What is the best Mousepad color for an optical mouse?

[bjassin]

Is there a difference between a black or a white mousepad surface when using an optical mouse? What color surface do most people have?

BJ

 

[brow]

With an optical mouse, a darker surface will work better.. actually since it is a tiny camera it is taking thousands of pictures, a surface with varying colors will work great, ie a mouse pad with a picture on it

 

[Dan]

I thought one "advantage" to an optical mouse was that a mouse pad was no longer needed.

 

[Shippy]

That's supposedly true, but from what I understand, if you have a white desk then the mouse may not work properly. I have an off-white desk (about the same color as my monitor) and the MS Explorer works just fine on it, but I have a mouse pad with a padded wrist rest for comfort.

 

[ktchong]

Check out Ratpadz. It's got rave reviews and a unique design that's good for optical mouse.

I have a 3M Precise Mousing Surface myself but it's made for mechanical mouse.

 

[ktchong]

As for cameras taking pictures, any photographer know that grey surfaces work the best. Photographers often carry grey cards for metering light, autofocusing, determining exposures, etc. So I would assume grey surfaces work best for optical mouse as well.

 

[Redwingsguy]

I use a piece of construction paper taped to my desk! Hasnt failed me yet!

 

[HD2GO]

Any surface with good surface features will work. The optical mouse is not that picky about the mousing surface so long as it is not a uniformly homogeneous one.

 

[okydoky]

I got a mouse pad free from Office Max advertising their Copy Max service for free. Damn thing has one hell of a nice surface. Thin too. My Intellimouse Optical glides on it and has not had an issue with skipping. Some of the best things in life are free, I did not beleive it 'till now.

 

[co0lbean]

My mouse pad is light and my mouse is soooo stupid