Computer Mouse History Timeline

Aside from the occasional trackball, almost every desktop computer has a mouse connected to it. However, the mouse has not always been the most common pointing device, and it has gone through many changes during its nearly thirty-year history. Keep reading to learn more about the history of computer mice...

Pre-1985: Computer mice began to appear in the early 1980s, but many computers required an additional expansion board/card to use them during this period of history. Other pointing devices like trackballs, joysticks, and light pens were more common. According to wikipedia.org, Xerox made history by introducing the first computer with a mouse and a graphical user interface in 1981, but it took years for other brands to begin doing the same. Many mice were beige or white, but Tandy offered a black mouse with an orange button for their TRS-80 Color Computer series.

Late '80s: A greater variety of IBM-compatible computers began to be sold with a serial port built-in, and Apple Macintosh systems were among the first to be sold with a mouse included. Most mice had either one or two buttons. Software was generally designed so that it could be used with or without a pointing device. A disadvantage of serial computer mice is that they must be unplugged when other serial accessories (ext. modem, digital camera, etc.) are utilized, on computers which have only one port of this type.

Early '90s: Some IBM-compatible computer systems were sold with mice included during the early 1990s, especially in the years after 1991. One-button mice had become relatively inexpensive, but the 1990 Radio Shack catalog still listed two-button units for $49.95, and a Logitech three-button mouse cost just under $100. Microsoft offered a bundled mouse and Windows 3.1 package, because of the significant advantage it provides in using Windows.

Mid '90s: More and more computers were being sold with mice, and one-button units were largely abandoned except for Macintosh systems. PS/2 mice started to become more common than serial port models, and many computers came with a 2nd PS/2 port specifically for the mouse. Windows 95 (and later versions) added a useful feature which enables keyboard-only users to control the mouse pointer and buttons with their numeric keypads.

Recent History: Mice with scroll wheels and/or USB cables have become more widespread. A greater number of computers now have dark-colored exteriors, and mice with similar coloration have been provided to match them. In 1999, Apple dropped the use of ADB mouse/keyboard ports and replaced them with USB, according to wikipedia.org. It is not uncommon for new computers to be sold with a PS/2 scroll mouse included, and they have become rather inexpensive.

Overall, the history of computer mice has frequently involved different ports, more buttons, and a trend in favor of including them with new systems. It remains to be seen whether the mouse will continue to undergo such changes during the next ten or twenty years, or if it will stay much the same.

Sources:

1. Radio Shack 1990 Catalog

2. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Desktop_Bus,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Star