found to use.

I prefer to use PS/2 with Win98 since the mouse works in setup and Safe modes. Having a working mouse when you've booted up to Safe mode is a big plus for me.

During my 98/XP era I had a couple of mice and keyboards that supported both PS/2 and USB natively.
So I could use them as PS/2 on computers that had the ports and/or did not fully support USB in the pre-OS environment. And I could use them as USB on other PCs (for example laptops that did not have PS/2 ports).

I am using a dollar store optical on my daily driver so .... 🤣

I think for my KVM setup I'm gonna probably use the intellimouse optical. I have "original" mice for a couple of machines, meaning ballpark era correct matching, not sure any actually belonged to the particular systems, apart from an IBM pair. Otherwise, I am all over the place, I mean eclectic, bus mouse, yup, serial trackpad, check, 3 varieties of trackball, yes, several generations of MS kidney, sure.... I tend not to try to "like" a mouse too much because of the one that broke my heart.... I mean one I got really used to, wore out beyond repairing for the 7th time and was unable to replace.

For XP and above -> USB.
Below -> PS2.

In my case Microsoft Basic USB with PS2 adapter works everywhere (286 and up).
I hate serial ball mice...

Logitech G403 HERO on all of my retro rigs that have USB 2.0 ports. A4Tech optical PS/2 mouse on those that don't.

I didn't like mechanical ball mice back in the day, and I still don't like them now.

Studiostriver wrote on 2024-11-03, 16:43:

I`ve recently being hit hardly with retro computers bug. I wonder do you have mouse that for you think will work the best for Windows 98/ early XP games?/

My main mouse is Genius NetScroll 220 Laser (PS/2), since about 2010, currently connected to my Ryzen PC running Windows 10. This is my second NetScroll 220, the first one I destroyed long time ago in a rage but it was so good that I bought another one.
I have two more unopened in case this one breaks.

My work mouse is Genius NetScroll 100, USB. This one is inferior to NetScroll 220 but does the job.

My retro PC mouse is Genius (you may notice a pattern here…) DX-110, PS/2. You can still buy them new. There are USB and PS/2 versions, but only USB seem to come in several top colors, PS/2 ones are always black. I bought a white USB one and a black PS/2 one and swapped the top cases so now I have a white PS/2 and a black USB.

I have several unopened DX-100's, too, and about three old mechanical mice, but I don't use them really.

I don't have favorite brands or models for such a peripherals. For modern systems without PS/2 mouse port there's no choice, but for older systems I always prefer to use optical PS/2 over USB mice.

Ergonomics is probably number one for me. Like others of said, as I get older (and I'm WELL over the hill), comfort often trumps most other considerations. Not to mention I've got larger hands, I mean I'm 6'1 220, not exactly a small guy. This also means I like larger mice. In modern terms, I prefer mice that have a "wing" on the left side for my thumb to rest on. My current daily driver on my main system is a Razer Basilisk.

In terms of USB vs PS/2, on my modern machines it's always USB, on anything Win98 and older, they're all PS/2. All of my PS/2 mice are standard optical, nothing fancy, no ball mice, and no extra features like that thumb rest I like these days. Still, they get the job done. I'm not using them all day every day, so I care more about compatibility and reliability than comfort in those cases.

StriderTR wrote on 2024-11-03, 19:32:

Ergonomics is probably number one for me. Like others of said, as I get older (and I'm WELL over the hill), comfort often trumps most other considerations. Not to mention I've got larger hands, I mean I'm 6'1 220, not exactly a small guy. This also means I like larger mice. In modern terms, I prefer mice that have a "wing" on the left side for my thumb to rest on. My current daily driver on my main system is a Razer Basilisk.

In terms of USB vs PS/2, on my modern machines it's always USB, on anything Win98 and older, they're all PS/2. All of my PS/2 mice are standard optical, nothing fancy, no ball mice, and no extra features like that thumb rest I like these days. Still, they get the job done. I'm not using them all day every day, so I care more about compatibility and reliability than comfort in those cases.

I`m 6.135 guy as well. 😀 I got nostalgia over some designs which i cant see knowdays so often, so i will probably get Intellimouse Microsoft usb1/ps2 model that we used to play Counter Strike as kids. 😀 But i may try few more models just in case i miss something. Thanks for your reply.

analog_programmer wrote on 2024-11-03, 19:13:

I don't have favorite brands or models for such a peripherals. For modern systems without PS/2 mouse port there's no choice, but for older systems I always prefer to use optical PS/2 over USB mice.

Fair enough. 😀

Azarien wrote on 2024-11-03, 19:09:

My main mouse is Genius NetScroll 220 Laser (PS/2), since about 2010, currently connected to my Ryzen PC running Windows 10. Thi […]
Show full quote

Studiostriver wrote on 2024-11-03, 16:43:

I`ve recently being hit hardly with retro computers bug. I wonder do you have mouse that for you think will work the best for Windows 98/ early XP games?/

My main mouse is Genius NetScroll 220 Laser (PS/2), since about 2010, currently connected to my Ryzen PC running Windows 10. This is my second NetScroll 220, the first one I destroyed long time ago in a rage but it was so good that I bought another one.
I have two more unopened in case this one breaks.

My work mouse is Genius NetScroll 100, USB. This one is inferior to NetScroll 220 but does the job.

My retro PC mouse is Genius (you may notice a pattern here…) DX-110, PS/2. You can still buy them new. There are USB and PS/2 versions, but only USB seem to come in several top colors, PS/2 ones are always black. I bought a white USB one and a black PS/2 one and swapped the top cases so now I have a white PS/2 and a black USB.

I have several unopened DX-100's, too, and about three old mechanical mice, but I don't use them really.

Genius mouses are also very affordable, so thats a good thing as well, they are easily replacable. 😀 I must confess i was always in old days IBM or Microsoft guy. Thanks for your reply bro, much appreciated.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-11-03, 19:06:

Logitech G403 HERO on all of my retro rigs that have USB 2.0 ports. A4Tech optical PS/2 mouse on those that don't.

I didn't like mechanical ball mice back in the day, and I still don't like them now.

2 days ago PCI USB2 with NEC chip came, and works like a charm on Pentium 3 on motherboard DFI CA64-TC. Maybe i try Logitech G403 HERO that mouse one day cause i seeing them selling all over the place, its bit harder to find white color, but hey its worth finding one that will be prettier mach with old IBM keyboard. 😀 Thanks for reply.

On my retro systems I tend to do with what was popular at the time.
So on my early 98 system its PS2, but the later one its USB. But thats only in use, while doing anything to it its a PS2 mouse because it always works.
Microsoft keyboards and nice were always nice and always worked. They maybe were not thee best you could get but they worked well for me and i tend to stick with them now.

Win2k and up its pretty much USB all the way now

Bus mouse only. Don't need a mouse for Linux terminals.

I've always liked the more basic OEM Microsoft ones.

Used to be really easy to buy new HP/Compaq optical mouse, this was when they changed from PS/2 to USB plugs but the mouse itself is still PS2 compatible.
https://www.amazon.sa/-/en/HP-2-Button-Optica … e/dp/B000GDP9XY

If a PC has a PS/2 port then that's what I'll use, but I'm not into fasted paced 3d shooters so don't really demand much from my mouse

chinny22 wrote on 2024-11-04, 00:36:

I've always liked the more basic OEM Microsoft ones. […]
Show full quote

I've always liked the more basic OEM Microsoft ones.

Used to be really easy to buy new HP/Compaq optical mouse, this was when they changed from PS/2 to USB plugs but the mouse itself is still PS2 compatible.
https://www.amazon.sa/-/en/HP-2-Button-Optica … e/dp/B000GDP9XY

If a PC has a PS/2 port then that's what I'll use, but I'm not into fasted paced 3d shooters so don't really demand much from my mouse

That reminds me. Not retro, but I recently bought an HP "gaming" mouse new for $8 from the big online store. It's actually a really good full size mouse.

I've got a couple Microsoft PS/2 mice which work with P2/2->Serial adapters - so they cover both!

I've also got a couple newer USB ones which work with USB->PS/2 adapter.

I've only found one keyboard (SoftTouch - very small - no keypad etc) which is USB but
works with a USB->PS/2 adapter. Good one for the workbench!

For gaming I like the R.A.T. series (My R.A.T 7 dies but I still have a couple R.A.T-5s) these are USB

Dave ::: https://dunfield.themindfactory.com ::: "Daves Old Computers"->Personal