I’m using a wireless mouse for the first time in my life, and I have a couple questions.
(1) How long is the battery supposed to last? I had to change the single AA battery after less than a week, however that was with near-constant use (say, 12 hours a day.)
(2) In certain games, especially Minecraft, there seems to be some latency – like, the mouse doesn’t respond right away when I’m in twitch-and-click mode. The games themselves don’t seem to be lagging. I haven’t been able to compare the performance with a corded USB mouse on this computer, so is latency something I have to put up with?
(3) Have I been here long enough to say “Hi, Opal!” without getting laughed at?
IME, switching it off when not in use goes a looong way towards making it last longer. You just need to train yourself to remember to flip the little switch on the bottom.
I’ve been using the same wireless thumball for about 2 years now. I think I’ve changed the battery twice. I use it A LOT. I have never had latency issues, not even while playing WoW, SWTOR, Star Trek Online, Diablo 3.
edit to add: I never turn it off
I use about 6 wireless mice in various locations. Some use a single AA batt, others use 2 AAAs. My experience has shown the ones that are never turned off last for about 3-5 months; the ones that are used for only a few hours per week, turned off otherwise, last for a year. Alkalines work fine.
FYI: Monoprice.com has $10 mice, including alkaline batts, plus shipping. They are as good as any.
I can’t speak for latency issues, as I am not a gamer, but in normal use, I don’t notice any difference between wired and wireless mice.
Hmm, maybe the battery was almost dead to begin with. Changing the battery did fix the problem it was having.
Haven’t had any problems with browsing and word processing, and some games work fine, but with Minecraft the latency is definitely noticeable. It’s an intermittent thing, though.
If you don’t want to wait for mail order, I got a GE mouse from Target about six weeks ago for $12 (the Logitech was $23). It works perfectly, I have never shut it off, and the original batteries are still going strong.
mmm
I will never,never use a wireless mouse!
The wire has a vital task to do: it keeps the mouse from falling to the floor, when the cat jumps on the desk and plays with it.
Batteries usually last me a month. I don’t even turn it off when I’m not using it. Right now I have an HP, before that I went through a couple of Logitechs. I had a Logitech rechargeable, but I’d forget to put it back in the charging stand and it would be dead in the morning.
Hahaha. For me, the wire keeps the mouse attached when my hand accidentally strikes it, whereas the wireless mouse goes sailing. So far, the record is 7 1/2 feet.
Used to have some Logitech keyboard+ laser mouse wireless combo for five or so years. No latency or other problems spotted. Standard recharging 2xAA (not AAA) 2400mh battery would last for mouse about 2 months and for keyboard twice that.
You know you are not supposed to use an actual mouse, right? :smack:
Wireless mice must have improved their power management a lot. When I first had one, quite a few years ago now, it could scarcely get through one day. It had rechargeable batteries and came with a recharging cradle, but other family members would often forget to leave it in the cradle overnight, and next morning it would be dead.
OTOH, even back then, a wireless keyboard would run for many, many months without needing new batteries.
Same, except it’s a logitech ‘normal’ wireless mouse. Like it so much, replacing batteries every 5 or six months with constant use and always on, that it’s the only kind I’ve had for at least the last 8 years. Love’em. I always get the logitech one, nothing fancy. No latency that I’ve ever noticed in any video game, but my little mouse transmitter-thingy is never more than 5 feet away from my mouse, though.
Pretty basic MS mouse. It’s on over 22 hours a day (I turn it off during commute). Haven’t had it that long, but I’d say it goes a couple of months between battery changes (single AA)
This one has a nice feature which is a tiny led on top of the mouse that either turns constant green when I turn it on (and goes off after a few seconds) OR turns intermittent (like 5 seconds on, 5 off, no flashing or strobing) red when the battery is getting low.
I wonder if it turns solid red for some time before the battery gives up the ghost for good…? Nah, not going to check.
