# Wireless mouse
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 4, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093 "2013-01-04T19:04:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/1 "2013-01-04T19:04:23Z")
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?
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/2 "2013-01-04T19:09:59Z")
I have a wireless mouse at work (so I can’t speak to 2); I can go for 2-3 months at 40-50 hours per week without changing batteries.
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### Author:  [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/3 "2013-01-04T19:23:54Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/4 "2013-01-04T19:26:29Z")
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
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### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/5 "2013-01-04T19:45:43Z")
I’ve got a Microsoft mouse, and the only way to turn it off is to attach the dongle :mad:
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/6 "2013-01-04T19:53:22Z")
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](http://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.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/7 "2013-01-04T21:14:10Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#):
>
> I have a wireless mouse at work (so I can’t speak to 2); I can go for 2-3 months at 40-50 hours per week without changing batteries.
Hmm, maybe the battery was almost dead to begin with. Changing the battery did fix the problem it was having.
> [@Musicat](#):
>
> 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.
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.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/8 "2013-01-04T21:52:11Z")
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
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### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/9 "2013-01-05T18:21:14Z")
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. 🙂
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/10 "2013-01-05T18:31:41Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/11 "2013-01-05T19:04:10Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> 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. 🙂
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. 🙂
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/12 "2013-01-05T20:36:00Z")
I have a logitech M705 wireless mouse the batteries have lasted for a few years using the mouse for office work 5 days a week.
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### Author:  [@yohan\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yohan_go)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/13 "2013-01-05T21:08:31Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/14 "2013-01-05T22:08:26Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#):
>
> 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?
You should get yourself a wireless mouse with a recharging station.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/15 "2013-01-06T01:27:53Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#):
>
> (3) Have I been here long enough to say “Hi, Opal!” without getting laughed at?
No. That wasn’t funny anymore in 2005.
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### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/16 "2013-01-06T04:25:20Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> 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. 🙂
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.
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### Author:  [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/17 "2013-01-06T04:44:34Z")
> [@congodwarf](#):
>
> 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
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.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2013, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/18 "2013-01-06T07:03:41Z")
> [@Musicat](#):
>
> No. That wasn’t funny anymore in 2005.
This post has been graped by the grumpy grapist.
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### Author:  [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2013, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/19 "2013-01-07T11:18:14Z")
I’m using a Logitech M525 mouse. The battery is supposed to last 3 YEARS. Haven’t noticed any lag. Could you be having interference?
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### Author:  [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-mouse/646093/20 "2013-01-07T11:27:37Z")
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.
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