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Microsoft's latest environmental contribution: a mouse with a switch

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

February 5, 2008, 5:50 PM

Microsoft has announced a new "green" wireless mouse, with such environmentally-minded features as...an on/off switch.

The Redmond company is gently marketing its new Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 today as being environmentally friendly due to its six-month battery life. This, according to Microsoft, will amount to an 80% reduction in battery consumption over a three-year period

How does it achieve this feat? By using a rechargeable battery, and equipping it with a battery level indicator and power switch.

Seems deceptively simple for a device which also touts "High Definition Laser Technology," and Vista Flip 3D-maximized magnifier tool/tilt wheel*.

Microsoft's Wireless Laser Mouse 7000

*According to Microsoft, "The Magnifier is not compatible with Direct3D® API in full screen mode, media players, OpenGL, and Layered Windows. If you are using Mac OS X, the Magnifier enlarges text and images on the entire screen."

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By Avion Airplane

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 1:45 PM

how is this a GREEN MOUSE? At some point it most likley will end up in the garbage dump rechargeable battery and all?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Feb 6, 2008 - 1:57 PM

The same way the Prius is a GREEN CAR.

Neither saves more energy than it costs to produce, but hey...they're battery powered, so the sheep think they're saving the world.

Score: 0

By Vimm

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 1:54 PM

Perhaps it's referring to the color of the battery status light in the center?

Score: 0

By shy_one

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 1:32 PM

I have tried a number of mice over the years and ashamed to admit it but my favorite one came with the system i picked up a year ago and it has a track ball in it.

Seen this thing in the box and thought wtf and quickly grabbed my wireless mouse but then one night the batteries died and i had no choice but to use it and have loved it ever since.

Score: 0

By slowgu

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 12:12 PM

I truly wonder if the mouse will 'save your settings', when you turn it off. I also wonder if it will boot/work slower as time goes on, much like Windoze. What about virus and malware attacks?

Score: 0

By Vimm

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 10:37 AM

And in other news, yesterday Microsoft explorers discovered a new continent across the Atlantic ocean, proving once and for all the world is not flat.

Score: 0

By Lawrence01

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 9:51 AM

Yeah, I have a switch and battery indicators on my wireless laser mouse from Logitech. (MX1000?) label is worn...

Great of you to join the party Microsoft, what took you so freaking long?

Score: 0

By cricri_pingouin

posted Feb 7, 2008 - 5:22 AM

Same here, I don't know the exact model, but my laser Logitech has a power switch, indicator, and I feed it with rechargeable AAs anyway. So nothing to call home about.

Score: 0

By quigonn32

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 8:36 AM

big f.... deal, logitech had those features like 100 years ago???, Microsoft hardware sucks now, it used to be good up until intelliponit 3.0.....

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 10:23 AM

what a joke...Microsoft's hardware is excellent. Ive never had any issues with mine. And they look good.

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 2:27 PM

Logitech has been making better mice for years. Look back at how long it took Microsoft to release a comparable mouse to Logitech's G7. All Microsoft has been doing is copying Logitech.

Score: 0

By burfadel

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 12:52 AM

This mouse is nothing new, I have a Logitech mx3200 (part of the keyboard/mouse combo), and the battery life on that is superb. It also has an on/off switch on the bottom, although the power save mode is more than adequate.

I do use alkaline batteries in mine, but I also have a Rezap battery charger (www.rezap.com.au). These battery chargers can actually charge alkaline, titanium, as well as normal rechargeable batteries! Alkaline batteries recharge successfully in it as long as the battery doesn't get too flat. Most electronic devices (including GPS, Mice, portable music players, etc) cut off before the point of cell degredation inside the battery. It just requires a special charging pattern that normal battery chargers don't do (normal chargers aren't ongoing adaptive). Batteries can be recharged up to 15 times.

Therefore, I have NEVER replaced the batteries in my mouse and keyboard, and I am a heavy user, both with typing and gaming.

Anyways, its good to see companies are taking this into consideration, but this product is really no better than whats currently on the market and they're hoping their name can push sales to the unwise :)

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 4:41 AM

That's a bunch of bull that any alkaline battery can be recharged. The only rechargeable alkaline batteries come from Rayovac and these batteries are not the same as an alkaline battery from, say, Duracell or Energizer. An ongoing adaptive charger simply means that the charger monitors and, if necessary, changes the voltage being applied to the battery and also monitors the temperature of the battery. Rayovac's rapid 15 minute charger and Energizer's rapid 15 minute charger both do this but if you pop a regular alkaline battery (non Rayovac) in it the battery will explode despite the fact that these two chargers are ongoing adaptive chargers.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 11:46 PM

Why? My bluetooth MS mouse with 2 AA last 6 months on casual use.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 10:23 AM

My Microsoft mouse with 2 AA last me about a year.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 8:31 PM

I will stick with my Logitech MX Revolution. I wish all mice would adopt the scroll wheel on this mouse! It is also nice to program the side wheel to control the volume.

Score: 0

By zetaprime

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 7:21 PM

I've had a Logitech wireless laser mouse with those features for a couple of years. Microsoft makes it sound like having an on-off switch and rechargeable battery with indicator is something new.

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

edited Feb 5, 2008 - 7:25 PM

Don't think the article compares it to Logitech.

Score: 0

By LeXTeRiTY_X

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 8:51 AM

Nope, but we do! =D

Bring on the Dvorak keyboard next!

