Cry for help to Win98 photoshop users now on Win2000XPME

BIG BIG PROBLEM …AM I DREAMING !

Do please read…Microsoft have messed me up bigtime, but what of others ?

My mouse speed setting Win98 gave me as default, also used by others and so important to my drawing ability is not possible under Win2000-XP-ME without getting steppy cursor action. It is a Microsoft introduced problem…but they haven’t a fix for it as yet they say…and not sure if there will be one ….WHAT !!!!!

I need to know:
Have you also hit this problem ?
Have you solved it ?
Have you contacted anyone about it ?
How to use a slow mouse and a gelpad mat ?

Here’s the story !

I started my graphics PC life on Win95, puzzled why the mouse required so much mat to move across screen. For what I have to do, I struggled to draw across screen until someone showed me the motion slider in properties, I never looked back ! I reset it to a mouse speed of 1.5inch (40mm) across mat does full screen width, top to bottom became 1inch (25mm)…great ! no more stroking the mouse mat !
Then with Win98, this speed came as default. So others must also be happier now ! For graphics usage its essential to me and I have been using this sensible natural speed for ten years now and others when on Win95 shown this stay with it. I am able to do detailed precise drawing and positioning, airbrushing all way across screen etc. Such things as settings sliders in Photoshop are moveable in 1 unit increments. I can select individual characters in 6pt text dead easy. IMPORTANTLY I need to use a gel-pad mouse-mat now for wrist health and this speed is ESSENTIAL else mouse hits pad and hand movement is over-stretched. Use of a pen tablet is not possible with a gelpad, the area mapped to screen for static wrist use is far too sensitive and impossible to use. Move the wrist across pad and judder messes up draw accuracy. Move wrist across plastic surface and same happens. The Wacom pad mouse is inferior in comfort with sharp edges, and unable to match smoothness of line of Microsoft mouse.

HOWEVER Microsoft have taken the motion speed I use away with Win2000-XP-ME. This is fact and confirmed by them,…nice one Bill !

As these come, their motion setting has 10 units, default setting is the middle, but hell this is TERRIBLY SLOW, I am unable to draw anymore, (try setting your motion slider 3 units slower to see how it feels !). I run out of hand movement left to right and mouse hits pad with only quarter travel down screen. Up the motion setting to 8of 10 and problem sorted, BUT cursor is now steppy and steerability is also poor. Impossible to move it smoothly any more and USELESS for drawing. Even Photoshop sliders can’t be set as desired anymore, and cursor keys don’t work with them. The higher the setting, the worse the steppiness.

So how are others coping ? Microsoft acknowledge the problem but have no fix for it as yet and more worrying is that they tell me they don’t have reports from others about it, YET IT EXISTS ON ALL MICROSOFT PCs WITH ALL MICE, AS IT IS OS BASED !

I am forced to put Win98 onto my new WinXP PC in order to carry on my graphics ability, I go home and use Win98 for even more advanced graphics. Continuity between mice for drawing ability is essential. Win98 days are numbered so then what ?

Perhaps this nightmare I shall awake from ! Should I give up with PC’s and go Mac…why should I, PC’s are valid for graphics, no problems until now, graphics programs are intended for PC, why lead us along this long road all these years then end it ? Furthermore the work I do at home is PC, I cannot afford all new kit and the work is for other PC users and involves programs that only run on PC. At work I am part of a PC network and the Government mapping database I run is vital and what might happen if I try to convert it. Furthermore our IT support is PC ! I came across a Mac user and he had set his mouse to my speed, its so sensible, so why oh why have Microsoft done the dirty on us ?

At the very