People like to have personalized things because they are singular and unique individuals. We are all different from one another and it is only natural to be like that. Imagine a world full of exact replicas of yourself, imagine all the people looking alike and all the houses the same. Horrible! I guess this is the new definition of hell for me. I like different things and different people and I like being different. It makes me feel particular and special, unique and irreplaceable. And most people think like that. That is why they want rare things and that is why all the people like personalized gifts. Nobody wants to see that half of the people in town have exactly the same clothes or car or watch, for example. It is frustrating and you feel like a clone.

The managers of the big stores saw this as an opportunity for developing successful business and this is how customizable features for almost any gift ordered online came into being. All big stores have now a web site where you can order merchandise online. Some of them also offer the possibility to customize your purchase . It is just like when people get married and want to engrave something on their wedding rings. They usually write the wedding date or each other's name. This is not to remember that important date or their names, because it is impossible to forget such a thing. But they do it in order to make the wedding ring personal, to mark it with a symbol that can be understood only by the owner because it has meaning for him. It is the same with personalized gifts: maybe the price is not too big, but such a gift will surely be appreciated and cherished if it means something special for the person who gets the present.

A very relevant example is the personalized mouse pad. It does not cost too much and you can add to it any picture that you like or even the photo of something you like: a car, for example. Boys are crazy about cars, that is why many of them choose to have their favourite kind of car printed on the mouse pad, usually it is a big name in the car industry, such as Mercedes. You have no idea just how many boys have a Volkswagen mouse pad at home (either bought by themselves or a gift from close friends who know their passion). You can choose directly from the web site from different models of mouse pads or you can choose to upload your favourite photo of a certain model of Volkwagen that you want to be printed on your mouse pad. All this can cost you some extra charge of maximum three dollars. But the result is wonderful. What could be more exciting for a boy or even a man than to see his favourite car on his desk every time he uses his computer (and usually men are also mad about computers, too)? It is a sign of love and respect for the brand at the same time.

On the other hand there are some big companies who choose to order mouse pads with the company's logo or emblem on it with the purpose of giving them as gifts with certain occasions, such as conferences or special holidays or even thank you gifts for the clients at the end of the year. A branch of Mercedes can order a big number of Volkswagen mouse pads for all the employees in their firm, for example. You will see then the same Volkwagen mouse pad on all the desks in the offices of that firm or company. It is a lot cheaper, too, as they get good discounts when they order big amounts of the same model of mouse pad. The model printed on the mouse pad can be the model of the year or the emblem of the company (in this particular case the famous circle with the letters V and W on top of each other inside the circle) that you can see in the picture above. This policy adopted by big companies is abig success and their clients appreciate it, even if the cost is relatively small. The clients feel important and treated like persons and not numbers and they also feel appreciated and this makes them keep their fidelity for that particular company. This gift is usually accompanied by a thank you letter with the name of the clint on it and with good wishes for a happy holiday or celebration. It may not seem important, but the result can be seen in the huge numbers of the profits of companies who have this policy.



This last picture of a Mercedes mouse pad is an example of the huge popularity of this model of Volkswagen that has itsfans even today. This tiny model - Volkwagen Beetle was so popular, that it now appears in cartoons and is considered an emblem of the car company. All the people recognize the design, even if you can't see the emblem in fron of it and like it. They like it so much that they want to have it on their desk every day, printed on their mouse pad in nice bright colours.



Of course, the print on the mouse pad does not mean that the mouse pad is necessary very good quality. You have the opportunity to check all the details about the features and properties of the mouse pad before you order the print of your Volkswagen car on it. The most usual ones are made of plastic and very thin, but you may also find some companies that produce mouse pads out of recycled materials such as old car tyres. And if you are "green" in belief and behaviour you will be happy to purchase an ecologic product and also get your favourite car on it. If you try hard enough you will find an ergonomic mouse pad that can be customized with a Volkswagen car on it.

