Bluetooth or IR wireless mouse?

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Im thinking of getting a new wireless mouse.

Which would consume less battery on the macbook pro, a mouse which uses the mac's built in bluetooth, or a wireless mouse that uses a USB receiver?

Is one type better or more responsive than the other? Im not considering a mighty mouse because I dont like them and there overpriced.

Thanks
 
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Here are a few thoughts:

http://elfishbeauty.tripod.com/id4.html

http://www.netrino.com/node/139

Neither of these comments on power consumption, at least not that I saw.

The key differences seem to be:

1/ Infrared is point to point and depends on a clean line of sight

2/ Bluetooth has a longer range and does not require line of sight, since it is RF based not light based.

It sounds to me that Bluetooth would be a better choice for mouse and keyboard, since you could move the mouse and keyboard pretty much anywhere relative to the receiver, you could move them farther away from the receiver than with IR, and you don't have to worry about desktop clutter interfering with the signal.

My 2 cents.
 
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Bluetooth using Energizer Lithium batteries. They are the longest life no doubt.
 
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Bluetooth using Energizer Lithium batteries. They are the longest life no doubt.

The mouse may last the longest, but what about the computer battery. Bluetooth drains battery, would it drain more battery than having a connected USB mouse?
 
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I have two wireless IR USB mice (Logitech & Microsoft). The mice use 2 AA batteries, and they last a year or so of heavy use before needing replaced. With a clean line of sight to the USB receiver they have a range of 10-15 feet. Without a clean line of sight, the range is probably 6-8 feet. I would imagine a BT mouse would have a longer range.

As for the Mac battery life, the USB receiver is not broadcasting--it is only a receiver. The battery drain is non-existent. Since Bluetooth is a two way broadcasting technology, I would assume it would have a greater battery drain.
 
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Thats what I would expect. So, the end result is better performance with BT, but longer battery with the USB mouse. I think... I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.
 
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Bluetooth certainly drains the battery quicker on my ThinkPad.
 
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well performance from my current IR mouse is fine, so I will probably go for another IR mouse then

thanks all.
 
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Having had a BT mouse for a week, there is NO way I'd go back. It also gives me back my 3 buttons that I'm comfortable with too.

Mine's a Microsoft mouse which I bought OEM for a fraction of the price of a boxed one, it's still on its first set of batteries.

BT is an 'overhead' or facility (depending on your viewpoint) and I use it to send documents to and from my Palm TX anyway.

It's personal choice (what a burden that can be) but I'd never go back to IR having used BT.

Good luck either way.
 
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I didn't even know they still made IR mice. IR seems like such an old technology, relying on line of sight and all...
 
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I'm not entirely sure IR is the correct term, because IR requires line of sight and it doesn't seem to be required to use the mice. At any rate, they are non-bluetooth cordless mice. Perhaps RF instead?
 
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I'm not entirely sure IR is the correct term, because IR requires line of sight and it doesn't seem to be required to use the mice. At any rate, they are non-bluetooth cordless mice. Perhaps RF instead?
That sounds more like it!
IR is supposedly a bit more responsive than bluetooth and you certainly have a larger selection.
I wouldn't mind an RF desktop mouse as I could just leave the dongle plugged in to my hub. But if I was planning on using my mouse on the go a lot as well, I'd probably opt for bluetooth.
 
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I wouldn't mind an RF desktop mouse as I could just leave the dongle plugged in to my hub. But if I was planning on using my mouse on the go a lot as well, I'd probably opt for bluetooth.

This could be the deciding factor. Bluetooth does not require a received to be plugged into your USB port.
 
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I would recommend RF. I bought a Logitech VX Revolution. It's an amazing mouse. I bought it used so batteries were already installed. Battery life is amazing. It uses AAAs so I don't have to worry about recharging. I can toss a new set of rechargables and be good to go.
Setup took seconds and the Logitech software is incredible. I can configure each button different to each app so it's a million times nicer than the Mighty Mouse.
I've seen a new Logitech reciever that is super small too.
 
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Oh, the VX Revo has a storage space for the receiver built into the inside of the mouse so traveling is no hassle.
 
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On a notebook you are hogging up usb ports with using a regular wireless mouse. My macbook only has 2 so if one is clogged up with a mouse receiver i'd need to lug around a USB hub too. No thanks.. I love my Bluetooth. Once its paired just turn it on and your ready to go. Logitech makes some nice bluetooth ones too if you don't like the mighty mouse.
 

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