Logitech Unveils Smart Mouse

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."

Comments

Why?

[still_sick]

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?

[hool5400]

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?

[m4dm4n]

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?

[masklinn]

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.

Mostly pointless.

[MartinG]

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.

[CleverNickedName]

I think this is what you're looking for.

Low energy mouse.

[iLEZ]

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?

Does anyone remember when...

[D-Cypell]

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.

Some more stats

[Vo0k]

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.