Gizmodo
Okay germaphobes, here's the mouse for you. The Belkin Washable Mouse has a different approach to the scroll wheel, where it's changed into a "scroll pad" that requires just a touch to let you scroll vertically or horizontally. That makes it completely waterproof, so you can wash all those boogers off in the sink, and it'll come out smelling clean, fresh and good as new. Sheesh, you could probably take this little rodent underwater if you wanted to.
Never mind that washing it will just spread all that bacteria all over it, and it will probably be even more infested with creepy-crawlies after such a cleaning. But at least it will look sparkling. And after all, isn't the perception of clean more important than the reality? That alone is probably worth the extra few bucks you'll have to pay for this $29.99 mouse by the time it ships in late August. We're thinking that oddball scroll pad might take some getting used to, though.
Press Release [Belkin]
Comments
How about a good solid washable keyboard to come with it?
Why would you want a washable... oh... I get it, dont worry...
mouse...meet Mr. Toilet
"Never mind that washing it will just spread all that bacteria all over it, and it will probably be even more infested with creepy-crawlies after such a cleaning."
That's why you wash the dishes, and other kitchen utensils used in cooking... to spread the bacteria.
It looks nice, its a good idea, and even the scroll pad seems a decent feature...
That's exactly why I refuse to wash my hands. Got the germs right where I want 'em. Don't want 'em spreading out, and movin round, fornicating and multiplying on account a that new fangled, so called, 'soap and water' or 'disinfectant'.
Damn straight.
I want MY germs and bacteria running MY side of the street.
"Hey yous goims, BEAT IT!"
"And don't let us catch you bacteriagain, see?"
I'm surprised that no one has yet figured out how to make those disposable toilet seat covers for mouse and keyboard...
Oh my, Belkin finally invented a pRon mouse.
im surprised someone even thought of that idea.
no one has EVER....i repeat EVER died of ass rash from a toilet seat.
Bacteria get the "Bmg50barrett Award" for Not Being as Deadly as People Thought.
@bmg50barrett: In marketing it is the perceived need, not the actual need, that sells a product.
@bmg50barrett:
Tell that to all the people that die from sepsis annually.
Or to all the work time lost annually to various "office colds" and "office flus".
[www.pcstats.com]
Actually, there is a HUGE market for this...HOSPITALS! I used to do consulting for healthcare institutions, and would have easily bought 5000 a year. The bigger problem is not submersion; it is standing up to cleaning solutions. A keyboard would be good too.
Anywher that you have more than one person using the same computer (I'm thinking schools, libraries, brothels... that sort of thing), something like this would be "handy"...
Back in the day I had the joyful campus job of cleaning the mouse balls (mmmmm, mouse balls) and keyboards in one of our computer labs... now I'm really dating myself... NOT a fun task. Gave me significant appreciation for just how much hair/skin/soda the human body sheds during an all-nighter coding binge...
And I work in an infectious disease lab...and some of my coworkers don't take off their gloves before using the lab computer...
I'll wait for version 2.0 with built in soap dispenser.
@Xenobiologista:
Reminds me of Firesign Theater's "Beat the Reaper" hilariously black sketch, a mock game show in which the contestant is injected with a disease and must guess what it is before being given the antidote.
Good Luck!
This looks a ton better than the Mighty Mouse. Why didn't apple just come out with something like this? It looks easier to use, and Jobs would have that "monolithic" and minimalist design he seems to love.
Ok, I'll do my laundry mom, don't throw my G5 mouse in the basket..
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