Trackball Vs. Optical Mouse
Technology is ever changing and at the forefront of the technological boom is the Personal Computer. And while computers get more advanced so do the means to control them. Trackball Mice were an innovation to computers because of their simple design and ability to move swiftly and effectively. However, since the introduction of the Optical Mouse, Trackball Mice have begun to sunk in popularity.
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What is an Optical Mouse?
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Optical Mice are upgraded versions of computer mice that use "optical lasers" to transmit the data of movement to a personal computer rather than the traditional "trackball." Since the boom of technology, these types of computer tools have become much more affordable as they are pretty much considered a "normal computer mouse" now. Optical Mice have many features that help set them apart from their Trackball cousins and are much easier to use.
Laser Misconceptions
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Many people are confused by the concept of "laser" guided movement. When we think of Lasers we normally think of harmful beams of concentrated light or advanced surgical techniques, but the lasers used in optical mice are not hazardous to the skin and do not damage objects they come in contact with. When thinking about the laser of an optical mouse think in terms of the fun little laser pointers that you can buy from novelty stores. The only safety concerns with optical mice lasers are if they come in prolonged contact with a person's eyes. It is not recommended with any optical object to look directly into a laser beam.
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USB Plug and Play
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A wonderful feature that comes accompanied with most Optical Mice is Plug and Play USB. Most new age operating systems will recognize an Optical Mouse and install it without the need for drivers and CD-Roms. USB is a much more versatile plug than a Trackball PS/2 plug because it can be plugged in and unplugged while the computer is still running. It is said that unplugging a PS/2 Trackball mouse from a PC while it is running could cause damage to the PC itself.
More Control
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Control is arguably the best aspect to an Optical Mouse vs. a Trackball Mouse. An Optical Mouse uses a laser to help guide it across a mouse pad which eliminates the bumpy ride associated with Trackball Mice. A smooth gliding motion helps users to work more efficiently at what they are doing and easily move objects and files around, often with better accuracy. Trackball Mice have a tendency to collect dirt and other grime in and around the Trackball itself. This can cause the ball to stop moving correctly or move in an awkward manner. Optical Mice eliminate this possibility by taking the pesky ball completely out of the equation.
Optical Mouse Flaw
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While an Optical Mouse is a much more efficient and standard selection compared with a Trackball Mouse, there are a few issues that revolve around the optical lasers. Like any other laser, when met with a surface that has shine or a mirrored surface, the laser is bounced back toward the object. This can cause a "mirror" image of the laser and can really confuse the mouse at times. The mouse will try to follow both lasers, which will leave you with a buggy pointer that isn't very useful at all. The best remedy for this situation is to always use a mouse pad, or when one isn't available to use a piece of paper or another flat object without any shine.
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