How Can an Optical Mouse Become Intermittent Like a Ball Mouse?

[jim evans]

I have one of the original Microsoft optical IntelliMice. Recently it
has begun behaving like a ball mouse. The erratic movement, stalling,
etc.

It will finally start working right again and the problem will go away
for a few days. Seems like the times between erratic episodes are
becoming shorter.

-- jim

 

[Michael Hawes]

I have one of the original Microsoft optical IntelliMice. Recently it
has begun behaving like a ball mouse. The erratic movement, stalling,
etc.

It will finally start working right again and the problem will go away
for a few days. Seems like the times between erratic episodes are
becoming shorter.

-- jim

May be a dry joint/cracked track. Check Microsoft for warranty. I seem
to remember they are very good on warranty.

Mike.

 

[kony]

I have one of the original Microsoft optical IntelliMice. Recently it
has begun behaving like a ball mouse. The erratic movement, stalling,
etc.

It will finally start working right again and the problem will go away
for a few days. Seems like the times between erratic episodes are
becoming shorter.

-- jim

IIRC, one of their mice was very prone to having the cable
fray/break right at the point where it meets the mouse body.
A large % of customers ended up requesting RMA with the
result that you just faxed in a picture of the bottom of
your mouse and then sent the replacement (which was very
nice of them, to not require paying shipping to return a
mouse barely worth more than the cost to ship it).

They seemed to have another weakness as well, notibly
shorter lived L/R click buttons than other mice (Logitech,
for example).

A basic optical mouse is only $10 or so, is it worth fooling
with it or might you benefit from today's modern mice with
better tracking? If you just want a USB ambidextrous shaped
mouse, consider the Logitec G3 or LX3, but really going to a
store to try out a few is the best bet.

 

[paulmd]

I have one of the original Microsoft optical IntelliMice. Recently it
has begun behaving like a ball mouse. The erratic movement, stalling,
etc.

It will finally start working right again and the problem will go away
for a few days. Seems like the times between erratic episodes are
becoming shorter.

-- jim

Some surfaces aren't friendly to laser mice (a vinyl topped folding
table i have is particularly bad). You can see if cleaning the lens,
the surface and/or trying a mouse pad works. Else, mice are cheap, get
a new one.

 

[jim evans]

Thanks for all the replies. Since it comes and goes I'll probably
just wait 'til it happens again and get a new mouse.

One of you replied that mice today are better resolution. Is that
just the hi-res gamer mice or ordinary ambidextrous mice? I tried one
of the laser mice a year or so ago and discovered they're right handed
only.

-- jim

 

[kony]

Thanks for all the replies. Since it comes and goes I'll probably
just wait 'til it happens again and get a new mouse.

One of you replied that mice today are better resolution. Is that
just the hi-res gamer mice or ordinary ambidextrous mice?

Depends on the mouse and model. Some of the generic or
off-brands are still fairly low resolution but modern
Logitech and MS are better, in the low end, and
significantly better in the middle to higher end. The two
models I mentioned previously are both good options, unless
you wanted to go cordless too.

IIRC your current mouse is 400DPI, even the 2-4 generations
old Logitech X2, MX300, MX310, and slightly newer like
RX300, etc. Some like the RX300 are OEM and so not listed
on this page (but might be on an OEM section of their
'site).

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/&cl=us,en&page=0&filter=0&sort=0

I'm sure MS makes several as well but overall I find their
quality lower and therefore am not as familiar with their
ambi offerings, but they do include the Habu Laser Gaming
Mouse (based on pictures, I've not seen one in person),


Even some cheap generic mice now have at least double the
resolution, for example,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826193001
but personally I'd not get one that cheap, rather sticking
with the major brands. IE - Logitech or MS

In Logitech's lower-end, the SBF-90 & SBF-96, I think are
both still 400DPI and equivalent to what you have. Their
next higher priced B58 or BT-58 should be 800DPI (red LED
type),
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104157
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104036

Best bang for the buck in an corded USB laser (if you like
the shape, it is worthwhile to go to a store to try a few)
might be the RX1000,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104014
given it's price it makes it a bit silly how much more the
G3 costs, but the G3 might have a slightly faster sensor or
something most applicable to high speed gaming movements.

