I play a lot of "Enemy Territory: Quake Wars" and all I can think of is, "They've blown open the Arc doors! DEfend the Bioscanner!"

I have to agree with the feeling that Microsoft makes great quality hardware, but in most things has fallen out of touch with what people really want.

Gimme my VX Nano any day. Did I mention I'm a Logitech fanboi?

Sorry.

strider_mt2k

@MartinX: Because Microsoft isn't primarily a hardware company?

femstix

@MartinX: Oh, and I agree with pretty much everything you said there. Maybe that's how Microsoft got so filthy rich? :P

Eruanno

...That does not look comfortable.

Eruanno

Does it reminds you of Aliens from the Aliens movie?
from my point of view, it sure does..

shanzi

What's the deal with MS?

Obviously they have somebody there who can design stuff that actually looks pretty good, why don't they try implementing design threads that get picked up all their products, making it look like they have some sort of plan.

In my opinion, one of the reasons Apple as a brand has such a huge mindshare (if not market share) is all their stuff looks like an Apple product which, conciously or subconciously creates an image of purpose, planning and stability.

Every MS product, hardware, software, websites, looks like it was designed by a bunch of guys who never met or spoke any of the other guys who designed any thing (which they probably haven't).

This to me creates an impression of randomness, lack of co-ordination, and instability, which coincidentally is what a lot of people think of when they think "Microsoft".

So yeah, nice mouse.

MartinX

Who needs color copiers when you can just drive down to Cupertino in a white van and kidnap the design team.

OMG! Ponies!

Interesting design, but I question the comfort factor too.

@MartinX: Whoa, a potential flame war? and it's barely even 9 AM?

tamoko

looks comfy

Tohe

The first picture's not very good. It's at a weird angle that exaggerates the arch. If you look at the others it doesn't look much different from the profile of a regular mouse.

I hope it's dense though because mousing with something that felt like a light piece of plastic would feel funny...

Xenobiologista

The arc on that mouse is almost identical to that of the highly regarded Logitech MX1000. Just an FYI before you guys jump on the MS hate bandwagon.

BoinK

@robot-shmobot: The mighty mouse has ALWAYS sucked. No real "Mac guy" would be caught dead with a piece of shit like that. It's all about the bluetooth Logitechs.

MastaFalse

The only thing microsoft can do well. Make a kick-ass mouse.

MastaFalse

@femstix: Except for all those keyboards, mice, Zunes, Webcams, Xboxes...

Saying MS isn't a hardware company is like saying Nike only sells shoes :p

I'm not hatin' on MS, just saying that strong, consistent brand identity is an area where I find their lack of effort or possibly their strategy to be mystifying, when it is clearly something the market wants.

I mean, they come out with this mouse, I don't know how practical/comfortable it is, but it's a pretty strong design. Clearly they have designed this mouse to appeal to the kind of people for whome the stly/desing of peripherals is important, but at the same time they've also alienated those same people by making this design totally standalone.

Granted, if you care that much about design, you'll probably already be a Mac user and won't care about this mouse, and if you don't care about design and thusly probably won't be too interested in this mouse.

So in effect, it seems to me that they've designed a product specifically targetted at people who won't buy it.

Which I don't understand.

MartinX

i'm not one to really like microsoft products, but i have to say, this is pretty gorgeous.. definitely a new spin on an old tired design. anyone else bored with the mighty mouse?

robot-shmobot

@femstix: yay, somebody got it! what other hardware does msft make besides the 360, zune and keyboards and mice? i can't think of much.

@Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!: try it first before passing final judgment; perhaps you'll be surprised.

Paradise

Is anyone else seeing this mouse having trouble sliding across a mouse pad? This thing is designed like a lady's pump, and that heel will probably provide an unwanted pressure point at the back, where your hand will be resting. I love Microsoft's mice, but I hate this.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

@MartinX: Well, that paragraph provided me with some insight. Last thing i thought i would read about in the comments of an article about a mouse would be about market share.

Microsoft has always made nice mice. Anyway, i'm wondering why there isn't bluetooth. Anyone?

Nighthawkz

Perfect for that computer you have sitting in the corner of the living room that is there more as a decorative piece than for actual use.

It is astounding (not necessarily in a good way) that two decades later, we are still using a mouse to move a pointer around on a screen.

Monty

@BoinK: I've been using a MX1000 for a few years. It is nothing like this arc mouse. Not sure what you are getting at.

MrMaestr0

Strange...

I think it's probably quite comfortable...
But if i'm the only one, it will fail

dynosaulo

@Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!: Lift up your current mouse. Look at the feet in the back, how much contact area is that? Not a lot, right?
@MrMaestr0: As have I. It was a bit of pre-emptive strike as I can see people saying that the "hump" on this mouse is too severe. Here's a quick and dirty comparison.
[img502.imageshack.us]

BoinK

@OMG! Ponies!: TROLL MOAR, PLZ. Anyway, I don't see the resemblance you're alluding to. It doesn't look like a hockey puck or one of the polished stones you'd find in your garden. And it actually has a scroll-wheel and not scroll-ball/nipple.

