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Logitech Unveils Smart Mouse 377

Posted by samzenpus from the can-it-make-coffee dept.
Rob writes "Computer business Review is reporting that Logitech International, one of the world's largest makers of mice and keyboards, has added to its already large range of peripherals with a new mouse that can receive and process wireless communications from a PC. The new fangled mouse is capable of two-way communication with the PC, it can inform users when their mouse battery is low, and notify them when they receive an email or instant message. Other features include laser tracking, 10 buttons, volume control and probably too many other things."
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Logitech Unveils Smart Mouse More

Logitech Unveils Smart Mouse

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  • Why? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by still_sick ( 585332 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:27AM (#13507477)
    Why in the world would a person want their MOUSE to notify them when they get an Email?

    The monitor? OK.

    Speakers? Sure.

    Mouse!? Come on. What would it do? Jiggle slightly?

    • Re:Why? (Score:5, Informative)

      by hool5400 ( 257022 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:30AM (#13507490)
      I had a Genius Netscroll POS that flashed the scroll wheel light when it got email. From memory it could play some shitty MIDI tune from an internal speaker too.

      Anyway, it's hardly new.

      • Re:Why? (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Thuktun ( 221615 )
        I had a Genius Netscroll POS that flashed the scroll wheel light when it got email.

        This is particularly pointless. Who looks at their mouse while using it?

    • Re:Why? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by arivanov ( 12034 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:38AM (#13507524) Homepage
      Well, that is most idiotic use of the feature.

      There may be some good uses for it though. Notifying the user that he must take an anti-RSI break springs to mind as one good use. Possibly a few others.

      • Re:Why? (Score:4, Interesting)

        by CdBee ( 742846 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:59AM (#13507800)
        I'm quite unhappy that new features are being added to the mouse interface - the way a mouse interacts with a GUI needs to be a simple, standardised, well documented system. Logitech are presumably adding a new driver, I hope it's stable and will fall back to a standard PS2 driver in the event of a fault.

        • Re:Why? (Score:5, Informative)

          by masklinn ( 823351 ) <<ten.nnilksam> <ta> <gro.todhsals>> on Thursday September 08, 2005 @07:02AM (#13508010)

          You probably haven't seen a Logitech mouse in a while now have you?

          The MX1000 already featured no less than 8 buttons plus a tilt wheel, did indeed require you to install drivers to tune said buttons, and does fall back to extended PS2 (makes use of default action on some buttons, like MS mouses) when drivers are not installed.

          610 will be the same.

          • Re:Why? (Score:3, Funny)

            by mikael ( 484 )
            I'm still waiting for the mouse that has a built in 1" color LCD display to tell me what mood the mouse is in.
            • Shut up! You're giving them ideas to further retard what should be a simple interface device.

              Personally, I use a Starck mouse, even for gaming...of course, the only things I play on my PC are pretty much point and click type games that don't require much of the mouse, but still.

    • Re:Why? (Score:5, Funny)

      by Chocolate Teapot ( 639869 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:39AM (#13507526) Homepage Journal
      What would it do? Jiggle slightly?

      Yep, and when you get spammed it breaks your wrist.

    • Re:Why? (Score:5, Informative)

      by m4dm4n ( 888871 ) <madman@nofrance.info> on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:40AM (#13507530) Homepage
      Of course the slashdot article mentions all the stupid additions and leaves out: One function of the new mouse, however, is its ability to sense if there is wireless interference from other devices, an increasingly common problem with today's numerous wireless devices, and to change channels to establish the most secure connection.

      Now thats a good addition, not sure if anyone else has done it before, but I've never seen it.

    • Re:Why? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by DrXym ( 126579 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:46AM (#13507554)
      The answer is they don't. But if you're a mouse and keyboard maker, you'll cast desperately around for ways to make your product look useful and relevant.


      Personally I'd be happy with a mouse and keyboard which did what they're meant to without screwing up my machine with a bunch of apps and dlls that destablize the whole OS by running the entire type, installing hooks and "sniffing" for various things.

