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A basic no-frills optical mouse will usually cost only a few dollars more than a basic no-frills mechanical mouse.

There are many mouses on the market however which come with lots of frills, these are usually optical, and may well be very expensive.

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15y ago
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13y ago

It's to do with how the movement of the mouse isconverted into signal. A ball mouse uses a small marble sized ball that is rolled around underneath the mouse in a compartment. The sideways and up/down movement of the ball is converted by the mouse into an signal that tells the CPU how the mouse is moving. An optical mouse has no ball, but uses light, emitting red light onto a surface and tracking movement of the mouse by how this light is reflected back.

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Q: What is the difference between optical and ball mouse?
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What is the difference between a laptop wireless optical mouse and a wireless laser optical mouse?

The laser wireless optical mouse has laser sensors to direct the mouse on the screen as without it is a roll ball used to do so.


What are the advantages of opto mechanical mouse?

The laser of the optical mouse may bounce off certain colors and shapes on a mouse pad.There are no disadvantages to a optical mouse. The optical mouse just works better and smoother than the ball mouse, and you never have to worry about the ball getting dirty or hanging. I would suggest getting an optical mouse and throwing the ball mouse away.


What are the advantages and disadvantages between an optical mouse and a ball mouse?

The laser of the optical mouse may bounce off certain colors and shapes on a mouse pad. * There are no disadvantages to a optical mouse. The optical mouse just works better and smoother than the ball mouse, and you never have to worry about the ball getting dirty or hanging. I would suggest getting an optical mouse and throwing the ball mouse away. For this you definitly need the opinion of someone who has to sufffer the ball mouse at least once a week. ie: School pupils. I have two IT lessons a fortnight, and at our school you have a choice between overly chunky optical mice or cheap, way too light ball mice. I end up tolerating the ball mice as I am very picky about my mice. I, personally like mice with a bit of weight on them, but the thick plastic outer of the school's optical mice is ridiculous. Generally, schools don't provide pupils with mousemats on the theory that they will be nicked/tooexpensive, so the only way to get the ball mice to operate in a friendly manner is to clean it before use, or use your science book as a substitute mousemat. The moral of this long-winded story is:


Difference between mouse and track ball?

They both do the same job. And on an older mouse it's easy to see the similarities. An older computer mouse would have a ball underneath. Then as you moved the mouse around the ball would roll and the computer would count the rotations. A track ball was basically a mouse turned upside down. Instead of moving the mouse to rotate the ball, you'd move the ball directly with your fingers instead.


Is an optical mouse better than the old ball mouse?

Generally an optical mouse provides much better function than an older ball design mouse. The lack of an internal ball to move the mouse reduces the need for cleaning and build up do to the ball itself wearing down.


What is a mouse called that doesnt use a ball?

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A "ball mouse" or mechanical mouse is a computer mouse which detects user inputs using a system of servos detecting the movements of a ball (inside the mouse) which rolls on the desk surface. The most common alternative, the "optical mouse" uses optical sensors to detect user inputs. The optical mouse is widely considered to be superior in all important respects, and is therefore becoming much more common then their mechanical cousins.


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A track ball mouse is a mouse that uses an internal ball to track movement, instead of a laser. These have been outdated by optical mice.


Difference between optical and mechanical mouse?

A mechanical mouse has a ball & rollers on the bottom which moves the pointer. An optical mouse has a light instead, and you don't even need a mouse pad to use it.


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Inside an optical mouse is a ball that moves freely as you drag the mouse on a surface?

FALSEAn Optical Mouse replaces the ball in a standard mouse with a microchip, miniature red light or laser light, and camera.Guide to HardwareChapter 8Page 316You're welcome :)


Is an optical mouse better than a regular mouse?

"Better" is subjective. The major advantage an optical mouse, though, is that it is not mechanical-ball-based, so it will not clog up and not work. With a regular mouse, the little ball inside it accumulates dust and dirt, making the mouse not function unless cleaned.