We all spend a lot of time and a lot of money on the things that we like or the things that we need. For example I use my computer every day, so I spent a lot of money on all the necessary equipment and all the computer peripherals that I use. That is exactly why I would appreciate a bargain if I had the chance. The problem with technology and technological devices is that they are really expensive when they first appear. But technology advances very fast these days and new improved versions of computer mice for example are released in a matter of months. When an improved version of a mouse appears on the market , the other versions automatically become cheaper and treated like old news. You can save quite a lot of money if you wait for a while instead of hurrying to get the latest version of a computer mouse (and not only - you can apply this to any technological device). You can also wait for special occasions such as Christmas or the end of the year when there are considerable discounts for all products. It is also wise to compare prices on the internet, as you can find exactly the same computer mouse at different prices. And it would be a shame to pay the highest price when you can actually get it for less.

It is also important to bear in mind the main purpose for using a computer mouse. If you are a designer or an artist for example, you will need a special sensitive and very accurate computer mouse, as well as in case you are an addicted gamer. But if you want to buy a regular computer mouse for your children who use the computer from time to time for fun only or for writing an essay for the English class, then you don't need to spend a lot for the latest version of a laser mouse. A regular cheap optical mouse would be just fine.

I know that usually cheap means a low quality, but it is not the case any more with computer mice. Any computer mouse can work properly, even if it is corded and still has a roller ball. And even optical mice are really cheap now because of the speedy development of this branch of technology.

I was surprised to see that you can actually find very good computer mouse for sums below $10. Actually the cheapest computer mouse I could find on the internet sold for only $4.99, a sum that you could easily pay for a mouse pad, not a mouse. In fact there are many models that you can buy for this money. The only condition is not to look for a very famous computer mouse brand, because usually you have to pay extra money for the brand, even if it is exactly the same quality as a no-name computer mouse. The resolution is not very high for this price, but it still ranges from 400 to 800 dpi, so you can find a reasonable featured mouse is you try hard enough. You can sort the computer mice you want to buy by colour, price, features and producer. The cheapest computer mice I found can be seen here. Take a look and tell me: aren't you satisfied? I think they are pretty good, as you need a functional normal mouse, not one to use for performing very precise and accurate actions.



Another good tactic to get a cheap computer mouse online is to buy a set of ten. They are usually cheaper when you buy more than ten for example. If you don't have ten friends who want a new computer mouse, it's ok. But this is a good deal if you want to purchase cheap computer mice for an internet cafe or a school computer lab or even when you want to make a Chrsitmas present for a children's club in your town. You can get ten computer mice like these for the price of $45. Pretty good, right? And if you still do not believe me when Isay that you can get a good computer mouse for a small amount of money I will give you an example. You can buy a Black Atrix USB optical mouse, with three buttons for only $4.99. It is optical, with a resolution of 800 dots per inch and can be used by both hands. Its cover is made of black plastic and it can be connected to your computer through a USB port. It is plug and play, so you don't need extra software if you want to use it. It has an optical tracking engine that can provide an accurate and fast scanning on your desktop. The scroll wheel is positioned between the two normal mouse buttons and helps you move quickly thorugh web pages or long Word documents. It is compatible with all kinds of Windows and can be used even without a mouse pad. Besides you benefit from one year warranty. What do you say about it? Quite a bargain.



Visit also www.shopbot.com.au and www. keenzo.com and you will see other examples. You can buy a computer mouse cheap online if you visit at least one of these three web sites and I think you will send me a tahnking note after that. So, cheap is not always bad or expensive always good. A patient customer can combine both features and get good quality and cheap at the same time.

I have noticed an interesting fact in today's society: on one hand technology is developing rapidly that it makes it difficult for us to keep up the pace and, at the same time, people try to return to the old family values. People try to spend more time with their families and to tell them how much they love them all. It is somewhat puzzling as one moght think these two things exclude each other; that technology is not compatible with affection. Quite the opposite, I may say. The development of technology allowed us to communicate faster and better with the loved ones and reduced distances in an unbelievable way. You can talk to your girlfriend who is a thousand miles away and at the same time see her and share the most intimate thoughts with her. So distance can be surpassed and emotions can travel like the wind.

