Bluetooth vs. USB wireless Mouse...?

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mtbiac · #1 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 10:33 am

I'm looking to get a wireless mouse for my T42p (with bluetooth). I'm not sure what the advantages/disadvantages of bluetooth are. Does it use more battery life than USB? better signal? Will is SLOW down my computer at all (more so than USB)? If I get a USB mouse, it would be the kind with the very tiny, portable USB receiver that sticks out of the USB port.

I dont really want to spend more than around $35, and I dont really want a mouse that is excessively large which wuold be less than ideal for traveling, although a majority of the usage will be done in my dorm room.

If you have any experience with a particularly nice bluetooth or usb wireless mouse that you think I should checkout, please let me know

thanks for the advice

ian · #2 Post by **ian** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 10:40 am

I rather like the idea of a Bluetooth mouse but as I live in the technologically/economically backward part of Western Europe, $35 would buy me the cardboard packing for the mouse I'd like to buy, and that's IF I actually found it over here...

As for USB, which is the type of wireless mouse I have - a neat little Logitech (Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks) - the only real disadvantage, as someone else pointed out, is the fact that it runs from batteries - which will eventually run out (usually in the middle of your most important client presentation)

The third, and possibly most obvious type, is the standard optical wired mouse - I have a Logitech Mouseman Traveller which is small, has a neat short cable with an extension supplied in the box, and at present only costs 22€ here in France ($26 US - but no doubt cheaper in the US)

Biggie2 · #3 Post by **Biggie2** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 10:52 am

You prbably will have a hard time finding a bluetooth mouse for 35 bucks.

I got mine for about 50 (its a Belkin, should arrive today in the mail).

mtbiac · #4 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 11:08 am

well I'd definitely consider spending more, but only if the advantages of bluetooth outweighted the price increase.

I'm still uncertain of the differences between bluetooth and USB wireless mice. Do the bluetooth mice require batteries? will it shorten T42p battery life? will it slow down T42p at all (I use many cpu/graphics intense programs)

thanks again

ian · #5 Post by **ian** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 11:13 am

Bluetooth 'ANYTHING' will use some kind of power source, so yes, a mouse will use batteries - it's a radio transceiver after all. I can't see the power drain on the laptop being excessive, or even noticeable - I mean these things have a range of a few feet so the Thinkpad's not going to be broadcasting in Watts, more like milliwatts...

As for slowing the Thinkpad down, why on earth should it do that? Just look at the power of the T42/p series - I find it hard to think you or I will ever be as fast as the response time of a laptop to it's wireless mouse...

mtbiac · #6 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 11:19 am

ian wrote:Bluetooth 'ANYTHING' will use some kind of power source, so yes, a mouse will use batteries - it's a radio transceiver after all. I can't see the power drain on the laptop being excessive, or even noticeable - I mean these things have a range of a few feet so the Thinkpad's not going to be broadcasting in Watts, more like milliwatts...

As for slowing the Thinkpad down, why on earth should it do that? Just look at the power of the T42/p series - I find it hard to think you or I will ever be as fast as the response time of a laptop to it's wireless mouse...

yeah true, but I was talking more along the lines of game play slowing down because of bluetooth, but I guess that if it did at all, it would be unnoticeable...

mtbiac · #7 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 12:27 pm

I think I'm going to get the Microsoft Wireless intellimouse explorer bluetooth. Amazon has it on sale for $63. I LOVE the feel of these mice, so hopefully it'll work well. Some guy on amazon posted a review of the mice and his T40p and he claims it works well. only problem people seem to have is somewhat short battery life, but I guess this is to be expected....

linkage: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... lectronics

what do you guys think? I was going to order that Bluetake bluetooth mouse that many are raving over, but it is TINY, too tiny for me...

Biggie2 · #8 Post by **Biggie2** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:04 pm

I like it too, but its bigger than what i want for travel

Most bluetooth (and probably wireless as well) will only last about 6 weeks on the batteries so you will have to replace them all the freakin time... which sucks...

mtbiac · #9 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:10 pm

Biggie2 wrote:I like it too, but its bigger than what i want for travel

Most bluetooth (and probably wireless as well) will only last about 6 weeks on the batteries so you will have to replace them all the freakin time... which sucks...

yeah true. I have some extra rechargables lying around (I think) which should cover battery life.

anyways - I just ordered it, hope I like it

I really liked that Bluetake bluetooth mouse, but its just wayyy to small for me - I'd rather just use the trackpad...

Peters · #10 Post by **Peters** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:13 pm

hi mtbiac

i have a t40p and i bought the logitech mx900 and the m$.

common pro's:

both are working out of the box, real plug'n'play
activate bluetooth and pair the device

you have no cable and both are optical mice

common con's:

both must have batteries and you can feel this!
not that precise as the usb optical mice

first, i tested the m$ mouse. cool design, cool feeling, cool additional mouse buttons - but no fun when it comes to precision. playing d3 with that mouse won't be fun!

the logitech feels less comfortable, got more buttons and doesn't look that good. the precision is quite good, but optical usb mice are still the best when it comes to d3 .

(currently using the m$ intelli expl. v3)

if you love the feel of these m$ mice then buy one. if you don't like a jerking mouse, don't buy the m$, buy the logitech instead.

if you don't like the heavy weight, save your money and take the usb optical mouse.

mtbiac · #11 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:16 pm

how badly does it jerk? I read a bunch of reviews saying it was pretty precise. I do REALLY like the feel of the MS intellimice (I'm using one right now).

I'm thinking about changing my order to the USB version, but I really dislike the cabled wireless "hub" idea, I'd rather have that small 1in long adapter that plugs into the USB slot, but not many have this....

Biggie2 · #12 Post by **Biggie2** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:57 pm

Ill let yall know how my bluetooth experience goes when i get my Belkin... Id imagine the Belkin mouse being even less precise than the micro or logitech... dont have d3 yet but farcry should suffice

Peters · #13 Post by **Peters** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 2:22 pm

how badly does it jerk?

imho the m$ mouse is good enough for some office and email stuff but not for gaming esp. 3D EGO shooters.

why don't you buy the mouse and give it a try....

i really do love the look and feel of the m$ mouse, too - but no way ....

less precision than my old m$ mouse - i won't pay for regress, yk

what kind of cabled wireless hub. do you mean the cradle with bluetooth?

mtbiac · #14 Post by **mtbiac** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 2:42 pm

the wireless receiver that plugs into the computer to connect to the USB mouse. It's this plastic box thing and has a cable attached to it - if I wanted cables and stuff I would have just bought a regular, corded mouse for their ultra preciseness

anyways - the MS bluetooth should be here on tuesday

Bluetooth vs. USB wireless Mouse...?

Bluetooth vs. USB wireless Mouse...?

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