Best optical mouse with long battery life?

[BatteryLife]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution, but is
there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
doesn't drain them so fast?

Thanks for all suggestions.

 

[Rod Speed]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast!
My computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs
two new AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution,

Yep, particularly one like the Logitech MX700 that has a garage
like thing that you plug the mouse into overnight to charge it.
It gives plenty of warning when the battery is running down too,
so you can keep using it all day with the low battery light flashing.
And can charge it up again when you go to lunch etc too.

but is there not an optical mouse available that uses
regular batteries but doesn't drain them so fast?

Nar, there's a technical problem getting decent
performance with optical mice and long battery life.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution, but is
there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
doesn't drain them so fast?

Thanks for all suggestions.

Look at the Micrsoft wireless mice. I have the Intellimouse Exporer for
Bluetooth, and I change the batteries around every 5 months. But if you
keep it overturned or on a dark surface overnight it will constantly seek
for the surface and you will lose a lot of power that way. But generally
the battery life on the recent MS mice is very good.

ss.

 

[gypsy3001]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution, but is
there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
doesn't drain them so fast?

Thanks for all suggestions.

I have Michael Graves Wireless Optical Mouse. It last surprisingly long
with two AA sized rechargeable batteries. I use both NiMH and NiCD.
They both works great.

Chieh

 

[Mellowed]

I'm very pleased with the Logitech Mx700. It has a charging stand.
I've used it for several years now with no problems. The stand plugs
into the USB port.


: I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
: media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
: computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
: AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.
:
: A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution, but is
: there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
: doesn't drain them so fast?
:
: Thanks for all suggestions.

 

[DaveW]

The Microsoft 6000 Laser Mouse, which I use all day long, uses standard
alkaline AA battereis that last me 6 months.

 

[Blinky the Shark]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution, but is
there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
doesn't drain them so fast?

Have you considered an optical mouse with *no* batteries? Nothing to
change, ever.

 

[Leon Manfredi]

I'm using a Kensington Trackball Expert Mouse Pro, with 2 Alkaline
Rechargeable's. Had it a about 2 years now....replaced batteries at low
battery warning about 3 times that I can remember, maybe four....

 

[Toolman Tim]

Have you considered an optical mouse with *no* batteries? Nothing to
change, ever.

Show me a wireless mouse with no batteries - I just might be interested too!

 

[sloblocks]

Show me a wireless mouse with no batteries - I just might be interested too!

http://www.a4tech.com/en/product2.asp?CID=90&SCID=92&MNO=NB-50

 

[kony]

Show me a wireless mouse with no batteries - I just might be interested too!

I think once the novelty of going batteryless wears off, you
will be disappointed in the performance.

 

[kony]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

2-3 weeks is a reasonable period of time. I mean to
manually change batteries, do you "like" your mouse
otherwise?

If so, just buy a 4 pack of AA NiMH rechargeable batteries,
so you have one pair always charged to swap in when you take
out the other pair to recharge them.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution,

Any mouse that uses AA can use rechargeable batteries. You
can pay a premium for a mouse that comes with a charging
cradle, or pay less and get a generic piece of junk mouse
that doesn't work very well, but in general the two major
cost effective mice brands are Logitech or Microsoft. I and
many others prefer Logitech but it really depends most on
what shape mouse your hand likes, and some like the MS
shapes more.

but is
there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
doesn't drain them so fast?

Yes, a Logitech Mediaplay can go several months, it is much
more battery friendly BUT it uses a different method of LED
illumination, and is more picky about the mousing surface as
well as having a few ms lag from aggressive (internal to the
mouse itself) power management control. IF you have an
ideal mousing surface AND need to use alkaline batteries
instead of rechargeables, it might be a reasonable solution
(if your hand likes the shape).

