Laser mouse safety question

[gsdx]

Just a few minutes ago, my laser mouse began to 'scratch' as I moved it over the pad and, when it did, the cursor stopped. On closer examination, I discovered that the little plastic cover over the laser was broken into two pieces. (Don't ask me how. The mouse has never even been dropped on the floor.)

Anyway, a shake of the mouse and the two pieces fell out onto the mouse pad. The mouse is working again, but I'm concerned about the lack of a cover over the laser. Is it safe to use or should I chuck it and get a new mouse?

[andysayshi]

The laser in a mouse is very low-powered. There's no danger to you, your desk or your computer. Don't hold any laser device up to your eye for long periods.

[GamerBear]

They are not extremely expensive unless you are using a wireless mouse, I am using a USB mouse that I got for 10 dollars and I use it all the time on my laptop cause quite frankly the track pad on it sucks. If the one you have isn't expensive then go out and get a new one.

[M10000]

You dont need to use a mouse pad. I havent used one in 10+ years

[gsdx]

If the one you have isn't expensive then go out and get a new one.

I will, but may not get to the store for a few days.

So far, it seems to be working fine, and I don't usually look at the underside of the mouse anyway. I'm guessing the broken plastic was refracting the laser which is why the cursor wouldn't move.

By the way, I use the pad because it has a wrist support on it that I like.

Thanks, guys.

[andysayshi]

Another good reason to use a mouse pad is if you own a very nice desk that you don't want to scratch!

[T-Rexx]

Without the plastic cover, the laser may burn through your desk/tabletop, slicing it into pieces and possibly collapsing everything onto the floor.

[MindBlast]

A little late to the discussion here, but laser mice are Class 1 laser products. It is impossible to exceed the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limit as long as you don't look at it through a magnifying glass or something. So don't worry about it.

[gsdx]

Thanks for all the advice. It's been several weeks now and the mouse seems to be working better than ever. I inherited the mouse from my roommate's system after he upgraded to a whole new system. I suspect the plastic plate was cracked for quite some time because he, too, had been having problems with it. Now that the plate has fallen out entirely, it's been working fine.

[maxpowr9]

This may sound like counterproductive but you do realize that laser mice actually work BETTER when they are NOT used on a mouse pad? The reason people used mouse pads is that mice used to be mainly trackballs and it would prevent wear-and-tear on the ball.

[gsdx]

^ Trust me. The mouse pad is substantially better than what's under it. I don't even have a real desk. It's an old, beat-up, drop-leaf table.

[T-Rexx]

Thanks for all the advice. It's been several weeks now and the mouse seems to be working better than ever. I inherited the mouse from my roommate's system after he upgraded to a whole new system. I suspect the plastic plate was cracked for quite some time because he, too, had been having problems with it. Now that the plate has fallen out entirely, it's been working fine.

You'd better check the people in the apartment below.

The laser may have sliced them in half!

[gsdx]

^ There's no 'below' below me. But there is an 'above' above me.

[bendted]

You can get an infrared laser (?) mouse. My Mac came with one. No worries about looking at beams...or slicing people in half.

[gsdx]

No worries about looking at beams...or slicing people in half.

So, I guess sending laser messages to Alpha Centauri is out of the question. Oh well. So much for being laser beam pen pals with Will Robinson.

[T-Rexx]

^ There's no 'below' below me. But there is an 'above' above me.

You might want to check with China and see if anyone there has been killed by laser beams shooting up out of the ground.

[gsdx]

^ From where I live, Australia would be more of a target.