Because of this thing you can show your affection and feelings to someone in a million different ways. Maybe your girlfriend is simply allergic to roses, so what gift shall you give her on Valentine's Day? Well, if she is a computer addict like me or you you can give her something special, both useful and romantic gift. You can choose a mouse pad and personalize it, making it a perfect Valentine goft or a gift with no particular reason, but to show your affection.

I am not such a big fan of Halloween or Valentine, but I do like the fact that Valentine's Day is in fact an opportunity to show your love to the pople you care about. It is important to show this feeling every once in a while in order to make the people around you appreciate you and your feelings and come closer. It is very beautiful to express your love without the fear of being ridiculed or mocked at or even consider it as a sign of weakness. We only live once and people we love might not know our true feelings to them. It is easy to assume that everybody knows what you feel like, but this is seldom true. People have no idea what your feelings are unless you tell them.

A love statement can be made in many different ways and why not use a simple usual thing like a mouse pad to express it? Heart mouse pads are considered perfect gifts for Valentine's Day especially for young people who use them a lot these days. Actually there are two different kinds of heart mouse pads: mouse pads in the shape of a heart and mouse pads in a rectangular or square shape, with a heart printed on. You can find both types on the internet and you can order them online, including a personalized picture or message or even the name of the sender on it or the name of the person who receives the gift. All specialized big stores have web pages where you can buy online, choosing the exact model, shape, colour and customized message.

Look at the mouse pad below: it is pink, in the shape of a heart and really nice looking. The surface of the mouse pad is not slippery, but rather rough, perfect for mousing. You can choose a special design for optical mice and different kinds of material for the perfect mouse pad or even different colours. So every time your girlfriend uses the computer mouse, this heart shaped mouse pad will remind her of you. You can do more than that and choose a web site where you can upload your own picture and have it printed on the mouse pad you will send as a gift. It will cost you extra money, but the result will be much more spectacular. Your face will be on her desk all the time, proving your undying love.

Nice messages can be also printed on rubber mouse pads in the shape of heart or the picture of a heart with different designs on it. But how about a special "thank you " gift for the young people who came at your engagement party or even your wedding? Why not? It is an unique gift and if you customize it with a nice picture of the bride and groom the heart shaped mouse pad will be the perfect gift. Consider the fact that most of the people who come at the weddings are using computers so they need mouse pads. This way you will be able to combine the usefulness of the gift with the perfect memory from your wedding. Plus it is quite cheap, compared to other gifts you could give the people attending your wedding. I think this is an original, though a little strange idea of a gift, but I honestly like it.  But since you decided upon such a gift, make sure the quality of the product is impecable and the wrapping nice, so that you could get the most effect of it.

I like originality and I like people who are not ashamed to show their feelings. And I consider that it is wonderful to show what you feel, to express your love, no matter what method you use for this. And I also believe that a personal and personalized gift is a lot more valuable than an ordinary gift taken from the shop that could be similar to thousands of other gifts. So if people are different and original, with their own personality and preferences, why would you settle for an ordinary impersonal way of showing your love? Why be satisfied with less when you can have more?

The term "wallpaper" was originally used for covering the walls of the rooms in a house. It was very fashionable, especially in King Louis XIV France to cover the walls woth silk wallpaper with different painted or embroidered models on it. In fact it appeared and gained popularity in the Rennaissance times and was used through the whole period of the Middle Ages. Nowadays it is used only in rare homes by elderly people. Wee, that was the meaning of the word in the past. Nowadays "wallpaper" has a different meaning. It means the picture that is used to be displayed on your desktop monitor of your computer. When you open the computer you have the possibility to watch a certain picture instead of a grey background or an automatically generated one. You can choose to be greeted by the picture of your son or wife, by the picture of beautiful landscapes, pictures taken by you or downloaded from the internet. It is a way of showing that you like art , nature and beauty in any form, even a wallpaper on your computer. It is a way of customizing your computer, making you feel special and relaxed when you open it and use it. Wallpapers have no other function than to make you feel fine, to admire a picture that you like or a person that you love. It is only a matter of taste.



