two thumbs down on the Dell Mousepad

Question

I like my Dimension 8250, and before that, the 4500. And maybe I'l get a Dell notebook soon and I'll probably like that too. Unless I get a Toshiba instead.

My beef is with the Dell mousepad. The black one with the big silver Dell circle logo, and a crosshatch texture pattern that is supposed to make optical mice work better.

The Dell mechanical mouse with the roller ball does not work on the Dell mousepad. The ball skids.

The Dell optical mouse, made by Logitech, does not work on the Dell mousepad, the mouse pointer skips and does not move smoothly.

I just got a Logitech MX-300 optical mouse, with the new-technology optical engine that is also used in the expensive Logitech mice. I had high hopes for the Dell mousepad finally working. Nope. Same thing, the pointer skips and does not move accurately. The problem is that the mousepad surface is too shiny and smooth.

This is absolutely the worse mousepad I've ever used!

So I'm back to using the mousepad that came with the book "Peter Norton's Windows 3.0 Power Programming Techniques", from about 1990. Has a faded picture of Peter, but this pad still works great.

It's a good thing I did not pay for these pads. They cost $5 now. I pity the fool that buys the the Dell mousepad!!!

LOL!

srcopprell · Answer

datsun240z, If the only beef you have with Dell is the mousepad, consider yourself lucky...........LOL! Steve

se7en5ive2 · Answer

An optical mouse does not need a mousepad. The desktop surface is all you need, unless it is a glass top.

NFFAA · Answer

My mousepad (Dell) works fine with my Dell track ball mouse and my Logitech Mouseman optical mouse. Maybe you got a defective one.

Dell Dimension 4400/Windows XP Home SP1 with all updates
Norton AV 2003

2.4Ghz P4 400fsb w/ int. sound mobo
768 PC2100 ddr sdram
15" E151fp flat panel monitor
Ati Radeon 7500 64 Mb ddr agp card
20 Gb W.D. master H.D.
60Gb W.D. secondary H.D.
Sony DWU14ABK 4X/4X/12X DVD +/- RW
Sony DDU 1612A 16X DVD-ROM
Leadtek Winfast TV2000Xp TV tuner card
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Digital
4 port USB 1.1
4 port firewire PCI adapter card
Conextant V.92 data/fax modem
Belkin 4 port powered USB 1.1 hub
Harmon Kardon speakers
H.P. 930c Deskjet printer
H.P. 5400c Scanjet scanner
Sony TRV 330 Digital 8 HandyCam
Olympus Camedia D-390 digital camera
Intel ProPac Web cam
Palm IIIXE
Realistic LAB-310 Turntable
TEAC W-350 Dual Cassette Deck
Panasonic PV-4523S VCR

D.Russell · Answer

Now that I've switched over to a Optical Mouse, that Dell mouse pad makes a good Coaster for my Coffee cup on my desk. :-)

srcopprell · Answer

@D.Russell wrote:
Now that I've switched over to a Optical Mouse, that Dell mouse pad makes a good Coaster for my Coffee cup on my desk. :-)

Same here! They also make good isolation pads to set your bookshelf speakers on.

Steve

sandavis · Answer

Mine works ok but it is very flimsy. sanadavis

Jason98036 · Answer

I haven't used a mousepad for my mouse since I went optical ...

Since Dell doesn't put rubber feet on the 8300, I used my mousepad to balance and reduce vibration on the main box.

Message Edited by Jason98036 on 02-24-2004 08:49 AM

alevasseur14 · Answer

I went nutz trying to figure out why my optical mouse wouldn't track straight when I first got my computer.  It eventually came down to the mousepad so I ditched it.  I'm using the sUrface 1030 from func and it's the best mousepad on the market as far as I'm concerned.  Strait tracking and my mouse pointer never skips a beat.  www.func.net

talmy · Answer

I find I still like my old canvas-surfaced rubber mousepads for both optical and mechanical mice. The surface texture of the Dell pad is too slick for the mechanical mice and too reflective for my optical mice to work well. I've seen worse -- some give-aways are just a sheet of plastic.

datsun240z · Answer

Yep, I don't have any problems with the computers. Just a little comedy break about the mouse pad. It's the silly season.

That mouse pad does look cool. Maybe I will sand off the surface a bit to make it less glossy and smooth, and see if it works better. Otherwise it becomes a coffee cup placemat.

BTW the Logitech MX300 mouse works great, although I had to remove the Logitech "Mouseware" driver to get the scroll wheel to work smoothly. I just had the basic Dell mechanical mouse and Dell optical mouse before and they weren't too good.

mrgold · Answer

I have to say I have had no problems with mine. But like someone else said, If this is your only Dell problem, then is it really a problem? I think it works fine & looks pretty cool.

mrgold · Answer

HaHaHaHa. Or you could just learn to love it.  Still if you have a use for it, even if it does have to be a placemat, then at least you are still getting something out of it.

Dave Lyle · Answer

The Dell mouse pad works fine for me, both on my home and work machines. Perhaps you just need to clean your mouse more often.

talmy · Answer

I just got a new Dimension 8300 (of which I won't be using the mousepad, mouse or keyboard), but I noticed, sadly, that the only component labeled 'made in USA' was the mousepad. All the high tech items come from China, and the low tech mousepad we can't even get right!

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two thumbs down on the Dell Mousepad

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