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A picture of the arc mouse in action -- the new mouse will be about standard size, with a hollowed out underbody, which will allow it to fold for storage. It will retail for $59.95.  (Source: Microsoft)

The arc mouse folds for compact storage, a feat never before seen in the worrld of mice.  (Source: Microsoft)
The future of mice arrives this year

It’s not every day that you see a mouse design that really makes you do a double-take.  Truth be told, many mice do little to excite.  While some performance-oriented gaming companies have debuted special mice with adjustable weighting, high accuracy scanning, and extra buttons; most mice look remarkably similar.


Among these modest mice department, as well as in gaming, Microsoft has long done quite well, with a solid line of utilitarian offerings.  Now Microsoft is looking to go in a different, more radical direction, and is sending shock-waves through the peripherals market following its announcement of a wild new design.

Microsoft will release an unusual design appropriately titled the arc mouse.  This wireless mouse features a curved form that is hollowed on its underside, allowing it to bend closed for ultra-compact storage.  The new design will debut in time for the 2008 holiday season.

Microsoft describes the new product stating:

Featuring a revolutionary new design shaped like a crescent moon, Arc folds closed to reduce in size by almost half, giving consumers the comfort of a full-sized mouse with the portability of a notebook mouse. Arc is all about the fashion edge, with a stylish micro transceiver that you can leave right in your computer and it’s available in two colors – red or black. It’s the perfect gift for the trendsetter on the list. MSRP: $59.95

While the new mouse will likely operate in a pretty standard fashion, it's the look that really stands out.  The design almost leaves one to wonder whether the mouse will tip or have balancing issues during use.  However, if Microsoft can perfect its design, it may have the iPod of the mouse world ready for sale just in time for the holiday season.

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What?
By KaiserCSS on 7/13/2008 9:30:57 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
The future of mice arrives this year

quote:
...it may have the iPod of the mouse world ready for sale just in time for the holiday season.


These comments verge on irritating.

How is a redesigned mouse supposed to live up to those claims? So it looks different. What does it offer in terms of functionality? For $60, I'd venture to guess not a whole lot more than your typical optical mouse. Besides that, the Gyration mouse had a similar shape.

Something tells me this design most certainly will not change the world of mice design. I'm perfectly content with my mouse. Some silly folding mouse isn't going to make me go, "Oh! Look at that! I HAVE to have that!"

The "iPod" of mice. Indeed.




RE: What?
By Gul Westfale on 7/13/2008 12:00:45 PM , Rating: 4
this article was written by jason mick. when you hang out here as much as i do, you actually start recognising which articles were written by him just by reading the title. he should apply for a job at the national enquirer, or the pentagon... or apple :)


RE: What?
By bigboxes on 7/13/2008 6:47:04 PM , Rating: 1
Enough of the author bashing. Let's concentrate the discussion on the actual product and not your disdain for the writer.


RE: What?
By Gul Westfale on 7/13/2008 10:56:31 PM , Rating: 1
my disdain for the writer stems from his love of sensationalist tactics, such as exaggerating the importance/relevance of the stuff he writes about. maybe he does it because he gets a bonus if an article generates lots of responses? whatever the case, he seems to be the only one here who does that, and it's annoying.


RE: What?
By Myg on 7/14/2008 4:20:27 AM , Rating: 5
He gets quite a bit of attention for it, and I am sure he enjoys said attention; a lot.

Best course of action: If you don't like it, don't hit up his blogs anymore.


RE: What?
By Ringold on 7/14/2008 4:47:30 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Best course of action: If you don't like it, don't hit up his blogs anymore.


Minor point; for the moment, this article is under news, not blog.


RE: What?
By chiadog on 7/14/2008 1:53:46 PM , Rating: 2
I usually recognize an article written by him by the huge amount of links to other DT articles :p


RE: What?
By G2cool on 7/18/2008 12:58:35 PM , Rating: 3
Or the action shots of Steve Balmer :)


RE: What?
By Visual on 7/14/2008 3:41:39 AM , Rating: 5
well, these comments may be irritating but they are also true. maybe. kinda.

i mean, it is a future design, as in, it has not been done in the past or available currently.

and also, it may indeed be the ipod of mice - just like the ipod was a completely ordinary mp3 player with a little unusual design (touch wheel) and way too much hype.


