Thursday, July 15, 2010

Swiftpoint Laptop Mouse Challenges the Touchpad

A New Zealand company has released a wireless mouse optimized for laptop use that it says is much more comfortable and 30 to 40 percent faster than a laptop touchpad.

The Swiftpoint mouse ($69.95) was designed with a “pen-like grip, which allowed us to make it very small but also usable without the discomfort of prolonged use that comes with lots of small notebook mice,” said company CEO Grant Odgers.

Its design is the result of five years of R&D on ergonomics and consumer desires, he added. “We did many user testing cycles and built five or six prototypes which then evolved into the product,” Odgers explained.

The Swiftpoint mouse need not be positioned to the left or right of a laptop but can be used directly on the computer’s surface below the keyboard – including right on the touchpad area. Further, it comes with a “parking” accessory that holds it in place below the keyboard so it won’t slide down when the laptop is angled.

Its quick-charging technology will yield one hour of use after just 30 seconds of charging via the computer’s USB port. A one-hour charge session yields two to three weeks of use, said Odgers. Further, the Swiftpoint, which weights about a third of a pound, docks directly with the laptop magnetically for recharging. The computer can be toted around with the docked mouse, which will detach without harm if the docking connection is accidentally disengaged, said Odgers.

The company is promoting Swiftpoint with its own website (www.futuremouse.com) through an online video showing how the device works, and with Google banner ads; it is currently available through the site. It can soon be pre-ordered through amazon.com and other online retailers, and then will be made available in stores, said Odgers.
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