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Smart Mouse with E-Mail and IM Alerts
lilrock writes "CoolTechZone.com takes a look at the world's first smart mouse from Logitech, the MX610, that has e-mail and IM alert buttons. It also has auto turn on/off functionality as well. According to the article, 'All these standard features aside, what has us impressed are the e-mail and IM notification buttons. Though the idea behind them is simple, it's interesting how Logitech comes up with such exclusive features. Basically, you will have to configure the indicators to alert you when you receive an e-mail and/or an IM message from the person of your choice. The buttons will alert you by lighting up, and lead you directly to the message once you press them.' " Because I for one am constantly staring at my mouse when I have a gigantic monitor right in front of me. Cough.
Or are at work and are doing something elsewhere and aren't constantly looking at their screen. Perhaps they hide their taskbar alerts for AIM because they aren't supposed to be using IM clients at work. Their boss might know that a flashing taskbar item is an IM but a flashing mouse button might not be known yet?
Other than that, I really don't see a use for it myself.
Because I for one am constantly staring at my mouse when I have a gigantic monitor right in front of me.
As long as it has a long enough range, it could be useful to just take your mouse with you when you go away from the computer - to work on some paper based thing, prehaps.
If you run Linux, you can forget this.
Logitech refuse to support using Linux with their products - just ask anyone with a DiNovo mediapad keyboard. All they have to do is tell us the protocol, which won't cost them a penny, but they won't. Asshats.