laser mouse mod?

is it possible to extract the diode (or whatever lasing medium is in it) from a mouse and use it for a diy laser?

I took apart a laser mouse a couple of months ago just for the heck of it. I think it's not actually a laser mouse. Well, at least a visable laser. The red light came from a red LED and there was a light sensor that was integrated with an IC chip. At least, that was the idea for the mouse I had. Yeah, I'm looking at the bottom of a wireless mouse right now. It says that it is a "Class 1 LED product" so no laser. I'm guessing that laser mouses work by sensing the reflected light and noting the direction of it's reflection of the red LED off a surface as you move it. Not a laser. If you really want to, you can get the IC chip which is, at least, a light/movement detector.

My mouse is a "Class One Lasing Device" so <5mW and it states "832-852nm".
To put it simply, really low powered invisible light.

I had a Logitech MX1000, and i could see really thin red beam on the sensor, its like 0.01mm beam, but it is visible if you look carefully. never checked my logitech G5 though.
Anyway, i dont think its worth getting the LD out for just that litle power...

woot!! first post ;D

here's a pic of the dot from my logitech G5 laser mouse

Wow, that's well collimated!