Laser vs Optical Mice

[renohol]

My ball mouse is about dead so I ask you should I get an optical mouse or a Laser mouse like this one?

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/3053&cl=us,en

 

[bob bobato]

Id say... laser. I know nothing about the specs or anything, but Ive been using one for years now, and Ive never had a problem with it. Before that, all my wheel mice started to get sluggish after a few months and died after about a year. But that could just of been me...

 

[GVBN]

A cheap optical one. I wouldn't pay $100 for a mouse

 

[Speedo]

Any high end gaming-type mouse should use a laser sensor. The only advantage to laser is the ability to get higher sensitivity (2000dpi+). Personally I see no need for it, even in gaming - my mouse can do 2000dpi, but I just keep it set on 1000dpi.

 

[azzaman333]

If you're someone who plays a lot of high paced games such as FPS where precision mouse movement is required, go the laser mouse. Otherwise, you're buying something too good for what you'll use it for.

 

[ggganz]

Optical. I don't see why anyone prefers laser.
1) Laser has a red light which may be annoying to some people.
2) My dad's old laser mouse would sometimes stop responding for a second.
3) My dad's old laser mouse, and his new one, sometimes make you character in FPS look at the ground or sky and spin around really fast, and you can't see what's happening until you realize what happened, then ur ded.
4) I seem to have more problems with lasers on shiny surfaces than with optical.

 

[azzaman333]

Optical. I don't see why anyone prefers laser.
1) Laser has a red light which may be annoying to some people.
2) My dad's old laser mouse would sometimes stop responding for a second.
3) My dad's old laser mouse, and his new one, sometimes make you character in FPS look at the ground or sky and spin around really fast, and you can't see what's happening until you realize what happened, then ur ded.
4) I seem to have more problems with lasers on shiny surfaces than with optical.

I'm fairly certain you are confusing optical and laser mouses with each other

 

[ggganz]

My mouse, which has no red light, says "invisible optic".

 

[renohol]

I'd like to thank you all for your feedback for I am pleased to anounce I have made my selection: A Kensington Optical mouse for $15. Thanks again.

 

[azzaman333]

Optical Mouse;

Laser Mouse;

 

[ggganz]

Mine says "invisivble optic" right next to the little thingy (where the red light would be). Is this a whole different thing, or what is it?

 

[3141592]

No, it just picks up its signal for a different part of the spectrum.

 

[Speedo]

Optical. I don't see why anyone prefers laser.
1) Laser has a red light which may be annoying to some people.
2) My dad's old laser mouse would sometimes stop responding for a second.
3) My dad's old laser mouse, and his new one, sometimes make you character in FPS look at the ground or sky and spin around really fast, and you can't see what's happening until you realize what happened, then ur ded.
4) I seem to have more problems with lasers on shiny surfaces than with optical.

1. The vast majority (99%+) of opticals require a light for the sensor. Laser's don't.
2. That's an issue with your computer or mouse.
3. Higher sensitivity is one of the features of a laser mouse. Every one that I've seen lets you adjust it, and most of them can be adjusted on the fly via buttons on the mouse.
4. The only mouse that works well on shiny surfaces is the kind with a rubber ball and rollers.

 

[ggganz]

3. I don't think it's that, I didn't describe it thouroughly enough.
I would move the mouse slightly, and it would spin my character without moving the mouse at all. Only by moving the mouse could you stop this, but by then the motion had attracted the enemy's attention and I was dead.

Also, I guess then that my mouse is optical but lasers are also invisible. And my dad's screwy one was optical. Now knowing this, I suggest..................................................................................................................................................laser.

 

[kuukkeli]

My mouse, which has no red light, says "invisible optic".

It says invisible. Maybe, just maybe, that has something to do with the lack of red light

 

[Fetus4188]

I'd recommend a laser mouse, the difference in performance is considerable. But I wouldn't recommend a $100 one. The Logitech G5 is a great mouse and reasonably priced.

 

[Dark_Ownage]

A cheap optical one. I wouldn't pay $100 for a mouse

wow are you looking at diamond plated laser mouses? my laser mouse was 29.99 dynex works just as good as my name brand one and the respone time and smoothness of an optical it is 100000 times better then optical youd be stupid to get anything else.

 

[Jamesds]

wow are you looking at diamond plated laser mouses? my laser mouse was 29.99 dynex works just as good as my name brand one and the respone time and smoothness of an optical it is 100000 times better then optical youd be stupid to get anything else.

It wouldn't be stupid to get anything else - not everyone needs the high precision of a laser mouse. e.g. if all you do is play Civ4, web browsing, programming, and other general activities then you'll notice no significant difference. As for "an optical it is 100000 times better then optical", are you saying optical is better, or laser?

However, if you are playing, as has been said above, a FPS then maybe it would make a difference. I think it would also help in photo-editing too. Using an optical mouse in these activities is not the end of the world though...

 

[Zelig]

Optical vs. laser mouse isn't an easy answer.

First generation (not that long ago) laser mice tended to be worse overall than optical mice at the time, but were still great for some users.

The newer laser mice have fixed most of the problems the first generation mice had, but the advantages aren't great, unless you happen to regularly use your mouse on shiny and reflective surfaces.

Laser vs. optical isn't a point to choose a mouse on, choose a specific model based on how it performs, not based on what type of sensor it has.

 

[Maniacal]

2000 dpi seems a bit extreme, I doin't think I could aim very well with that high of a sensitivity. My MX518 is serving me well enough