Hils, I had the same problem, but am now using a Logitech MK 300 wireless k/b and mouse, and don't seem to be having the problem any more.

I'm using a Logitech optical (with a cord) mouse right now on a light oak woodgrain desk in the office and having no problems. Perhaps a recommendation for Logitech??

I have two cheap (Argos 4.95) USB optical.
They both work on multicolour mat, plain white
and also varnished mahogany.

Ta muchly. I'm not bothered by wires, so I'll give a Logitech one a go. The Logitech Pilot is about 9, so I'll try one of them to begin. If it works, I can replace the others later.

Possibly dust in the little red window at the bottom of the mouse, causing reflections? Or maybe just a cheap mouse?

You could try a trackball, takes a bit of getting used to but brilliant once you are.

Re Logitech, after they replaced a faulty trackball with the latest, very much more expensive, model for me years ago I wouldn't buy anything else.

This is what Logitech gave me free of charge. I would never have paid anywhere near that for a mouse, but after having it for a few weeks I would not be able to go back to a simple mouse. It has programmable buttons, I just click a button for Back and Refresh on the browser.

Mind you I did plug it into a little power brick since I don't like the battery issue with the cordless models (some just recharge on a cradle).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001N04SV8/ref=s9_simi_gw_p23_i3?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1CWA7ZCRP9VCVKBKT92H&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467198433&pf_rd_i=468294

I don't think I'd be able to steer a trackball properly, K. It looks too complicated for me and I even struggle with the Sky+ remote.

:o)

I did wonder about dust being a problem, but one of the mice is brand new and it still does it. As for whether they're cheap or not, I really wouldn't know. They're bog standard HP mice which were packed with the machines.

hilary

Some optical mice work on infra red it might be worth trying one. Possibly your desk would not reflect that frequency in the same way.

My mice have red lights anyway, Opti. Is that the same thing?

No. An infra red optical mouse will still have the light/camera system but the light will not be visible.

My Logitech does actually work on wood grain.

I bought a cordless Microsoft mouse for Mrs TP (who has just learnt to PC) and that had the clever idea of having a housing for the USB stick in the base of the mouse. It switches off the battery so that when the laptop is not in use the mouse is not switched on. Not the most of original ideas, but a good one if the option is available.

TP

I always run my Logitech mouse up and down my right leg and, considering my legs are very hairy, I don't have many issues with it, really. Sometimes I use the other leg but as to when I do this, well, it just depends on the weather and what I'm wearing.

By the way, the above is only applicable for mornings and what comes in the post.

Ahem!

Back to more mundane matters. I want to load a pdf onto my iPod touch. I could email it to myself, then load it from there, but is there an easier way? And how would I find it once I'd loaded it (assuming I'd managed to do it without emailing)? This is a large pdf (a book) with 177 pages, almost 5Mb.

I know I can view pdfs because I've got some that arrived by email.

Opti,

Thanks for that info.

SC,

I'm told by one of the young "T's" that you can "get an app for 2". Does that make sense? Else you'll have to mail it to yourself.

I was thinking "free". 2 is damn expensive for an app these days :-) I''l have a trawl of the forums. Thanks Hil. (edit - should that be 'fora'?)

Curious about your machine?
How good is the CPU?
How good is your graphics card?
Is your RAM memory what you think it should be?
etc
etc

Do some FREE benchmark tests...

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/

I found this stuff fascinating.

I have created a problem for myself somehow>

Everytime I click an option it opens in a new frame>

Also I seem to be stuck in upper case>

Anybody know what I have done and how I fix it?

Well, one of your shift or shift lock keys appears to be stuck down>

Check keyboard plug, reboot, and also check the accessibility options>

Lol :-)

TY. Senior moment. Cat walked across the keyboard and everything lit up....
except me... apparently :)

For those who wonder if it's them or whether a site is down, there's a site for that!

Try http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/moneyam.com

Subsitute the site you're having problems with for moneyam.com in the URL