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look high quality on USB... wow.... 50 bucks cheaper too. Quick Cam Pro 4000

I got my quickcam express 2 or 3 years ago and I am still able to download the newest software and drivers, this applies to windows XP, I dont know if they ever supported Mac... Also they are always on windows update when they release a new version of the drivers. I havent seen any changes but i download them anyways for the sole purpose of seeing 0 updates needed from windows update :) hehehe...

Logitech Camera download place

Are you aware that there are plenty if 'ambidexterous' mice out there with scroll wheels? Sitting on my desk right now is a Logitech M-BJ58 which has 2 buttons, a scroll wheel, optical tracking and it's not optimised for either handedness. I appears to be the same as this mouse.

Eh? Unlike Microsoft's devices, most (if not all) of Logitech's mouse devices are symmetrical about the y-axis. Certainly, my Mini Optical and Pilot are. Both have 3 buttons (one by clicking the wheel).

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Eh? Unlike Microsoft's devices, most (if not all) of Logitech's mouse devices are symmetrical about the y-axis. Certainly, my Mini Optical and Pilot are. Both have 3 buttons (one by clicking the wheel).

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I like the ideas---I, too, have a Logitech keyboard (specifically, the Cordless Elite Duo) with volume, mute, etc. keys built in, and several shortcuts set up in (at least) a similar way.

Other than the volume and mute, and the wheel on the left side, though, I find the many additional buttons along the top almost as distracting as a mouse. Right now, they're essentially all mapped to different websites, and I still have to look at them and pick out the right one before hitting it.

Maybe it's because of too much Emacs, but I don't even think about my ctrl- or alt- keystrokes.

Don't get me wrong, I love your ideas; out of curiosity, have you tried using all the "miscellaneous" buttons and specifically liked those better?

Actually, this one is easily the equal of that one. Excellent accuracy - I haven't mis-clicked using this mouse in over three months. The only difference I see is that the MS one has an extra button right where your thumb sits, which makes it too easy to click accidentally. Since they seem to like to set it up for 'back' on the browser, the logitech one needs one less configuration step (unless, for some reason, you are always going back in your browser - not a common thing for me. Certainly not common enough to need it's own special button in a stupid location).

I originally bought a Logitech Marble Mouse just to play MAME Marble Madness. Now I have 3 of them and use them everywhere.

It's already starting to exist but requires special paper (it reads dots on the paper instead of using gyros) and a dock (no bluetooth). Read all about it at Logitech's site or buy one at ThinkGeek.

In other news, I've seen those 256 MB USB keyring drives on sale for $90-100 for the last two weeks. Probably even cheaper if you look around at pricewatch or whatever power-shopper site you like.

I've used both of thease trackballs and they greatly limit carpal tunnel damage.
Logitech and also Shudder Microsoft
Both reduce the amount of wrist movement, I use the MS one at home and an older version of the one shown from logitech at work.

The keyboard is a little small but a nice touch that it's detachable making it a nice slim portable keyboard that happens to match my PowerBook G3. I hunt and peck anyway (but still 40 words a minute)

I'd suggest it to anyone.

$34.95 from Logitech.

Ah, I get your point. And, that is pretty cool. Assuming, of course, that you can set it on a folder level, and not necessarily on a per-file basis (which I think would have too much overhead associated with it, and might be annoying when I no longer want to use gimp for x.jpg, but forgot to change the metadata or whatever to set it back to a simple viewer).

Unfortunately, this was controlled on a per file basis. I think there might have been programs that would batch-process files, but the only one I ever used to mess with type and creator codes was resedit, which did other things, too...

I love this sort of discussion, BTW, and I think the major weakness of GUI's is that they're often not tweaked or refined enough to be as efficient (and consistent) as they can be. They seem to be either dumbed-down for the lowest-common-denominator, or hyper-complex for the power-user and requiring lots of setup or learning to be efficient.

I agree and this is a problem with computing in general. Of course in the GUI interface problems are easier to see because of the nature of the interface. Hopefully we will learn. I think the idea of having levels ("basic" and "advanced" with "basic" as default) is a good way to go and has been tried in MacOS, Windows to some extent, and Mozilla to name a few... But the idea coudl be expanded, maybe even a "newbie bit" that could be set globally for all apps run from a user or that could be set by default and unset by the user.

