Has your son ever tried these mice? They are terrific, espeically the side buttons, flipping back through websites is nothing for me. My scroll bar is so fast even at 800 DPI...its unubelievable...and when I forget to put it in the charger...do I ever hate using the corded mouse until it recharges...everthing is just so easy even for mundane everyday web-browsing. As far as the dents in the MX518...that's where your fingers go and it allows a plyable left and right clicking, its like a mylar type of thing...he doesn't want any dents or lights? Low battery indicator is out? I wish that other MX1000 owner was still here...I've never make a mistake with the side buttons. In the beginning, I hit them a few times by mistake...its called learning, but not once in the last year and a half. Every time my cousin comes over here to play a game, and I tell him to left click ...he always clicks the wheel...he keeps looking for lines to tell him where right and left are. Then he gets used to the idea there are no visible left or right clicking lines, its the entire left or entire right side of the mouse whereever your fingers are comfortable. As far as the lights...they are LED lights and barely noticeable. That one poster said on the MX610 you can turn off the mail indicator ... they are like pinpricks of light...I forget to look at my battery indicators They are not that visible.. The Diamondback Plasma they are more visible...its an art thing and because they are LED they don't use much, if any, extra electricity. Why is your son insisting on archaic mice? Have you watched the little movie presentation? On the link below click on "Product Tour". You can turn features on or off with the software. The hardest thing to get used to is the size. They are larger, they require a bigger mouse pad, and lasers do better on flat light colored surfaces...but lasers will track fairly accurately on any surface. Are they ever sensitive to the slightest movement...but you get used to it...real quick. Instead of wide swings its a flick of your wrist. And believe it or not you even get used to holding the mouse without ever touching the buttons. The only drawback is the 2.4Ghz frequency and wireless routing...the one poster said even with that there was no interference with the mouse's performance...If you don't have a wireless router ...it might be a blast to learn with. New Technology. marf Here is a link that might be useful: MX610 Product Page

I fell asleep on the keyboard again. You should be OK with just about anything. I was at the logitech site taking a look at the G3. It looks like its Logitech's answer to the Razer Copperhead. I guess with the G3 you have the option of just plugging it in or downloading the drivers. You do have the option of switching back and forth or between 800 and 1600 DPI before you download the drivers...and I'm not quite sure what that means. I don't know if that means you can choose which of the two DPI's you want or if it means you can switch back and forth between them at your leisure if you don't download the drivers. Amazon is selling it at 47.00...we are getting higher in price. There are only three user reviews ... but it looks comfortable to use, and if it is plug in and go...with the option of downloading Setpoint (what you use to program your mouse ... if you want) nothing could be easier. Its a thought.

Here it is Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 11:11:12 PM, on 4/7/2011 Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WifiSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WNDA3100v2.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.bing.com/ R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - "0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - (no file) O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - "E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - "FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PDVDDXSrv] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe" /nogui O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PxDotNetLoader] "C:\Program Files\Fidelity Investments\Fidelity Active Trader\System\ATPStartupAssistant.exe" O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Jane\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 Smart Wizard.lnk = ? O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200 O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O9 - Extra button: Research - "92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263> - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL O9 - Extra button: Show or hide HP Smart Web Printing - "DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O9 - Extra button: (no name) - "e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583> - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - "e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583> - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe O9 - Extra button: Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O16 - DPF: "6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C> (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1288669287289 O16 - DPF: "E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7> (get_atlcom Class) - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab O18 - Protocol: intu-help-qb1 - "9B0F96C7-2E4B-433E-ABF3-043BA1B54AE3> - C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks 2008\HelpAsyncPluggableProtocol.dll O18 - Protocol: qbwc - "FC598A64-626C-4447-85B8-53150405FD57> - mscoree.dll (file missing) O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL O20 - Winlogon Notify: GoToAssist - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\G2AWinLogon.dll O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe O23 - Service: QBCFMonitorService - Intuit - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBCFMonitorService.exe O23 - Service: Intuit QuickBooks FCS (QBFCService) - Intuit Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\FCS\Intuit.QuickBooks.FCS.exe O23 - Service: QuickBooksDB18 - iAnywhere Solutions, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\Intuit\QUICKB~1\QBDBMgrN.exe O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe O23 - Service: WSWNDA3100 - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WifiSvc.exe -- End of file - 7507 bytes I notice a lot of Internet Explorer. I never use it. Only Firefox. I rarely use MS OFfice as it doesn't work right. I was surprised to see something about Excel. I have Messenger disabled in Services. This computer is wireless using a Netgear wireless adapter. Thanks, Jane

I agree with Snidely, it is easier for a novice user to use a MAC than a window PC. MAC OS system and interfaces implemented/used by its applications are a lot more elegant, efficient and user friendly. MAC's hardware and software are less "open" than Window's, therefore, it has a lot less virus introduced by applications and less compatibility issues between OS and Applications. I like the 'almost' seamless integration among all the apple products/devices. In spite of having an IT division to support, we frequently have PC issues at work. I purchased my first MAC for home use in the summer of 2014, so far I have encountered zero problem. "At home with our computer nerd dad we were free to experiment on our own and get really comfortable with computers from an early age". YOU may not remember how much your parents had to pay to clean up your computers. While our children grew up we also highly encouraged them to have "hands on" experience. We are computer nerd parents working in Engineering, and with Computer Science degree, yet we still paid dearly to have 'professional' to clean up our children's virus infested Window PCs many times. For MAC new users, Apple's one year support program is a great deal. During one year, the new user could use it as many times as possible by attending trainings, group learning sessions and phone in questions to fully learn the system. The support is many times better than the technical support provided by any PC sellers.