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The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
Microsoft's Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 Has a Tiny Dongle

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Gary_7vn
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
I can use a touchpad for hours, (don't tell my wife) but it depends on the touchpad. Some are good, but with others...

Mices have to go someday, but not anytime soon.
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fuzzymuffins
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
touch pads suck. plain and simple. i notice how i tense up my hand while using it, and i know that's not good.

i gave up mice 5 years ago for a simple "ambidextrous" trackball (since i'm a lefty).
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Duckspwn
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
I'm sorry Giz, but every single time you mention that computer mice are a dying breed, there is a huge cry from the commenters about how much they hate touchpads and love mice. I have to agree with them, and it seems you stand alone with your opinion(s).
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Rex the Decadent
10/08/09

@Duckspwn: I agree. I just love these mice too goddamn much.
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Margatron
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
What about people without fingers, or half-fingers? None of these concepts are amputee-friendly!
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planetarian
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
How could you survive without a mouse? Even on my laptops I absolutely hate having to use the touchpads. I feel like I have much more freedom of control when using a real mouse, or tablet.
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Platypus Man
10/05/09

@planetarian: Agreed. I absolutely hate to not use a mouse, and while I see the appeal of multitouch with a touchpad, with a mouse, software-based gestures seems to make more sense.

I mean, I don't use gestures, but it seems to make more sense. I prefer my 5-button mouse anyway, but a multitouch mouse just seems silly.
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HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
Unless and until large touchscreens become commonplace, I don't see anything replacing mouses. And even then, I can't see using a touchscreen for office work for extended periods of time.

The mouse has lasted so long because it just plain works. Nothing else comes close; trackballs, trackpoints, and touchpads might work when there's not space for a mouse, but they are poor substitutes (especially touchpads. I HATE touchpads.

Interesting to see what MS has cooking for the next generation of mouses. Now let's see if any of them get past the concept phase.
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RoboBagins
10/05/09

@HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.: I hate trackpads with fervor. They always give me cramps and feel horrible on my fingertips. I miss the nubs some laptops used to have.

Maybe a muti-touch screen about the size of standard mousepad to be used by opposite hand of the mouse might be good for all this touchy stuff.

Subconsciously, I think at best I tolerate touch tech, at the worst I loathe it.
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knownspace
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
The side mouse would be great if it were integrated into a wireless underslung watch style thing.
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Song Lee
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
I prefer the trackball. Better on airplane with little space and small desks.
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Kung-Fu Kurtis Carnivale of Carnage
10/05/09

@Song Lee: I didn't think they made them anymore? I had one for a week before I put an end to it's useless, cramp-inducing existence.
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ripfire
10/05/09

@Song Lee: The multitouch sphere would be a good replacement for that.
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Xeno
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
To be fair Wilson, most people that work on computers don't exactly have blog type work spaces. If you are working at a desk then there is no faster more accurate way of controlling your computer than a mouse. Personally, if I was forced to use only a laptop touch pad I'd probably go insane. Good thing my laptop has track point and a touchscreen for field work. Anytime I'm at a desk it's all mouse.
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zaghy2zy
10/05/09

@Xeno: I agree, using the trackpad feels, well, very frustrating.... i'd rather use a mouse over the trackpad anytime...
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deanbmmv
10/05/09

@Xeno: Most folks I know with laptops use mice where possible. just a small cheap USB one.
Though personally I'm liking the idea of cheap touch screens, it wouldn't be the be all and end all, but it'd be nice
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HAZman27
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
Maybe as a gamer I'm biased, but I could never imagine being forced to use a trackpad. I absolutely hate them, and only use them when I have absolutely no other options. I generally will prefer to navigate via keyboard commands than use a trackpad.
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nikko1221
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
Five bucks says Disney lawyers have already filed suit on the visual design of the Arty (Articulated) Mouse. They're frikkin' goofy® about stuff like that.
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deanbmmv
10/05/09

@nikko1221: Why would Disney care about the Arty mouse?
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nikko1221
10/05/09

@deanbmmv: [glasses on] Because the Arty Mouse looks similar to their trademarked and heavily protected rodent, created by Mr. Disney many decades ago.
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deanbmmv
10/05/09

@nikko1221: Though it only looks like Mickey when viewed at a certain angle.
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nikko1221
10/05/09

@deanbmmv: [glasses on again] Hmmm. Let's see.... nope. The other photos show Mickey® in use with his ears painfully stretched away from his bulbous head. The initial photo shows him at rest in a classic trademark infringing pose.
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jibbly
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS.

(Sometimes I pull out the old rubber ball mouse just to get really pissed off about something...you know, how scum and dirt and hairs stick to the roller pins inside? It is immensely satisfying to clean the shit out of them and voila, suddenly the mouse tracks great.)
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kyokan
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
I disagree with Gizmodo that the desktop is dying out. Laptops will never be as powerful as desktops, will always be more expensive (unless the desktop becomes a niche product) and many people still much prefer working with a large monitor and a real mouse, at a desk.

Perhaps there's a difference in culture too here (I live in the UK) but around here laptops are very much a casual PC user's game...
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AustinMiniMan
10/05/09

@kyokan:

I suppose it is also the trend towards "desktop replacement" laptops, though. Personally, I don't get the point of a massive laptop. That's what allows me to have all my laptops be ultraportables that I can easily take with me. I know I have a competent dual monitor desktop, so I can afford a little slack in the portable category.

Seems to me, the desktop replacement laptops are to heavy to ever really use as a laptop, so all it is an expensive, less powerful, less ergonomic, and less upgradeable PC that still never leaves your desk.
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GeekyWarrior
10/05/09

@kyokan: Yeah, I think the average PC user, (we're talking word processing, facebooking, and maybe at the highest, hulu watching or even streaming to the tv) would prefer a laptop to a desktop for a couple of reasons.

A: All in one package, no need for messy, complicated setups.
B: Ability to take it anywhere in the house, therefore eliminating the need to dedicate a room to the computer.

Heavier users will always want desktops for heavy using.

Gamers: Upgrading laptops is more expensive and risky. Screw up one thing in that tiny space.

Professional Movie editors: I'm sure they will prefer the raw power desktops have.

I'm in the US here!
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Gary_7vn
10/05/09

@kyokan: I use a big monitor and ext. KB with a mouse on my laptop, but agree about desktops. I think that the desktop will eventually shrink though while still allowing components to be switched out or upgraded. Of course things like video cards will have to shrink too.
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Curves
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
I think the mouse will be around a long time because of users like myself who lack the patience to deal with a track pad. I use it since it saves me time and frustration.
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DemanRisu
10/05/09

In reply to The Future of Mice (If There Is One)
I think I'm an exception to the rule that you can't be good at FPS games with a trackpad? Seriously, I actually do better with a trackpad.
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GeekyWarrior
10/05/09

@FaRReR: I call host advantage :) If you honestly can do better with a touch pad, I congratulate you, I have attempted it with RTS never FPS, but when RTS was a total failure, I can't imagine FPS being better.
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HAZman27
10/05/09

@FaRReR: I will gladly destroy you on an FPS of your choosing as a testament to how much better mice are for serious gamers. ^_^
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seekingdaedalus
10/05/09

@HAZman27: Agreed. Count me in.
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