Serial Mouse

Leading Edge often bundled a three−button serial mouse with their computer products. This "serial mouse" did not have an official Leading Edge product name, though the mouse had the Leading Edge branding prominently emblazoned on the top. On the underside of the mouse, the label indicated its name as just "Serial Mouse". Luckily, there was also included an FCC ID of IWO CM−290. With this FCC ID, LeadingEdgeComputers.com was able to deduce some basic information about the mouse.

After looking up the FCC ID on the FCC's database, it indicated that this mouse was produced by Chic Technology Corporation of Chung Ho City, Taipei, Taiwan. The FCC Application for Equipment Authorization FCC Form 731 indicated that Chic Technology was an original equipment manufacturer for the mouse. It was not clear if the mouse was only produced for Leading Edge or if other original equipment brands were provided the same mouse with different branding.

The physical characteristics of the mouse include dimensions of 4.25" long, 2.375" wide, and 1.25" tall. The mouse's weight weighed in at 150 grams. The mouse's ergonomic shape created an arch shape with a 0.75" rise at the rear, 1.25" high at the middle, and 0.75" high at the front. Small indentations on the bottom middle of either side provided for improved grip for the user, and the mouse's cable length measured in at 65.5", which gave the user plenty of "wiggle room".

Three button mouse peripherals were not terrifically common during this mouse's contemporary time period. Leading Edge provided software for the mouse to function, drivers for MS−DOS and Windows 3.x, and for testing. In real−world applications though, in MS−DOS and Windows 3.x, the functionality of a three−button mouse was not standardized across applications. The two outer mouse buttons functioned like a two−button mouse would with the left being the primary and the right covering secondary functions. For the third middle button, support was application−specific. Many applications did not natively support the middle button, and its functionality was not standardized

On the bottom of the mouse was located the rubberized steel ball that rolled about in its housing, indicating the cursor location. Looking down at the mouse, to the right of the ball's housing is a little switch labeled PC in one selection and MS in the other selection. The MS and PC switch on the bottom of the serial mouse was used to select the protocol the mouse would use to communicate with the computer. In MS mode, the mouse would use Microsoft's mouse protocol, which is typically used for 2−button mice. In PC mode, the mouse would use the Mouse Systems protocol, which was designed for 3−button mice. Switching the mode would have been necessary to ensure compatibility with different operating systems or mouse drivers.