Two mice on one computer.

[Rodney Pont]

I do not think that they are. I had one in my junk box. It was
getting so bad with the optical mouse that I had to switch.

Optical mice need to keep their feet clean otherwise they loose focus
on the surface and start skipping all over the place.

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

Optical mice need to keep their feet clean otherwise they loose focus
on the surface and start skipping all over the place.

I do clean my mouses frequently. That did not do it for me. I
suppose that it is possible that I had a mouse going bad.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

 

[Bob I]

Optical mice need to keep their feet clean otherwise they loose focus
on the surface and start skipping all over the place.

Have to be a pretty big wad of dirt on one foot. Since I use an optical
mouse on a pant leg occasionally (no other convenient flat surface
available) without issue, I'd say that's a pretty bogus claim.

 

[Robin Bignall]

I do clean my mouses frequently. That did not do it for me. I
suppose that it is possible that I had a mouse going bad.

Possibly. I've got a Logitech optical mouse that I've had for years.
There's nothing that I can see that needs cleaning.

 

[James Silverton]

Possibly. I've got a Logitech optical mouse that I've had for years.
There's nothing that I can see that needs cleaning.

I have used the same mouse pad for 4 years with optical mouses. Besides
keeping the mouse clean it has a rest that raises my wrist, which I find
comfortable.

 

[charlie]

Some optical mice work better than others.
I have a rectangular wireless Logitech mouse that I occasionally use
with a laptop.
It was intended for use with presentations, and besides the usual top
buttons, has more rubberized ones on the underside, so that you can use
it much as a remote control. Every once in awhile, the feet start
dragging, until you wipe them off.

The Logitech M570 trackball has less trouble with crud than the MS
trackballs did. Part of the secret is with the three tiny supporting
"bearing" balls. The MS ones were steel, got stuck, and developed flat
spots. Still, the trackball can get sticky, and need cleaning.

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

Have to be a pretty big wad of dirt on one foot. Since I use an optical
mouse on a pant leg occasionally (no other convenient flat surface
available) without issue, I'd say that's a pretty bogus claim.

Not at all. I used to clean mouses regularly on lab computers at
uni. The crud would accumulate until it was noticeable by increasing
the drag. I would then scrape it off.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

 

[Mortimer]

Not at all. I used to clean mouses regularly on lab computers at
uni. The crud would accumulate until it was noticeable by increasing
the drag. I would then scrape it off.

Yes, you may get crud around the Teflon feet which will make the mouse stick
and slip instead of moving smoothly, but I've never come across a case where
it makes the mouse pointer move erratically or not at all. Rodney's
experience using an optical mouse on a pant/trouser leg (and I sometimes do
the same if there's no other convenient surface) suggests that mice work
even if the surface isn't at a precise distance from the laser LED.

I've just tried it with my mouse. Resting the feet of the mouse on a metal
ruler that is probably about 2 mm thick, it is still able to register
movement perfectly well.

 

[Bob I]

Not at all. I used to clean mouses regularly on lab computers at
uni. The crud would accumulate until it was noticeable by increasing
the drag. I would then scrape it off.

I'd say the ONLY "focus" affected by that, would be that of the USER.
Ergo "bogus claim", supported by neither concept or fact. Or do I need
to just skip the PC and say BS?

 

[Rodney Pont]

Yes, you may get crud around the Teflon feet which will make the mouse stick
and slip instead of moving smoothly, but I've never come across a case where
it makes the mouse pointer move erratically or not at all. Rodney's
experience using an optical mouse on a pant/trouser leg (and I sometimes do
the same if there's no other convenient surface) suggests that mice work
even if the surface isn't at a precise distance from the laser LED.

I'm afraid that wasn't me.

I've just tried it with my mouse. Resting the feet of the mouse on a metal
ruler that is probably about 2 mm thick, it is still able to register
movement perfectly well.

My mouse is a Logitech RX300 and the cursor does jump all over the
place when a bit of crud builds up on and around the feet. I've tried
putting a paper handkerchief under the front feet. One thickness
doesn't seem to make any difference but two thicknesses and the cursor
is erratic, three thicknesses, about 1 mm, and it doesn't move.

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

[snip]

Yes, you may get crud around the Teflon feet which will make the mouse stick
and slip instead of moving smoothly, but I've never come across a case where
it makes the mouse pointer move erratically or not at all. Rodney's

Drag, not erratic movement. The mouse would not move as easily.
It was enough to get my attention. I would then check, and sure
enough, crud.

experience using an optical mouse on a pant/trouser leg (and I sometimes do
the same if there's no other convenient surface) suggests that mice work
even if the surface isn't at a precise distance from the laser LED.

I have found many surfaces to work just fine. I have a glass
sheet on my desk, and that works although sometimes, it gets erratic.
Light levels/reflection?

I've just tried it with my mouse. Resting the feet of the mouse on a metal
ruler that is probably about 2 mm thick, it is still able to register
movement perfectly well.

I do not like the foam mousepads; they feel wrong to me, and they
are not so good, IME, with a ball mouse, but they do work.

My mousepad is a cutting pad. I have been using it for about
fifteen years now, and a large section of it has had the printed lines
completely worn off.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko