Discussion
Are they all completely crap?
Everyone I have ever used seems to have a mind of it's own and on occasion decides to shoot across the screen when I don't want it to (usually to end up at the close application X just as I'm about the click an option :rage:). I'm using a black, clean, new mouse mat, non-shiney too as I always have because that's what people recommend.
Any other ways of making them perform better or infact recommend an optical mouse that is better than the rest?
Thanks
:)
Everyone I have ever used seems to have a mind of it's own and on occasion decides to shoot across the screen when I don't want it to (usually to end up at the close application X just as I'm about the click an option :rage:). I'm using a black, clean, new mouse mat, non-shiney too as I always have because that's what people recommend.
Any other ways of making them perform better or infact recommend an optical mouse that is better than the rest?
Thanks
:)
I've just picked up the Logitech MX510 Performance Optical Mouse & Steelpad S&S Bundle from www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Gaming_Mice.html and had no problems with it. I've only had it a week, I grant you, but I'm very pleased with it - no erratic behaviour at all.
Have you been using corded or wireless?
Have you been using corded or wireless?
They do do this sometimes.
If you're wireless, make sure you have good batteries.
There are two types of optical mouse. The sort I call "the SUN mouse" needs a special mat with a grid on it. It has no ball. I always hated using a mouse mat, and for it to be compulsory made me hate SPARC stations.
The other sort, has a ball. The ball moves against two rollers, and each has a disc on the end with a grating in it. The mouse shines an infra red beam through the grating, and by counting the number of times the beam is interrupted, it can establish how far you moved the mouse.
The light source, and the detector are usually leaded components, and depending on the angle that they are soldered into the board, the gap between the led, the disc and the sensor varies.
The trouble is that when the gap is too big, the infra red light leaks around the side of the disc, and it's much harder to count the number of times the light beam is broken.
To solve the problem, take your mouse to bits, and tweak the sensors and sources such that they are as close to the disc as possible. When you do this, you need to be aware that the disc will move along it's axis by a small ammount, maybe 0.02inch. If you push the sensor or source too close to the disc, it will foul, and then your mouse will; a) wear out b) make a funny noise c)not work properly.
Another thing that happens with this type of mouse is that "gunk" gets glued to the rollers. When this happens they don't roll properly, and the mouse gets jumpy.
Take the ball out, and use a sharp point to dislodge the gunk.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 21st September 17:11
If you're wireless, make sure you have good batteries.
There are two types of optical mouse. The sort I call "the SUN mouse" needs a special mat with a grid on it. It has no ball. I always hated using a mouse mat, and for it to be compulsory made me hate SPARC stations.
The other sort, has a ball. The ball moves against two rollers, and each has a disc on the end with a grating in it. The mouse shines an infra red beam through the grating, and by counting the number of times the beam is interrupted, it can establish how far you moved the mouse.
The light source, and the detector are usually leaded components, and depending on the angle that they are soldered into the board, the gap between the led, the disc and the sensor varies.
The trouble is that when the gap is too big, the infra red light leaks around the side of the disc, and it's much harder to count the number of times the light beam is broken.
To solve the problem, take your mouse to bits, and tweak the sensors and sources such that they are as close to the disc as possible. When you do this, you need to be aware that the disc will move along it's axis by a small ammount, maybe 0.02inch. If you push the sensor or source too close to the disc, it will foul, and then your mouse will; a) wear out b) make a funny noise c)not work properly.
Another thing that happens with this type of mouse is that "gunk" gets glued to the rollers. When this happens they don't roll properly, and the mouse gets jumpy.
Take the ball out, and use a sharp point to dislodge the gunk.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 21st September 17:11
dilbert said:
There are two types of optical mouse. The sort I call "the SUN mouse"....
The other sort, has a ball.
And there's the third sort, that neither needs a grid nor has a ball.
Incidentally, i've never had a problem with teh Microsoft optical mice, but the cheapo Kensington shit that purchasing insist on vomiting at us are dreadful. Jumping all over the place.
agent006 said:
There are two types of optical mouse. The sort I call "the SUN mouse"....
The other sort, has a ball.
And there's the third sort, that neither needs a grid nor has a ball.
Incidentally, i've never had a problem with teh Microsoft optical mice, but the cheapo Kensington shit that purchasing insist on vomiting at us are dreadful. Jumping all over the place.