Beware of some of Logitech's 1000DPI using an "invisible
light" lighting/sensor technology (LX5, LX7, the V200
notebook mice and a few others) as they only work well on an
optimal mousing surface, otherwise they may be no better or
even worse than the 800DPI red LED types and always worse
than the lasers (but the technology does allow for longest
battery life in a cordless version).

More Logitech Mice @ Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=65&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

I tried one
of the laser mice a year or so ago and discovered they're right handed
only.

Another ambi laser is in Logitech's LX710 cordless Kbd/Mouse
set. A bit pricey normally but it frequently has rebates to
bring it down around $40 AR, but presently I don't know if
it's on or off a rebate period.

 

[paulmd]

Thanks for all the replies. Since it comes and goes I'll probably
just wait 'til it happens again and get a new mouse.

One of you replied that mice today are better resolution. Is that
just the hi-res gamer mice or ordinary ambidextrous mice? I tried one
of the laser mice a year or so ago and discovered they're right handed
only.

-- jim

Left handed mice are hard to find retail.

You can order them easily enough, though. All the major makers have
them.

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I have one of the original Microsoft optical IntelliMice. Recently it
has begun behaving like a ball mouse. The erratic movement, stalling,
etc.

It will finally start working right again and the problem will go away
for a few days. Seems like the times between erratic episodes are
becoming shorter.

In addition to the problem Kony mentioned about the cable fraying
where it enters the mouse (I've had 2-3 mice fail from that), I've
found that the optical mouse's lens can get dirty and need to be blown
out with air.

 

[paulmd]

How is that a problem? At most you have to exchange the left and
right buttons, and most drivers have that built in.

Most of the so called ambidextrous mice really don't fit the left
hand. And the "ergonomic" mice are definitely shaped so that it's all
but impossible to use them left handed.

 

[jim evans]

Depends on the mouse and model. Some of the generic or
off-brands are still fairly low resolution but modern
Logitech and MS are better, in the low end, and
significantly better in the middle to higher end. The two
models I mentioned previously are both good options, unless
you wanted to go cordless too.

IIRC your current mouse is 400DPI, even the 2-4 generations
old Logitech X2, MX300, MX310, and slightly newer like
RX300, etc. Some like the RX300 are OEM and so not listed
on this page (but might be on an OEM section of their
'site).

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/&cl=us,en&page=0&filter=0&sort=0

I'm sure MS makes several as well but overall I find their
quality lower and therefore am not as familiar with their
ambi offerings, but they do include the Habu Laser Gaming
Mouse (based on pictures, I've not seen one in person),


Even some cheap generic mice now have at least double the
resolution, for example,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826193001
but personally I'd not get one that cheap, rather sticking
with the major brands. IE - Logitech or MS

In Logitech's lower-end, the SBF-90 & SBF-96, I think are
both still 400DPI and equivalent to what you have. Their
next higher priced B58 or BT-58 should be 800DPI (red LED
type),
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104157
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104036

Best bang for the buck in an corded USB laser (if you like
the shape, it is worthwhile to go to a store to try a few)
might be the RX1000,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104014
given it's price it makes it a bit silly how much more the
G3 costs, but the G3 might have a slightly faster sensor or
something most applicable to high speed gaming movements.

Beware of some of Logitech's 1000DPI using an "invisible
light" lighting/sensor technology (LX5, LX7, the V200
notebook mice and a few others) as they only work well on an
optimal mousing surface, otherwise they may be no better or
even worse than the 800DPI red LED types and always worse
than the lasers (but the technology does allow for longest
battery life in a cordless version).

More Logitech Mice @ Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=65&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=


Another ambi laser is in Logitech's LX710 cordless Kbd/Mouse
set. A bit pricey normally but it frequently has rebates to
bring it down around $40 AR, but presently I don't know if
it's on or off a rebate period.

Gosh! Thanks for that wonderful reply. I had assumed this thread was
over and hadn't come back 'til now.

-- jim