    • As of right now I use a Trillian [trillian.cc] plugin [trillian.cc] to notify my when I have a new instant message by flashing the three LED's on my keyboard.

      This is useful to me because I usually have IM sound off (I have a lot going at once and it gets annoying as hell) and when I'm passing by my computer at home I can take a quick peek at my keyboard to see if I have any messages rather than go to the computer, turn on the monitor, unlock windows, and check my message windows.

      Also when running full screen games or applicati

    • Re:Why? (Score:2, Funny)

      by weg ( 196564 )
      I don't care, but if it has a dedicated CPU we should start porting Linux to it (or use it to run SETI@home) ;-)
    • Why in the world would a person want their MOUSE to notify them when they get an Email?



      Mouse!? Come on. What would it do? Jiggle slightly?

      well, afaik, it's a little light on the mouse that will come on when you have email, and I can see a point. I rarely turn my computer off, but I do turn the monitors off at night. the email light would inform me that I have some spam to delete without me needing to turn the monitor on.

      if it's the same mouse that I'm thinking of, it also has a light to inform you if you ha

    • like many other people leave my PC on all the time and the monitor goes into standby. Would be quite nice to have something I could spot as I walked passed.

      On the other hand, if this intelligent mouse turns itself off when the computer goes into standby - then yes, it is completely pointless.

  • Done before at Princeton. (Score:4, Funny)

    by Uukrul ( 835197 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:27AM (#13507478)
    That was done before at Princeton [princeton.edu].
    And they needed one of this [biconet.com] to trap some of the rodents that used its new superior skills to escape.
    • I used one of those humane mouse traps once. Put it in a drawer with some peanut butter on the inside. Fast forward to about 3 weeks after we forgot about it, and there was a smell of rotting mouse in the kitchen. Safe to say, it didn't end up being very humane, starving to death and all.

  • 10 buttons? (Score:4, Funny)

    by threaded ( 89367 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:28AM (#13507479) Homepage
    Is this a two handed mouse then?

    • Re:10 buttons? (Score:4, Funny)

      by madaxe42 ( 690151 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:30AM (#13507484) Homepage
      Mice have paws, silly.

    • Re:10 buttons? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by imroy ( 755 ) <imroykun@gmail.com> on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:45AM (#13507545) Homepage Journal

      Gosh, it hasn't even been a month since the last Logitech Slash-vertisment. So I can quote my last rant about the buttons on newer Logitech mice [slashdot.org]:

      ---
      I have an old Logitech M-BA47 from around 2000. It has a nice thumb button right where I rest my thumb (i.e low). When I first hooked it up, XFree86 mapped it as another middle button. I was happy with that so I never looked into changing it. It works great for me under Linux. Pasting text or opening links in new tabs is a matter of simply pressing with my thumb. And I never liked pressing down on the mouse wheel because it can turn unless you're careful about applying the pressure (or at least that's what I'm thinking about whenever I have to do it on other mice). Pressing the thumb button is so much easier.

      Then earlier this year, my mum took pity on me still using a non-optical mouse and got me a Logitech MX500 mouse. Bleh. For a start, I had to hunt around a lot of web pages to figure out how to map the buttons the way I like. Then I realised the stupidity of having two (not one) thumb buttons, making them thin, and placing them up on the rim of the mouse. So now I not only had to move my thumb, I had to be careful to hit the right one, and I had to apply more pressure because they were much smaller. Think about it, the left and right mouse buttons are nice big pads you can rest your fingers on, so why make the other buttons so small and hard to hit?
      ---

      • Re:10 buttons? (Score:2, Insightful)

        by damg ( 906401 )
        Think about it, the left and right mouse buttons are nice big pads you can rest your fingers on, so why make the other buttons so small and hard to hit?
        Because you don't grip the mouse on the left and right mouse buttons? Personally, I hate mice with large buttons on the sides... I'm glad Logitech realized that there shouldn't be buttons where you are actually holding the mouse.

  • Two way communication? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by el_womble ( 779715 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:29AM (#13507482) Homepage
    My Apple bluetooth mouse has been telling me my battery is low for years (I really should change it).

