Travel Technology - [seinfeld]So what is it with these new laser mice?[/seinfled]

If one thing has held fairly constant through the years, it's mouse technology. Optical mice have been around a long time and most of the changes have been cosmetic -- we all know the familiar glow of the red LED used in optical mice.

Well, somewhere along the line I managed to lose my treasured Logitech Bluetooth travel mouse so I bought another one this week. The model I had was no longer available and the closest match was a Logitech V470, which is labled a "laser mouse." I thought it was just hype until I tried it out. No more red glow -- whatever it's using for a light source is invisible. Logitech also claims it will work on any surface. This has long been a problem with optical mice -- shiny surfaces mess them up. I haven't tried it on glass yet, but this one works perfectly on a polished wood tabletop, something its predecessor couldn't.

So what is this? Does it really have a laser inside? That seems hard to believe, even if it's one of those laser diodes used in DVD and BluRay players. Wouldn't there have to be a warning about not looking at it? Or is it so low-powered as to be absolutely harmless?

I keep up with all the new technology, but this is one that I've seemed to have missed.

At any rate, I love my new Bluetooth mouse.

Yes, it really is a laser, but at a very low power. If you look in the hole on the bottom and move it around, you may be able to just see the a tiny spec of red laser looking at you.

Cool! Now I have something I can use to verify those Microsoft authenticity holograms. ;)

Moved earlier this year and I bought a Kensington laser mouse and I have a glass desk and it does not work on it. It was fairly cheap so I am not too upset though I had to go out and get a mouse pad

Infrared laser is invisible.

The laser is visible, but really really small and visible at certain angles only. Also, you might have to run a finger over the sensor first to activate it. But it's definitely there and visible.