On older macs I've used, I found the GUI very efficient (but always lamented the single mouse button limitation -- seemes like it would have been 2x better with another button, and 2.5x better with a 3rd button. No scroller is annoying too). I think these things are available now (I've seen 2-button, 3-button, and scroller mac mice, but I'm not sure how well they integrate into the OS or apps, or how configurable they are). But OS X seems to be a bit of a regression -- it's prettier, but less efficient to me. And not for the same reasons that the spatial finder guy lists. It simply seems less consistent than the pre-OS X GUIs. And slower. A lot slower. I want BeOS responsiveness, even if it is an illusion, or sucks my RAM dry on boot (RAM's cheap).

I agree with you on the mouse problem (unfortunately for mac users, Steve Jobs does not agree). But it is entirely possible to have mice with many buttons and have them work in MacOS, Windows, and even Linux. I have seen mice that had about 5-7 buttons being used on Macs, and they came with driver software that let you configure the buttons. One of the first things I did after having to muck with my girlfriend's iBook awhile (helping her get it set up right) was to take my favorite (of all time) Logitech USB trackball and install the drivers on her iBook, configureing the right button for ctrl-click and the middle button for Command-V so that middle button pastes and right click brings up a context menu.

In an aside, I am still pissed off at Logitech for discontinuing this kick-butt mouse. It is hard for me to find a good mouse, and this one was the best. The one I am talking about is the marble trackball with wheel, and the current version has lost the space provided by the third button and is therefore far too small for me to use comfortably. The old one was spaced out enough I could just drop my hand on it and generally expect the buttons to be near the right fingers, whereas the new one requires far more precision. Oh well, back to the used computer parts stores for me :(.

Or you could get a Logitech MX700 which has all this and more. It's much better built, is wireless, optical, has none of that 'optical lag' that bothered us in early optical mice, and won't jump all around when you move it quickly. I love this mouse. The only downside is that it's expensive and only for right-handers.

A quick google search reveals the MX300, a mouse based on Logitech's ambidextrous mouse design. Check it out, I have one and I use my leg as a mousing surface without any trouble (and it tracks over my keyboard and other odd surfaces too). http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=products/de tails&CRID=3&CONTENTID=4997&countryid=19&languagei d=1

...on why, perhaps, folks get slashdotted:

-rw-rw-r-- 1 jdf jdf 57197 Dec 17 10:12 original.html
-rw-rw-r-- 1 jdf jdf 10425 Dec 17 10:28 text.html

Yes, that's 47 kilobytes of javacript, headers, footers, CSS, and associated crap for about 10K of real info. Sure, there's also pictures and such, but this is basically 4x the original in overhead alone. Anyhow, here's the text from the site:

Pick a toy--any toy--for holiday gift-giving.

By Joan Lynch, Maura Butler, and Matt Miller -- EDN, 12/12/2002

Holy spokes, Bikeman!
Attach Hokey Spokes to your bike, and you'll have not only the coolest ride in the hood, but also the safest. Inventor and MIT graduate Dave Hoch wanted to take the terror out of night bike riding and designed the transparent "blades" to wirelessly communicate patterns or words with each other. You can put up to six blades on each wheel; a computer on each strip controls 16 LEDs in a variety of colors. Each blade costs $29.95 at www.hokeyspokes.com. Illumination Design Works, 1-617-924-4014.

Keyboard portability on a roll
Road warriors who prefer a full-sized keyboard with their laptops or PDAs will appreciate the Manhattan True-Touch Keyboard. When you're on the move, you can roll up the flexible, plastic unit and tuck it away. The keyboard features a QWERTY design and 104 raised keys that provide goodand quiettactile feedback, but using them will take some practice. Choose from PS/2 or USB connectivity. Units are dustproof and moistureproof and offer a lifetime of 15,000,000 keystrokes. Keyboards are available for around $27 from ThinkGeek, www.thinkgeek.com.

