More laser mice on the way
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jun 2nd 2005 3:19AM
posted Jun 2nd 2005 3:19AM
Expect to see some laser mice that aren't made by Logitech sometime in the very near future. Logitech's exclusive deal with Agilent, the company which makes the more sensitive and accurate laser sensor used in Logitech's MX1000 mouse (pictured at right), expires this month, freeing Agilent to sell the sensors to whomever they please.
Woo first pos!t.....and I have the MX 1000 and its a kickass mouse...its good to see more coming in....we've moved from ball->optical->laser ...wooo!
Who cares about mice?
I want them to drop their proprietary technologies and give me a Bluetooth trackball. Now.
Trust is already selling a laser mouse:
http://www.trust.com/products/product.aspx?artnr=14420
I have an MX1000, and I have to say it's the best mouse I've ever owned. Tracks great, comfortable, decent battery life, as well as the little touches like the tiltwheel and battery gauge. I'd be interested to see a Microsoft version though, as I rank them right up there with Logitech in pointer device technology.
#2, I couldn't agree more.
Here's a petition to sign:
http://www.petitiononline.com/logbttrk/
Asking Logitech to release a BT Trackball...
I went through 2 MX1000's (when it first came out) and had problems with both... The pointer would jump around from time to time and I read other people had this issues also. I also had an issue with the battery indicator showing it was fully charged all the time :)
I returned them and went back to a corded mouse. I also have the MS Bluetooth mouse, but it eats AA's and loses its connection sometimes :(
Poster #4.
Do you think Microsoft makes any hardware?? They OEM it from other people. So why pay to have Microsoft on something, get it direct from whomever makes it for them.
Kinda like most of their software, come to think of it.
I'm stoked - I've been wanting a laser mouse but in a bluetooth model - for some reason, logitech probably won't be releasing one this year.
Can somebodey tell me the PRACTICAL superiority of a laser as opposed to an LED in a mouse ?
I'm not harshing on it, I just don't see what's wrong with yee old $4 PS/2 led optical mice. I'v never had any problems with mine tracking or anything like that...
To me the whole Wireless/USB laser mouse just seems like a waste of money or a novelty item...
But please, enlighten me...
The practicality depends on your needs. No distance rescrictions for deep desks, easy moves, great for presentations on large screens if you aren't near the PC etc.
The laser is handy when you don't have a mouse pad handy, or the one you have has a logo or something else on it that throws off the optical reader when you run over it.
I have an optical mouse now, and my mouse pad has a logo on it, and my mouse doesn't seem to have any problems tracking. I think for the moment, a laser mouse is a bit much. it might not be necesary for the average computer user, but for those who need increased precision--graphic design, game developers, etc--then maybe it may be worth it.
Khaytsus - Could you please enlighten us as to who makes their hardware because I agree and think that Microsoft make great hardware. I know I really love my Microsoft mouse and got it for cheaper than an equivalent Logitech. I also like my Microsoft MCE remote. They are both very comfortable and ergonomic.
I also have a MX1000 Laser Mouse and it has been great! Prior to that, had a Razer Boomslang (2400DPI analog mouse). The MX1000 has great precision for gaming and Paint-Shop/Photo-Shop type application accuracy. There was an early issue regarding the millisecond wakeup time when the mouse was initially moved, but that has since been resolved with the latest drivers.
It will be interesting to see if Razer jumps on the Laser band wagon. Hope they do. Why? Because ultimately we benefit from completion. Case in point, the huge technology leap between current (PS2, X-box even PCs) and next-gen consoles (Ps3, X-360)...
oo oo, i would love a laser trackball. i need a new one soon, my ~10 year old trackball is still hanging in though(just hang in for a couple more months, please please please).
I too already have a non-logitech laser mouse; it's corded, and was really cheap.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ML100&cpc=SCH&srm=0
pluses: size is great, ample buttons. Tracks well, really high resolution.
minuses: I haven't installed the included driver cd yet, just using Windows built in drivers, so I don't know if there's a way to adjust DPI settings. By default I had to turn the speed down a notch. Occasionally the pointer will wander off on its own, but if i lift the mouse and put it back down, it seems to stop.
Thanks 'boe' ! I had no idea people had had problems with mousepad logos. I've always either used a plain mouse pad or just the bare desk surface.
As for the wireless part...yeah, I could a guessed that. My lumping that in with the other 'questionable' features is probably also just because *I* have never had a need for one.
Thanks for the clarification!
This is the only real BlueTooth trackball I know of: "The Ball", but it's tailored for the Mac.
http://www.dvforge.com/theball.shtml
I have used the MX1000 every day for months. It's nice except that it's (literally) a pain to use. The amount of pain in my hands after trying to set speed records at Minesweeper is terrible. I'm not sure if it's the extra weight of this heavy mouse or the buttons or something else. All I know is that it's the most painful mouse I have ever used.