This is probably a little off topic, but where can a person buy a
LARGE mouse pad? I used to just use my mouse on the desk. I always
hated mouse pads for the simple reason I like to move my arm to
different parts of the desj to eliminate fatigue, and I hear this
helps avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. So, either I am always moving the
pad, or going off the edge with the mouse. I'd like a pad that's
about 16 inches. Does anyone sell something like that? Or, can the
material they are made from be purchased in a roll to make my own?

The reason I no longer use the desktop is because the mouse motion
wore off the desk finish, and after that, I found the mouse "skipping"
all the time. I cleaned it numerous times thinking it was dirty. I
finally threw it in the trash and bought a new one, only to find I had
the same problem and threw away a good mouse. There is actually a
slight indent in the desktop wood, so that's most likely the problem.
I am now using a much too small pad and the mouse works fine as long
as I keep it on the pad.

JW

"Jeepwolf" <jeepwolf@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:67oql39u7ar13orqn1q34boje4b7ehjjqc@4ax.com...
Very cheap and very good mousepad is one of those thick plastic cutting
boards. You want one with a rough texture to it, not smooth.

I've had mine almost a year... about 10"x14" and works well.

"Jeepwolf" wrote:
Yellow pages, look for "countertop" or "flooring". Ask them if they sell
remnants, brands will be Formica or Wilsonart, mainly. Get a big chunk for
a couple of bucks, cut it to size, and try it out. You might have to go
with a pattern (non solid color) with some optical mice, but laser mice work
fine on anything.

The advantages are low cost, low profile, custom sizing, and the material is
incredibly slick against the teflon sliders on your mouse.

Jon

On 2007-12-10, Caleb <myspam@csd.ca> wrote:
AND/OR get either get a "laser" mouse or trackball; there is no ball to move
or clean on a laser mouse (think they are all of the usb wireless type); a
trackball helps relieve the arm problems as (so far for me) tthe laser type
mouse as well.

On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:01:06 -0600, Jeepwolf
<jeepwolf@gmail.com> wrote:

You might have a hobby/craft or fabric store that sells
fabric with a foam backing.

Otherwise, there are large mouse pads.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817114174

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817114182

Search around Newegg's site and your other preferred
sellers, most any large mousepad should have the dimensions
listed.


You are still using an ancient balled mouse instead of an
optical mouse? Get a laser mouse, it will track great on
most surfaces. In that case the mousepad is for your
comfort more than mouse performance unless you needed some
very precise mousing for gaming then there are custom pads
that cost quite a bit more but are nowhere near as big as
you wanted.

"Jeepwolf" wrote in message
news:67oql39u7ar13orqn1q34boje4b7ehjjqc@4ax.com...
You could try using a trackball instead of a mouse. The device
doesn't move, just the ball inside.

You might try calling a local scuba shop to ask where to get some
neoprene material used for wetsuits. While they probably just stock
the wetsuits from a manufacturer, they should know were to find the
material to do repairs on those wetsuits. Then you could get whatever
size you like. Wetsuits can have a cloth side (I actually get it on
both inner and outer surfaces to reduce friction putting it on and
also for donning the gear) because the bare neoprene would be too
sticky. You could buy a piece to cover your entire desk.

On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:02:47 -0500, kony <spam@spam.com> wrote:

Thanks for your, and everyones suggestions. I'll check the links.

As far as the ball-less mice, are they as accurate as a ball mouse?
Years ago, I tried a cordless mouse. It required a special metal pad
with small squares on it. Somehow those squares guided it. That
thing was about as inaccurate as possible. I do some graphic work and
at times modify pixel by pixel. I require accuracy for that use, and
that thing was not even close to accurate. I have not tried a
cordless mouse since, although I would assume they are better now.
That thing I had was back in the Windows 3.x days, so I know that was
long ago.

As far as trackballs, I have owned several and never could get used to
them. I'm rather picky about my mouse. The only ones I have ever
liked were the actual "Microsoft mouse". I like the curve of them,
whereas round or oval shaped ones just dont fit the hand well. I've
tried others, and they never felt comfortable, and I always go back to
the Microsoft mice. Microsoft software has never been my favorite,
but they make the best mice (even though I dont think they are
actually made by Microsoft), and on the back they say made in China,
and are called the intellimouse.

In message <kdmul358bq5un84mmsj60dq367bj34hprj@4ax.com> Jeepwolf
<jeepwolf@gmail.com> wrote:

Modern laser mice are far far better then any ball mouse ever dreamed of
being. Current generation are functioning in resolutions of 2000dpi,
with a reporting rate that would make a PS/2 interface cry.

Those were old skool, and actually predated ball mice somewhat.

Microsoft has some nice looking gaming mice these days, although I'm
having trouble investing in one just to play with, I'm currently using a
Logitech G5 (corded) and a Logitech Optical Trackman trackball, the
combination gives me the ability to flip back and forth based on task
and comfort -- I'd highly recommend trackballs, although I can't quite
commit to using one 100% of the time.

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:59:20 -0600, Jeepwolf
<jeepwolf@gmail.com> wrote:



??

They are FAR more accurate than a balled mouse.



As with everything else, optical mice evolved. Your trial
years ago has no correlation to modern mice.

Get a modern laser mouse, check stores for a shape that
suits you. You've no ideal what you're missing out on, a
balled mouse is really crude compared to contemporary
offerings.

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:09:29 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:

I know what I like and what I dislike !!!!

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:59:20 -0600, Jeepwolf
<jeepwolf@gmail.com> wrote:


MS has called several of theirs, some version of
"intellimouse". Perhaps you are referring to what might be
the original shape, the 2nd picture on this page?

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000865.html

The following page has a picture which seems to suggest that
shape did come in an optical version, at least somewhere...
maybe just Japan or maybe in the US and elsewhere too, I
don't know.
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/a...0000327/ms.htm

Well... check this out:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16826105067\

but really, there are so many different mouse shapes on the
market now, there is probably something current-generation
you could find if you looked for awhile. Considering you
seem to use a mouse for a decade it might be worth the time
to get something modern so you enjoy the best performance
today's tech offers for years of use.

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:26:36 -0600, Jeepwolf
<jeepwolf@gmail.com> wrote:


.... but what if there is a mouse model you don't know about,
that you wouldn't dislike? Sometimes trying to figure out
the actual slope and size of a mouse online via pictures is
difficult, but at worst you take your chances and buy one,
returning it if it isn't right. First class mail for a
mouse is a couple dollars, and maybe a restocking fee but
that's negligable on a low cost item like (plain generic
versus uber gamer styles of) a mouse.

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:53:57 -0500, kony <spam@spam.com>
wrote:


OOPS! They're calling it an optical mouse but the pictures
clearly show a ball, which makes no sense at all but I'd
trust the picture before the word "optical" in the
description since some balled mice still used optical
sensors in them... it's just unusual these days for any of
those to be called optical mice.