You might also check your motherboard to see if the PS2 or
USB (whichever your current mouse uses) ports are running
from 5V or 5VSB (sometimes called 5VFP) power. It's often a
jumper on the motherboard but with Dell... hard to say, they
might not even have an option to change this. Anyway if
it's set to 5VSB, it will keep some mice powered when the
system is soft-off, draining the batteries faster than if
you jumpered it to 5V instead.

 

[Toolman Tim]

http://www.a4tech.com/en/product2.asp?CID=90&SCID=92&MNO=NB-50

Yeah - but that has drawbacks too. Like having to take the mousepad when I
travel, and find a way to get power on the other side of my recliner.
Fortunately with my NiMH batteries everywhere, I guess it's not that
important

 

[Margolotta]

Have you considered an optical mouse with *no* batteries? Nothing to
change, ever.

I had an MX700 once (the first - and, to date, only - wireless rodent I've
ever possessed). The thing is, I suffer badly from CTS and the mouse without
batteries weighed about 650g. Add the batteries and, well, it was too heavy
and just a couple of minutes 'mousing' was enough to make me switch back. I
now have an MX510 and I'm more than satisfied with it (it's Mac-friendly [1],
too, which the MS rodents aren't - I guess M$ don't want to be seen becoming
to pally with Apple).

Now, my ideal wireless rodent would have a single, rechargeable,
'button-cell' battery and, like most of the current crop of Logitech rodents,
recharge itself when placed in its cradle. A button-cell only weighs 5g at
the most - adding negligible weight to the mouse over all.

[1]Having checked Logitech's site, it appears to be the last one of their
rodents that is. I've checked and the rodents produced in the last couple of
years are Windows-only <grr>.

 

[Blinky the Shark]

Show me a wireless mouse with no batteries - I just might be
interested too!

OP specified "optical", not "wireless". None of my optical
mice/trackballs have batteries.

 

[Blinky the Shark]

I think once the novelty of going batteryless wears off, you
will be disappointed in the performance.

I've used nothing but batteryless optical mice and trackballs for years.
There is no novelty to wear off -- they're just normal mice and
trackballs with optical rather than mechanical sensors.

 

[Blinky the Shark]

["Followup-To:" header set to 24hoursupport.helpdesk.]

I had an MX700 once (the first - and, to date, only - wireless rodent I've

Oh, but he asked only for *optical* mice. Didn't specify *wireless*.
Didn't mention "RF" or "IR" or anything like that.

 

[Rod Speed]

I had an MX700 once (the first - and, to date, only - wireless rodent
I've ever possessed). The thing is, I suffer badly from CTS and the
mouse without batteries weighed about 650g.

Try 115g.

Add the batteries and, well, it was too heavy
175g

and just a couple of minutes 'mousing' was enough to make me
switch back. I now have an MX510 and I'm more than satisfied
with it (it's Mac-friendly [1], too, which the MS rodents aren't -
I guess M$ don't want to be seen becoming to pally with Apple).

Now, my ideal wireless rodent would have a single, rechargeable,
'button-cell' battery and, like most of the current crop of Logitech
rodents, recharge itself when placed in its cradle. A button-cell
only weighs 5g at the most - adding negligible weight to the mouse
over all.

[1]Having checked Logitech's site, it appears to be the last one of
their rodents that is. I've checked and the rodents produced in the
last couple of years are Windows-only <grr>.

 

[Margolotta]

I currently use a Dell optical mouse that came with my Dell WinXP
media center. Unfortunately the mouse uses up batteries very fast! My
computer is left on 24 hours day, and usually the mouse needs two new
AA batteries every 2 - 3 weeks.

A mouse with rechargeable batteries would be a better solution, but is
there not an optical mouse available that uses regular batteries but
doesn't drain them so fast?

As an environmentally-conscious type of person, I don't use anything *BUT*
premium-grade rechargeables. Why? Well, batteries contain sulphuric acid
(even the rechargeable ones, I believe - though someone correct me on that if
I'm wrong) which is a major pollutant, especially if it leaks into waterways
and it's the type of poison that accumulates. Say a stork eats a fish that
has died of sulphuric acid poisoning. If it eats enough of them it, too,
will die. If a scavenger then eats the stork, it may very well succumb, too.