Actually the term "wallpaper " is mainly used for Microsoft Windows, except the latest version of Windows 7 that calls it "desktop background". It is in fact the image used as a background on your computer screen. Mac Operating Systems calls it "desktop picture" and previously referred to it as "desktop pattern", but no matter what operating system you have on your computer or what kind of computer you have, poeple know what you are talking about when you mention "wallpaper". There are even specialized web sites that offer free wallpapers for your computer. You can choose from a wide range of categories, from pictures of cars, nature, to favourite actors and movies, cartoon characters and politicians. It is up to you to choose the ones that you like best, download them and set them up as wallpapers on your computer. you can even change them regularly in order to avoid boredom and to make your desktop more alive, a constant surprise for the user.



I admit that I used to prefer wallpapers with nature and famous actors. But things changed when I became a mother and especially when my daughter grew up and started using my computer. She is not that old to use the computer on a regular basis or by herself. But she does ask me to play some cartoon movies on the computer and expresses preference on certain cartoon characters. At this point in time I thought it was more appropriate to change my computer wallpaper and replace it with nice wallpapers with Disney cartoon characters , especially Mickey mouse that she simply adores. I found some very nice Mickey mouse computer wallpapers for free download on many web sites: www.disneythemes.com, www.coolwallpapers.org, www.flash-screen.com, www.desktopia.com,  www.wallpaperbase.com. Some of these wallpapers are offered in different format types such as: HD, widescreen, standard, iPhone, iPod Touch. So the idea is that you can use these wallpapers not only on your computer desktop , but also on alternative devices that have a display and use an operating system, like iPods, PDAs, Palms, iPhones and so on.



Usually these nice wallpapers have the same resolution as the desktop, filling the wholw space shown on the computer desktop, but some wallpapers (like the ones downloaded from the internet pages) do not have this resolution - for example the last three web pages recommended by me only offer wallpapers with 800/600 resolution. You will have to adjust it in order to cover your desktop entirely or choose another format, like 4:3 in order to have a better view of the wallpaper.

These Mickey mouse computer wallpapers are actually digital pictures of the famous Disney character that are presented in different circumstances: Mickey Mouse with friends, MM and winter, MM and Christmas, MM with Pluto and Donald, and so on. These pictures will become your wallpaper, showing this way your love for the Disney character or a child in your life or simply something you like to see when using your computer. It is relaxing and nice and even if I chose this particular wallpaper for my daughter, I am enjoying it as well, as it reminds me of my very sweet childhood moments, of happy times without worries and sadness.



More advanced operating systems like Windows 7 or mac OS or KDE have a special feature that enable you to use different wallpapers in Shuffle regime. For example you select a number of pictures, of wallpapers and they are displayed in turn on your desktop and they automatically change after an established period of time. In this way you can see let's say twelve Mickey Mouse wallpapers if you want to, without manually changing them. I guess it is quite impressive. Windows Vista Ultimate for example goes even further and allows video image display instead of pictures. The only problem might be that the video film is continuously looping and you can get tired of it. The bottomline is that this technology is available and it is your choice whether to use it or not.



To be honest I open my computer every morning and while I am waiting for the internet connection to be done and all the data saved and accessed, I am actually happy to see the smiling face of Mickey mouse looking at me from the computer desktop and wishing me a "Happy morning and a nice day!". I guess this is one nice way of starting a day with a smile on my face. And it is a good start. Just look at the faces above and below! Isn't it true that you can't help smiling?

