New Mice and Cameras from Microsoft

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/14160/microsoft_unveils_notebook_mice_lifecams' target='_blank'>http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/14160/microsoft_unveils_notebook_mice_lifecams</a><br /><br /></div><i>"There's new evidence Microsoft's hardware group has been working hard, since the company has just taken the wraps off three new notebook mice—all wireless and one with 1 GB of built-in flash memory—and two new LifCams designed to enable video sharing capabilities."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/cgg-mobilememory-09172007.jpg" /><br /><br />Certainly evolutionary, but nothing revolutionary here. The cameras might be popular with the video blogging crowd since they offer one-touch blogging to Windows Live Spaces. The only product that leaves me a little puzzled is the mouse with integrated flash memory. I don't see individuals carrying their personal mouse around to other computers, so this is just a really bulky thumb drive. Better would be a USB input on the mouse itself or even a recessed, removable thumb drive that docks into the mouse.

[Darius Wey]

I've had a bad run with Microsoft mice over the past few years. Faulty buttons, poorly constructed rubber grips, you name it. So I can't say I'm too excited about their latest releases. :( Thankfully, Logitech has always been around to save me. ;)

[gdoerr56]

I very much like Logitech hardware. The only reason I use Microsoft instead is because their drivers just work. I'll never understand how Logitech provides a keyboard and mouse driver that is a 64 MB download. I mean, come on people, its just a keyboard and mouse!

Yes, I know the basic hardware works fine with the native drivers but then the side scrolling and other nice features don't work. Sometime when we buy a keyboard and mouse, that's actually all we're looking for.

Sorry for the rant, haven't finished my coffee yet...

[Felix Torres]

The only product that leaves me a little puzzled is the mouse with integrated flash memory. I don't see individuals carrying their personal mouse around to other computers, so this is just a really bulky thumb drive. Better would be a USB input on the mouse itself or even a recessed, removable thumb drive that docks into the mouse.

Two reasons for the integrated memory in the mouse:
1- Its meant for laptop users so instead of a thumbdriive and a mouse, you carry only the mouse. Not really meant for sneakernet-ing data, but rather for backups.
2- Readyboost. Vista can gain a decent enough performance boost from thumbdrive flash memory. Again, two features; one device. Can't blame them for trying to be creative.

I could see myself using the flash mouse; you can never have too many backups. ;-)