    As for telling me when I get email... isn't that what the screen and sound cards are for? I don't own a PC, or run linux, but I'm guessing that these operating systems already have a system for telling you when you've got mail too.

    10 buttons? Meh. I've got 113 keys right next to my mouse. I have two hands, so I find that I can press these buttons whilst I'm using the mouse.
    • 10's a bit over the top, but I do find I use 7 of the 10 on my MX510 regularly; the obvious 5 from LMB/MMB/RMB/Mouse Wheel Up/Dn, and two thumb buttons for back/forward. The other three I barely even notice.

      So, any news on a mouse that doesn't build up nasty greese stains on the buttons?

  • Mostly pointless. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by MartinG ( 52587 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:30AM (#13507486) Homepage Journal
    From TFA:

    "the ability to sense the power status of the PC"
    "it can inform users when their mouse battery is low"
    "the mouse can sense when the PC has gone into sleep mode or is shut down. The mouse powers down accordingly."
    "ability to sense if there is wireless interference from other devices"

    All of these features are workarounds for the fact that the mouse lacks a cable. What the hell is wrong with a good optical mouse with a cable?

    Honestly, I can't understand ths obsession with wireless stuff. Of course wifi and bluetooth are convenient, but wireless keyboards and mice add nothing for most users. Most desktop users are better off with wired versions because lots of hassle goes away.

    • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:5, Informative)

      by imsabbel ( 611519 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:36AM (#13507521)
      Wireless keyboards i agree...
      But wireless mice arent pointless.
      In fact that damn wire of my mx500 seems to get in the way of moving the mouse (because blocking somewhere, or slipped down on the side of the desk and pulling the mouse there, too).

    • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Jesus IS the Devil ( 317662 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:42AM (#13507539)
      Wireless mouse is useful. It's useful because that annoying cord doesn't bother you or restrict your movement. So often the cord will interfere with movement and sometimes even tug at the mouse. It's annoying as hell.

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:5, Funny)

        by CleverNickedName ( 644160 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:16AM (#13507650) Journal
        I think this [wikipedia.org] is what you're looking for.

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Spy Hunter ( 317220 ) *
        True, but wireless mice are heavier because of the battery. I really prefer a light mouse with a soft wire, carefully suspended somehow so it doesn't restrict movement. It can be tricky to get right, but I prefer it to shoving a battery around all the time. Though there are occasions where being able to use your wireless mouse from across the room is handy. Heck, just use both, wired mice are dirt cheap anyway and having two mice connected simultaneously isn't a problem.

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:3, Informative)

        by ceeam ( 39911 )
        Hmm, not so if you learn to leave a proper loop (of cord) in front of your mouse. Yes, it is a habit about as hard to learn as lifting and moving your mouse when you run out of desk surface.

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:4, Funny)

        by hritcu ( 871613 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:33AM (#13507716) Homepage
        You forgot to tell us about the accidents that may happen when using a regular (non-wireless) mouse. For example the cord might get around your neck and choke you to death. Really!

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:3, Interesting)

        by TeXMaster ( 593524 )
        If your problem is the cord interfering with your movements, use a trackball.

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:3, Informative)

        by mrjb ( 547783 )
        Which is why I always tape the mouse cord to the table at some distance from the mouse. Keeps it from tangling up the cable, prevents the cable from being pulled back behind the table (solving the tugging) and generally solves the irritation problem.

      • Re:Mostly pointless. (Score:3, Interesting)

        by aaronl ( 43811 )
        The only reason that I've ever had a wireless mouse on my desktop was when I bought a new workstation at work.

        The keyboard that came with it was a Dell special "lets move all the keys around because we hate all humans" type keyboard. I couldn't use it; kept screwing up when trying to hit page up, or home, or an arrow key. I went to a few stores, and the *ONLY* keyboard that wasn't completely garbage was a damned Logitech (eww) wireless keyboard/mouse kit. The keyboard is OK, the mouse is OK. Neither are
    • Wireless keyboard I get. Wireless keyboard with track[pad|ball] I really get. But unless you've got a wireless desktop I just don't get why you need a wireless mouse - and I own one.