Well there is the non-optical mouse, and it's cheap as chips. It has a disk, but it has conductive vanes rather than holes. There are little metal wipers that detect when the conductive vanes pass. Again the mouse counts the vanes as they go past.
The problem with these is that the vanes are subject to wear. Once the gold plated surface wears away, the copper below oxidises, and the vanes don't conduct any more.
As this happens you turn up the sensitivity on the mouse, such that the remaining vanes give more movement. Unfortunately the vanes that dont work, become more apparent.
The surface has the most effect, matte paper or other irregular surfaces work well, shiny surfaces or very plain/featureless/smooth surfaces don't. If I've got a shiny desk I tape a sheet of plain A4 down and use that as a mat, (doubles as a notepad) and throw it away when it gets manky.
Make sure theres no bumfluff collecting around the lens too. And sometimes unidentifiable stuff builds up on the slidy-pad thingies on the bottom and creates a lot of sticktion. If you hold it down hard and rub it accross a sheet of plain A4 most of it should come off.
Edited for better english than a three year old.
>> Edited by aldi on Wednesday 21st September 21:23
Make sure theres no bumfluff collecting around the lens too. And sometimes unidentifiable stuff builds up on the slidy-pad thingies on the bottom and creates a lot of sticktion. If you hold it down hard and rub it accross a sheet of plain A4 most of it should come off.
Edited for better english than a three year old.
>> Edited by aldi on Wednesday 21st September 21:23
I think the SUN style mouse, always worked (ish) on a standard desk.
They may well have got better, but the problem is that most people want a wipe clean surface, and that's not a lot of cop with a SUN style mouse.
Edited to add;
Maybe a desktop with a grid in it is the solution.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 21st September 19:23
They may well have got better, but the problem is that most people want a wipe clean surface, and that's not a lot of cop with a SUN style mouse.
Edited to add;
Maybe a desktop with a grid in it is the solution.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 21st September 19:23
dilbert said:
I think the SUN style mouse, always worked (ish) on a standard desk.
They may well have got better, but the problem is that most people want a wipe clean surface, and that's not a lot of cop with a SUN style mouse.
Edited to add;
Maybe a desktop with a grid in it is the solution.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 21st September 19:23
Optical mice have worked fine without a gridded mouse pad for years - as noted, very shiny or featureless surfaces don't help. But even the old Sun ones would work (a bit) on a textured surface, 20 years ago...
This is what I use - have done for about a year now - and works a treat.
Thoroughly recommend it - I've used all variety of mice in the past (job 'perk' I suppose) - but this is by far the best IMHO.
http://secure.gadgets.co.uk/battery-free-wireless-mouse.html
Never had any of the moving pointer issues with it (unlike the previous one - or the one before that which was a true wireless mouse - pain in the butt to be quite honest.
Thoroughly recommend it - I've used all variety of mice in the past (job 'perk' I suppose) - but this is by far the best IMHO.
http://secure.gadgets.co.uk/battery-free-wireless-mouse.html
Never had any of the moving pointer issues with it (unlike the previous one - or the one before that which was a true wireless mouse - pain in the butt to be quite honest.
) Apart from that they are brilliant. Check this out: Apple have launched a new mouse.
www.apple.com/mightymouse/
The mighty mouse- although its full feature set
is only available to Mac OS X Tiger users I believe it still looks great for a PC mouse.
Have not used one (yet!) ..but £35 for a mouse is a bit steep.Unless you really like it. My black IBM keyboard (standard not wireless) cost £50 a few years ago but I love it.
Which was bought mainly because it reminds me of the keyboards we used in the early 80's.
www.apple.com/mightymouse/
The mighty mouse- although its full feature set
is only available to Mac OS X Tiger users I believe it still looks great for a PC mouse.
Have not used one (yet!) ..but £35 for a mouse is a bit steep.Unless you really like it. My black IBM keyboard (standard not wireless) cost £50 a few years ago but I love it.
Which was bought mainly because it reminds me of the keyboards we used in the early 80's.
I've used a number of MS Optical mice both corded and wireless and they are all superb.
For me, my much-worn original corded MS Explorer Optical is the best ergonomically but they've all been great with never jitter or unexplained movement.
And as for special mouse mats for optical mice, that is so last century.
For me, my much-worn original corded MS Explorer Optical is the best ergonomically but they've all been great with never jitter or unexplained movement.
And as for special mouse mats for optical mice, that is so last century.
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