# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/41 "2003-11-20T06:41:09Z")
I was a firm believer in the trackball. I denounced the mouse as evil, creation of some malevolent being interested only in frustrating computer users. The trackball was the way to go. Then they invented the optical mouse. No, I said, I LIKE the trackball. I got a cordless optical trackball, and it kicked ass! This further reinforced my beliefs in the benefit of trackball vs mouse. Then I got a second computer. It had the standard mouse. I didn’t want to buy another cordless optical trackball due to possible interference between the two, so I got a corded optical mouse. (Logitec, btw) I haven’t touched the trackball since. 'nuf said. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/42 "2003-11-20T06:58:59Z")
I remember playing a game of Quake (back in the day, yo!) with a guy that swore up and down by his trackball, bragged about how the trackball gave him better gibs, how the trackball was more “natural” for gaming, trackball this, trackball that… Final score: 100 to 17. Winner: Me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CherryBomb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@CherryBomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CherryBomb)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/43 "2003-11-20T08:38:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phnord Prephect \* > \*\*Then I got a second computer. It had the standard mouse. I didn’t want to buy another cordless optical trackball due to possible interference between the two, so I got a corded optical mouse. (Logitec, btw) > \*\* I use a cordless trackball, and hubby uses a cordless optical, both Logitech. Never had a problem with interference. Our desks are about 6 ft away from eachother. We also have cordless mice on our laptops that don’t interfere with eachother or our desktop mice. Both of them are excellent devices, although I prefer the trackball for my gaming habit. ---
**Author:** ![Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/44 "2003-11-20T15:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ogre \* > \*\*You mean, besides corner the market and make godawful bazillions of dollars? \*\* I guess it depends largely on your perception of what “right” is. Making a product that is well constructed, reasonably priced and stands well against competition on it’s own merits rather then by using company leverage = right. Making a product that is bug ridden and a security nightmare that dominates the competition due to near full monopoly power and horid licensing schemes = wrong. Even if it makes you bazillions of dollars. Of course you may have just been joking so I’ll shut up and go back to my corner now… ---
**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, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/45 "2003-11-20T20:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phnord Prephect \* > \*\*I was a firm believer in the trackball. (snip) > Then they invented the optical mouse.(snip) > I haven’t touched the trackball since. > > 'nuf said. \*\* …but the Microsoft Trackball Explorer _is an optical trackball_. The main thing I like about it over a mouse is that I don’t need any kind of surface. I can put it on my leg, on the arm of my chair, or whatever. I can hold it in my hand while I stand up and walk to the phone. Plus it’s 5 buttons and a scroll wheel and it’s all programmable. I have one button mapped to “copy” one to “paste” and one to “enter” so I can do sooo much without doing anything more than just vaguely flexing a finger or two. Ahhhh… trackball. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/46 "2003-11-20T23:01:12Z")
[hijack] Just some observations/questions: **Inkblot** you have a cool name, you should post more often. **OpalCat** you really live in Centreville. Are you next door neighbors to **Superman**? **Lobsang** how do you pronounce ‘shite’? [see the op title]. Also what does it mean? [/hijack] ---
**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, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/47 "2003-11-20T23:20:53Z")
Is **Superman** a poster here, or do you mean the super hero? ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/48 "2003-11-21T01:03:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PhiloVance \* > \*\ ***Lobsang** how do you pronounce ‘shite’? [see the op title]. Also what does it mean? > [/hijack] \*\* In phonetics: 'shIt (rhymes with “kite”) It’s a funny euphemism for “shit”. Aussies and people from the UK use the word (maybe others too). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/49 "2003-11-21T08:49:20Z")
**Lobsang** maybe there is something… umm… sort of _sticky_ on your computer desk. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/50 "2003-11-21T09:17:47Z")
Irish also use the word ‘shite’ - it’s so common here I wonder if it is Irish in origin. Anyway, a mate of mine has a cordless MS Optical mouse that he uses with his Mac G4 and he fucking loves it. Very ergonomic feel to it as well, and pinpoint accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/51 "2003-11-21T10:37:36Z")
I’ve heard ‘shite’ used a lot and always figured it was just a sort of “different” way of saying ‘shit’… but you say it is a “funny euphemism”… which confuses me. Does it have another meaning, or something? What would make it funny? Or am I looking for something that isn’t there? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/52 "2003-11-21T10:54:02Z")
Funny peculiar? In my experience it isn’t a euphemism, it’s an emphatic. Not just shit but _shite_. Incidentally, a woman in Ireland once told me that “Smyth with a Y is no better than shite with an E”. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/53 "2003-11-21T11:03:49Z")
Get a Func, Steelpad or Icemat… ya nub. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/54 "2003-11-21T11:25:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*I’ve heard ‘shite’ used a lot and always figured it was just a sort of “different” way of saying ‘shit’… but you say it is a “funny euphemism”… which confuses me. Does it have another meaning, or something? What would make it funny? Or am I looking for something that isn’t there? \*\* Clearly the two words are related, but ‘shite’ is a sort of mock-polite, non aggressive version of ‘shit’ - even if it isn’t technically a euphemism, the usage is similar. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/55 "2003-11-21T11:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Clearly the two words are related, but ‘shite’ is a sort of mock-polite, non aggressive version of ‘shit’ \*\* Surely it’s just a rendering of the northern pronunciation? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/56 "2003-11-21T11:34:00Z")
Ok so it isn’t “funny” in the sense that “this dumb American is totally missing some joke that everyone else is getting” then? Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/57 "2003-11-21T11:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*Ok so it isn’t “funny” in the sense that “this dumb American is totally missing some joke that everyone else is getting” then? Heh. \*\* No. “Shite” is a phonetic spelling of the way “shit” is often pronounced in the north of the U.K. Go watch _Trainspotting_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/58 "2003-11-21T12:43:30Z")
I use both cordless and corded optical mice from logitech and they are the shizzle. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015/59 "2003-11-21T14:53:18Z")
I hear Logitech optical mice are Sunni. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-microsoft-optical-mice-are-shite/214015.md?page=2)