Mice

keymastr: I've got the basic MS optical mouse. What kinds of tracking problems were you having.

on the new mouse btw

Thanks! My mouse needs replacing and this is good information. Mice and me have a long history of not getting along. So much so that I get really nervous when I think about getting a new one.

GM

Use Logitec for god knows how long... Switched to logi-trackballs years ago (cordless wheel now) and don't want to miss it... Mice are often inprecise (at least if I do it) when clicking (cursor slips...)

I got a MS wireless optical mouse and can only say good things about it. When shopping for an optical mouse, I heard a lot of people ditching Logitech's optical technology. Apparently the cursor can jump all around, especially on certain surface/paterns. That's why I went for the MS, and I have no problem. But I didn't try the Logitech myself, so I can only transmit what I heard. I believe DavidK had bad past experices with Logitech optical mice...

I had the MS optical explorer for about 2 years, and for the first year to year and a half, it worked great. Eventually, I started having problems with pointer positioning - it kind of jumped around a little. It was almost as if I had an older "ball" mouse that was dirty inside.

I use the logitech cordless optical as well as the cordless keyboard and love both. The deal I got was mouse price + $20 to get the top end keyboard with scroller, audio controls, etc. Hard to beat and I have been using logitech products for years now. They are always less than MS for a comparable product.

I love logitech mice, but not the cordless optical. I got one of the early ones and it eats batteries way too fast (a new set every 30 days or so). There's no on/off switch so the red light and transmitter is always on. I've found the tracking on both the logitech and the MS corded optical to be very poor. I've heard MS came up with a new optical system that is much more precise and a circuit that turns off the mouse for the cordless version. Haven't had a chance to try them though...

Been using the MS Optical Explorer since they first came out....and I'd argue it's the best 'product' MS ever released.....absolutely 'zero' trouble with it.
Even its 'large' size has ruined all the other mice for me...they all 'feel' too small, now....

If I'm feeling 'rich' I might upgrade to the chordless version...but, if it ain't broke.....

Jafo: You have a musical mouse?! What chords can you play on it? when you get tired of playing tunes on it, go for the CORDLESS one
(sorry Paul, couldn't resist it!)

I too have the MS optical explorer, and never a moments trouble. Love it!!

Could you tell me whats so good about Ms optical explorer? I have just a regular old mouse.

'Musical', BoXXi?....could be, could be.....who's to say?....

[OK, so I fauxed my pas]....

Wise....it's optical, so there's no moving parts to worry about getting fluffy and dirty...it has an accuracy higher than the pixel count of the typical hi-res monitor, a 'solid', 'quality' feel to the buttons, and including a 'clickable' scroll wheel makes 5....and a shape that at first 'seems' over-large, but becomes 'naturally ergonomic' and 'right' with use...

OK, Mister Gates...I done the promo, now you send the cash...

Wise: it also has two extra buttons on the side (left), which default to Back and Forward for internet/folder browsing, but you can change their assignments.

It a nice mouse, but for right now, I like my logitech dual optical better... it seems smoother and even more 'solid' than the MS Explorer.

The 5 buttons are pretty addictive but I like the design of the logitech better, it feels more comfortable (it only has 4 buttons though, really miss that 5th button). The MS optical has a funny idiosyncrasy - a single tiny cat hair gets up in the laser port and then the cursor stops moving until the hair comes out... however, this is not a problem if you don't have a cat in the office...

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll have to go to the store and have a look at them. I'am always cleaning these mice. I've always bought logitech. I guess I'll check them both out.

Question. Does anybody know who makes Apple's optical mice? Is it Logitech?
I'm asking because 3 out of 4 people at the office are having problems with the optical mouse on their G4. The cursor seem to have a mind of its own sometimes. Jumps all around the screen. They've disconnected it and plugged a normal mouse instead...

At work I have a Microsoft Optical Intellimouse Explorer.

However, at home I'm still using my old Logitech Mouseman Plus that I got back in 1999. I haven't been able to find an optical mouse that matches its ergonomics. It just fits my hand so beautifully. Very, very comfortable.

i have a creative mouse with 3 buttons. thats cool! no probs till now!

I useing the Logitech Cordless Mouseman Optical.........it works great if I don't load the software for it. With the software loaded the scroll is really wonky.
DavidK....a couple of AA batteries every month ain't so bad........it beats having a cord, and cleaning mouse balls every week.

grrrr...... I useing = I'm using

I tried most of them out and settled on a Logitech Trackman Marble FX ........ can't use an ordinary mouse now!
Not much point in cordless IMHO unless you work in a 2x2 work space!

DavidK - yeah, I'm already starting to miss that 5th button. To go 'Back' now, I have two mouse clicks instead of one. One for the middle button to popup that "webmenu", and then another to click the "Back" option. I'm using the 4th button as a double-click, which probably saves me more clicks in the long run, so it's probably a fair trade-off.

I didn't care for the web-menu function (too many choices) so I made that (the wheel) the "back" button. The 5th button on my MS optical is used for "close program" - that's a real loss when you get used to it and don't have it (especially for closing pop-ups). The funny thing about the cat-hair problem is I have to turn the mouse over and blow the hair out, half the time when I do this I accidently hit that 5th button and close whatever has the focus at the time...

paxx - I had a real problem finding a mouse pad that works with the optical mouse. It doesn't like repeating patterns, shiny surfaces or solid colors. I found a magazine that worked well on half of the cover so I haul that around with me to use as a pad if the table surface won't work...

two double AA's a month is excessive...

Keymastr,
One other thing on the Logitech cordless keyboard is a back buttom on the left side by the scroll wheel - yeah I know its not on the mouse, but I still prefer to Logitech to MS.

With my MS cordless optical, I use a pair of AA batteries every 3 months approximately. (I got it for Xmas, and I just put in my 3rd set of batteries 2 weeks ago)

DK - I use the 4th button on the Logitech as double-click. And I have WB set to close the window when a double-click is done on the top bar. So it works pretty good for closing windows.

I'm starting to not like the webmenu too. It's a big too big and clunky looking. Plus, I don't use any of the options except the Back... sounds like I need to change the wheel to just do that.