Optical Vs. Laser Notebook Mouse
For the computer gamer, the choice between an optical mouse and a laser mouse is a big one. In online gaming what mouse you use is similar to a soldier selecting his weapon of choice. It can have a significant impact on performance and the outcome of your game. To the rest of us, the deciding factor may not be performance but reliability, or how long the mouse will last.
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Laser Mouse
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A laser mouse is aptly named due to the laser positioned on the bottom of the mouse. It has a clear advantage over a ball mouse as it is far more precise and is not subject to the same physical wear and tear due to less moving parts. The laser reflects off of your mouse pad back into the mouse and the signal received allows the mouse to interpret movement. A laser mouse can achieve a DPI (dots per inch) of up to 3,200.
Optical Mouse
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An optical mouse works by using a small camera in the bottom of the mouse to track movement. The camera takes thousands of pictures per second and uses that information to determine how far the mouse moved and in what direction. Like the laser mouse, the optical mouse is a vast improvement over the ball mouse due to it's lack of moving parts. Optical mice have a maximum DPI of 2,000.
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Accuracy
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In a mouse, accuracy is measured in dots per inch (DPI). DPI measures how many dots the mouse can read every time you move the mouse one inch. In this the laser mouse has the clear advantage. An optical mouse can have a DPI as high as 2,000, which is much higher than a track ball, but the laser mouse is capable of receiving 3,200 DPI.
Battery Life
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While the laser mouse has newer, more-advanced technology than the optical mouse, the battery life span is surprisingly similar. Both the optical and the laser mice batteries have to be replaced on an average of three times a year. This is somewhat surprising given that the laser mouse has more high-powered technology.
Gamer Preference
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In a poll taken on an online gamer website, 63 percent of players say they choose the optical mouse as their mouse of choice, while 37 percent said they prefer a laser mouse. The article says this can be partially attributed to laser mice still being somewhat of a new technology.
Price
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As of 2009, the average optical mouse costs around $35, while a laser mouse is about $45. Again, the disparity in cost could have to do with the newer technology of laser mice. In time, pricing for both should be about the same.
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