Roll ball or optical mouse?  

I stopped using a roller ball mouse when they came out with the optical ones. It just drove me nutz to have to constantly take that stupid little ball out and clean it every time I turned around. I've had the same one now for at least 3 years, and while it's that old, I've never had any problems with it...ever. Now that's a good thing!

I was perfectly happy with a roll ball until the optical mice appeared on sale. Now I have become so used to an optical mouse that others are of no interest to me anymore.
I still have a few old mice, and even a serial mouse which can be handy at times, but they are only for certain emergency uses.

of course optical! Why using roll ball, optical nowdays are cheap. I bought optical for $2 and running up until 3 years without any problem (until now)

Hi dhawanbm, Optical mouse are the new rendition of mouse today. In terms of durability, Roll mouse are much better but in terms of performance, Optical are much smoother. There are things you need to check with your roll mouse to work smoothly. It requires maintenance where in you have to clean the mouse surface that hits the ball (inside the mouse). Optical mouse are sensitive from being drop so make sure to take good care of it because its the common cause of defect for optical mouse. =)

I have been using an optical mouse for many years now. It definitely works smoothly and effortlessly without worrying about a ball collecting dust and hair. Plus, the no cord is fabulous.