A mouse that uses light to detect movement. It emits a light and senses its reflection as it is moved. Early optical mice required a special mouse pad, but today's devices can be rolled over traditional pads like a mechanical mouse as well as over almost any surface other than glass or mirror. Contrast with mechanical mouse.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- AVADirect Core 2 SLI DDR3 Gaming System
- If you consider this upper midrange $3,220 AVADirect's Core 2 SLI DDR3 Gaming System representative of the value and build quality available from this small custom builder, we can report that we were mostly happy with this PC, even if we found it loud and its gaming performance a bit...
- Product reviews 2008-07-02
- Multiple Facebook vulnerabilities reported on Full-Disclosure
- Jouko Pynnonen posted a message to the Full-Disclosure mailing list today, citing multiple "script injection" vulnerabilities within Facebook. I'm not sure if this is a surprise to anybody out there, it's certainly not to me, as numerous web applications have major problems with Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities, but I think this...
- Blog posts 2008-07-02
- Antivirus vendor introducing virtual keyboard for secure Ebanking
- Kaspersky's most recent product launch of the Kaspersky Internet Security 2009, is featuring a virtual keyboard "a secure pop-up that enables logins, passwords, bank card details and other important personal information to be entered safely to prevent the theft of confidential information" aiming to protect users from keyloggers, and consequently...
- Blog posts 2008-07-02
- Costing Sun Ray vs Wintel
- Costing Sun Ray vs WintelSo, you like Sun Ray, Yes? KiddingSeriously, interesting article--Sun Ray is looking better and better!There are so many good reasons to consider using Thin Client. Sun Ray just reinforces that.A few questionsWhy did you so much oversize the client. why use E7200 core duo ? why...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-02
- Easy Mouse Lock (exe)
- Lock Mouse cursor with Easy Lock Mouse Utility within user defined rectangle. Mouse is released when utility closed. The main screen of the utility can be minimised automatically when mouse cursor is locked. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
- Software downloads 2008-07-02
- Samsung BD-P1500
- The most important question for any standalone Blu-ray player is whether it's better than the Sony PlayStation 3. Let's answer that one right off the bat: Samsung's new BD-P1500 is not. They both cost the same ($400 list), but the PS3 has better image quality, currently supports both Blu-ray Profile...
- Product reviews 2008-07-01
- About that cellular interference...
- So... maybe it is a real problem. Pedram Amini top picture on the right, noted researcher and reverse engineer, posted an article to the Tipping Point DVLabs blog on some interesting observations he made on cellular interference. From the article, Pedram comments on the discovery: "I had...
- Blog posts 2008-07-01
- Why computers fail
- Why computers failA good UPS...will decrease failure rates tremendously. I use Belkin AVR UPS's and the only systems I've had go down in the last year were ones installed by my predecessor without UPS's. There is no doubt in my mind that bad power is a PC's worst enemy....
- Discussion threads 2008-07-01
- Hyper-V: The no-brainer virtualization stack for Windows
- Last Thursday, Microsoft released the final version of Hyper-V, the much anticipated built-in hypervisor for Windows Server 2008. Back in February, we had a look at a late beta release, and we were quite impressed with the performance of the system and how easy it was to manage virtual machines....
- Blog posts 2008-07-01
- Asus Eee PC 901 (Windows XP)
- We've been impressed by the Asus Eee PC line from the very first 7-inch model in the fall of 2007, and it seems as if every time we turn around, there's a new version hitting store shelves. This 9-inch version, the
- Product reviews 2008-06-30
- BlackJack Ace (exe)
- Play against the dealer in a super fun style BlackJack card game. Practice your BlackJack skills competing against the dealer with the option of choosing 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 decks of cards. Choose from 24 different avatars to represent yourself at the table. Turn on the auto bet...
- Software downloads 2008-06-30
- Google Media Server brings Google to your TV
- Google Media Server brings Google to your TVGoogle should also offer hardware devices. A little caching media server,that also backed up online would be great. If it had a VGA connection and USB for mouse / keyboard, could double as a device for accessing Google Apps / general browsing.RE: Google...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-28
- Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4.0-5.6 IS lens
- Available for less than $300, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS is a lightweight, affordable first or second lens to complement your entry-level or midrange digital SLR. With its 400mm-equivalent focal length, you get the reach and angle of view desirable for shooting portraits and sports, or just to bring...
- Product reviews 2008-06-27
- What programming language should we teach?
- What programming language should we teach?Re: What programming language should we teach?How about Javascript? No, seriously... it's free, it's cross-platform, it's already available on virtually ANY computer without needing to install anything at all, it's not terribly complicated, and it greatly resembles many of the other languages in use.When it...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-27
- Masashikun Hi (zip)
- Masashikun Hi is a wacky olympics involving silly scribbled stick figures. There are events ranging from sprinting to tug-of-war to high diving.In Kakenukero Sprinting, you run as fast as possible over the bumpy terrain and make your way to the finish line by quickly spinning the mouse. Click the left...
- Software downloads 2008-06-27
- Artificial Nature (zip)
- The game is an abstract, organic themed, arena shooter. There is a base in the center of the arena where the player spawns. When the bad guys are destroyed they will often drop stars. The player can collect a limited number of stars and should deposit them to the central...
- Software downloads 2008-06-27
- Dell Studio 15
- Parsing the intended markets for Dell's ever-shifting in-house brand names requires a bit of tea-leaf reading, although it's been easier of late, with the company stripping down its consumer brands to just the Inspiron and XPS lines. Now the company is adding a new line between the budget Inspiron and...
- Product reviews 2008-06-26
- U.S. tech sector jobs show strong growth, but lack of engineers could hurt in future
- U.S. tech sector jobs show strong growth, but lack of engineers could hurt in futureIn other news...IBM, AMD, Intel, Boeing..announce job cutsThese "shortage of engineer" articles are starting to smell fishy when balanced against job cuts and outsourcing news from the same companies that complain about shortages.Why not just cut...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-26
- Chrysler to offer Wi-Fi in 2009 autos
- Chrysler to offer Wi-Fi in 2009 autosMaybe just maybeChrysler should start working on the quality of their cars and leave the installation of gizmos to car owners who like modding their cars. Back to the basics, a quality product that can hold a candle to the likes of Toyota. Disclaimer:...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-26
- HP TouchSmart IQ506
- Hewlett-Packard's redesigned TouchSmart PC solves at least one of the problems of the original. The new look stays much truer to that of a traditional all-in-one, leaving behind last year's clunky hinged design that we admit we kind of liked. The $1,499 TouchSmart PC IQ506 also shares an issue with...
- Product reviews 2008-06-26
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