Today is the 40th anniversary of the computer mouse, which one has been your favorite?
Mice have scurried around PCs for 40 years now, and we'd like to know which one has been your favorite.
What you need to know
- Today is the 40th anniversary of the first computer mouse going on sale.
- The first mouse shipped with the Xerox Star computer on April 27, 1981.
- We'd like to know what your favorite mouse of all time is.
It's been 40 years since the first computer mouse became commercially available. Back on April 27, 1981, the Xerox Star computer shipped with a clunky brick of a mouse. While the exact form factor of the mouse has changed over the years, the general concept is the same. A draggable and clickable cursor allows you to navigate a computer easily with just your hand.
Over the years, the best mice have gotten lighter, more colorful, and more customizable. They've also become more specialized. For example, the best ergonomic mice don't look exactly like best PC gaming mice, though there is some overlap (shoutout to the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro for being ergonomic and great for gaming).
We'd love to know which mouse has been your favorite over the years. It could be a mouse with a ball inside from the 90's. Perhaps you love a gaming mouse that lets you play your favorite PC game all day. If you're on the computer all day, you may lean towards a mouse that protects your wrist.
Being someone's favorite isn't the same as being the best, but we'll share a couple of our favorites. In his Razer Viper review, it "A PC gamer's new best friend." Our managing editor just shared his Logitech MX Master 3 review, in which he called it "Truly the master of mice."
What's been your favorite mouse? Let us know in the comments below.
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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.
Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.