Captain Bringdown

Meh, pass. I'll stick with my Logitech Trackman Wheel, either cordless or not. The Logitech BT mouse I got was about worthless given its tendency to lag.

BT wasn't ready for prime time in Guild Wars, much less anything else that required quicker reaction times.

Convair 990A

I've found that flat mice are uncomfortable to use because the hand has a natural curl, and when I use them I get a lot of unintentional button pushes. I also find that a pronounced hump is equally uncomfortable because it doesn't follow the natural curve of the hand. The most comfortable mouse I've ever laid hand on was an IBM IR 4-button scroll-mouse. It was flatter in the back with a steep dropoff where the buttons were. Beyond that, I actually find micro-mice to be very comfortable to use...once you figure out how to use them. I've got a Targus PAUM01U mini-mouse, which I'll grip with three fingertips from the side, and only my index and middle fingertips will actually rest on the top surface. To move it, I just flex my fingers and keep my wrist firmly planted on the edge of the desk. Works great. But I haven't been able to find a truly comfortable full-size mouse in a loooong time. Certainly nothing I'd be willing to shell out money for.

Purple Dave

@Paradise: Granted. I will however, not like it until I get to try it out :P

@BoinK: I'm looking at the bottom of my current mouse. It has a rim that goes all the way around the bottom, so basically it's pretty even when sitting on the desktop.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

This looks pretty good, and I like the fact that it can be folded in half. Pretty cleaver design. What's the specs? 2000 dpi? Lower? Would like to know.

Slottsherre

WTF no blootoof?

th4tkid

wow
noice

thomusvoo

No Bluetooth = Do not want.

Looks cool though, maybe they will add a BT version later.

AndyMac

MS should get the people who designed the Xbox 360 controller and work on PC peripherals. As far as I am concerned, the 360 controller was the climax of peripheral design by MS.

But this mouse really looks uncomfortable to use.

CutePuppyz

it looks cool
but its stupid ergonomically

superjap

OMG!! Originality?? Design?? I want the old microsoft back!!

Edi_bOMB

@Edi_bOMB: Actually, some of the MS keyboards aren't half bad, especially for people with larger hands. MS took a cue from Logitech when designing a lot of them, but it paid off. I recommended one of the MS keyboards to my folks when they were shopping for a new setup. A bit on the pricey side, but still good.

Hvedhrungr

@Convair 990A: Finally someone who also uses the Logitech Trackman. I've been using the thing ever since it came out (the same one, no less, although I do have a replacement ready if ever it should fail).

A lot of the newer Logitech mice may look better and have better response, but once you get the hang of using the Trackman, you save a lot of desk space. I also have fairly big hands, and most mice have my hand sliding on the pad as much as the mouse itself.

All things considered, this looks like a very beautiful computer peripheral, but just from looking at it, I'd wager to say it's
A) too small for me,
B) too frail for me,
C) too expensive, and
D) it really doesn't go with the rest of my setup.

And in case you were wondering about D), that MS mouse really is a style over substance item. If you buy a mouse that tries to say "Zen", the rest of the desktop should fit, accordingly. Off the top of my head, I can't name a keyboard to go with the mouse.

Hvedhrungr

I like a big mouse. My hands hurt just looking at the various mice that are only 1/2 or 1/3 as big as I would like.
Microsoft seem to make the biggest mice on the planet and this just fits right in with that design scheme.
Wasn't MS derided in Japan because the controllers for the first X-Box were so much bigger than Japanese hands were used to?

AdmNaismith

It looks like an ergonomic nightmare. But, then, that's typical of mice.
The glossy surface? Sure, if you like fingerprints.

Agreed, why no Bluetooth? Seems like an obvious thing. The dearth of decent Bluetooth input devices is odd.
The Mighty Mouse, like all of Apple's mice, is awful. I've got a RadTech BT500+ mouse. It's small and has bluetooth that can be recharged while using with a USB cable. Great feature!

I prefer trackballs. They're fast, accurate and ergonomically sound. The Kensington Expert Mouse Pro (optical, with the scroll ring) is excellent. Kensington makes another Bluetooth mouse that can be used as either a standard mouse or a trackball by clicking a button on it. it looks interesting, but nor $90 interesting.

A Wacom tablet is even better. I have small one that I carry around with my MacBook Pro.

Mr-Reeee

It looks cool, but I use a Labtec wireless mouse with my laptop and I can use it on pretty much anything; a couch cushion, my leg, a blanket. It doesn't look like that one would work without a very solid, flat surface.

Electronic-Cigarettes

It looks plenty comfortable, but the only problem I would have personally, would be the weight. Other than that, I'd throw down a bit of cash for it.

zobox