RE: What?
By audiomaniaca on 7/18/2008 11:24:58 AM , Rating: 2
I agree this mouse has nothing special but a new design, BUT, I'm pretty sure a lot of people, including you, would be saying different things if it had a fruit on it.


Some of you are missing the point...
By PointlesS on 7/13/2008 12:12:53 PM , Rating: 3
millions of people are willing to spend hours in line to spend hundreds of dollars on a phone and increased service charges...$60 for a mouse that looks cool is nothing...these days there's a lot more people who are willing to go with form over function...

with that said considering no one here has even touched the thing it's impossible to really tell how it feels...how well it works and so on...while I don't think it's as innovative as the article mentions...it certainly won't be replacing my mx518 that's for sure...but for people who care about looks this may be perfect for them...




RE: Some of you are missing the point...
By Darkefire on 7/13/2008 12:46:56 PM , Rating: 2
Beauty knows no pain, after all. And with that mouse, you'll have plenty of the ergonomic and budgetary varieties to go around.


RE: Some of you are missing the point...
By JonnyDough on 7/13/2008 6:24:19 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Beauty knows no pain...


...until you get the flesh on the underside of your hand pinched in your mouse.

It's really not that hard to fathom.

Your boss walks in and you jump out of your chair, not realizing your mouse is still clasped in your hand. In attempting to hide the mouse, you close it in your palm.

As you go to set it back down, shaking from nearly being caught looking at porn while at work, you clumsily trip over your office chair leg and your weight shifts forward.

Bracing yourself with your outstretched hand gripping that beautiful mouse (not quite as beautiful as the XXX woman you hiding in your minimized window) you realize too late that it is only partially open.

The mouse opens fully, pinching the skin of your palm between it's hinges as your weight pushes downward on it, tearing away a small piece of flesh.

But what really ticks you off isn't the blood your hand is weeping. What upsets you most is that now you'll have to use your other hand for awhile, and it's just not as good.
Err, I meant with the mouse.


RE: Some of you are missing the point...
By JimmyC on 7/14/2008 11:43:20 PM , Rating: 2
Bravo sir, you are the Bruce Springstein of DailyTech.


By JonnyDough on 7/16/2008 7:22:08 AM , Rating: 2
The hell?!! I can't be Ricki Martin?!! Damnit! Well, you can't have it all.


By malatory on 7/14/2008 4:42:51 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
with that said considering no one here has even touched the thing it's impossible to really tell how it feels...how well it works and so on...while I don't think it's as innovative as the article mentions...it certainly won't be replacing my mx518 that's for sure...but for people who care about looks this may be perfect for them...


ewll my hand cramped up just looking at the mouse, and thoughts of how many fingers are going to get pinched at you back over the crevis in your desk and it closes on you.

I will stick with my normal mouse.


By malatory on 7/14/2008 4:43:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
with that said considering no one here has even touched the thing it's impossible to really tell how it feels...how well it works and so on...while I don't think it's as innovative as the article mentions...it certainly won't be replacing my mx518 that's for sure...but for people who care about looks this may be perfect for them...


well my hand cramped up just looking at the mouse, and thoughts of how many fingers are going to get pinched at you back over the crevis in your desk and it closes on you.

I will stick with my normal mouse.


disappointing
By sirdowny on 7/13/2008 10:12:41 AM , Rating: 5
I saw the title and got excited... but this is "the future of mice"...? Really...?

They're touting the folding feature "for storage"? Really, do you save that much room by folding the stupid thing a little?

This is just kinda dumb imho.




RE: disappointing
By mmntech on 7/13/08, Rating: 0
RE: disappointing
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 7/13/2008 12:09:29 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Make it look fancy, call it innovative, but it's really no different from their previous products.

I think you described Apple there.