Why not Bluetooth, like the Wii uses. Then you wouldn't need a surface at all.

you know, it's all garbage in my world. I'm using an excellent mx1000 laser mouse, and it works really well. It always did.

However, I'm on a mouse pad anyway. I can't use it on my desk for two very simple reasons.

First, remember that gunk from the roller-ball days? It's still exists. It just collects on the desk -- which is disgusting. Roller-balls kept the surface clean by collecting the gunk.

Second, running the mouse back and forth over the desk a few thousand times each day simply wears out the surface of my desk! I like my desk. I custom-built an 11-foot wide desk (by 3 feet deep).

But hey, that's just me.

My trackball works in beer.

Ahem, when happened to good, old red LED sensors? They are good enough for practically anybody, easy on power and cheap to make.

Laser sensors are just gimmicks to make the product sound and look cooler.

Mices must have tails!...else they are hamsters or guinea pigs. That is all.

And here I was hoping for a sonar system so sensitive it could read the pit pattern in a sheet of polished glass.

probably 3d mems sensor...that's the direction of most handheld devices these days.

maybe it's glowing blue balls..... in the mouse..

The only thing my mice (laser) don't work on is glass, other than that I have no tracking problems.

gyroscopes!

Because blue LEDs are, you know, cool.