These days Microsoft might be getting a lot of guff for pushing off the release dates for Windows Vista and Office until the dim, foggy future, but their hardware work is certainly churning out the pointing devices, with the new High Definition Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 and Wireless Optical Mouse 2000 featuring nifty ambidextrous designs and down-to-earth price tags.
The Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 offers a five-button design with a magnifier button for real-time enlargement and editing of any portion of a screen. (Never mind that, aside from being a nifty adaptive technology for the visually impaired, if your display is so small you can’t make out the details, it might be a good idea to look to something other than a mouse to solve the problem). The Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 also features a Tilt Wheel for navigating around large documents like spreadsheets and database reports, and should be available by late April for a retail price around $50.
The Wireless Optical Mouse 2000 is a three-button design with scroll wheel; it should be available in June with a retail price of $30.
Microsoft’s High Definition mouse technology scans at 1,000 dots per inch, offering greater precision for graphics professionals and others who rely on consistent, detailed mouse response. Microsoft’s High Definition mice capture 6,000 “frames” per second to track hand movement and ensure smooth tracking, and Microsoft’s High Definition Wireless Mice average more than six months of battery life.
Microsoft also relaunched its Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000; the unit now features High Definition technology, and a $30 price tag. The new Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 is available today.
