Mouse for notebook

Whats the difference between a infrared and a bluetooth mouse?

 

Infrared is "normal" wireless, the kind that has a transmitter that you plug into your USB port. Bluetooth is a different type of wireless connection, that often works with an internal card and antenna, but can also be used with a USB Bluetooth transmitter if your laptop doesn't have Bluetooth inside.

The main difference is in versatility. Bluetooth is a universal connection, and a single BT module in a laptop will be able to connect to just about any BT accessory you can buy, including mice, keyboards, headsets, and cell phones. IR wireless modules, on the other hand, generally only work with the individual device that they're packaged with.

For example, my Asus 1201N came with a Bluetooth module installed internally. I recently bought a Razer Orochi Bluetooth mouse, and paired it to my laptop via the internal Bluetooth card. If I were to go out and buy any random Bluetooth headset at the store, it would also work with the same BT module I have right now.

If you buy a USB wireless mouse that uses infrared, it will come packaged with a wireless transmitter, usually about the size of a flash drive. You plug this in to a USB port on your laptop, and the mouse will pair with that particular transmitter. That same transmitter will not, however, work with any other mice, or keyboards, or headsets, or anything like that.

 

Bluetooth devices also seem to output signals much further than IR waves. It's kind of a silly moot point, but if you want to plug your laptop into a computer and browse from the couch or something Bluetooth would be the way to go.

 

My computer manual states that you can operate up to 5 devises at one time with the built in bluetooth. I use it with my palm TX and my bluetooth mouse. If you do not have built in bluetooth you can get a micro blluetooth usb dongle.

 

I know of no infrared mice. Can someone link one?

 

All you need to do is google wireless mouse and any that are not bluetooth are infrared.

 

The wireless is NOT infared, it use RF transmitters in the 2.4GHz band. Infared is like your TV remote that you need to point right at the TV set. You would not want an Infared mouse as you would have problems communicating if there was no line of site.

I just replaced a bluetooth mouse that I had been using for a few years. I was starting to have problems with the bluetooth connection dropping out. Not to mention the main click button was starting to give me trouble. The biggest gripe I had with it was the precision at which it moves the cursor is not as good as a regular RF transmitting mouse. You really notice it.

The replacement mouse I bought is a Logitech anywhere mouse. It uses the real tiny USB dongle. The anywhere part of the mouse means any type of surface it will function properly, and it is amazing in this regard.

 

Pretty sure they use radio signals rather than infrared which needs line of sight.

Ir is an obselete technology that I have not seen for a while.

 

Ha, posted at the same time as othonda. I was actually hoping that such a thing as an Ir mouse existed and that someone could find one. I used to have an Ir port on my old notebook, required having something like a mobile phone placed right next to it wihtout moving and had very slow transfer rates.

 

Some mice have infrared sensors, so that's a more likely meaning for "infrared mouse".
The Razer DeathAdder is a notable example, and the sensor in that mouse is one of the best; at the very least, it was the best mouse sensor at the time it came out.

 

I actually have an infrared logitech cordless mouse and keyboard, that was bought just last year from Wal-Mart for the special price of 29.99. Worst thing I've EVER bought. I knew it had to have line of sight to work, but wow, this thing is HORRIBLE. I can vouch that they do exist, but please never buy one. Bluetooth mice are much more reliable because they use RF on the 2.4GHz band so they'll likely work within a 30ft radius, and you won't have to have line of sight. Right now I currently have the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000, and it's the best cordless mouse I've ever bought.

 

You did not have a mouse that communicated with an infrared sensor. You may have had one that used an infrared sensor to track movement but not one that communicated with the computer.

If you did please link to it because I severly doubt it.

 

Don't be so sure. *Here* is a link to an evolution of what I bought, but you can clearly see the IR blaster on the KB, and the mouse's blaster is right below the buttons on the front. I know what I have, because I still use it everyday, as crappy as it is.

 

Then why does Logitech's product page state that the Cordless Desktop EX 100 include an RF USB adaptor?


In fact, on the features tab of the product page, it links to an explanation/'learn more' page in reference to the wireless capabilities of the kit, upon which there is no reference to infra-red at all.

 

hmm.. IDK. But I know the one on my desk is IR. Promise. But that's all I can do to prove it because they don't make one like mine anymore I guess. And I meant evolution in looks, mine looks similar (and was even priced similar). Anyways, if you don't believe me, you don't believe me... Bluetooth FTW!

 

Why bluetooth, what's wrong with normal wireless ones?

 

Bluetooth is already included on many machines so it cuts down on the need for a dongle and frees up a USB port.

 

I have also had an infrared mouse(as in infrared transmission)

I got it free with some magazine 2 or 3 years ago and it was horrible. As long as the line of sight was there it worked pretty well but the problem is that when I move the mouse around I naturally turn it and as soon as it points away from the reciever you lose connection.