Research into optical mice

Post by **simple** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:26 pm

I was curious as to what kind of surface was best for my optical mouse; This is logitech's unofficial response.

"The best surface would be a non-glossy, opaque, light surface.
Please avoid any dark surface and any surface/mouse pad with any kind of design."

I just though I would share my findings. Is any one else interested in doing further research?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:37 pm

That's pretty well known crap.

Post by **HM-PuFFNSTuFF** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:39 pm

Post by **Foo** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:40 pm

Personally I find a veneer wood surface works best, but will degrade over about a month until it becomes quite resistant.

Ideally what you're looking for is something with no friction, but a surface the optical can track on. So glass would be great, but the reflection gives shit readings to the optical sensor(s).

Pads like everglides are ok, but I wore mine out in under a month.

Post by **Grudge** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:35 am

I swear by vinyl cutting mats. Best mousemat ever, and they don't wear out.

Post by **Magnus** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:54 am

Grudge wrote:I swear by vinyl cutting mats. Best mousemat ever, and they don't wear out.

I'll have to try that. I just used my wood desk top and keept having problems with the pointer just flying off screen and when playing Q3A I would often find myself suddenly looking straight up and spinning in a circle.
Someone told me to get a mouse pad and I haven't had the problem since, but mouse pads cause tiny lint and dust buildup on the mouse eye.

Post by **ilumos** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:52 pm

Grudge wrote:I swear by vinyl cutting mats. Best mousemat ever, and they don't wear out.

:icon14: definetly

Had mine for a good two years now, and I've used it as a cutting mat too and it's still good.

My MX700 goes crazy on my varnished desk, so yeah the mat was essential.

Post by **Giraffe }{unter** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:27 pm

Grudge wrote:I swear by vinyl cutting mats. Best mousemat ever, and they don't wear out.

:icon30:

Post by **bork[e]** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:29 pm

Magnus wrote:
Grudge wrote:I swear by vinyl cutting mats. Best mousemat ever, and they don't wear out.
I'll have to try that. I just used my wood desk top and keept having problems with the pointer just flying off screen and when playing Q3A I would often find myself suddenly looking straight up and spinning in a circle.
Someone told me to get a mouse pad and I haven't had the problem since, but mouse pads cause tiny lint and dust buildup on the mouse eye.

damn, I thought that was my mouse. :icon32:

Post by **Canis** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:32 pm

I have a black standard mousepad that seems to work well with my MX1000.

Post by **R00k** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:53 pm

I have a regular, crappy mousepad. It tracks well enough, but I hate the resistance I get from it.

I'd like a better one, but I don't want a 24 inch gaming pad or anything, and I don't really want to spend money on something so basic. So I've just stuck with the old crappy one.

Vinyl cutting mats sound interesting, but what are they? A flat piece of black vinyl/plastic sounds like it would work pretty well; maybe I could just cut one out of the old desk-mat here at work that I don't use. Is a 'cutting mat' something you can get at an art supply store or something, that is already the right size to use as a mousepad?