How We Research
Every guide on Me and My Mouse starts with one question: will this mouse or keyboard suit the person who is shopping for it? That depends on your hand size, how you grip a mouse, your computer and how long you work each day.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your hands and your desk
A small hand, a large hand and a left hand each call for a different mouse. A laptop on a kitchen table and a full desk with a monitor call for different keyboards.
We check the size, shape and hand orientation the maker lists. When your setup limits the choice, we say what to look for.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at the shape and angle, size, weight, number of buttons, wired or wireless connection, Bluetooth and dongle options, battery type and life, and which systems each model works with.
For keyboards we also look at the layout, key feel, palm rest and number pad. Logitech, Kensington, Kinesis and other makers describe their products in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a product. We look for patterns, like mice that feel too small, keys that feel mushy, pairing that drops out and software that is hard to set up.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that's great for one reader may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Many models also come in color versions and look-alike versions with similar names, so we check each model number and we only link new units.
We skip unknown brands with no track record and any product with a known recall. When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every product we cover.
We talk about shape, size and fit, and we make no health promises. If you have ongoing hand, wrist or arm pain, please see a doctor or an occupational therapist.