wireless mouse: compatible with laptop?

Okay, wonderful folks, as reported in an earlier thread I've decided to ask my parents for the Microsoft Natural Elite ergonomic keyboard to use with my laptop. Now my big bro', bless his heart, wants to get me a wireless mouse (I don't know the word for it b/c I always thought it was optical but I see pix of optical mice with tails on'em).

(a) Is there a compatibility problem with a wireless mouse and a Dell Inspiron laptop?
(b) Are there useless bells & whistles to avoid or any really useful features (eg, I got SOOO used to a wheel that I grind my teeth at wheelless mousies) that I simply MUST have?
(c) Any other bits of advice on this purchase for Brother Dear?

I wouldn't mind if he just got a cheap USB mouse b/c I have a 4-port hub (w/ own power source) so a keyboard, printer, mouse, and personal masseur should all be able to run at the same time. (Just kidding about the masseur). But if you folks say the tailless mouse is better, I'll let him spring for the bigger bucks. He owes me for the time when I was 11 and he tied me to a tree during a game and forgot me ...

 

I have a Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks, made by Logitech. They cost about $40.00 if I remember right, comes with a travel case and set of batteries. It has an ON/OFF switch, so the battery life is excellent, still using the original batteries over two months now.

That's what I would get, it's USB and easy installation.

Steve