      The problem I've found with wireless, optical mice is that they still only really work when they're on a mouse mat, so when you zoom across the office on your overpriced executive chair (because you can) you're keyboard works, but your mouse is useless. The only time I've used it recently is when I wirelessly patched my G5 into
      • I have a bluetooth mouse, which is useful for me as a laptop user, since I can use it in places where I don't really have space for a cable. It's not a huge improvement over my Kingston USB mouse with a retractable cable though.
    • I totally agree. The last thing I want to do is replace the battery in my mouse! With the "convenience" of wireless mice you get the expense and hassle of putting in a new battery every now and then. Also when the battery dies you have to debug why the mouse isn't working.


      I suppose when using a mouse as a pointer in a presentation standing in front of a projector is useful.

  • Bloat... (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    These 'features' look like plain ol' bloat to me.
    When was the last time you changed the volume of your pc? And when you did, did you think 'I wish I was able to control the volume directly from my mouse'?
    Why do you want your mouse to tell you that you have new e-mail or an instant message when you see a mail icon in your system tray or your MSN conversation window flashes like crazy?
    The only interesting feature you will get is that it will tell you the battery is low very often :)

    • Re:Bloat... (Score:4, Informative)

      by zakezuke ( 229119 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:39AM (#13507741)
      When was the last time you changed the volume of your pc?

      5min ago

      And when you did, did you think 'I wish I was able to control the volume directly from my mouse'?

      The first time I used Winamp... scroll wheel controls volume and 3rd button scroll jumps forward/back. I imagine I could use my keyboard, but that's a tad bulky to carry around.

      While I agree this looks like a bloat mouse, I must confess that I would likely buy a "multi-media" mouse/trackball that offers extra buttons such as play, stop, pause forward reverse. It would be annoying for an every day mouse but great couch mouse.

      The only interesting feature you will get is that it will tell you the battery is low very often :)

      That already exists with the mx-800 and likely the mx-1000. Charging station is the most handy feature considering how much those optical mice suck up the juice. But no two way communication was needed... just a happy little blinking light if the battery is low.

      • I bought a Griffin iSomething (the big metal knob) just so I could adjust the volume, or mute it - very handy when you're playing BF2 and the girlfriend shouts something towards your gaming-pit-of-filth from the other room.
        Alternatives were to fumble about with a little knob on your speakers, or buy some vile 'media' keyboard.
        I'm quite fussy about my mouse and really don't want a wireless one - but assuming it's a good mouse, I'm quite happy for them to cover it in buttons, lights and give it a bit of int

  • Looks like feature bloat to me (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Silver Sloth ( 770927 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:31AM (#13507498)

    What do you do when your product already does everything a sensible user wants to do?

    If you're M$ you release a new version incompatible with old versions to force the upgrade

    If you're Logitech you just keep on adding features. I can't see any reason to upgrade here.

    • What do you do when your product already does everything a sensible user wants to do?

      If you're M$ you release a new version incompatible with old versions to force the upgrade

      If you're Logitech you just keep on adding features. I can't see any reason to upgrade here.

      So, from a business standpoint Microsoft isn't doing very bad, are they?

    • Re:Looks like feature bloat to me (Score:5, Interesting)

      by jellomizer ( 103300 ) * on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:22AM (#13507669)
      One feature I would like and I think I heard about it on slashdot long ago but I am to lazy now to find it but the mouse gave resistance when you move over hot spots or moved over windows. This would be very useful today especially now that most OS's use or are starting to use 3d interface to draw their widgets so when you move on the z access you get a little resistance which lets you know where you are and get a better feeling of the interface.
      • Yes, that was a Logitech mouse [dansdata.com] as well. I was a bit sorry that it didn't really catch on.
      • Do you really mean gave resistance (as in applied brakes to the ball/put a rubber foot on the surface) or just that the pointer slowed down?

        The touchpad on my laptop did the latter, and the first setting change I made was to turn it off. It was not usefule at all, just bloody annoying.

