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Logitech Unveils Smart Mouse

Posted by samzenpus on 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."

15 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. Why? by still_sick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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?

    --
    ...Also, I didn't know Buggalo could fly.
    1. Re:Why? by DrXym · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Because it's not free. The consumer pays by having a less stable, slower system because the bloody mouse driver runs all the time and inveigles its way into various running applications using TCP/IP hooks, sniffers, screen scrapers etc.


      If there were genuinely useful reason for this I could understand, but not for a flashing light gimmick when you get an IM.

    2. Re:Why? by Thuktun · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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?

  2. Two way communication? by el_womble · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    Scared of flying, pointy things snce 1979!
  3. Mostly pointless. by MartinG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    --
    -- MartinG To mail me: echo kewyjlcxyzvjfxbqwh | tr bcefhjklqvwxyz .@adgimnoprstu
    1. Re:Mostly pointless. by Jesus+IS+the+Devil · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

      --

      eTrade SUCKS
  4. Bloat... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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 :)

  5. Looks like feature bloat to me by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    init 11 - for when you need that edge.
  6. Low energy mouse. by iLEZ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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?

    --
    You cant fight in here, its a war room!
    1. Re:Low energy mouse. by FidelCatsro · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    2. Re:Low energy mouse. by guardian-ct · · Score: 2, Insightful

      One thing I noticed about my wireless mouse, if you use it on a dark surface (such as a black mouse pad), it uses much more battery power than if you use it on something lighter in color.

      It probably has to do with having to keep the LED inside on high more often, or maybe more difficult for the CPU inside to determine where it's been moved.

      So, try a blue or white colored mouse pad. I went from something like 2 days of use per set of batteries, to around 2 weeks (I think).

  7. Does anyone remember when... by D-Cypell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  8. BOFH Mouse by monstermonster · · Score: 3, Insightful
    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!

  9. Re:10 buttons? by damg · · Score: 2, Insightful
    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.
  10. Not quite all the bells and whistles by futurekill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    --
    The gates in my computer are AND, OR and NOT; they are not Bill.