# These Microsoft Optical mice are shite! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 19, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015 "2003-11-19T01:35:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/1 "2003-11-19T01:35:11Z")
It _sticks_ to every surface I use it on!, it has amazing levels of friction. Completely fucking defeating the advantage gained by it being optical! I should have known that just because it is not software, that does mean it will not piss me off just like everything else made by Microcrap. I might just go back to the old non-microsoft ball mouse, caked in muck, the pointer moves erratically, but at least I can move the damn mouse on the desk! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/2 "2003-11-19T01:37:38Z")
I mean (I haven’t finished being angry), I can move a biro, the TV control, the telephone, the monitor! easier than that damn thing! And it’s the only bloody thing that is _designed_ to be moved about! Why is the world so fucking back-to-front! ARGHH!! ---
**Author:** ![Lazarus7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/67e7ee/32.png) [@Lazarus7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazarus7)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/3 "2003-11-19T01:39:40Z")
dude … maybe you have a bum unit … my MS Optical mouse is a veritable computer treasure and I have been known to pose for pictures with it to tease and taunt those less technofortunate than I. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/4 "2003-11-19T01:43:39Z")
My MS Optical mouse is the best mouse I’ve ever used. My old Logitech optical mouse was a hunk of crap compared to my MS mouse, and it cost $10 more than my new MS mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/5 "2003-11-19T01:46:24Z")
They don’t work on sticky surfaces. Although I have yet to find a surface that my optical mouse does not work on flawlessly, including my own leg while on the airplane. But Im’ sure you’re right and it’s MS’s fault. Why don’t you buy one from [Logitech](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000659A7/ref=pd_sim_electronics/102-5745440-4255367?v=glance&s=electronics&n=172282) - I’m sure since they’re not “Microcrap” it will work splendidly. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/6 "2003-11-19T02:33:17Z")
I do have a logitech one (at home) and Please don’t take my Anti-Microsoftness personally. It’s the one at work I am ranting about. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/7 "2003-11-19T02:39:00Z")
I never had a problem with my MS optical mouse until I attempted to uninstall the driver software for it in order to install the driver software for my new IBM optical mouse (the semi-sideways shape was more wrist friendly to me). The ‘uninstall’ utility caused serious registry problems and left me ‘mouseless’ until I managed to edit the registry (such fun without a mouse) and get things working again. I still do not know how that uninstall managed to corrupt things so badly that no mouse, not even a serial mouse, would be recognized by the system. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/8 "2003-11-19T02:58:36Z")
I loooooves my MS Optical Mouse. Best hardware purchase I have EVER made. It’s that good. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/9 "2003-11-19T03:18:44Z")
I like my Microsoft optical mouse just fine. Wish I had one at work. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/10 "2003-11-19T03:24:47Z")
Dude! Turn it over! ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/11 "2003-11-19T03:54:23Z")
Tried cleaning your desk recently? I’ve never had a problem with my MS optical mouse. Then again, my MS keyboard has never caused me trouble, I’ve never had an issue with Win XP, a problem with MS Office that I couldn’t fix myself, or a virus or a hard-on for berating Microsoft, so what do I know, really? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/12 "2003-11-19T04:27:31Z")
I just got one two days ago, so was unhappy to see this thread. But the responses are comforting me. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lobsang_ > It sticks to every surface I use it on! Maybe you should stop rolling it on your hand. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/13 "2003-11-19T04:29:40Z")
Oh. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/14 "2003-11-19T04:34:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*Dude! Turn it over! \*\* OW! Bright Light! Bright Light! ---
**Author:** ![Sonyadora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sonyadora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonyadora)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/15 "2003-11-19T04:44:15Z")
Am I the only one who thinks an optical trackball is where it’s at? ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/16 "2003-11-19T05:31:45Z")
If you got the cheap one ($20), the small black glide pads on the bottom could get a bit caked with goop if you’re working on a particularly goopy surface. That’s the only reason that mine fails to glide effortlessly, and it’s easily remedied with 5 seconds of scraping with a fingernail. Other than that, (which isn’t a problem with the mouse, but with the environment I have been using it in) it’s the best mouse I’ve ever used. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/17 "2003-11-19T05:34:11Z")
It might not be as bad as I made out (it definately jerks to a stop, or when the speed drops below a certain point, which is a sign of high friction, but for normal mouse use it is not noticable) I guess I am just used to the super smooth logitech cordless mouse I own at home, and the difference stands out to me. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/18 "2003-11-19T14:22:28Z")
While I wouldn’t go so far as to say it ws “the best mouse I ever used”, I think the MS opticals are wonderful. If Logitech was as cheap I’d buy one, but the MS meeses are sweet. No trouble. Damned MS to hell! Sam ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/19 "2003-11-19T14:31:04Z")
Microsoft makes outstanding hardware. The drivers aren’t always what I want… I’m having an issue with the MS Trackpoint scroll not working in places that the Logitech does… but the hardware is amazing. I credit them with bringing down the price of the good flightsticks to acceptable levels. The keyboards are always top quality, and they _are_ the master of mice. ---
**Author:** ![Armilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@Armilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Armilla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/20 "2003-11-19T15:09:03Z")
I love my MS Optical mice. When I arrived at a new job a few months ago I had to go out at lunchtime on the first day just to buy one to use there. I tend to use the one with almost as many buttons as a keyboard. I have arcane functions bound to every one, so much so that nobody else dares use my PC because they can’t stop stuff happening. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015.md?page=2)