      • Force feedback (Score:3, Informative)

        by fm6 ( 162816 )
        Yeah, force-feedback was all the rage a while back, with mice, joysticks, etc. I was interested for the same reasons you were, but they were marketed mostly as a gaming toy. I think their main drawback was that they were very complicated mechnically. Which translates to much higher cost per unit, and much lower reliability. Mice get a lot of wear, so expensive and breaks easily translates to no customers. Indeed, the trend is in the opposite direction: last time I bought a mouse, every one in the store had

  • Low energy mouse. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by iLEZ ( 594245 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:31AM (#13507500) Homepage
    What we need now is energy-saving tech in mice. It feels like i am changing batteries constantly in my Logitech MediaPlay. Does anyone else feel the same?
    • Was same with my old logitech nmouse, well I was charging it constantly, if you are replacing batteries in your mouse, your fucking up bigtime. My microsoft desktop elite though still amazes me with how efficent it is, this is probably due to the fact that it's 1.5 volts (only needs 1 battery to actually work, 2 just extend the life) as opposed to the 3 volt logitech).
      • Actually, I've noticed that mice with rechargable batteries are a *huge* pain in the ass. Not only do you have the annoyance of waiting for them to recharge to use the computer again, you also get shorter battery life.

        My Gyration mouse gets about four days on it's Lithium-Ion battery. My Logitech mouse at work gets three to four months on its two disposable AA batteries.
    • I would love an off switch on my logitech mouse . if it isn't in the charger it seems to continuasly drain the battery ; whether it is in use or not . Some more advanced power saving features would also be lovely .

      Also even though it can go a few more hours when its on the red , The bloody flashing LED is so distracting that i have to put it on the charger .They have well designed mice , I really have no idea how such a glaring irritation slipped through.
    • You shouldn't be changing batteries, you should be charging them. Buy a mouse with a receiver that doubles as a charging station. Every week or so put the mouse in the charger for a night. No more empty batteries.
      • Yeah, then you get a mouse that only lasts about a week, and that you can't use if they die early. So you need a backup mouse now, with a cord on it. Which is you will probably keep using since it doesn't die on you.

        Also, every rechargable mouse I've used (and that's quite a few) has been a royal pain in the ass. They die more frequently (usually every few days). My wireless mouse makes it around FOUR MONTHS on a single pair of AA batteries. That's an awful lot more convenient.

    • You mean like a traditional mouse with a ball?

      I'm confused by all of this "Wireless" mouse rubbish. I'm using a vendor supplied freebie optical cable "mini-mouse" who when I'm not using it I can retract the cable (which is ridiculously long BTW).

      Everytime I see a wireless mouse I just think... how often do you want to use the mouse 6ft away from the computer?

  • In further news... (Score:5, Funny)

    by femto ( 459605 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:32AM (#13507503) Homepage
    Logitech announces their "PC mouse", complete with monitor and networking. For an extra $9.95 it comes with the optional PC mouse mouse.

  • Noooo... (Score:2, Funny)

    by artakka ( 114455 )
    I hope it does not have a speaker in it that announces "You've got mail".

  • Does anyone remember when... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by D-Cypell ( 446534 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:34AM (#13507513)
    Anyone remember when each of your peripherals had a clearly defined function?

    Now my mouse can check my email, my printer can send a fax, my monitor can produce sound, my cell-phone can access the web and my keyring can store half a gig of data.

  • Squeak! You've got ads! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ettlz ( 639203 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:47AM (#13507557) Journal
    The new fangled mouse is capable of two-way communication with the PC, it can inform users when their mouse battery is low, and notify them when they receive an email or instant message.

    ...and when their Logitech-delivered adware has just popped a message onto their screen. Why oh why do people go out and build up the crapware business by buying these bloated, pointless ubermice whose features they never use anyway? I mean, how many people use the fancy "multimedia" keys on a keyboard?

