Are you still using the old, obsolete and hard-to-navigate mouse with heavy mouse ball underneath? It’s hard to believe that there are still people using it, but if you still are, here are some great reasons to switch to an optical mouse.

Low Maintenance
Because optical mouse don’t rely on balls to detect cursor’s location on your computer’s monitor, it significantly requires less maintenance. Optical mouse uses LED (light emitting diode) – which is usually red in color – detects every movement of the device. When moving, the optical mouse takes thousands of pictures of the surface where it’s placed. It does its navigation by measuring and comparing the minute distances where the mouse travels when being moved in a flat surface, and it can tell you how far to move your cursor.

Because it doesn’t use the ball, it’s way easier to maintain. Meaning, you no longer need to regularly clean up the ball underneath. Also, optical mouse is way smoother to navigate on your screen and has better continuous cursor movements. The ball of the mechanical mouse on the other hand, becomes irritatingly choppy when it clogs dirt and dust.


No More Mouse Pads
Optical mouse only need a flat surface to work, this can be on top of your computer desk, a book, bench, etc. Thus, it negates the need for mouse pads. Mouse with mouse ball relies on mouse pads to detect and translate onscreen movements.

However, when using your optical mouse, make sure you use opaque surfaces. Transparent surfaces like glass will cause the LED light to seep through the surface, causing it to move inaccurately on your screen.

Lightweight
Optical mouse are significantly lighter than the old-school ball mouse. Thus, it’s a lot easier to maneuver on any flat surface, making it very convenient for people working long hours on their computers. Also with optical mouse, you will encounter less friction and resistance in navigating your mouse on any surface, thus minimizing hand and wrist strains.

Eye-catching
One of the best characteristics you will find on optical mouse is its appealing feature. Modern mouse models include sophisticated designs, making it not just lovely to look at, but feels very comfortable in your hands. Optical mouse are usually in red LEDs, however, more modern designs are now in blue and green LEDs. Other optical mouse even has transparent casings, making the light glow evidently in dimly lit areas. Some designs even cycle through variety of colors.