A mouse for a multi-boot desktop?

[Nutshell]

I can chop wood or climb mountains, but if I buy the wrong mouse my right hand
suffers! I've got a multi-boot setup with a few versions of Windows and Linux. I
have an extensive background in electronics, so my main desktop is definitely not
something you can buy online or in a store.

A business partner created some diagnostic software when 98SE when at its peak.
I can't dump this system because I still use this software at home.

The mouse I'm using now is a Kensington #72121.

I've cleaned and lubricated the microswitches inside the mouse, but they are not
going to last forever. The MouseWorks software I'm using runs fine with 98SE.
The 72121 is still available from Amazon, but Kensington is no longer manufacturing
this model.

It's a 5 button mouse, with the wheel being switch number five. I've always liked
Kensington mice because several models have a rubberized coating.

I'd like to buy a mouse that is still in production. Can you recommend a model
that has compatible software for most operating systems?

[Hum]

I would get a touchpad -- it will never hurt your hand.

[Anibal P]

Just about any new mouse will work in all OSes, might need to tinker a bit in Linux but that should be minimal at best, last tim I used Linux was in 08 and all my mice worked out of the box to include all buttons. And yes in some instances a trackpad might be a better option AND you get to use gestures which some people really like

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Just about any new mouse will work in all OSes, might need to tinker a bit in Linux but that should be minimal at best, last tim I used Linux was in 08 and all my mice worked out of the box to include all buttons. And yes in some instances a trackpad might be a better option AND you get to use gestures which some people really like

 

For default usage no mouse would require configuration in Linux. The only issue might be custom mappings. The special drivers from Logitech and Microsoft that unlock all the cool macros and stuff don't have Linux versions. But for everything else, both Windows and Linux would be plug and play :).

 

The biggest problem here is the requirement of Windows 98SE compatibility.

[Anibal P]

For default usage no mouse would require configuration in Linux. The only issue might be custom mappings. The special drivers from Logitech and Microsoft that unlock all the cool macros and stuff don't have Linux versions. But for everything else, both Windows and Linux would be plug and play :).

 

The biggest problem here is the requirement of Windows 98SE compatibility.

 

I chose to ignore the Win 98 bit because there's no sane reason to be using it, hell no one should be realistically using anything older that Vista, I'd say Win 7 minimum, but that's me

[Nutshell]

Thanks guys!

Linux is like liquid metal, i.e., mercury. The online and offline communities
supporting Linux is so vast, anything can be made to function in this operating
system.

Also, I wish you could see how I use 98SE!

I've got batch files that run before Windows starts and scripts in the Startup
folder. You would not recognize the images on the monitor as any operating
system. The business I started many years ago had only one systems genius.
This guy created stuff that made him rich, but he also authored software that
made circuit design much quicker. It's dependent on older versions of DOS.
That's why I still use 98SE at home. (Sadly, cancer caused his death at a
very young age. He never smoked and seemed completely healthy.)

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

Cancer takes us all.

[PGHammer]

I have a Logitech V220 Cordless Mouse For Notebooks (that is the whole mouth-filling name for it); however, despite that "for Notebooks" at the end, it is my mouse of choice for every OS I run - in fact, I'm entering this post from OS X 10.9.4 (second OS in the rota) on my Multiboot Minion.

 

The V220 has had exactly zero issues in any OS - it's also surprisingly popular outside of Windows (I've seen them used with everything except smartphones as far as portable hardware goes - naturally, the only reason it can't be used THERE is that it doesn't support Bluetooth).

 

Specs of the Multiboot Minion:

 

MSI Z97 PC Mate (replaced ASUS P5G41-M LX2/GB)

8 GB DDR3-1333 (2x4 GB) (replaced 4 GB DDR2-800/2x2 GB)

Intel Pentium G3258 (replaced Intel Q6600)

EVGA nVidia GTX550Ti (carryover - will eventually be replaced by EVGA GTX750Ti SC)

1 TB WD EADS SATA HDD (Windows 8.1 update 1) (carryover)

80 GB WDAC800JB SATA HDD (OS X 10.9.4) (carryover)

Sound Blaster Recon3D Fata1ity Professional (carryover)

 

Windows Server 2012R2 has been mooted (for now) - the G3258 supports SLAT, which means that Hyper-V on Windows is a reality.

After I upgrade the GPU, the remaining targets for upgrades will be adding a boot SSD (for Windows at least) and platter-drive upgrades (all OSes).