What's better, an optical mouse or a laser mouse? Explain your answer?

Neither is really better; it all depends on your needs and preferences. Unless you're a gamer or a graphic artist with a need for precise movement, you'll probably find a 2,000dpi laser mouse too sensitive. Many gaming mice, however, allow you to switch sensitivity levels so that you have precision when you need it but can revert to 400dpi or 800dpi for regular mousing.

Besides their tracking speeds, laser mice work on nearly every surface, whereas optical mice may experience trouble tracking on black or shiny surfaces.

A laser mouse is generally more acurate do to the fact that a standard optical mouse is not capable of tracking at the dpi that the laser ones do. If you're not a gamer or working in some kind of graphic design, the differences are not going to be all that noticable.

Edit: Yeah, for a second there, I thought the post a couple above mine, was mine.

An optical mouse uses a light-emitting diode and photodiodes to detect movement relative to the underlying surface, rather than moving some of its parts — as in a mechanical mouse.

The laser mouse uses a small infrared laser instead of an LED, which increases the resolution of the image taken by the mouse. This leads to around 20× more surface tracking power to the surface features used for navigation compared to conventional optical mice, via interference effects. The implementation of a laser does slightly increase sensitivity and resolution, the main advantage comes from power usage.

WIK

Neither. I use an Evoluent Vertical Mouse and it uses an infrared Avedo sensor that is adjustable (via a button on the bottom or software, either works) up to 2600 dpi. It tracks with enough accuracy for games and graphics (I do both) and it's ergonomic shape took all the pain away from mousing. A lot of people forget that the shape of the mouse makes a big difference if you mouse a lot. I'm on the computer 10 hours a day sometimes.

It also seemed like a bargain at around $60. It's really easy to spend more but I was trying to get off spending as little as possible. Believe it or not, I found this mouse via one of my teenagers who is a graphic art major.

I bought mine from these guys. http://www.thehumansolution.com/

Happy mousing!

Oh yeah, it didn't need a mouse pad.

A laser mouse is more expensive and tends to weigh more because of the batteries, but if you travel or if you're using a laptop for class, it might be worth the convenience. If you do a lot of moving with a mouse (graphics work, etc.) it may not be a good fit for you.

Edit - Sorry I think I misread your question, so apparently I didn't answer very well.

Depends. If it's just for normal day-to-day use, get an optical. They're cheaper, reliable, and you WILL NOT be able to tell the difference in home/office use.

The only time you will need an optical mouse (and will see a noticeable performance difference) is if you're a hardcore, professional gamer. In that case, you need the best, quickest, most responsive gear out there. If that's you, grab a laser and get back to fragging.

I prefer the optical ones over the old mice. I've used them for Mac and PC and they're just easier to use and don't require a mouse pad. You can get a USB optical mouse for around $10 at an office supply store.

Laser is much better. You can use a laser mouse on a solid color surface. You cannot do that with an optical. Additionally, laser has better precision.

I hated my laser mouse and so did my husband, that thing was nothing butt a pain in the wazoo. It just worked when it wanted to...like it had a mind all its own & if my husband couldnt figure it out than it was definitely the mouse.

I love my new optical, wireless mouse. I don't have to worry about crud on the ball - and how to clean it (which goes a whole 'nother direction in humor), and it seems to be more

responsive, quicker. Bless the little creature!