The "PC" PC
In an environmentally friendly move, NEC designed its PowerMate eco PC with 100% recyclable plastic and a 15-in. LCD flat-panel screen that contains no boron. The motherboard is made with lead-free solder, and the computer has no fan, which reduces the amount of dust dispersion for users with respiratory problems. The eco contains a 900-MHz Crusoe processor and a 20-Gbyte hard drive. And of course, it's Energy Star-compliant. The eco starts at $1599. NEC Corp, 1-800-338-9549, www.nec.com.

Free space
Combining a DVD player with a hard-disk-based PVR (personal video recorder), the Scenium Digital Media Recorder (DRS7000N) could be just the thing for overcrowded home-entertainment centers. The $599 unit features progressive-scan output for the clearest pictures and plays a variety of discs, including MP3 CDs and DVD+Rs/RWs. The PVR section handles the usual trick features, such as pausing live shows, and offers more than 30 hours of recording on its 40-Gbyte disk. Best of all, unlike PVRs such as TiVo, there's no fee for the EPG (electronic-program-guide) service. RCA/Thomson, 1-317-587-3000, www.rca.com.

The power of pictures
CyberLink's PowerProducer lets you produce your home movies and photos on DVD or CD for sharing with friends and family. If you're completely inexperienced, a step-by-step wizard-style program eases the way. It takes just three steps to import photo or video files from video-capture devices; you can then add special effects; adjust color; and trim, merge, and split video. The "QuickBurn" feature captures video from DV camcorders directly into DVDs in one click. Prices begin at $49.95. CyberLink USA, www.gocyberlink.com.

Mouse exterminator
Rid your desktop of mice with the iGesture Pad. The touchpad, which is just a bit smaller than a mouse pad, lets you use finger gestures to complete the same operations you would with a mouse. The $179 pad recognizes hundreds of hand gestures, including those that let you point, click, drag, and scroll. Twist your hand to open a file; spread your fingers to zoom. The USB-connected device is thin and small enough to travel and accepts commands from the right or left hand. Hmmm, wonder how it handles gestures you might make when your computer isn't behaving the way you'd like it to? FingerWorks, www.fingerworks.com.

Carry all
The multifunction Duex is an MP3/WMA player, voice recorder, and data-storage device in one portable package. Take off the bottom of the device to find a USB plug for attaching to the appropriate port on a computer. You can drag and drop music, image, video, and data files from the PC to the Duex and vice versa. The device features 128 Mbytes of memory for two hours of MP3 playback, four hours of WMA playback, and eight hours of voice playback; a backlit LCD shows song information in numerous languages. One AAA battery gives you more than 12 hours of music play. With a headphone/neckstrap, USB cable, software CD, manual, and one battery, the Duex mp302 costs $179. Innogear,
www.innogear.com.

Click it, stow it
The ultrasleek Pocket Digital is a handy, stylish way to capture favorite moments. The credit-card-sized digital camera captures and stores 52 high-resolution images at 1.3 megapixels. The lithium-polymer battery endures for hundreds of pictures and recharges through the USB connection. Image downloading is a snap. $129.95. Logitech, www.logitech.com.

The end of e-mail angst?
Neo (Nelson Email Organizer) might be just the ticket for reducing the stress associated with your daily barrage of e-mail. This add-on for Microsoft Outlook lets you work alongside or outside Outlook. Neo automatically sorts and prioritizes messages into intuitive folders. Searches are quick, and complicated filters are not necessary. The program deals with spam and bulk mailings and manages groups of messages by the type of attachments they contain (for example, all Excel files or Word documents together). Neo costs $39.95 for one copy; site licenses are also available. Caelo Software Inc, 1-250-354-5580, www.caelo.com.

Power protection
As more and more electronic equipment finds its way into more and more households, UPS devices could become commodity items for the average home owner. Six UPS models from Energizer will help protect home offices, home theaters, and PCs from power surges, spikes, brownouts, and outages. They automatically save open files, safely power down systems, and protect hardware when threatening power irregularities arise. Features include visual and audio warning indicators and USB connectivity. Prices range from $59.99 to $279.99. Eveready Battery Co, www.energizerups.com.