  • Logitech Press Release (Score:3, Informative)

    by rpfuller ( 254581 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @04:52AM (#13507575)
    http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/news/GB/EN,conte ntid=10961,crid=34 [logitech.com]

    Featuring this gem:
    "This changes the very concept of a computer mouse, because it is no longer simply an input device"
  • I just hope that, like other Logitech mice which come with a driver CD full of useless crap, they will also work with a plain/generic mouse driver. Throwing the CD in the trash is always the first thing I do when opening a new mouse's packaging. I guess the only people who install that stuff are the users who think it's actually needed and never tried without.

    And as someone else said: I already have over 100 buttons right in front of me, under my fingers; I don't want 10 more on an accessory!
  • Remember when cellphones were...you know, just phones? Don't tell me we're going to do the same thing with mice.

    *goes online to horde Logitech USB Marble mice*

  • Next Big Thing (tm) (Score:5, Interesting)

    by headkase ( 533448 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:07AM (#13507628)
    Some posters seem to think that 10 buttons are too much for a mouse but I think I'd like it if my next mouse had twice as many buttons on it. A hand held input device (a.k.a. mouse) is leaps and bounds ahead of any keyboard out there ergonomically. What I would like to see are functions such as task switching (alt-tab), ok, cancel, minimize, maximize, and like basic functions used while interacting with the operating system. Having them convieniently and literally at your finger tips would allow the more efficient and transparent manipulation of the command functions of the operating system.
    The Windows Icon Mouse Pointer system would have to have some of it's qualifying actions loosened, for example, having ok and cancel mouse buttons active when the pointer is within the dialog box instead of requiring that it needed to be above the actual button graphic. This leads to a more generalized notion that the operating system could be manipulated in a context orientated manner. Like today's Wizards on megasteroids. As you went from screen-to-screen within the context of a wizard paradigm have the buttons on the mouse change functions depending on the screen or context you were currently at. It would have to follow some logical system to be useful otherwise you'd probably be constantly looking at your "mouse" to see what was written on the button display at the moment. If it was ever to take hold maybe our children will take a mouse interface course much as we take touch typing courses today.

  • I don't need to read anything more. I have no desire to try and use something with 10 buttons on it on a daily basis.

    I think they need to read the Design of Everyday Things.

  • Pointless (Score:2, Funny)

    by Bogtha ( 906264 )

    The new fangled mouse is capable of two-way communication with the PC...

    Anyone get the mental image of Scotty talking into a mouse?

    ...it can inform users when their mouse battery is low, and notify them when they receive an email or instant message. Other features include laser tracking, 10 buttons, volume control and probably too many other things."

    Okay, has somebody forgotten that the mouse is an input device for when you are in sight of the computer? If you are in sight of the computer, th

  • Logitech? Blingtech more like it .. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by McCarrum ( 446375 ) <mark.limburg@gm[ ].com ['ail' in gap]> on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:17AM (#13507657)
    Meh, is it as funky as their Remote Control [logitech.com]? Just got one of these babies, and it is, and I quote my mother, the rocksaw (hehe, she tries, she tries).

  • Chicken, meet Egg (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Damn it, Logitech rolls out its smarter mouse before I complete my improved mousetrap? How is an inventor supposed to compete?

  • BOFH Mouse (Score:3, Insightful)

    by monstermonster ( 866861 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:20AM (#13507664) Homepage
    When they build the BOFH mouse with built-in Luser Tazer, that's when I'll buy one of em.

    Otherwise, I mean, Christ... I can barely juggle three buttons as it is!

  • Logitech Product Page -- auto power off rules. (Score:3, Informative)

    by morzel ( 62033 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @05:22AM (#13507673)
    Logitech Product Page [logitech.com].

    One thing that I like is the auto-power off stuff. I have a wireless laptop mouse from Logitech, and the power switch on it is probably the best feature on it; batteries seem to last forever when compared with a regular wireless mouse.
    I hope the auto-poweroff stuff is just as good -- then I don't have to remind everyone to turn my mouse off if they stop my pc.

  • Scotty: Computer...

    Tech: You have to use the mouse, sir.

    Scotty: (into mouse) Computer...

    Mouse: (in Computer-voice) Hold on, my battery is low.

    Scotty: (Changes batteries) Here, these are dilithium crystal cells.

    Mouse: Thank you, I feel much better now. Where would you like to go today?

