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New Microsoft Mouse Scrolls Both Ways
Library Spoff writes "The BBC are reporting that Microsoft are bringing out a mouse that will use the scroll wheel to tilt as well as roll. The innovation means that users will be able to scroll vertically as well as horizontally without using on-screen navigation bars." How long before I get a trackball embedded in my mouse?
Introducing, the Microsoft BiMouse. That Mouse that Scrolls Both Ways (tm)
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
I was browsing thinkgeek and ran across this mouse. Sounds like this is old news.
.. I can bind the new controls to lean left/right in FPSs. :)
You want it so you can easily deal with all the jerks that don't make their webpages to size.
Also, spreadsheets often require a lot of left/right scrolling, and if you work with them a lot this will be a big improvement. If its as easy as the mousewheel to use, I'm all for it.
Don't hate it just because its from Microsoft. Evaluate the technology for what it is.
MAN AT BAR: [coughs conspicuously, smiles]
WOMAN AT BAR: [politely but nervously smiles back]
MAN AT BAR: My, uh, mouse goes both ways, if you know what I mean.
WOMAN AT BAR: [begins to quietly edge away]
I don't see this as a tool for scrolling left in web pages, but rather very handy when working with image manipulation software.
Its definetly not a radical innovation, but it would ne a nice feature to have every once in a while.
Also, I bet it could come in handy in games, particularly the more recent fps games, where there is more than just fire and jump to have to worry about.
IBM had this before Apple, my roommate's IBM Athlon 800 (800MHz was a new thing to Athlons when he bought it) came with one of these things.
One of the reasons the scroll wheel is successful is because it's comfortable.
Why? Your knuckles allow your finget to curl with your finger remaining parallel to the side of your hand.
However, a side scrolling wheel requires either
(i) an awful lot of play in your knuckles, allowing you to curl them to be non-parallel with the side of your hand, or
(ii) bending the wrist to move your entire hand side-to-side.
Neither is particularly comfortable, and both result in sore hand parts quite quickly. I predict that this will never be used much... too tough on the hands.
Support a few technologists in Washington.
I've been asking for a trackball in a mouse for a long time. It'd make working with large OrCAD and AutoCAD files alot easier.
If you think education is expensive, you should try ignorance -- Derek Bok, president of Harvard
Hey guys!
I see many replies about other mice with second scroll wheels or a built in trackball.
This mouse let's you TILT the scroll wheel. That is the innovative part here. And personally I think that's gonna be much more usable than a second scroll wheel or a trackball on your mouse.
Cheers,
Andre