optical rodents

[Donkey]

Sorry for those of you who thought this was going to be about glasses for the old hamster!!

I want to get an optical mouse as i'm fed up with mine junping all over the place cos of the feg which is caught up in it. So, which one is the best?
cheers
Rod

[Fingers]

I like the way my Intellimouse Explorer works, but don't really care for the shape of it. It's too flat... I can't get a grip on it, I just have to "push" it around. If I try to pick it up, I always end up hitting the "back" button on the side by mistake. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif I like the "feel" of my Intellimouse Pro wheel mouse much better.

ps, I thought my optical mouse was going bad yesterday. It was jumping all over the place until I discovered it had a piece of fuzz in the cavity where the eye is located.

[gak]

I don't know what's best but I can tell you one, IMHO, to stay away from. I bought a MS trackball USB about a month ago. Worked for 3 days and quit. Took it back and the second one worked for 2 days before going crazy. Pointer either wont move or jumps all over the screen like a mouse in need of cleaning. I still have it, pitched it in a drawer and said to heck with it.

[Warthog]

I have had my Intellimouse Explorer for over a year now (Christmas '99). It works great! I would highly recommend it. Have never had ANY troubles with it, despite what others say about optical mice.

Warthog

[Donkey]

Can you get cordless optical ones? if i'm going to get a new mouse i might as well go the whole hog! what is the refresh rate of cordless ones?
Rod

[krusty the klown]

Dunno about cordless optical ones.... Never heard of em myself (doesn't mean there aren't any).

I just got one of the M$ castrated rodents - very pleased with it!! It's the wheelmouse optical - similar to the one in the piccie but without the thumb buttons.
http://prices.cclcomputers.co.uk/specs/mice/intelliopticalimages/header.gif

Should be somewhere around the 25 quid mark, depending on flavour.

I'm going to CCL in Bradford next week, so if you want to pop over to room 339 in Mech Eng and give me the dosh, I'll pick one up for you. Saves on the postage http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Drop me an email if you're interested.

http://www.cclcomputers.co.uk/

[Donkey]

Thanks krusty,
but it actually for a suggestion for a birthday pressie for me which is coming up shortly. i'll probably jusy get the dosh fromt he folks but i'll have to wait till i actually get my hand on the green!
thanks for the offer tho'
Rod

[rowan]

Depends on what you're going for, Donkey. I have two optical mice at home, one for each computer. I'll tell you, I will never own an analog mouse again. For graphics work/gaming, optical is the way to go.

On the big machine, I have an MS Explorer. It's ergonomic, and especially good if you have big hands. Another great feature on the MS mouse are the programable thumb buttons. I've assigned them to undo and redo tasks, which is great for working in PS, Flash and other graphics programs. Now, this baby will set you back about $70 (US), which is a chunk of change for a mouse.

My partner doesn't like it, however. She prefers the Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse which will run you $28. Tracks just as accurately as the Explorer, and is perfect for smaller hands. If money is a factor, get the Logitech.

Now, you're system is only as good as the weakest link, and I must say a decent mouse pad is essential. The greatest mouse pad known to human kind is the fUnc industries sUrface 1030. GET THIS PAD, and check out the reviews of it on www.gamersdepot.com (http://www.gamersdepot.com)

I rarely give an absolute recommendation on a product, but this mouse pad gets it. If you can afford one ($20) and you don't have one already, you're just plain stupid http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

r.

[Joel Kleppinger]

I wholeheartedly agree on the need for a good mousepad. I use an Everglide Giganta on my main system... it's absolutely wonderful.

I also use a Logitech Optical Wheel mouse. It's a very good mouse, but I'm thinking about going back to a ball mouse for gaming. Doing quick mouse moves with the optics seems to end me up facing the ground or ceiling or whatever. You don't live long doing that. I'll probably run the optical for Windows and the Wingman Gaming mouse for UT.

[rowan]

ACK!
www.func.net (http://www.func.net)

Forgot to post the link to the mousepad company mentioned above!

r.

[Bill Kerr]

I tried an Intellimouse Explorer and couldn't get my hand to fit it. Now I use a M$ intellimouse w/intelliEye - the BEST!

[MadMatt]

I have 4 optical mice and the Intellimouse Explorer is by far the best. IMHO, the sensor mechanism on the Logitech optical mice is not as good as that on the M$ mice. The Intellimouse Optical is a little small for my hand. Using the Explorer I can just drape my palm over it and go. Tweak the sensitivy up and I can traverse a 19" monitor (1600x1200) by moving my wrist less than 1". Also, I actually use 4 of the five buttons (the forward thumb button is not well positioned for my hand.)

Intellimouse Explorer + Gel wrist pad = Ergonomic mousing heaven.

BTW, all these mice work much better when connected via USB. The movement is noticably smoother and more precise. When connected to a PS/2 port I find the pointer tends to 'stair step' when moved diagonally.

[alondra]

recently got logitech wheel mouse USB (will also work ps/2) love it $29.00 has a nice feature,while on desktop, push down the wheel and get a wheel on screen with several choices to click to. including on line.

[Richard_Cranium72]

Microsoft Wheel mouse Optical

$25.00 at Circuit City

smooth, USB, lots of adjustable features.

3yr warranty.

DrVette

[PassnThru]

Mice currently used:
1) Logitech MouseMan Wheel Optical
2) Logitech Cordless
Random thoughts:
1) Love the optical. Took some getting used to though. I am now actually using a mousepad under it just so I can get a little friction back during movement. It was sliding on the desk too easy.
2) On the non gaming machine. I actually never could get it to work without locking up on the gaming machine. Even with the receiver 3 inches away it would start locking up. Could be a KA7-100 issue though. When I do game on that machine, I feel like the refresh rate is lower though so I would not recommend a cordless mouse for gaming. Otherwise, once you get one you'll never do without.

[Brangwen]

Just picked up a CORDLESS Trackman Wheel (Logitech) but haven't hooked it up yet. For my wife, and she really enjoyed the feel of the store demo of this model. She doesn't like to be tethered to the computer. Her last cordless Logitech was great but not optical, and the track ball became tacky after 50-60 thousand miles or so... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif ... and apparently ya just can't buy mice balls as easily as I remember one once could http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 02-17-2001).]

[SPARKI1]

Speaking about mouse pads theres is another one around called the "RATZPADZ" They are selling for $13 From http://www.3dcool.com/ratpadz.shtml i first saw these on http://www.hardocp.com .

[RayH]

I use a Logitec optical TRACKBALL! Staples just had a sale on a cordless optical mouse. I think they may run through a bunch of batteries. I like trackballs because they stay put!