Surreptitious snapper
Fitting into the palm of your hand, the Mini Pen Cam 1.3 offers a still-image resolution of 1248960 pixels. Using its 16 Mbytes of flash memory, the device can store as many as 50 full-resolution pictures or 160 snapshots snapped at VGA resolution (640480). The $79.99 gadget also gives you the ability to shoot AVI-format movies, although their quality tops out at 624480 pixels and a choppy 10 frames/sec. In addition, the device, which runs on two AAA batteries, connects to a PC via USB to function as a Webcam. Aiptek, 1-949-585-9600, www.aiptek.com.

In touch, on the go
BlackBerry now lets you make and receive phone calls. The palm-sized BlackBerry 5810 wireless handheld device operates on GSM/GPRS networks to allow communication via wireless e-mail, SMS (short messaging service), or integrated GSM phone services, including call waiting, call answering, conference calling, and call forwarding. It comes with an earpiece and microphone for hands-free operation. You can even click on a telephone number inside an email message to place a call. The $499 device incorporates Java 2 Micro Edition. Research in Motion, www.blackberry.net.

Dude, you're gettin' a PDA
Like the PC before it, the PocketPC platform continues to attract more and more manufacturers. PC powerhouse Dell recently joined the fray with an aggressively priced model called the Axim X5. The device features a 3.5-in. transflective TFT with 240320-pixel resolution, as well as both CompactFlash and Secure Digital expansion slots. Two variants are available. The $299 model has a 400-MHz XScale processor, 64 Mbytes of SDRAM, and 48 Mbytes of flash ROM. A $199 configuration steps down to a 300-MHz processor and 32 Mbytes of each type of memory. Dell Computer, 1-800-999-3355, www.dell.com.

Risk averse
If you carry your office in a pocket-sized device, you're asking for trouble. What if you leave it on a plane or in a cab? The iPAQ h5450 tries to reduce the danger with integrated biometric security. A thermal fingerprint reader means only you can access your priceless data, and you can even add a layer of safety by combining the fingerprint sensor with a password. The $699 pocket-sized PC also includes a 400-MHz XScale processor, built-in IEEE 802.11b and Bluetooth capabilities, and an SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output) expansion slot. Hewlett-Packard, 1-650-857-1501, www.hp.com.

Bragging rights
The Zaurus SL-5600 gives the gadget geek ample reason to crow. It not only features a cool physical design with a hideaway keyboard, but also runs a version of Linux. The PDA boasts a 400-MHz Intel XScale processor, CompactFlash and Secure Digital expansion slots, 64 Mbytes of flash, 32 Mbytes of SDRAM, and a juicy 1700-mAhr battery. The device is slated to appear early next year, and pricing hasn't been announced yet, but its predecessor, the SL-5500, currently goes for $375. Sharp Electronics, 1-201-529-8200, www.sharpelectronics.com.

Stop graffiti
Thumb-pecked keyboards have become so popular on handheld devices that even Palm, the originator of the Graffiti handwriting-input system, now offers them. The $549 Tungsten W, slated for the first quarter of next year, features a tri-band GSM/GPRS radio and supports phone calls (via a headset), Web browsing, e-mail, and messaging. Powered by a 33-MHz Motorola Dragon-ball VZ processor, the PDA includes a Secure Digital expansion slot, Bluetooth, and a 320320-pixel color display. Palm, 1-408-503-7000, www.palm.com.

I assume you are using a computer rather than a game console.

Consider a gamepad that has small joysticks on it. My nephew (6 years old as the subject states) began playing motorcycle racing (Motocross Madness 2) and scrolling games (Disney's Hercules) with the Logitech RumblePad.

It has two small, responsive joysticks on it.

My nephew does well with the controller even though he doesn't really hold it like an adult would. He uses it for Nicktoons Racing (go-kart style racing) and does very well with it.

My nephew has also done very well with my steering wheel controller since he was 4 (if I put the pedals on a box so he can reach them).

