Elecom have announced a new mouse, which claims to offer “pen and paper” precision. An offset 1,600dpi laser sensor is supposedly placed where the nib of a pen would usually rest, relying on the human hand’s natural penmanship skills to increase mousing accuracy.

In addition there are three mouse buttons and an exposed scroll wheel; the latter is a full 27mm circumference for more precise control. The whole thing connects via USB and weighs in at 123g excluding the cable.

No word on pricing or availability outside of Japan, but buyers there will be able to pick up the Elecom Scope Node mouse for 6,300 yen ($64). It launches on April 4th.

One of the more discussed mice on the web, the Microsoft’s SideWinder X8 wireless gaming mouse announced back in September last year, will be making it to retail stores this week.

The SideWinder X8 uses Microsoft’s own BlueTrack Technology, which claims super-high accuracy thanks to 13,000 frames per second image processing, 75g maximum acceleration and 120 inches per second maximum speed.

The X8 uses the 2.4GHz band for reduced wireless interference and “virtually no latency”, while there’s also user-selectable tracking range going from 250 dots per inch (dpi) to 4,000 dpi.  Up to 30 hours of use can be had from a single charge, or you can leave the charging cable plugged in and not worry about battery life. The Microsoft SideWinder X8 gaming mouse will be available this week, priced at $99.95.

Is it just me or are keyboard and mouse’s getting hideously expensive these days ?

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Aaah, the mysterious sounds of the darkness ehm .. huh ? I’m sure that everyone remembers when optical mice first broke onto the scene. Finally the days of cleaning those stupid ball mice were over.

Of course there is one place that those old mice can go that no optical or laser mouse can work. That would be reflective surfaces. Even the most high-tech laser mouse is defeated by the surface of a glass desk. At least that was the case until Logitech announced their new Darkfield technology.

You have to admit, Darkfield technology sounds like something really awesome, especially when you note that it works with lasers. Well this isn’t some strange weapon developed by a secret government group. Rather, it allows Logitech’s new mice to work properly on any reflective surface (minimum 4mm thick). Finally, those using a glass desk can ditch their mouse pad. The technology will first be seen in their Performance Mouse MX, and its smaller brother the Anywhere Mouse MX.

Logitech Performance Mouse MX

Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX

Logitech today announced the Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700. This low-profile keyboard features concave Logitech Incurve keys that position your fingers properly, and their softly rounded edges invite your fingertips to glide from key to key. And to make sure you won’t skip a beat while typing, an integrated LCD dashboard keeps you in touch with the status of important keyboard functions.

The mouse is gently contoured for a natural fit and has a scroll wheel that gives you a choice between hyper-fast and precise click-to-click scrolling.

With a battery life of up to three-years for the keyboard and 12-months for the mouse, the Logitech MK700 practically eliminates the need to replace batteries. The Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 will be available in the U.S. in August for a suggested retail price of $99.99.

For those addicted to luxury accessories, GIGABYTE’s new GM-M7800S wireless mouse is sure to be a must have item.

The GM-M7800S operates on the proven 2.4GHz wireless spectrum and has an ultra portable nano receiver that offers a 10-meter range. As has become the norm for higher end mice,the GM-M7800S features forward and back buttons, a tilt wheel, and adjustable resolution for high and low sensitivity.

The real beauty of the GM-M7800S lies in its construction and the materials used. The mouse is covered in soft leather with subtle two-tone sticting and has several Swarovski crystals along the center of the mouse. Topping it off, the forward, backward, and DPI sensitivity buttons are all plated in 18K gold for a true touch of luxury.

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Okay .. most niche gadget of the year ? What do you think ? The SpacePilot PRO mouse went on sale today from 3Dconnexion and let us tell you, this thing is pretty high-tech. While it is designed specifically for engineering tasks, it has a style all its own that you should know about.

With a cap controller, this mouse can be used to navigate through 3D environments. This “cap” can be rotated, tilted or pushed, making for the utmost in functionality. The PRO is intended to be 3Dconnexion’s flagship device, so of course it has more to offer than previous models.

Included is the LCD Workflow Assistant, which is a display that allows you to browse through assignments you’ve marked as important in various programs. You can also view e-mail or your calendar right on the mouse itself. Dual-function navigation buttons are also included, as is a wrist rest. You can get the SpacePilot PRO now for Windows XP and Vista, SuSE9.3, Solaris 8 or 10 and Redhat Enterprise WS 4. The asking price is $499.

Need a gaming mouse that fits your tight budget?, you might want to consider the Microsoft Sidewinder X3. This latest mouse from the computer company offers up fairly decent specs at a fairly decent price and sometimes, that’s all you’re looking for.

The Sidewinder X3 includes a 2,000DPI laser sensor that can be cranked down a notch for smaller and less sensitive movements to 800 and 400 DPI. It features an ambidextrous layout for easy use by either hand and has eight buttons.

The scroll wheel is textured for comfort and the mouse has small feet attached so movements are smooth and not clunky. It connects via USB and comes with Intellimouse software for your PC. However, the USB connection should make it pretty much compatible with any modern computer. You may need the software, however, to program the buttons and for the creation of macros. You can expect the Sidewinder X3 from Microsoft starting in May for $39.95.

Late last month, we had the opportunity to have a listen with Razer’s Carcharias headset, and now we’re seeing just how precise the same outfit’s latest mouse is when it comes to clicking oh-so-carefully within Minesweeper.

The downright gorgeous Razer Mamba just showed up on our doorstep, and we couldn’t resist photographing the unboxing experience and hosting it up for all to enjoy. Our Mamba came housed in a special Razer suitcase that also included the aforementioned Carcharias headset. The mouse packaging alone was some of the most extravagant we’ve seen, with even the delightfully braided USB cable (yes, it’s wired or wireless) encased in a soft black cover. Bottom line?

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