Optical mousers: Do you use a mousepad?

[Antoneo]

I have an MS Intellimouse 3.0A and I am annoyed that I have to go get a mousepad.

The nylon pads underneath are very good at attracting dust/other stuff and hinders the smooth movement. Much like the mouseball + lint problem except the actual movement of the mouse is being affected (I feel the mouse get slightly stuck onto the desk). ARG am I the only one with this problem?

Recommend me a cheap mousepad! 3M mousing surfaces any good?

 

[theNEOone]

I use this. Highly recommended. There are other designs and shapes to accomadate each person's preference.

 

[microAmp]

link fixed

I use a mouse pad, don't like the feel of the wood on my hands and arms.

 

[PCMarine]

I have a Microsoft Optical mouse (Kicks ass) and Ive been using the same mousepad for over a year. My dad got a load of these mousepads free, they were a promotional giveaway . It is paper thin with great tracktion on top. And like most of you, I hate when mousepads slid around, so this mousepad even came with a light adhesive on the bottom which can be stuck/unstuck on any surface.

 

[Shagga]

I use the MS Intellimouse Explorer and on the surface of my desk mostly. I also get dirt (usually beer spills and health consious fatty snacks) collecting on the pads but I did also when I used a Mouse mat. The mouse does not respond as good when there is a collection of dirt on the pads but a 10 second scrape with my thumb nail clears that...

 

[Jeff7]

I use the $1 fabric&rubber mousepads that I get at computer shows; they're cheap, functional, and they don't slide all over the place like the crappy foam ones that companies give away sometimes.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I used to use it on my desk until I started wearing the grain out of the top of the desk. Now I use a pad - with a gel wrist cushion.

 

[Sid59]

i finally broke out and spent 5 bucks on a new mouspad. The old one was small and would always slide to different parts of my desk. The new one is a good 8x8 inches and it doesn't slide.

I love my MS optical

 

[igowerf]

I use a Ratpad that I got for Christmas. I've also tried Everglide mouse pads and one of those paper thin sticker pads with a textured top. They all seem to work fine. I found certain smooth or colored surfaces confuse my Logitech Optical mouse so I've stuck with the slightly textured pads. My wood grain desk at home confuses the mouse as does magazine covers.

 

[DrVos]

I use a 50 cent mousepad i bought at IKEA, best optical mouse pad ive ever used. Of course YMMV.

 

[tweakmm]

I taped a piece of construction paper to my desk. It has the perfect amount of traction for me

 

[XBoxLPU]

Running an MS Opitical 1.A with a Func 1030 black mouse pad......

 

[xSauronx]

i use some damn thing i got at walmart because the wife has to have anything witha wolf on it, otherwise id use a piece of paper or something, my desktop is semi glossy so it skips a tad

best part is ive had the mouse over a year and theres no dirty balls! optical mice rule

 

[smp]

I only use a mousepad because it's a boundary .. it keeps the clutter away from teh mouse.

 

[erikiksaz]

I use the generic, cheap-a$$ cloth pad. I LOVE this thing.

 

[flexy]

i never thought that purchasing a mousepad is such a big deal - until i started with my Logitech optical mice and found out i cannot use every pad..

I had this wonderful (love it) hard transparent mouse 'pad' with wrist gel-thingy..but since this is semi transparent it wouldnt work well with the dual optical. Sometimes the mosue was just stuck and didnt recognize i moved it.

So i went out and purchased a smilair mat from compusa (a rubber mouse pad with black nylon on top and a gel wrist thingy)...and i got a MX300 optical mouse...and (in comparison to the dual optical) the mouse went jerky with certain movements....i think the nylon fabric is too glossy for the sensor or something.

So i took the wrist gel off my old transparent mouse pad, put double sided tape on the bottom of it and put the whole thing on a cheap generic $3 blue mouse pad. It has very good traction and friction for my MX300...and i have to say if you're used to a wrist gel for a while you cant live without it anymore !!! It's so much more comfortable (you can rest your wrist on it and keep hand/arm straight while handling the mouse).

Anyway after some online research and stuff i actually came to the conclusion that even something simple as a mousepad can be a problem - and it can need some time to find the right one for particular mice ! I am still looking for a hard/non flexible mat with the right design (black or something) with the right friction which works with optical mice well and a nice gel wrist thing...but 95% of all pads/mats are rubber (floppy/flexible) which dont work right eg. putting them on a thick carpet on the floor.

greets

 

[cmdrdredd]

I use a everglide pad. BIG surface for my gaming habit

 

[jonah255]

no pad for me at home at least. i take my max payne mouse pad to lans incase it's one of those white/grey plastic tables.

 

[Spac3d]

I use the Logitech Cordless Optical set, no mouse pad here.

Spac3d

 

[Toxic]

Anyone use one of those "furry" mouse pads. Almost feels/looks like suede. Saw some at CompuUSA the other day.
Just curious how effective/good they are.

I use the 3M mouse pads and glue them to the desk with the 3M spray glue. Yes, the 3M pads are good, BUT....
They tend to pick up alot of dirt (if you are using a non optical mouse), and if you scratch it, you'll create
a dead spot on the pad.

 

[DanFungus]

yeah, i use one of the 1/8" neoprene ones. I like 'em

 

[HellRaven]

I use a ratpad. It is a large pad so lots of room for the mouse. Good textured surface and made from a hard plastic material which means you can just use a rag to clean it.

 

[BFG10K]

Yes, I use an el-cheapo mouse pad because it stops damage to both the mouse and the table.

 

[Darein]

I use one simply for the handrest on it. It has a nice gel rest, helps the wrist.

 

[Goi]

Optical mice are no different from ball mouse in terms of their mouse feet. The optical eye doesn't solve anything other than the mouse tracking. Since the feet are the same(either plastic or teflon), mousepads should still be used to prevent the wearing out of the feet. Personally I hate the MS mice feet, so I stuck 4 sheets of 1mm thick teflon to my MS Intellimouse Optical's mouse feet, now its smooooooth as silk on my "mousepad", which is actually a 3 ring binder with some vinyl cover that tracks surprisingly well.