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Microsoft Shows Laptop Mouse With Nano Dongle

Next news
3:11 PM - May 20, 2009 by Marcus Yam

Microsoft laptop mouse gets a shrunken dongle.

As much as computer manufacturers try to improve ways to improve the trackpad – be it with multi-touch or scroll-sensitive zones – nothing compares to the old mouse.

To make mice for laptops, companies have often just made the mouse a little smaller so that it’s easier to pack for travel. Of course, now that things are wireless, often you’ll find an unsightly and cumbersome dongle protrude out from your USB port.

Logitech took the first big step by offering a ‘nano-size’ transceiver that reduces the USB part to just a small nub. Now Microsoft has caught up with its own tiny USB receiver and adds in its BlueTrack technology that allows you to use the mouse on more surfaces than ever.

The Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 will hit in June for around $50. Microsoft also announced the Wireless Mouse 5000 and Wireless Keyboard 3000 to join the new summer lineup (read the press release here).

Of course, no matter how small the USB transceivers get, you still can’t beat the convenience of having built-in Bluetooth with a compatible mouse.

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
jacobdrj 05/20/2009 10:03 PM
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-2+

About fraking time! Finally, someone to compete with Logitech, to help bring the prices down...

Oh...

What is this?

They already have generic Bluetooth 2.0 dongles that do the same thing, and add functionality to your rig?

What? Some laptops already include said Bluetooth 2.0 capability from the factory?!?!?

You're kidding, right?

Oh well, as Cheech once said: "Better late than never..."

Jerther 05/20/2009 10:38 PM
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-2+

As for space, nothing can beat the good old clit :)

I personnaly prefer this over the trackpad.

The industry needs something new and innovative. Mice are like rubber tires for cars: they have been around for too long and are still the best we can get.

Touch screens are going to be great but I can't picture myself using that for houres.

Anonymous 05/20/2009 11:13 PM
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-1+

Bluetooth sucks in a power comparison with a proprietary wireless communication designed specifically for a mouse (low bitrate).

If you choose Bluetooth you will be expending many bucks in fresh batteries. So, do the math and TCO is a lot higher than the TCO of a mouse with a nano receiver.

hellwig 05/21/2009 12:15 PM
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-0+

Man, I could really use this dongle. The dongle on my current wireless Microsoft mouse is like 2 inches long, and the only USB ports on my laptop are on the right-hand side, where I'm using the mouse.

squatchman 05/21/2009 12:28 PM
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--1+

1) Bluetooth
2) Rechargable
3) Not built for a small child


Wireless without the stupid dongle.

eddieroolz 05/21/2009 12:30 PM
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-0+

I would never use BlueTooth for mouse - or anything, in fact. It sucks too much power while offering no tangible benefits in normal usage. In fact, the first thing I did when I got my new laptop was to disable BlueTooth from device manager.

Regarding the dongle, I wouldn't really mind the size. I have a VX Revolution from nearly 2 years ago that I still use, and its dongle is about 2.5cm long - but I hardly mind it, because of the comfort it gives me.

B-Unit 05/21/2009 12:35 PM
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-4+

Heheh, they said 'nano dongle'

anamaniac 05/21/2009 1:28 AM
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-0+

That is such a sexy mouse~!

I paid $60 for my last, $50 for my next isn't a big deal... SEXY!

JN77 05/21/2009 3:05 AM
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--1+

I actually find this really painfull... eh, another boring old mouse with a new improved micro sized usb dongle.

I am in the marked to replace my mouse and keyboard for both my desktop and laptop and this is what I am looking for:

-- Bluetooth 3.x ( to get rid of the wires )
-- LED or OLED backlighting ( some manufactures have it, but the keyboars look hidious )
-- A Wave/Natural design from Logitech or Microsoft
-- removable lithium Ion batteries like the one I got for my blackberry that is 3500mah
-- And a powder coating that does not wear off like the over priced lump of plastic that the Microsoft 8000 series is made from.

-J

greenskye 05/21/2009 3:40 AM
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--1+

so if bluetooth sucks too much power, why can't we just have whatever wireless that's in the usb dongles built in? problem solved!

Jerther 05/21/2009 3:53 AM
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--1+

greenskye :
so if bluetooth sucks too much power, why can't we just have whatever wireless that's in the usb dongles built in? problem solved!



not really, each manufacturer has its own wireless protocol/technology. Bluetooth is a standard, so is/was going to be wirelessUSB.

Speaking of which, what happened to that technology!? (which was supposed to kick ass)

PC_GI 05/21/2009 4:04 AM
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--1+

wtf? have these always been called dongles???? fkn nuts.. I never knew this before. Anyway, thats a pretty lame name. Reminds me of when my granddad told me that he had to shower after he took a #2 because he had so many dongles hanging... Not to mention that this really looks like a pain in the @$$ to pull out of your USB slot... Final review---SUCKS A BIG DONGLE

Dave K 05/21/2009 4:25 AM
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-1+

Dongle used to be a term for crap that plugged into your computer... typically on your printer port. They were used for software copy protection. No dongle plugged in... software no work.

The term has been expanderized in this era of lots of little doohickeys that plug in and perform various functions.

I typically use it for something that's badly designed so that when plugged in it ends up cantilevered WAY out of your system and poses a risk of causing system damage if you accidentally catch it when you're trying to plug something else in.

PC_GI 05/21/2009 6:27 AM
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Dave K :
Dongle used to be a term for crap that plugged into your computer....




Ahh... Thank you... Good to know... Just thought it sounded a little wierd.

cadder 05/21/2009 6:30 AM
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-0+

I wanted to buy a Logi Nano, so I wait until they are on sale at BB. I go in there and they don't have any, in fact I've decided that they never have them in stock. So I decided I would get a BT mouse and started researching them, then I find that selection is more limited and they all suck down batteries fast. So I'm sticking with my corded mouse. It always works perfectly, I never worry about batteries, and the cord is not really a problem.

zingam 05/21/2009 1:59 PM
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-1+

Оh, really! Such an advancement in technology! Is it also nano-soft?

hell_spawn 05/21/2009 2:42 PM
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-0+

OLD NEWS....Logitech has had the nano receiver out for quite some time now ironically call Logitech 'nano'

tipoo 05/21/2009 4:59 PM
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I gotta say...Microsoft makes some awesome mice. I hope this one has detents though, i cannot live without them! The wireless 6000 doesnt have them, i know that first hand.

ProDigit80 05/21/2009 6:22 PM
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the dongle looks impressive, but try to comfortably remove it from your laptop. There will be times you just forget that it's still in there, wasting the battery of notebooks or laptops.
Not to mention, if enough people have devices like this pretty soon we'll see some security threats coming via bluetooth

Anonymous 05/22/2009 1:31 AM
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-0+

Have you tried BlueTrack? I totally thought it was smoke and mirrors like laser was but its NOT. I can't imagine using anything else. The nano dongle is a nice improvement. I just wish they would make it in more colors. I am soooo tired of black.

starryman 05/22/2009 4:18 AM
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-0+

$50 for a shrunken dongle? Really? Make it $30 and we got a winner.

ossie 05/22/2009 11:14 AM
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m$ innovation at work... well, just another copied competitor technology.

wyomingKnott 05/22/2009 5:10 PM
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-0+

I bought a notebook computer with the Bluetooth built in. No dongle, and my Bluetooth mouse works just fine. What's the deal with having wireless adapters sold with all wireless input devices? Have machines with built-in Bluetooth, or make the devices WiFi, so that all wireless hardware is inherently compatible.

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