# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/21 "2003-11-19T17:02:17Z")
Have you tried waxing the table?? That might make it slide better. I really like the optical mouse part of mine, the scroll wheel was really free-wheeling compared to my regular mouse. Took it apart and jammed a little scrap of paper behind the ratchet (?) so it is a little stiffer… ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/22 "2003-11-19T17:10:16Z")
I’m not exactly a Microsoft booster (I use a Mac), but I’ll certainly admit it when they’ve made a good product, and the optical mouse is that. I love mine. I’ve had mine for about a year now, with no problems. Certainly have never had this sticking problem you seem to have. I’ll be another person to suggest that you’ve either got a defective one, or there’s something with the surface you’re using it on causing the problems. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/23 "2003-11-19T17:14:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > **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.** I once received as a gift a [stainless steel mousepad](http://www.t-online-shop.de/tonline/product.do?action=getProductDetail&product=883). It was very cool looking, with swirly designs in its shiny surface. It came packed in a custom-made wooden box along with a cleaning cloth. Alas, optical mice go nuts on mirrored surfaces. I can’t use my optical mouse on my glass desktop at home either. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/24 "2003-11-19T17:20:01Z")
Count me in as an MS optical mouse lover. My daughter gave it to me 2 Christmases ago and I’m still using it. Yeah, Microsoft sucks. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/25 "2003-11-19T17:50:22Z")
I have to say that no single computer component ever improved my fragging capabilities more than the MS optical mouse. Not even tripling my processor speed. There is something completely satisfying about being able to score headshots with a Sten at long range. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/26 "2003-11-19T17:51:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > **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!** Try using an Air Hockey table for a mousepad! ---
**Author:** ![Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/27 "2003-11-19T18:38:22Z")
I absolutely love my MS optical mouse. It’s one of the very few things MS has ever done right. Two things you may want to try though - 1 - get a solid plastic mousepad. I use one from [everglide.com](http://everglide.com), [ratpadz.com](http://ratpadz.com) also sells these. 2 - get some mouse tape (it’s just teflon tape really). You can get it from everglide but I got some pre-cut disks at [CS Hyde](http://www.cshyde.com/Excess%20Inv%20Sale.htm) . Alternately, you can do a search on google for “mouse tape”. Note - I don’t work for any of these people and I don’t mean to offend anyone here, I started using this stuff and love it so I thought I would share. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/28 "2003-11-19T18:52:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke of Rat \* > **Have you tried waxing the table?? That might make it slide better.** Yeah, put some on your modem while you’re at it. Everyone knows that makes them go faster. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/29 "2003-11-19T19:42:10Z")
I love my optical, greatest thing ever. The other day my dog was asleep on my lap, so being the adveturous type, I gave mousing my dog a try. It worked perfectly all over my dog, except the ears when the pointer would get a bit twitchy. But I suspect that it was more a result of the mouse tickling my dog’s ears that was giving me sub-par mouse results. ---
**Author:** ![stick\_monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@stick\_monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stick_monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/30 "2003-11-19T20:05:42Z")
Just wanted to chime in. The $9 I spent on my MS Optical mouse was about the best bang for the buck hardware purchase I ever made, and the only thing from Microsoft I have ever been proud that I bought. My wife has a comperable logitech one the next machine over and I haven’t noticed a difference between the twain. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/31 "2003-11-19T21:22:58Z")
Come to think of it, have you noticed how much lighter the optical is than its ball-tracking predecessor? Seems like a silly thing to like, but it really does make things just that little bit more effortless. And I never have to clean goop out of the bottom! That was formerly a weekly chore. Just scrape off the glide pads every couple months (takes a few seconds) and it’s just peachy. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/32 "2003-11-19T21:41:30Z")
Didn’t I hear somewhere (probably the SDMB) that Micro$hite meeses are made by Logitech? I think I did. ---
**Author:** ![InkBlot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@InkBlot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InkBlot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/33 "2003-11-19T21:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Quack** _ > 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. Yeah, I’ve been wondering about this one…little pads on the bottom of the mouse, designed to reduce friction. All-right, I get that. So why does everything seem to stick to them? Was this a design flaw? “Oh, I’m sorry…you wanted the _non_sticky stuff there…right!” :smack: inkblot ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/34 "2003-11-19T22:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GargoyleWB \* > **(…) being the adveturous type, I gave mousing my dog a try. It worked perfectly all over my dog, (…)** Have you tried mousing your SO? This could be the perfect activity for a geeky couple: mutual mousing of each others respective body parts. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/35 "2003-11-20T03:58:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tusculan \* > \*\*Have you tried mousing your SO? This could be the perfect activity for a geeky couple: mutual mousing of each others respective body parts. 🙂 \*\* Once you’ved moused your dog, and moused your SO, you can complete the set by dogging your SO :eek: \<–O-face ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/36 "2003-11-20T04:16:06Z")
The glide pads on the bootom of the mouse accumulate residue off the desk after a while. Take a small sharp edge and _gently_ scrape the accumulated crap off the plastic glide pads. The mouse will not stick after you do this. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/37 "2003-11-20T05:56:21Z")
And they also have a good warranty! About one year after I purchased an IntelliMouse, the cord to the mouse came a bit loose causing it to only work intermittently. I contacted Microsoft and since I had already tried all other possible solutions (re-install drivers, connect through USB, etc.), the tech guy just took down my address and had a brand new one sent by UPS in about 5 days. That and my MS Natural Keyboard are the perfect setup for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/38 "2003-11-20T06:09:04Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s one of the very few things MS has ever done right. You mean, besides corner the market and make godawful bazillions of dollars? My cordless optical desktop absolutely freaking rules. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/39 "2003-11-20T06:23:53Z")
I sometimes use a silicon based furniture polish on the glide pads of my Genius optical mouse, smooth as silk, I grant you. I have colloidal silicon solution here too, but I haven´t tried it yet. By the way, since I work on computer graphics the transition from ball to optical was a quantum leap, now everytime I have to use a roll ball mouse I can barely stand it; after ten minutes I have to stop myself from throwing it out of the window. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/40 "2003-11-20T06:31:09Z")
Microsoft Trackball Explorer. It’s optical and it needs no surface. When I’m tired I just lay back in my chair, put the trackball on my knee, and go for it. I loves me my trackball. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015.md?page=3)