It is Christmas time again and in this time each year I think about the gifts I have to choose for the loved ones in my life. It is a tough job, as I want to find the perfect gift for everyone and, as you know people are very different and they have very different tastes. Another problem is that I want them to be really happy of my gift, not to place it in some wardrobe and forget about it. Everything went nice and smooth until it was time to choose the perfect gift for my husband: I had no idea what to give him. His biggest wish is to get a new car, but I don't have the money for it just now, so I had to find the next best thing. He is the type of guy that if he ever wants somethings , he goes to the store and buys it, so there no much room left for me to surprise him. After a long period of thought, I opened my computer and surfed the internet pages without a certain purpose in my head, until I had an epiphany: I know exactly what he needs - an ergonomic computer mouse. So I tried to find the best ergonomic computer mouse invented so far and I found "The Ergonomic Contour perfit Mouse".

At first I thought it was a bit unusual as appearance and extremely large. Then I found out that in fact this is the first and the only ergonomic computer mouse that has different sizes, according to the size of your hand. I agree: people have different sizes and so do their hands. My shoes won't fit my mother's feet, so why would my computer mouse fit my husband's hand? There are four available sizes for the right hand (small, medium, large and extra large) and three for the left hand (small, medium and large). These sizes are calculated to fit the exact size of your palm, so you are advized to measure your palm first (from the wrist to the top f the middle finger) and find out exactly what size fits you best. This ergonomic contour mouse also thought of the left-handed people, because most of the times they do not find ergonomic computer mice for them, so this mouse is present in two models: for right-handed people and for left-handed people.

The growing interest of people for ergonomics made scientists and researchers think about new ways of allowing people to work on the computer and at the same time to stay healthy, avoiding repetitive strain injuries or other illnesses related to computer mouse overuse. That is why there have been extended research done before establishing the final design of the Ergonomic Contour Mouse . Finally they came to the conclusion that the ideal position would be the one with a 17 degree inclination. that is the most similar to the normal postion of the hand when it is resting. The wrist is also supported, so it doesn't need to stay on the desk and have pressure put on its tendons and blood vessels. They also designed the mouse with indented spaces for the three middle fingers, a special support for the thumb. Just the little finger stays in the iar somewhat but in a comfortable way. The mouse has three buttons that are programmable to do whatever operations you might think of. The interesting thing about these buttons is the fact that they are actually operated by the second falange of your fingers, and not the tips of the fingers like normal mice are. That thing is like a natural move, so it does not stress the fingers or tire the tendons. The thumb scroll is very handy and can be operated without having to move it or even stretch it.

There are a lot of different ergonomic computer mice, but this one is said to be the most ergonomic one. Why? They say it's all due to the very comfortable shape that fits every single palm according to its size. Then there is the finger support. Besides, there are some "bumps" so to say that push the palm up exactly where it should have rested on the mouse. This prevents it from getting all painful after extended computer mouse use. Even if the position of the palm is still "palm down" it is not affecting the blood circulation or the tendons any more, due to the fact that it is inclined with 17 degrees, everything trying to reconstruct the natural and comfortable position of the hand while resting. The wrist support makes all the difference in the world and it actually follows the contour of your hand.

The interface is user controllable and you can use it to programme the three buttons to do more than click:simple click, double click, control click or even make the scroll wheel run in the speedy automatic mode when you ar surfing long documents or web pages. Or might change it to work scrolling line by line. It is all up to you.

The  mouse is optical and this allows it to be very accurate and to move smoothly when you are using it. It is compatible with Mac and you can plug it in your USB port. The software is easy to set up and use and the only problem may be the price, which is a bit prohibitive: between 85-100$. But considering all the innovations brought by this mouse and the fact that it is really effective in reducing the pain caused by mouse overuse, it is highly recommended to be purchased if you are suffering from or on the verge of developing a RSI illness. Of course it does not work as a medicine and the illness is only cured if you go to the doctor, but it has been proven to reduce pain. I may say it is "Perfit" for you. It may help you even more if you alternate the use of the right hand and the left hand or if you alternate different computer mice. Or stop working for the holiday.