And it's not just fish in rivers. H2SO4 is a very strong acid (I believe its
pH to be 1 or 2). Imagine what an acid that strong would do to *anything*.
It's also a major contributor to acid rain (the other being carbonic acid).

Now, although rechargeable batteries may also contain H2SO4, decent ones will
replace at least 100 non-rechargeables, ergo that's 100 times less H2SO4 in
landfill (okay, I'm aware that facilities exist for the safe disposal of
batteries at most council tips, but you have to take them there yourself and
many people will just put batteries in with the normal rubbish, which then,
probably, will end up on a landfill site somewhere. I actually think councils
should provide 'battery boxes' for old general-purpose batteries which would
then be collected once a month. I think that some councils will pick up - and
dispose of - old car batteries for you (but ours doesn't)).

Then there's the financial aspect. A pack of 4 AA Duracell batteries (the
bog-standard ones, I'm not talking about the M3 variant) will set you back
about £4, i.e. £1 per battery. Now, I think I paid £10 for a 4-pack of very
decent rechargeables not that long ago. Okay, the initial outlay is 2.5 times
as much, but look at the longer-term picture. By buying the rechargeables,
not only will you be doing the environment a favour, but you'll have saved
yourself £90.

Now, isn't that something worth thinking about?

 

[Rod Speed]

BatteryLife wrote

As an environmentally-conscious type of person, I don't use
anything *BUT* premium-grade rechargeables. Why? Well,
batteries contain sulphuric acid (even the rechargeable ones,
I believe - though someone correct me on that if I'm wrong)

You are wrong, that is just lead acid batterys.
They dont get used in rechargeable mice.

which is a major pollutant,

Nope. Completely routine to neutralise it if you need to.

especially if it leaks into waterways and
it's the type of poison that accumulates.

No it doesnt.

Say a stork eats a fish that has died of sulphuric acid poisoning.

Doesnt happen.

If it eats enough of them it, too, will die.
Wrong.

If a scavenger then eats the stork, it may very well succumb, too.
Wrong.

And it's not just fish in rivers. H2SO4 is a very strong acid

Only when concentrated.

(I believe its pH to be 1 or 2).

Wrong again.

Imagine what an acid that strong would do to *anything*.

Wrong again, battery acid wont do many things any harm.

It's also a major contributor to acid rain

Only when its formed from suphur dioxide etc in
the atmosphere, not when its been battery acid.

(the other being carbonic acid).

Again, only when its come from atmospheric pollution.

Now, although rechargeable batteries may also contain H2SO4,

Bugger all do that are used in mice.

decent ones will replace at least 100 non-rechargeables,
ergo that's 100 times less H2SO4 in landfill

Utterly mangled all over again. There is no
suphuric acid in the non rechargeable batterys.

(okay, I'm aware that facilities exist for the
safe disposal of batteries at most council tips,

Those are car batterys, a different matter entirely.

but you have to take them there yourself and many people
will just put batteries in with the normal rubbish, which then,
probably, will end up on a landfill site somewhere.

No big deal with most non rechargable batterys.

I actually think councils should provide 'battery boxes' for old
general-purpose batteries which would then be collected once a month.

Complete waste of time with most disposable batterys.

I think that some councils will pick up - and dispose
of - old car batteries for you (but ours doesn't)).

Its completely trivial to dispose of them properly.

Then there's the financial aspect. A pack of 4 AA Duracell batteries
(the bog-standard ones, I'm not talking about the M3 variant) will
set you back about £4, i.e. £1 per battery. Now, I think I paid £10
for a 4-pack of very decent rechargeables not that long ago. Okay,
the initial outlay is 2.5 times as much, but look at the longer-term
picture. By buying the rechargeables, not only will you be doing the
environment a favour, but you'll have saved yourself £90.

Now, isn't that something worth thinking about?

Only if you use a significant number of the disposable batterys.