[Closed] Mouse mats?

yes - other wise my mouse grates along the desk.....

Thanks trail_rat. 🙂

Yes, for trail_rat's reason - the mouse tracks much quieter on the mat.

only when using my glass table as the optical mouse doesn't work

Thanks for the replies.

I was kinda assuming that most people use either a phone or a laptop and therefore had no use for one.

Nah, the desktop still rules supreme in our office.

I have a cordless mouse - which I hate. I call it Adolf. The mat, on the other hand, inspires no negative emotions.

i do use a laptop.

laptops are horrible for ergonomics and if you work at a computer you will end up with an RSI quickly.

first thing in the bag after my laptop and power pack when traveling is the optical mouse (and i clarified that its an optical as some of the mice in our office are still using balls !!!!!!! )

nope, got a graphic tablet mouse.

Not at work. Wooden desk + laser/optical mouse so no need.

Use one at home, but mainly just to stop the white desk getting grubby where my wrist rests.

Only really need one on a shiny textureless surface as optical mice don't like those. Or for [url= http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-mouse-pads ]serious gaming[/url] obviously

Not at work but I do at home. Simply as none of the mats at work stay put.

I have a mouse mat at home which is over 10 years old, goes through the washing machine occasionally for a clean & when it comes out, it looks like new. It doesn't move around on the desk and the edges don't jab into my wrist. No other mouse mat I've used is even half as good.

I prefer using a mat simply for quietness on the desk.

Is this some secret research, cinnamon_girl? Are you thinking of moving into the mouse mat manufacturing sector?

I do at work, but I have a laptop and iPad at home.

I was kinda assuming that most people use either a phone or a laptop and therefore had no use for one.

I'm using a laptop here - but it is hooked up to two external monitors (3 screens FTW!), plus a full-size keyboard and mouse.

No way I'd work all day on just a laptop.

nope, some surfaces appear to cause funny effects with optical but work and home I don't bother, specially not at home, gaming I tend to use a [i]lot[/i] of desk space for mouse wiggling/aiming, could be my crap technique tho.

Some interesting replies, thank you!

camo - OK I'll come clean. Following on from my recent volunteering, I suggested that perhaps printed mouse mats could be sold to raise funds for repairs. It then occurred to me later that it's probably only old dinosaurs like me who uses one.

So, yes, I'm researching. 😉

I was just thinking this am that I needed a new mouse mat but wasnt sure anywahere still sells them!

Or for serious gaming obviously

"Wooden desk + laser/optical mouse so no need."

your company obviously buys you good mice......

people in my office have been killed for offences less than grating the supplied mice across desks ......

I suggested that perhaps printed mouse mats could be sold to raise funds for repairs.

Well, it's not a bad idea, presuming you're talking about some seriously funky mats!

The only issue I can see is that, although I've used mouse mats for over 10 years, I can't actually remember buying one... the ones we have in the office are freebies from some trade fair we attended a while back...

laptops are horrible for ergonomics and if you work at a computer you will end up with an RSI quickly.

I dunno.. I seem to be doing ok.

Although I might try to get work to give me a monitor and docking station.. but I dunno that it'd make a difference tbh.

next - whats on your mouse mat 😉

[img] [/img]

carefully taken to hide the company but the content never fails to make me laugh inside when i look down.....

This dinosaur likes a cork table mat, tactile and warm. The mouse has a little red light. Is that for it to see where it's going?

sorry, it's a bit grubby.

But it's surprisingly still true much of the time 🙂

[img] [/img]

yes but your special molly ....[peter griffin]and not special like special K - special like the hyndman kid down the street ...... [/peter griffin]

Only really need one on a shiny textureless surface as optical mice don't like those

Got a gaming mousemat, cos they're a bit larger than the cheap/freebies, and all is fine.

Work desk is smooth, but the cheap corparate logo'd mousemat gives smoother mouse travel.

I use one of these for my keyboard and mouse matt
[img] http://tinyurl.com/cmuws3o [/img]
they're great, nice and thin, don't move and are plenty big enough and add a bit of character to my otherwise dull workspace, except Bob my pot plant

I never use a mouse mat anymore. My desk and the desks at work are wooden so don't need one. Not sure I've even seen anyone else at work using one.

Although I might try to get work to give me a monitor and docking station.. but I dunno that it'd make a difference tbh.

You'd have 2 screens for a start which is generally pretty useful regardless!

I just use mine on the desk, it has teflon sliding patches so just glides over the veneer of real wood......

next - whats on your mouse mat

Mine's the dullest, most coffee stained mouse mat in the land! It says: ESTA: Electronic System for Travel Authorization: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. That's the first time I've looked at it in about 3 years. Needs a wash. 🙁

So, if you're making mats, I may just be in the market. 😉

Damn right I'm special 🙂

You'd have 2 screens for a start which is generally pretty useful regardless!

Hmm not sure I'd like a laptop screen and a wall mounted monitor. I like dual monitors to be next to each other. They wouldn't even be in the same plane.

Steelseries QcK for my Wheel Mouse Optical v1.1

I think using the bare table would significantly impact my rail accuracy 🙂

your company obviously buys you good mice......
people in my office have been killed for offences less than grating the supplied mice across desks ......