Didn't see anyone mention this (probably cause it's not that close to the TabletPC), but there's this product from Logitech called IO Personal Digital Pen which is 200$, and does something similar yet different. While it is not a computer - meaning you can't access information, or run applications - it is an input device for handwritten data.
The basic idea is that you write using a special pen that has a optical camera near it's tip, on special paper that has dots on it to tell it where it is. The pen records it's movements to memory, and later you can dump it on your computer. (I think it was also featured in a Wired edition about a year back).
Once again, while it doesn't replace a computer, and there is the drawback of carrying/buying special paper, but it seems an interesting product; While I am not a computer-on-the-go user, I believe that it is extremely useful to digitize-save-archive written data (notes, diagrams, equations) - and not just for students (which seems to be /. main choice for tablets). The only analogy I could think of is my sister's use of her digital camera: while at first I was looking at the resolution of the camera and my printer and calculating costs of each print, I later found out that she takes about a 100 pics per-month, and saves them on the disk and share over the internet, thereby changing my original thinking of a digital camera as a camera which you can develop your prints with...

"I may be a cold-blooded jelly-donut, but my timing is impeccable." -Oz

Or you can get it from Logitech's website for $69. Here is one product's page and here is their main wireless headset page.

Or you can get it from Logitech's website for $69. Here is one product's page and here is their main wireless headset page.

Actually it can (and oftain does) go the other way-- Logitech has been making trackballs for years (7+ if I remember correctly) with optical sensors using lasers to track the movement. and then ~4 years ago Micro$oft began to do the same thing in their trackballs...

logitech's site

an Infrared LED would probably work great with optical mice and their cheap CCD's.. maybe even better than red.
Kind of like some Logitech mice/trackballs do? (like the one on my desk right now?)
--

Anyhow, I ended up deciding it must have been a buildup of gas leaking from the batteries. However, now I'd bet my money on a capacitor exploding, since it still kind of worked after that, but mouse control would be spastic, possibly indicating failure in voltage regulating circuits.

-_-_-

This release includes an encryption feature for the Cordless Freedom(TM) Optical and Cordless Freedom(TM) iTouch(TM) keyboards only.

This release includes an encryption feature for the Cordless Freedom(TM) Optical and Cordless Freedom(TM) iTouch(TM) keyboards only.

This release includes an encryption feature for the Cordless Freedom(TM) Optical and Cordless Freedom(TM) iTouch(TM) keyboards only.

I live in a dorm situation, so it is very possible kids who are nearbye will interfere/send keystrokes/recieve keystrokes from my computer. However, Logitech promises Cordless freedom through multi-channel digital radio technology with secure encryption.

Loitech assures us that the kind of stuff mentioned in the article cannot happen:

To avoid the chance of interference between cordless products, every Logitech cordless product integrates a 12-bit security ID, which allows the receiver to uniquely identify the emitter (i.e., the cordless device, itself) that it is listening to. The 12-bit ID provides 4096 unique combinations of digits, lowering the risk of interference to less than 0.25%. Additionally, in some Logitech cordless keyboards and mice, multi-channel RF technology allows the channel to be changed in the event of a conflict.

To further minimize the impact of the already uncommon conflict or interference, some Logitech cordless keyboards now include secure encryption that protects the security of the data being typed on and transmitted by the keyboard.

Bottom Line: zero encryption with 12-but ID codes is good enough for me. If someone really wanted to get at my credit card numbers, they would probobly come into my unlocked room and find my wallet with my credit card in it instead of building a device to pick up the radio signals from my keyboard. Logitech claims a .25% chance of interference, and as long as my keyboard work, that is also good enough for me.

I live in a dorm situation, so it is very possible kids who are nearbye will interfere/send keystrokes/recieve keystrokes from my computer. However, Logitech promises Cordless freedom through multi-channel digital radio technology with secure encryption.

Loitech assures us that the kind of stuff mentioned in the article cannot happen:

To avoid the chance of interference between cordless products, every Logitech cordless product integrates a 12-bit security ID, which allows the receiver to uniquely identify the emitter (i.e., the cordless device, itself) that it is listening to. The 12-bit ID provides 4096 unique combinations of digits, lowering the risk of interference to less than 0.25%. Additionally, in some Logitech cordless keyboards and mice, multi-channel RF technology allows the channel to be changed in the event of a conflict.

To further minimize the impact of the already uncommon conflict or interference, some Logitech cordless keyboards now include secure encryption that protects the security of the data being typed on and transmitted by the keyboard.

