Microsoft has added two new mice to its line of Windows-focused peripherals, the Sculpt Comfort Mouse and the Sculpt Mobile Mouse. The former is the company's first mouse to feature a new Windows touch tab while the latter is Microsoft's first mouse with a dedicated Windows button.
For starters, the Sculpt Comfort Mouse's new Windows "tab" is a touch-sensitive strip located on the left side that makes it easy to navigate Windows 8 with just the swipe of a finger. Users simply press the center of the tab to switch between the current app and the Start screen. Swipe up and cycle through all open Windows Store apps in Windows 8, and swipe down to reveal all open apps in a list on the left side of the screen.
The mouse connects to any Bluetooth-based device, and features a comfortable ergonomic design and BlueTrack technology so it can be used on most surfaces (desk, couch, etc). It’s also one of the first mice the company has introduced with a four-way scroll wheel which allows users to scroll horizontally by tilting the wheel left or right, and vertically by rolling the wheel up and down.
"The Sculpt Comfort Mouse is a perfect companion to the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard we announced last fall," the company said.
Unlike the Sculpt Comfort Mouse, the new Sculpt Mobile Mouse is not Bluetooth-based, and comes with its own tiny wireless USB transceiver. However like the former mouse, it features a four-way scroll wheel, BlueTrack technology for on-the-go computing, and a comfortable (yet compact) design.
Microsoft's new mobile mouse also provides a unique dedicated Windows button, allowing users to instantly view the Start screen in Windows 8 – or the Start menu in Windows 7's case -- with a simple touch on the logo. The Sculpt Mobile Mouse is actually the latest model in the company's Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 series.
Microsoft's new Sculpt Comfort Mouse will be available in June for $39.95 USD, and the Sculpt Mobile Mouse will be available in May for $29.95 USD.