As per footflaps, it is just a fairly inexpensive Genius mouse but it has four little teflon pads and slides fine (as long as they are kept clean).

To be honest if work gave me a really crap mouse I'd go out and buy my own. I'm using it for 8 hours a day so makes sense to have something decent.

> laptops are horrible for ergonomics and if you work at a computer you will end up with an RSI quickly.

I dunno.. I seem to be doing ok.

I worked for six months once just using a bare laptop. Developed a weird RSI twitchy spasm in my right thumb which has never completely gone away. Can't say I'd recommend it.

You can pick up a reasonable USB mouse+keyboard combo for about £15. And a cheapy TFT screen for £50.

The only issue I can see is that, although I've used mouse mats for over 10 years, I can't actually remember buying one...

I think this is a very good point! Pretty common freebie so not something I'd ever spend money on unless it was really nice.

I've not used mouse mats in years. I found that many of them have shiny surfaces utterly unsuitable for a mechanical (ball) mouse. The best mat I ever had was a foot square cork tile from a DIY shop, absolutely perfect traction.

In the days of optical mice, they're largely redundant unless you've got a shiny desk, in which case I'd probably just use a sheet of paper or something.

Mine is a bog standard Microsoft Mouse....

Have to clean the lumps of congealed dead skin and other detritus off the slidy patches every so often...

Yep, still use one here, at work.
I drop my laptop into a docking station that is linked up to twin 19" external monitors.
The mousemat in question is an ancient BAE Systems Submarine Solutions item...

Hmm not sure I'd like a laptop screen and a wall mounted monitor. I like dual monitors to be next to each other. They wouldn't even be in the same plane.

Works for me:

[img] [/img]

Middle monitor does most of the work. Side monitors are used for referencing documents/email and running virtual machines or remote desktops etc.

Waaaaaaay better than just using a laptop screen. Aside from anything else, it is near impossible to get a laptop screen to the proper ergonomic height especially if you plan on using the laptop's keyboard!

I don't raise my laptop screen, I lower my head 🙂

Have to clean the lumps of congealed dead skin and other detritus off the slidy patches every so often...

GrahamS, do those foamy-wrist-support thingies really work?

I'm RSI-tastic from over typing and trying to work out the ergonomic solution to my joint twinges...

I use a laptop. At the office (one or two days a week) I have a mouse with ball, separate monitor and keyboard - and mouse mat. At home (remainder of working week) I have an optical mouse and keyboard, the laptop sits on a raised shelf and is a good height for using its screen as monitor. No mouse mat here as I've struggled to find a good one, but I've only been on this regime since Tuesday

separate to all his, my home desktop wot I am using right now, has wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse - and a mouse mat.

I have a trackball. I'm old-school.

I don't raise my laptop screen, I lower my head

Only way I could get my head level with a laptop screen would be top put my chair as low down as it goes - which would mean I'd have my knees round my ears instead of a nice ergo 90° angle.

Screen should be set up high enough so that when you look forward, with your back straight, you are looking about at a point one third of the way down the screen.

GrahamS, do those foamy-wrist-support thingies really work?

It's a gel one - yeah I find it quite good when typing. (I don't get on with the mouse ones though).

It's also really comfy for leaning my elbow on whilst pondering (or idly reading forums) 😀

Don't use the laptop screen, just two big monitors:

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8621960636_24f34161db.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8621960636_24f34161db.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/8621960636/ ]My Desk[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

Dullest. Thread. Ever.

🙂

Dullest. Thread. Ever.

* reconsiders 'what pen holder...?' thread idea and takes a ninja bite out of IHN's chocolate brownie. *

Blimey, playing catch-up!

If you scroll down to near the end of this:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/wish-me-luck-7

My wimminz logic reckons that if visitors were to buy a mouse mat featuring a pic of the beautiful church, it would serve as a reminder that they need to visit again. Remember though that this church is only actually open for around 20 days per year. It's not just any old church, it's in the middle of Salisbury Plain for starters!

As long as the cost isn't silly obviously.

I junked most of my mouse mats recently as they weren't being used. The relics are bing used as antivibration pads under the washing machine.
All the mats were trade show giveaways, not bought.

Would coasters or mug-mats sell better ?

footflaps - are you CFHs biggest customer ?

[i]*examines footflaps screen* [/i]

Is that Visual Basic? Hang your head!

are you CFHs biggest customer ?

What does he sell?

Is that Visual Basic? Hang your head!

Yep, knew I'd get grief for that!

I use one at work, a Taz one given to me by friends about fifteen years ago. It's got a sort of woven satin-ey type of surface, which the mouse really glides over. Bit grubby atm, needs a clean.
Don't use one at home, though, 'cos my computer's eight feet away under the telly, and I use a BT keyboard and Magic Trackpad, Velcro'd to an A3 sheet of Foamex display board. Handy for resting a mug of tea on when sprawled on the couch... 😀

post its 😉

Flashy sells Post-it Notes? That's gotta be a really exciting job! 😉

IHN - Member
Dullest. Thread. Ever.

Throws cream cake at Nettles. 😉

Good luck with the move. 🙂

<ducks>

Thank you! 🙂

FWIW, yes, I use a mouse mat.