The mouse is dead? Think again... see what's popped up now?
The new mouse features Microsoft's first touch scroll strip for easy navigation - just move a finger slowly for controlled scrolling or flick for 'hyperfast' scrolling and the company claims that Windows-based PC users will love packing up their laptop bags without the added bump of a mouse, as the Arc Touch Mouse flattens with just the touch of a finger.
Designed for the mobile lifestyle
People today are using mobile computers more than ever, and they still want comfort and control when using them. In fact, one-third of mobile PC buyers also purchase a mouse with their new notebooks or netbooks. Moreover, at less than 15mm thick at its thickest point, the Arc Touch Mouse was designed to deliver ultimate portability to easily slip into a bag, purse or pocket. It also goes from curved to flat with one simple movement, so working on the go is easier than ever - collapse the Arc Touch Mouse to turn it off, and pop it up to turn on. It's also designed to be extremely durable, tested to ensure years of performance.
Take Control with touch scrolling
With the Arc Touch Mouse's touch strip and using a capacitive sensing technique and sensor pads, the strip corresponds to each position and velocity change to give users accurate, controlled scrolling no matter how fast or slow the movement. Move a finger slowly on the strip for controlled scrolling, or flick a finger for hyperfast scrolling that can be stopped with just a simple tap. The strip also has three tap "buttons" for added functionality: page up, page down and the middle click area, which is reprogrammable for whatever mouse function the user needs most. Switching from a scroll wheel to a touch strip is made easier with haptics, a vibration technology that simulates the bumps users would feel while using a traditional scroll wheel.
Additional features
The Arc Touch Mouse is equipped with BlueTrack technology, designed to allow consumers to track on virtually any surface, and a tiny magnetic snap-in Nano transceiver stores conveniently on the bottom of the mouse. Two AAA batteries are claimed to give the Arc Touch Mouse more than six months of battery life, and the two-colour battery life indicators let people know when the power is running low.
Pricing and availability
Arc Touch Mouse will be available for the estimated retail price of US$69.95 (about R500*) It is available now for presale on Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Buy.com, and it will ship in early December in time for the U.S. holiday season. It will be broadly available online and in stores in January 2011.
Microsoft backs this mouse with a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty. More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at www.microsoft.com/hardware.
*Note: The price is an approximation, given currency variations and when available in South Africa and other countries, is likely to retail at a different price, given import duties, shipping etc.
