MS Finally Delivers Its New Mouse Tech

The Arc.

It's not all BlueTrack hysteria for Microsoft today -- the company's hardware division also took the wraps off that Arc Mouse we spotted back in July and the new Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000. The two-part wireless Arc Mouse isn't just pure fashion -- the folding design allows it to flip closed for easy storage and portability, and unfolds to full size when in use. Sadly, it doesn't get the hot new BlueTrack tech, but uses a traditional optical sensor instead -- but the 2.4GHz connection provides a 30-foot range. The Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 is your basic travel optical mouse, but it'll get six months out of one AA battery. Both of these should be out this month -- the Arc Mouse will come in black and red for $60, while the Mobile Mouse 3000 will come in black and white for $30 -- there'll be some colorful special editions in Target as well. Check the Mobile Mouse 3000 after the break.

and the BlueTrack

Yeah, so we might have forced Microsoft's hand into announcing the fall Zune lineup a day early, but nothing can upstage the pure excitement of the Say Goodbye to Laser campaign -- awww yeah, the BlueTrack mice are official today. The new tracking tech uses a (surprise!) blue beam and wide-angle "specular optics architecture" to work on a wider range of surfaces than traditional optical or laser mice, including granite, marble, and even carpet. The new tech will debut in two new mice: a revised wireless Microsoft Explorer Mouse and that Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse that we'd already spotted. Both will be available at Best Buy in November for $99 and $79, respectively.

that arc mouse looks like a god damn star trek phaser

It's in two pieces so it folds up. I thought it was weird at first but all the stuff they took out wasn't needed anyway. All a mouse needs is a surface for the hand and the "eye". I'm sure it's crazy light. I'm also suprised nobody has gone to a glove style or fingertip mouse. There so much wasted space and plastic on current mice.

at 30, I'll probably look into that notebook mouse for my notebook

I don't see the big deal with this stuff. Is current optical mouse technology in any way holding us back? Maybe for some gamers. That's the only thing I can think of. But if it's better, why not, I guess.

More dpi and the ability to use it on more surfaces. I guess some people prefer to use a mouse on the rug. *shrugs*

Truth be told, dpi is where it's at. Taking my Habu/Razor from 400 to 2000 for a 24" monitor is the shit. 4-800 for design stuff, 1600 for normal use (i tend to think 2000 is WAY to twitchy).

Very cool... I for some reason am frequently using opticals on silly shit. Can't wait to pick this up.

I may get this.

For the life of me I can't see why mice are the world's input device of choice. Ever since I bought a Wacom tablet for Photoshop I've found that pens make every app 10x easier to use. Pen flicks make the mouse obsolete.

I only have a 4x6 Wacom myself. Not enough real estate for everyday use.