    Scotty: Well, I'd like to get back to the future with a whale and save earth, but...

    Mouse: (Interrupting) Hold on, You've got mail. Would you like to buy any v1a6ra?

    Scotty: Maybe later, what I really need is s

  • Now wouldn't it be nice if the mouse vibrated when the email arrived (or what ever other event of your choosing occurred).

    Then you could put your mouse in your pocket and leave your computer, and go for a wander, and should you get that all important email - you will know, even if you can't see your monitor. Maybe you could even set up your mouse buttons so you have a remotely operated panic button for when the boss arrives unexpectedly and you're in the next cubicle.

    Then again - isn't this function avail
  • ... using the same digital file transfer technology over RF. I hate headphones out there right now that you have to tune in the old fashioned way like a radio, if they made one of crystal clear wireless digital headphones, I bet they'd sell like hotcakes.

    As for the mice, jesus we already have enough nice heh. Logitechs been flooding the market with their MX brands, enough versions to sink a ship.
  • have been talking about liking having a large number of buttons on their mouse to do simple stuff like changing windows etc.
    Just thought they might be interested in this StrokeIt [tcbmi.com] - mouse gestures like with Opera but on everything.
  • [and it can] notify them when they receive an email or instant message.

    A classic example of just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

  • Some more stats (Score:5, Funny)

    by Vo0k ( 760020 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @07:40AM (#13508220) Journal
    Logitech Smart Mouse:
    Features:
    10-key keyboard in QWERTY layout
    Stereo audio
    LCD color VGA display
    8 signal LEDs
    WiFi
    Intel Pentium Centrino(tm) 2.5GHZ CPU
    512MB RAM
    Weight: 3.1kg (not including batteries)
    Dimensions: 30x15x5cm
    Power usage: 40 Watt
    Battery: 2 Li-ion batteries of 40Ah each
    Battery life in sleep mode: 32h
    Battery life when mouse used: 4h
    DeLuxe model includes power steering allowing for almost frictionless and momentum-less movement.

  • what if *IT* is the interference? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Baumann ( 238242 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @07:56AM (#13508327)
    The dang thing runs on 2.4Ghz - I got rid of my 2.4Ghz wireless phones because they didn't play nice with my 802.11g network. "excuse me, I can't find a clear channel, would you mid turning off that useless interferring radio thing? Thanks...."

    Bluetooth is a standard wireless protocol - they could have acheived everything they wanted, *WITHOUT* creating interference.

    We'll just not discuss the bloatware aspects....
  • This sort of sounds like a keyboard with 10 buttons - you know you need 6 or 7 to type out english usually. And why would a mouse need to blink away when the battery is low ?. I've always bought stuff for it's low maintenance - which is why I have a single cheap optical mouse, an old AT keyboard (clickety, clack) and a CRT. They just work...

    More complicated things have a habit of failing easily in the heat and humidity. Mostly it's the insects but the dust does help too. I've seen 40$ keyboards just lose it

  • Ten buttons (Score:3, Funny)

    by HermanAB ( 661181 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @08:12AM (#13508499)
    Welcome to our new 20 fingered overlords... I guess the next mouse model will have 101 buttons and will plug into the keyboard connector.

  • Next years version (Score:3, Funny)

    by glsunder ( 241984 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @10:17AM (#13509619)
    Next years version will vibrate when you get an IM. Perfect for those special chat sessions.

  • Not quite all the bells and whistles (Score:3, Insightful)

    by futurekill ( 745161 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @10:25AM (#13509682)
    This mouse seems to have almost all the bells and whistles except for a rechargeable battery. That would the the first thing I would look for in mouse such as this one. Also, why go through the trouble of developing a proprietary wireless system when bluetooth is out there and becoming more and more ubiquitous.

  • Cool, but when... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by jazman ( 9111 ) on Thursday September 08, 2005 @11:01AM (#13510019)
    ...do we get the three button optical mice that are like the PilotMouse(iirc) but with optical innards instead of a ball? I'm bored with cleaning my balls. I personally have an instant market for seven of these mice.

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