OT: Difference between optical and laser mouse?

[Archon_113]

What's the difference between these two contraptions? And which is better?

[SteveyDevey]

I don't know that "laser" mice actually exist. I think people call optical mice "laser" because they don't know any better.

[mrcrow]

you can get a radio one...which doesnt have a cable..

[lug]

 

Originally posted by SteveyDevey I don't know that "laser" mice actually exist. I think people call optical mice "laser" because they don't know any better.

 

 

Logitec thinks they exist.

 

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=3,CONTENTID=9043

[Archon_113]

So they're the same thing?

[mrcrow]

 

Originally posted by lug Logitec thinks they exist. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=3,CONTENTID=9043

 

 

GUL strikes again...

 

raises beak in salute

[SteveyDevey]

 

Originally posted by lug Logitec thinks they exist. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=3,CONTENTID=9043

Well, it seems I'm right and wrong then, eh?

 

They do exist, but you've probably never used one. All the "laser" mice that have been on the market in the past have been optical. $80 for a mouse seems a bit high, too.

[mike fitzwell]

I have one of the Logitech MX1000s here at work and its predecessor--the MX700--at home. Both are great mice, but the nod goes to the MX1000 with the friggin' laser. Much more precise, doesn't get confused at all when on high contrast surfaces, and the battery life is about 2 weeks with daily use.

 

Downsides to the MX1000? Non-replaceable battery. And the friggin' laser is undetectable by the human eye, so there's no cool red glow from underneath it.

[Roger in the sky]

Originally posted by mike fitzwell And the friggin' laser is undetectable by the human eye, so there's no cool red glow from underneath it.

 

THEN WHATS THE FREAKIN G POINT!?!

 

DAMN IT

[mike fitzwell]

Originally posted by Roger in the sky THEN WHATS THE FREAKIN G POINT!?! DAMN IT

 

My thoughts exactly. Oh well, it was the company's money anyways.

[Roger in the sky]

i'm so pissed

[The Aardvark]

You can mount a laser mouse onto the head of a shark.

[mike fitzwell]

Originally posted by The Aardvark You can mount a laser mouse onto the head of a shark.

 

THANK YOU!!! I've dropped a couple of Austin Powers comments over the last few weeks and you're the first one to recognize one of them.

[Roger in the sky]

[Zeromus-X]

Since there hasn't been a real concrete answer:

 

Logitech and Microsoft (and probably Kensington now) have laser mice on the market. They're a lot higher resolution (the new Logitech mice are up to about 2000 DPI), the battery life is really long, and they're just damn nice in general.

 

The MX1000 is actually being phased out for the new Logitech mice, which are ten times better. The two top-of-the-line wireless versions are great, and both run at 2000 DPI. The highest-end one is rechargable, but uglier than the other one IMO, which sucks. Also, the top of the line one got rid of the "forward" thumb button, which was absolutely stupid. The G5, the most expensive one, even has removable weights for the bottom so that you can "adjust" the mouse to whatever weight you prefer, and you can change the resolution on-the-fly for playing games.

 

If you've got the money, go for the laser mouse, no doubt. However, they ARE expensive... but you really get what you pay for. I've had an MX700 for many, many years now... it's great but I'll be replacing it with a Logitech G5 as soon as funds allow. It's beat to hell and has never stopped working; I use the computer on my couch, and so the mouse hits the (hardwood) floor about five dozen times a day from about two and a half feet up. It's still not dead, whereas I've even killed a Microsoft Intellimouse!