Wandering Mouse

gordoon · gordoon #1 (**permalink**)

03-29-2007, 09:34 PM

Every once in a while, just as I'm about to scroll, my mouse's arrow takes off in a different direction than I want it to, usually ending up on the to or side of the screen. Any ideas?????

giulio · giulio #2 (**permalink**)

03-29-2007, 11:10 PM

Is it an optical mouse on a wooden or glass desktop (no pad) ?

iKitten · iKitten #3 (**permalink**)

03-29-2007, 11:59 PM

I have an optical mouse (compaq) that does that sometimes. Sorry, I can't tell you why!

coach_z · coach_z #4 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 12:10 AM

your mousepad is to blame....the optical sensor might hit something on it registering it as a large movement, or if your cord hits something it might lift the mouse slightly also registering it as a few inch movement. make sure that everything is clean and shine-free
-chris

awrence · awrence #5 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 03:43 AM

I have the same phenomenon and do not have a mouse pad this is because, with a 24inch screen the pads are too small. Are there any good large alternatives for a mouse pad?

MaDDoG · MaDDoG #6 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 06:19 AM

I have changed mouse pads today for the same reason. I thought it was flattening batteries at first. But changed the mouse pad, which was new a week ago, and the problem has magically gone.

giulio · giulio #7 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 08:19 AM

An optical mouse uses sight, not movement. It takes a snapshot of the surface below hundreds of times a second. It compares each image with the previous image, and from the difference it knows how far the mouse moved.

I found that wood grain tends to confuse the optical mouses a lot. I think there is too much going on in the image for it to pick a good place marker. So it'll confuse some grains of the wood with others.

One would think that an image with lots of character gives the optics lots of placemarkers to pick and therefore get better results. But I found that a blank piece of paper, or a flat black mouse pad gives the best, actually perfect, results.

opus_az · opus_az #8 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 09:34 AM

A glossy desk gave my mouse the same grief. I'm not a fan of mouse pads. They're too small and thickness bugs me. Found this one that's ultra thin and very large. http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?...tk=all&An=text

awrence · awrence #9 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 09:51 AM

Thanks opus az for the information

gordoon · gordoon #10 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 11:11 AM

Thanks for all of the input. I have been using the mouse on my wood desk. I'll try a mousepad and hope this solves the problem. Glad to know I wasn't the only one to experience this. Thanks.

giulio · giulio #11 (**permalink**)

03-30-2007, 11:25 AM

I guessed right about the wood desk!! =)
Can I get a' arep!

gordoon #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 35	03-29-2007, 09:34 PM Every once in a while, just as I'm about to scroll, my mouse's arrow takes off in a different direction than I want it to, usually ending up on the to or side of the screen. Any ideas????? gordoon ______________________________
	QUOTE Thanks

giulio #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 19, 2007 Location: NY USA Posts: 1,813 Mac Specs: iMac 5.1 \| iMac 7.1 \| iPod Touch \| iPod Nano	03-29-2007, 11:10 PM Is it an optical mouse on a wooden or glass desktop (no pad) ? Freelance Web Development schweb This has to be one of the best threads ever in MF history... Cherokee This gets my vote for most innovative thread on Mac-Forums... ever.
	QUOTE Thanks

coach_z #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 23, 2004 Location: North NJ Posts: 3,169 Mac Specs: i dont have no mac's	03-30-2007, 12:10 AM your mousepad is to blame....the optical sensor might hit something on it registering it as a large movement, or if your cord hits something it might lift the mouse slightly also registering it as a few inch movement. make sure that everything is clean and shine-free -chris MoTM honor roll... when? i dont remember
	QUOTE Thanks

giulio #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 19, 2007 Location: NY USA Posts: 1,813 Mac Specs: iMac 5.1 \| iMac 7.1 \| iPod Touch \| iPod Nano	03-30-2007, 08:19 AM An optical mouse uses sight, not movement. It takes a snapshot of the surface below hundreds of times a second. It compares each image with the previous image, and from the difference it knows how far the mouse moved. I found that wood grain tends to confuse the optical mouses a lot. I think there is too much going on in the image for it to pick a good place marker. So it'll confuse some grains of the wood with others. One would think that an image with lots of character gives the optics lots of placemarkers to pick and therefore get better results. But I found that a blank piece of paper, or a flat black mouse pad gives the best, actually perfect, results. Freelance Web Development schweb This has to be one of the best threads ever in MF history... Cherokee This gets my vote for most innovative thread on Mac-Forums... ever.
	QUOTE Thanks

opus_az #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 275	03-30-2007, 09:34 AM A glossy desk gave my mouse the same grief. I'm not a fan of mouse pads. They're too small and thickness bugs me. Found this one that's ultra thin and very large. http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?...tk=all&An=text iMac, MB, MB Air, nano
	QUOTE Thanks

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awrence #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 15, 2007 Location: utrecht, netherlands Posts: 75 Mac Specs: i-mac dual-core 2.16Ghz 24inch, Macbook 2.4Ghz alu, 27" iMac Core 2 Duo 3.06Ghz	03-30-2007, 03:43 AM I have the same phenomenon and do not have a mouse pad this is because, with a 24inch screen the pads are too small. Are there any good large alternatives for a mouse pad?
	QUOTE Thanks

MaDDoG #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 01, 2007 Location: Oz.....near the Wizards home Posts: 1,918 Mac Specs: iMac 24' 7 Snow Leopard + Parallels and Win 7 \| 30 Gb iPod \| Canon EOS 400D	03-30-2007, 06:19 AM I have changed mouse pads today for the same reason. I thought it was flattening batteries at first. But changed the mouse pad, which was new a week ago, and the problem has magically gone.
	QUOTE Thanks

awrence #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 15, 2007 Location: utrecht, netherlands Posts: 75 Mac Specs: i-mac dual-core 2.16Ghz 24inch, Macbook 2.4Ghz alu, 27" iMac Core 2 Duo 3.06Ghz	03-30-2007, 09:51 AM Thanks opus az for the information
	QUOTE Thanks

gordoon #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 35	03-30-2007, 11:11 AM Thanks for all of the input. I have been using the mouse on my wood desk. I'll try a mousepad and hope this solves the problem. Glad to know I wasn't the only one to experience this. Thanks. gordoon ______________________________
	QUOTE Thanks

giulio #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 19, 2007 Location: NY USA Posts: 1,813 Mac Specs: iMac 5.1 \| iMac 7.1 \| iPod Touch \| iPod Nano	03-30-2007, 11:25 AM I guessed right about the wood desk!! =) Can I get a' arep! Freelance Web Development schweb This has to be one of the best threads ever in MF history... Cherokee This gets my vote for most innovative thread on Mac-Forums... ever.
	QUOTE Thanks

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