Cordless optical mouse battery life problem

[sopjagung]

I got a Logitech Mouseman cordless optical and according to various reviews, it supposed to have about 3 months of battery life. However, my experience proved otherwise. Alkaline batteries only lasted for 3 weeks and ordinary batteries only 2 weeks!

Is there something I can do to prolong the battery life? I've never put the receiver far from the mouse, the distance is only a couple of inches. And the surface where I use the mouse is sufficiently bright colored (light brown table).

I've been using the mouse for 4 months and it's been a great experience. My only problem is the battery life.

TIA,

Hendra

 

[Confused]

Firstly, welcome to the Anandtech forums

I have the same mouse as you, and i have never had the batteries last 3 months! I think the best i've had is about 5 weeks. It all depends totally on how you use it.

If you are using the computer for a long time each day, then the batteries will last less time. I use mine on a lightish blue table, and can use it for about 4-5 hours a day, including some time in the dark. The darker the surface, the brighter the light has to shine, and the more you use it, the less time it's in standby!

When i have been on holiday and playing FPS games almost all day, then i have had a set batteries last about a week and a half!

I think that when the manufacturers put on how long they should last they don't move it at all, and put it on a brilliant white surface in a well lit room 24/7 until a set of batteries runs out fully (the LED goes out)!

My best suggestion would be to go out and buy a 4 pack of rechargeable batteries, and keep 2 charged and ready at all times! That's what i did after going through a couple of lots of alkaline batteries! Another suggestion is to take the batteries out when you are not using it (go to bed etc) then put them back in when you want to use the mouse again.



Confused

 

[sopjagung]

Thanks for the reply. No wonder the batteries only last for 2 weeks. I use the mouse quite extensively, 8 hours daily. Well, I guess that there's no escaping the reality. I'm stuck with replacing it every 2 weeks, at least it's my employer that'll foot the bill

Let's just hope that future versions of the optical cordless mouse have a much better energy saving feature.....

Hendra

 

[tenoc]

The question must be asked!

If the receiver is so close to the mouse, why have a cordless mouse in the first place, give the higher initial cost and the on-going cost of the batteries?

 

[sopjagung]

Hehehehe, I'm a sucker for cool gadgets. You've got to admit that the Mouseman looks cool I can make a thousand excuses for owning it, but it'll eventually boils down to the cool factor.

What a sucker huh?

Hendra

 

[dethman]

cordless non-optical here, i do the same just keep a spare set of rechargeables handy or the cost of alkalines will kill ya.

and per the question of why cordless...it's so much nicer not to have to deal with a damned cord tugging back for some reason...i've had cordless for around 4 years now i think and it pains me every time i have to use a mouse with a cord.

 

[guardfish]

I bought my Logitech Cordless ,Mouse and Keyboard in October 2001. Just replaced the original batteries in April 2002: The mouse pointer was shaky and hesitant to move. I keep my opuse ona dark blue mouse pad with hand wrest. My mouse and keyboard are about 18 inches away from the receiver due to my desk size.

Ed
guardfish@cox.rr.com