Datasheet
Figure 1-3: A typical mouse and how to hold it
The idea is to rest your hand comfortably on the mouse with your index finger
lightly on (or near) the left mouse button, as is also shown in Figure 1-3. As you
move the mouse around (without holding down either of the mouse buttons),
the mouse pointer on the screen moves in the same direction that you move
the mouse.
When moving the mouse, keep the front of the mouse aimed toward the
screen. Don’t twist or turn the mouse. If the mouse gets out of reach, just
pick it up off the table, and set it down in a more comfortable position.
A mouse is an example of a pointing device, a gadget that lets you point to and
click things on the screen. If you’re using a notebook computer, your pointing
device might not be a mouse. It might be a touchpad or trackball. But it will
still have a primary (left) and secondary (right) mouse button. If you have diffi-
culty using your notebook’s pointing device, the best place to look for informa-
tion is the documentation that comes with your computer.
Some standard terminology describes things you can do with the mouse. You’ll
see these terms used in all sorts of instructions — not just in this book. Boring
as the terms may be, you might want to spend a little time getting to know them,
so you can understand any written instructions you come across.
✦ Mouse pointer: The little arrow on the screen that moves in whatever
direction you move the mouse.
✦ Point: To move the mouse pointer so that it’s touching some item.
For example, the phrase “point to the Start button” means move the
mouse pointer so that it’s resting on the Start button in the lower-left
corner of the screen, as shown in Figure 1-4.
Gotcha
Primary (left)
mouse button
Wheel
Secondary (right)
mouse button
How to hold
Chapter 1 ✦ Getting Started 5
03 55722x ch01.qxd 1/27/04 9:23 AM Page 5