Bottom Line: zero encryption with 12-but ID codes is good enough for me. If someone really wanted to get at my credit card numbers, they would probobly come into my unlocked room and find my wallet with my credit card in it instead of building a device to pick up the radio signals from my keyboard. Logitech claims a .25% chance of interference, and as long as my keyboard work, that is also good enough for me.

Crimony, instead of linking to geartest.com's page on it only, why don't they link to Logitech's page too so that we can see what the stupid thing looks like when geartest.com gets slahdotted? Think, people!

I am NOT a programmer, but the impression that I have is that unix, linux, beos and the like are some modifications and a recompile away from working with OS X. Is this true in the reverse?

If this is correct (or somewhat) why not release the drivers or source 'support free'? I would happily forego tech support for the promise of using devices with other OS's.

This is either leftie or rightie.

I agree, its dumb to omit you lefties from all the neat gadgets, but a majority of the world are righties. I can see how mfgs would exclude the smaller market (not that I agree with them..)

As for playing an FPS with my off-hand: No, I'd prefer not to. However, I have been known to play Paintball off-handed at times (you simply have to in some situations) and am better than I thought I would be.

Agreed. They're ugly and don't look very useful.

As for gaming, I don't even use a mouse.

Once you go trackman you'll never go back man!

If your desk is like mine, you don't even have space for a mousepad (CDs, jewelcases, computer parts, etc all get in the way..). I've found I can play much quicker using the trackball than a normal mouse.

But in this image on the IOpen website, it sure looks like, well, they pasted the image on to that pretty little notebook. Hmm, windows on a TiBook . . .

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=products/fe atures/digitalwritingtopics&CRID=1546&countryid=19 &languageid=1

Read the FAQ: proprietary .PEN format at the top, .NET at the bottom.

Get your facts straight before you accuse someone of being a troll, you moron.

Logitech claims this is the first true breakthrough in pen technology in 200 years, but I guess the invention of the ball-point pen in 1888 doesn't qualify. Sigh... gotta love marketing hype!!

up to 40 pages at a time
(from this page

From the FAQ:
Why do I have to install the .NET framework?
The .NET framework is necessary for some of the functions of the Logitech io Software.

Oh isn't that special...

From the FAQ:
I use Netscape exclusively as my web browser; do I still need to install Internet Explorer?
Yes, but only if your system has an older version of Internet Explorer installed. Since Internet Explorer is a core component of Windows, many features of the Logitech io Software are dependent on the program. However, installing Internet Explorer does not mean you must use it as your browser; you can still use Netscape as your default Internet browser.

Remember when Microsoft, during their DOJ trial, claimed that Explorer was intractable from Windows? That it was such a core component that could not be removed without crippling the whole OS? Not only were they wrong but they were caught fabricating evidence in the form of a VHS tape with telltale impossible graphics and they were busted, wholesale.

Well this is just an example of how that fabrication -- and by extension Microsoft's influence -- affects a fair market negatively. Netscape, Opera, Mozilla, Konqueror ...all out in the cold because Microsoft created their own necessity.

"Core component" my ass.

• Digital paper with Anoto functionality is created by printing a proprietary pattern of very small dots on ordinary paper that is perceived by the eye as a slightly off-white color. The dots have a nominal spacing of 0.3 mm (0.01 inch).

• As you write, the built-in digital camera in the pen continuously takes pictures of the patterned paper. Then, when you place the pen in its cradle, all of your writing is transferred automatically to your PC.

Yo, you can get 3 button mice for macs. Logitech sells a couple of them.

here's one

I've been using one for a while. Contextual menus (you can set the 2nd mouse button to --control-click--) and the scroll wheel both work!

I use a Logitech Cordless Freedom keyboard and mouse. I can put it on my lap and then I have the desk surface free to put the book on.

I used to work for Logitech Tech Support in the good ol' days and they bought Dexxa sometime in 1992(?). The internals were generally the same (same design, same firmware) and the designs came from Logitech, but the actual manufacturing, materials and packaging were all low cost.

