Optical vs. Laser mice?

SeanW

I've been sticking with traditional roller ball mice these days because my venturess into the brave new world of optical mice all backfired with obscene amounts of momentary failures, erratic diagonal moves etc.

The mice I tried before were all optical mice ... I think. I was not aware that there was a distinction between optical and laser, as there appears to be.

Can anyone give me the skinny on the difference between the two, if any, with particular reference to reliability?

realblackstuff

Copied from Cnet:

The difference between a regular optical mouse and a laser mouse is the light used to track movement. A regular optical mouse uses an LED light in the optical engine, while a laser mouse uses a laser to track movement. The more dots per inch (dpi) a mouse can track, the more sensitive and accurate it is. A typical optical mouse tracks between 400dpi and 800dpi, while laser mice track more than 2,000dpi.

Neither is really better; it all depends on your needs and preferences. Unless you're a gamer or a graphic artist with a need for precise movement, you'll probably find a 2,000dpi laser mouse too sensitive. Many gaming mice, however, allow you to switch sensitivity levels so that you have precision when you need it but can revert to 400dpi or 800dpi for regular mousing.

Besides their tracking speeds, laser mice work on nearly every surface, whereas optical mice may experience trouble tracking on black or shiny surfaces.

My daughter has used the same MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 for 4-5 years.
My wife uses a cheap A4 mouse.
I've used the Logitech MX700 for nearly 3 years.
All three are optical mice.
For my laptop I got the MS Lasermouse 6000.
Not a single problem with any of them ever.

8T8

Yeah the lasers are just a bit more responsive for want of a better word & don't have the problem with reflective surfaces that optical mice succumb to.

I have two MS 6000 series laser mice work just fine.

No LED glow from the mouse with the lasers though which I kinda miss

Sam Vimes

did you buy the cheapest of the cheap optical mice? mine sometimes shoots off to the corners because i spent 7 euro on it but more expensive ones don't do that

PogMoThoin

Commander Vimes wrote:

did you buy the cheapest of the cheap optical mice? mine sometimes shoots off to the corners because i spent 7 euro on it but more expensive ones don't do that

:rolleyes: Are ya using it on a shiny surface. I changed from an optical to a laser for that reason & was told afterwards its the surface you use it on.
very happy with my mx1000 tho. laser ftw

rkeane

I use the Logitech G7 laser mouse - it is an absolutely brilliant piece of equipment.

Sam Vimes

PogMoThoin wrote:

:rolleyes: Are ya using it on a shiny surface. I changed from an optical to a laser for that reason & was told afterwards its the surface you use it on.
very happy with my mx1000 tho. laser ftw

i don't know if you were asking me or the op but no, its on my desk and its not shiny. it usually only shoots off when i tilt it a bit so i just try not to

Blazer

rkeane wrote:

I use the Logitech G7 laser mouse - it is an absolutely brilliant piece of equipment.

if u don't fancy wireless get the wired version G5...absolutely brilliant for gaming

SeanW

Commander Vimes wrote:

did you buy the cheapest of the cheap optical mice? mine sometimes shoots off to the corners because i spent 7 euro on it but more expensive ones don't do that

Yes, both of the optical mice I bought were cheapo jobs, for under €10.

I've tried a variety of surfaces none of them shiny, but the only one that seems to work is a piece of paper.

So if I spent bigger money on a laser mouse, would I have less of these issues?

PogMoThoin

Yes, it would solve your issues. I got Logitech Mx1000, its laser, great for gaming & works on any surface. I can highly recommend it.

GrumPy

Mathew Reilly wrote:

if u don't fancy wireless get the wired version G5...absolutely brilliant for gaming

I have a g5 myself, and although Iv'e never had any trouble with it, I hate the texture.

All slippy.

sarahn11

i never liked optical mice, i always found that they kinda did what they wanted at the most inapropriate moment! i had a trust one that worked fine for about a month...then it did my head in so much i went back to the ball mouse... i now have a logitech mx5000 wireless desktop, and the mx lazer mouse i the beat mouse ive ever used! and it will work on anything...right now i have it on my leg!!!

PogMoThoin

sarahn11 wrote:

...right now i have it on my leg!!!

:rolleyes: You tryin to get us males excited.......:D

Khannie

I've used an MX510 and MX510 and an IBM optical yokie. I found the surface made a big difference. Sometimes I would get random erratic movement with a (somewhat) shiny mouse mat I was using.

I used the Logitech MX mice for gaming and they are excellent. An MX510 could be picked up for pretty cheap on ebay by now I'd say. Great mouse.