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 10:23 AM

lol

Score: 0

By PatrynXX

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 7:17 PM

Can't stand wired mice. worlds worst idea. Wireless mice much better. and if your using rechargables who cares. The logitech mouse I have supposedly has batteries that last 8 months. I've had mine over a year and the batteries arn't dead yet. And indeed it does have an on off switch. But I rarely use that button. Is there any proof that wired mice save any less energy? Still draws power from somewhere to give off a nice bright red light. The Logitech gives out just the faintest of light and one has to be in a pitch black room to see it.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 10:29 PM

Great I can't stand wireless mice.

1. Have to remember to put it in the cradle.
2. The first time the battery dies, you are annoyed. The second, you want to toss the thing in the street and time it just as a street car dings its bell. The third? well, I think you get the point. The convenience factor of a wireless mouse is vastly overplayed by dying mice at the most inopportune time.
3. Signal strength. I've seen wireless mice 2 inches to several feet from the receiver complain about signal strength. Again, it interrupts my workflow.
4. Wired mice are lighter than wireless mice:fact.
5. Instant response with wired mice. Wireless mice sometimes will have a slight delay. No thanks.
6. The cable is never a hindrance with wired mice. The only maintenance a wired mouse needs is cleaning the occasional lint off it's feet or eye. Wireless mice require fiddling. I hate fiddling.
7. I've seen treos interfere with bluetooth mice. Real nice. Remind me to slap the designers of that crap protocol on the back when I see them.

Score: 0

By morriscox

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 1:14 AM

I have a wired mouse at work. #6 is false. The cable does get in the way and it's annoying having to pull on the cable to get enough slack.

I have a wireless mouse (Logitech MX700) at home. It works great.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 8:02 AM

uh, get a longer cable?

I looked up your mouse on amazon, and while it does get rave reviews, some things troubled me:

1. You have to charge it before initial use.
2. Built in battery degrades over time. After a year of use you need to remember to drop it in base station daily.

Score: 0

By morriscox

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 10:35 AM

The cable is long enough. It just tends to fall over the side of the desk and it goes through a gap between the desk and the hutch, causing friction. Gravity makes it easy to go one way and friction makes it resist going the other way.

1. Been so long that I had forgotten about it. I would consider it to be an inconvenience, but a minor one.

2. I guess the battery life is getting shorter. However, I put the mouse on the station all the time as it keeps it out of the way and makes it easy to find.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 12:35 AM

I was with you on this until about 3 months ago.

Bought my Mother a Laptop for her personal home use and a Logitech G7 to go with it.

As painless as it gets. It comes with 2 powerpacks, one charges as the other drains, very easy to swap, and a damn nice mouse to boot.

I've actually been considering getting one for *my* laptops. Still don't know if I could bring myself to get one for the desktops though.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 7:58 AM

I guess my point wasn't made clear enough. You have to "swap" when a wired mouse doesn't. every time you swap, you are doing an action that a wired mouse doesn't need to do. The last time I thought about my mouse at work? when I plugged it into the computer and it started working.

I distribute mice at work, and I'm highly paid to do this single task. Frequently we'll get requests for wireless mice and keyboards. Soon after, they want it back to wired. The novelty just doesn't last when you have to interrupt workflow to keep the mouse alive.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 12:22 PM

I guess I didn't make my point, either....

On a laptop:

Swapping a powerpack once every 3 months

or:

Messing with the cord, plugging/unplugging the mouse *every* time you pull it out of the takes a bit more of people's time.

I get paid to do more than distribute mice. ;)

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 4:15 PM

Then someone should pay to train you on what a docking station or port replicator is.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Feb 6, 2008 - 4:59 PM

Sure, I suppose I could carry that around with me everywhere I go as well...would *that* save me time, genius?

I'm really sorry you hate wireless. Well, not really... but seriously, try some logic once in a while.

I use a laptop because I can take it with me. The docking station only turns it into a glorified desktop, hmmmm?

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 4:47 AM

The G7 mouse is the only one I've tried that comfortably fits my hand. Every other mouse I've tried is way too small. I wish Logitech had a wireless version of the G9 mouse. It would be nice to be able to store custom DPI settings in the mouse if it gets used on a computer without Setpoint.

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 8:48 AM

Are you a Yeti?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 12:23 PM

Have you tried the G7?

(or the ancient MouseMan Wheel+?)

You may think your current mouse is sufficiently comfortable. You really don't want to try these mice if you want to continue operating under that illusion.

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 2:16 PM

Yes, I've owned a G7 mouse for longer than I can remember. Before the G7 I owned a Logitech iFeel mouse but it wasn't as long from front to back as the G7. I also tried a Microsoft wireless optical mouse once (I don't remember which one) but 27MHz wireless mice don't work in my house. The mouse pointer stutters across the screen. The Logitech G7 was the only mouse at the time that performed exactly the same as a wired mouse thanks to the fact it operates at 2.4GHz.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 4:57 PM

The question was directed at the guy who asked if you were a yeti...

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 6:23 PM

I'll stick with wired mice, and save the planet while doing so!

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 7:23 PM

Wired mice use more energy.

Score: 0

By FailedCRC

posted Feb 6, 2008 - 6:10 AM

Uhuh, transmitting waves through an insulative medium requires much less power than through a conudctive cable.

Score: 0

By LeXTeRiTY_X

edited Feb 6, 2008 - 8:48 AM

Actually, wireless mouse do use more power. The USB reciever and the mouse battery put together actually use more Amps than wired mice.

EDIT: Farken Phunny, FailedCRC - just realised your post was _for_ wired mice. LOL

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Feb 5, 2008 - 6:08 PM

At least it's both left and right handed.

Score: 0

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