Issues with optical mouse

[mario_c]

Hi, I thought I'd get into something a little more soft and warm than my last thread :) I bought a new mouse / keyboard, wireless mais bien sur. Mouse is basic 2 button with a scroll wheel and optical lens on the bottom. If I use the cardboard mousepad (or if it's not available for some reason, a big old book :rolleyes:) the pointer tends to freak out - flying off the edge, going the wrong direction, etc - but on the desk itself it's fine. Actually right now it's fine, but it may freak out as the old mouse did. Does anyone else encounter this issue? Maybe the battery, or light patterns? Just wondering.

[Williebee]

Optical mice don't like a lot of surfaces. Our office bought a truckload of new tables for one of the lab rooms last year. They are white, with a very slightly pebbled surface -- crap for the mice. I keep a small stack of colored copy paper in the lab. Students use it for mouse pads.

[mario_c]

Colored paper I have lots of - cardstock for paper manuscript requests. Good idear!

[Jeff Colburn]

As mentioned, optical mice hate texture, and they also hate patterns. A single color surface works best.

Have Fun,
Jeff