They were branded differently, but Logitech support in Fremont had to handle Dexxa calls. An example of the kinds of problems we encountered is Dexxa used a cheap plastic for the mouse body that allowed light to shine in. This flooded the optical sensors inside the mouse and would cause it to stop working in bright light. The fix? Add a new manufacturing step that spraypainted the inside of the body.

Anyhoo- looks like Logitech still owns them. I can't find financial reports stating such, but Dexxa's Terms of Use mention: "Dexxa International. 6505 Kaiser Drive, Fremont, CA 94555". Which has been the same address for Logitech USA for nearly 15 years.

Here in the office we had two people using their Cordless Freedom(TM) iTouch(TM). And it was really fun watching both get mad while loosing contact with their mousecursor ten times a day ;-)

cu,
Lispy

I've had my logitech cordless freedom optical keyboard/mouse combo for nearly a year now, with only 4 battery changes. I don't know where that review has been...

The Logitech MX700 just raised the bar of expectation on precision and control. With its powerful MX optical engine, the MX700 instantly responds to even your fastest movements. The rechargeable Fast RF cordless technology gives the responsiveness of a corded connection, but without the cord. Our two Cruise Control buttons provide continuous scrolling through long documents or websites. And the rapid charge base station acts as a receiver and a charger in one. You made the demand so we built the device.

• MX Optical Engine delivers more accuracy and control on more surfaces than ever before
  
• Fast RF cordless technology delivers corded quality on a cordless device in a six foot range, even on crowded desks.
  
• Rapid charge base station ensures that your mouse is always ready.
  
• Cruise Control scrolling system provides more efficient scrolling through long documents or web sites, and two thumb buttons let you quickly move forward or back between pages on the Internet.
  
• Quick Switch Program Selector lets you switch between active programs and documents easily.

As the title of the story says, it's a "MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse." From Logitech.

Logitech has something kind of similar to the pointing device in the article, just it's not a gyro based (optical though), it has a laser pointer, and it's based on Bluetooth rather than RF. It's called a Cordless Presenter, more info can be found here and it costs a lot more than the gyro mouse.

Perhaps the blind could use vibration feedback in the iFeel mouse to be informed of shot accuracy. Immersion has already added distinct vibrations for many events in Unreal Tournament.

Up until recently, I have been using trusty 'ol IBM PS/2 keyboard. Its trusty mechanical feedback was great, not to mention nearly error-free when working properly. Also, when my high school chucked out its old computers, I was able to salvage about 15 to 20 of these beauties. Nearly all worked perfectly, and those that didn't were not to hard to fix with a solder iron and spare parts.

But recently, my wrists have begun to bother me (probably CTS setting in; and I'm nary 20 years old) and the old keyboards refused to work on my new rig (I probably could have modified one of them to work, but college really cuts out the free time). So I went to Wally Mart Computer Center and picked up this Logitech Navigator keyboard. This is by far one of the best keyboards I have used. Sure, those Mikeysoft Naturals are comfy, but they take up too much space and it is quite difficult to play Unreal Tournament with. The tactile sensation, while softer and not nearly as loud as the PS/2's, has a reassuring, yet subtle "crunch" to it. Not to mention, it has a scroll wheel built in (I use mine to switch apps, it is quite handy), and numerous other handy buttons. All the Ctrl functions are silkscreened on the front side of the keys for handy reference. And it was only $30.

The most unique feature, however, is the zero-tilt design. All of the keys are perfectly flat; normal keyboards "curve up" as you approach the number row, but all the keys on this keyboard are on the same plane, parallel to the desk. I have to say that it takes some getting used to, but in the end it is far more comfortable than a regular "tilted" keyboard. Now if only I can figure out how to get some of these extra buttons and stuff working in Linux.... damn semi-n00b skillz.

While I miss my PS/2's (they are still attached to my other boxes), I would have to say that I am quite impressed with the Navigator. Hopefully this thing will be as durable as the old PS/2's.

Assuming can be a bad thing. Why the heck can't they just have the camera register itself when connected to the USB port like one of those keychain USB devices? Is showing up on the desktop as a new removable drive all that difficult, or are they so set on adding crapware to (presumably) nag you to order prints? The review mentions nothing, but the Logitech website mentions a downloading application and Windows-only compatibility.