Attaching mouse to laptop

[StickyR]

OK, so this is a really, really "du-oh" kind of question. I handed off to my ex- a Dell Latitude D800 laptop (which I received for nothing from a family member). Both of us are too used to using a mouse when we're messing about with a computer, and both of our experiences with laptops are zilch. There doesn't seen to be what I would recognize as a socket for a mouse on the laptop. So how does one go about installing such?
Thank you all in advance.

[Allan]

Does the mouse have a PS2 or USB connector (PS2 is round with pins, USB is flat)? The laptop SHOULD have both, but it if doesn't, just get either a usb to ps2 adapter or a ps2 to usb adapter, depending on which you need.

And what is the make and model of the laptop (I'd like to look up the specs)?

[soybean]

There doesn't seen to be what I would recognize as a socket for a mouse on the laptop. So how does one go about installing such?

Per http://www.dell.com/downloads/us/products/latit/d800_spec.pdf, you have 3 USB ports but no PS2 port.  So, get a USB mouse.  Smaller mice are available for laptops/notebooks and are nice if you think you might be carrying the computer around to different locations since they are smaller.  Otherwise, you may prefer a regular size mouse. 

[Allan]

Guess if I re-read the post I'd know what make & model we were discussing 

[The Bubba]

There are adapters you can get.

[Allan]

There are adapters you can get.

Yeah, I think we've already established that.

[BluerjB]

wow.. for a minute there i though someone was actually going to ask how to plug in a mouse.    but yeah you need a usb mouse most new laptops don't come with the old round looking connectors anymore... sorry if i dont know what they're called..  like mentioned above

[Salmon Trout]

most new laptops don't come with the old round looking connectors anymore... sorry if i dont know what they're called..

PS/2. This comes from the IBM Personal System/2 series of personal computers, with which it was introduced in 1987, nothing to do with PS2 (no slash) (Playstation Two).

[BluerjB]

lol thanks for the info haha