Computer Mouse Problems,

^^ Is the word 'mat' missing there?

If I'm temporarily working on a surface that my optical mouse doesn't like, I use a sheet of A4 paper.

You might have more joy with high-DPI gaming mice (if you can put up with the flashing LEDs)

I use one of these for my optical mouse:

Am 16/01/2024 um 11:42 schrieb David Wade:

In the good old days, a magazine would have done the trick. If you don't have one, go to your dentist's and steal one.

They don't like working on glass!

Some don't mind, e.g. Logi MX Master

Erm not sure what you are asking, but have you tried a mousemat they are available all over the place; plain, anime, scantily clad women, esoteric designs etc , the world is your oyster. There are also giant versions (usually termed desk pads) which fit under the keyboard and extend to give a mousing surface too. Virtually all mice are optical nowadays (remember cleaning the balls on the old ones?) so all products sold will work with optical mice.

Mousemats :-

Mouse mat is good, as a mouse will also wreck table-top varnish/finish.

I have a large heated mat. It stays flat, but does warp the plastic in keyboards, if they are left on it on high heat.

Thats what I really wanted to check. That they are smooth so the mouse slides easily, but enough surface to get even tracking.

I have tried paper & magazine but they tend to slide around.

Thanks

I hate smooth surfaces. You move the mouse to highlight something and try to type. the mouse moves and the whole thing is a right buggers muddle. My mat is upside down with the black foam backing uppermost, now.

These should be effective as mouse mats. More colourful too.

Does anyone have one ?. Does it work with an optical mouse ?

You need a mouse mat. The problem is the glare back at the sensors. You really want an old fashioned ball mouse? There used to be some wireless ones but almost everyone is now supplying optical. You still can get trackballs, and what about a stand alone touchpad like laptops use? Myself, I unplugged mine years ago and operate by keyboard shortcuts. Brian

They need some difference in the surface. The, very, early ones used a mat with a fine grid printed on it. As the technology improved, an ordinary mat with a fabric surface or a printed image was enough. Even a melamine surface can have enough imperfections to work but not always.

It is also possible there is dirt over one or more of either the sensors or sources, a bit of fluff, grease etc.

I have such a mat, it doesn't normally live on the desk, but the mouse works ok on it ... nothing to do with the grid lines on the mat though, the mice sensors are only 19x19 pixels and about 1mm^2

I just use the brownish backing card from A4 pads.

However, lacking a wrist rest, which I would not want to be without.

They were excellent when I actually had some. TBH my melamine veneered desk works, but is too slippery

I got some POS mouse mats from Amazon and they are okish.

I can remember when an optical mouse needed a special mat with lines that reflect visible light in one direction, and lines that reflect infrared at right angles. The mouse had LED/photocell pairs for red and infrared.

Modern ones work by some kind of magic.

I've always assumed they like a surface with a little texture, so that the laser can register movement. An old table mat with a cork underside, turned upside down works very well.

Why does a mouse need a heated mat?