Do I even really need a "mouse pad" anymore?

Question

We really don't need screen savers anymore with newer monitors, auto monitor shut offs, etc. So they're more of a novelty.
Mouse pads were useful with the old track ball (mouses mice?)
So do I really need a new mouse pad with an optical mouse?
This one's ready for the trash...

Answer 1

nope,
i don´t need one
i got an optical mouse :)

Answer 2

Depends on the surface the mouse is on. With an optical mouse, you need to worry about the reflection. I was using a metal desk and the optical mouse would not work at all. I had to use a mouse pad. Actually I didn't have a mouse pad on me so I used construction paper since it provided me with a matte surface. And if the surface is rough, the optical mouse won't work. I have used text books for that!

So to answer your question, yes you may need a mouse pad of some sort may it be make shift or old fashion style.

Answer 3

Good question! I don't use one at my desk. I do have to use one if I move to the kitchen table and I figured out why. (I hate the touch pad on my laptop so I use a wireless mouse) I have the same problem if I try to use my laptop and mouse on the coffee table.

The reason I need a pad for the kitchen table and coffee table is that they're extremely reflective. One is tile and the other is glass. The optical mouse apparently gets a distorted signal from those surfaces. But my office desk has a matte finish, so the mouse works fine there.

This is just my theory, based on personal experience, but I hate lugging around one more item so I stopped using the pad if I can avoid it.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

Wireless Mouse Pad

Answer 5

Depends on the surface of the desk you are using. If the surface is too reflective, it can interfer with an optical mouse. Also a surface that has a pattern to it (including some wood grain on a desk) can cause problems but altering the angle of the reflection as you move over the different colors. I have seen many optical mouse problems that have been resolved by using a solid colored mouse pad.

So depending on the surface you are using, a mouse pad may still be needed. But if yours works fine without one, then go for it.

Answer 6

Don't need one. But I definitely prefer to use one with my optical mouse. The fact the mouse pad is a perfect smooth surface helps it glide easier, also shiny surfaces can cause an optical mouse to glitch.

If it's just day to day web browsing etc then you could do away with it if you really wanted to. For gaming I would definitely recommend one.

Answer 7

You never REALLY needed a mouse pad with the trackball mice either, so no you don't need one now. If you don't like the scratching noise of your mouse on your desk or you want to keep from damaging your desk by grinding whatever debris may get under your optical mouse you may still want one.

Answer 8

i hope so , read the following article

mousepad (sometimes mouse pad, mousemat, or mouse mat), is a surface for enhancing the usability of a computer mouse.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Benefits
3 Types
4 Designs
5 Materials
6 References



History

Mousetray screenshot from Engelbert's videoDuring a 1968 presentation by Douglas Engelbart marking the public debut of a mouse,[1] Engelbart used a control console designed by Jack Kelley of Herman Miller that included a keyboard and an inset portion used as a support area for the mouse.[1][2]

According to Kelley[3] and also stated by Alex Pang,[4] Kelley designed the first mousepad a year later, in 1969.

Details of a mousepad designed by Armando M. Fernandez were published in the Xerox Disclosure Journal in 1979 with the description:[5]

CRT CURSER CONTROL MECHANISM PAD
To assist the operation of a cathode ray tube pointer 10 wherein a metal ball is rolled on a hard surface, the disclosed pad may be utilized. A resilient, rubber-like material 12 is bonded or otherwise attached to a hard base material 14 which keeps the rubber-like material flat. The base has four rubber-like pads 16 on the opposite side from the resilient material to refrain the pad from sliding on the surface of a table, for instance.

—Xerox Disclosure Journal, Volume 4, Number 6, November/December 1979
By 1982, most users of the Xerox ball mouse were using mousepads.[6]

The Oxford English Dictionary tracks the term mouse pad to the 25 August, 1983, publication of InfoWorld, and the predominantly British term mousemat to 17 October, 1989, in the publication 3D.[7]


Benefits
The three most important benefits of the introduction of the mousepad were higher speed, more precision, and comfort for the user. A secondary benefit was keeping the desk or table surface from being scratched and worn by continuous hand and mouse rubbing motion. Another benefit was reduction of the collection of debris under the mouse, which resulted in reduced jitter of the pointer on the display.

When optical mice, which use image sensors to detect movement, were first introduced into the market, they required special mousepads with optical patterns printed on them. Modern optical mice can function to an acceptable degree of accuracy on plain paper and other surfaces. However, some optical mouse users may prefer a mousepad for comfort, speed and accuracy, and to prevent wear to the desk or table surface.


Types
A variety of mousepads exist with many different textured surfaces to fit various different types of mouse technologies. Vinyl board cover, because of its tackiness, was a popular mousepad surface around 1980. [citation needed]

After the rubberized silicon surface was incorporated onto the surface of the steel roller ball mouse, the popular fabric-surface mousepad was found to be the most appropriate. It helped keep the rubberized roller-ball surface cleaner and with better tracking, speed and accuracy than just a desk surface, which collected dirt and slowed the mouse's motion.

Optical mice have the problem of not working well on transparent or reflective surfaces (such as glass or highly polished wood). These surfaces, which often include desk and table surfaces, cause jitter and loss of tracking on the display pointer as the mouse moves over these reflective spots. The use of mousepads with precision surfaces eliminates spot jitter effects of modern optical mice.

Answer 9

I would suggest you have a mousepad. Using the table/desk still might give you a jittery mouse. At least my optical does when it isn't on some sort of pad. I have a small gel pad with a wrist rest.

Answer 10

That would be nice if you put mouse pad for mouse. I know what you talking about. For mouse's safety you can buy one.

Answer 11

i use ball mouse without a mouse pad for years already and my mouse still works properly.