Optical Mouse

[Phyl]

Anyone using a cordless optical mouse with their computer? Any reason why one shouldn't? Seems like I read some where that the computer polls an optical mouse more often and this could lead to problems with recording software.

 

[moskus]

I don't know, I use a regular cordless mouse, but really want an optical cordless mouse, I hate those stupid balls...

One thing for shure: An optical cordless mouse will drain more battery-power than a regular one.

I don't see no reason why you shouldn't get one...

 

[DeadPoet]

Personally, I prefer any PS/2 optical mouse over any USB mouse... disabling USB on my DAW helped me finding another free IRQ..


Herwig

 

[subtractor]

I use a usb optical and like it alot.

 

[Badger]

Hell yeah

USB WIRELESS optical. It rocks. I have a RF wireless keybaord and mouse combo, and its great, I can carry the keyboard anywhere in the studio, the vocal booth, whatever, and start/stop sonar with it.

FYI, you can also use the USB wireless mouse as a PS2...it has an adapter. but PS2 takes up a IRQ as well as serial ports. I have both of my serial ports disabled, and my PS2 mouse port, so that frees up 3 IRQ's right there. That way, I use one IRQ for usb to run my mouse, my flash card puck, and anything else I wanna plug in.

 

[Badger]

Personally, I prefer any PS/2 optical mouse over any USB mouse... disabling USB on my DAW helped me finding another free IRQ..


Herwig

Your PS2 port uses a IRQ as well, plus it can only be used for the mouse. Disable PS/2, enable USB, and you can use the USB port for multiple devices.

 

[pratt]

Any reason why one shouldn't? Seems like I read some where that the computer polls an optical mouse more often and this could lead to problems with recording software.

Use the adapter that comes with most (I know one comes with the Microsoft optical mouse) and plug it into your regular mouse port

the problem with optical mice/USB ports isn't as much about hogging an IRQ (as seems to be the popular opinion around here) - but rather the fact that an enabled USB port is, as you've suggested, 'polled' a few times a second to see if there is anything plugged into it. The USB ports are hot-swappable (don't have to reboot when you plug something in) - so the computer needs to keep checking if something has been plugged in. This is not the case with the normal serial ports (which are NOT hot-swappable). This constant 'polling' of the USB port by the computer can interrupt the flow of digital audio going through the computer from your soundcard source to your hard-drive - thus causing drop-outs and whatnot in your recording.

 

[Badger]

If you have a slow machine, that can be a problem....If you have a reasonably modern box, thats not gonna effect you much.

 

[RWhite]

I use both optical and non, wireless and non. The only thing I have noticed is that my wireless optical has a slight delay which is a problem in shooter games, both no problem with audio. Nice to be able to click "record" in Cakewalk from across the room.

 

[Phyl]

Nice to be able to click "record" in Cakewalk from across the room.

That's sounds like enough reason to give it a try. Thanks.

 

[alonso]

Well, for ergonomical reasons and because I sufferes severe pains in my right hand, I now use a Trackball Explorer and I can tell you it is worth the $45 it costs, all my problems are gone. About USB hogging IRQ. I have a Delta 1010 and when I played music or just opened regular Windows windows, jejejeje, I heard a lot of pops and annoying clicks, then I looked at the IRQs and found out the Delta was sharing the IRQ with two other USB devices, I disabled them all and now the clicks and pops are gone.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I have an IBM keyboard, a Logitech trackball mouse, a Cool Edit Pro Red Rover, a MIDI interface and a 4 way USB hub connected thru 1 USB port with no problems. If you have powered hubs, USB will support up to 127 devices! If your machine is too slow for it, then the problem is really with your machine. I've got USB devices on 2 computers and have had 0 problems.