The "King of All Computer Mice" Finally Ships

An anonymous reader writes "The much-anticipated, much-mocked 18-button joystick mouse from WarMouse is now shipping. The press release features an impressive set of user quotes from game designer Chris Taylor, new SFWA president John Scalzi, and a doctor who runs a medical software company. Crazy or not, it's obviously more than just a gaming mouse."

Go die in a fire sampenzus

[Anonymous Coward]

Looks like shit.

Trackball

[vlm]

I'd rather have a trackball. Faster, more precise, cleaner desk.

Re:Trackball

[casings]

I love playing against people who use a trackball. Can always use target practice.

Mod parent up

[khallow]

Looks like shit.

I think this sums up the mouse accurately. Also, it has a cable. You can't claim a title like that when your mouse is chained to the computer. And 18 buttons? Who really thinks that many buttons is a good idea to cram on a mouse? I'd say a lot fewer is better. I personally don't see much point for more than a few buttons.

Re:Trackball

[L4t3r4lu5]

Each to their own. You're obviously not a PC gamer, or if you are a very casual one.

I might get this mouse, if it's big enough to fit comfortably in my shovel-like hands. I still use a Logitech MX700 because it's a good 30mm longer than any other mouse I've ever encountered. Either this mouse, or one with an adjustable palm space.

Re:SC2 Mouse

[QBasicer]

The most I get out of that link is that they can use photoshop. Are they afraid to show good pictures of the actual product? Or is it pictures that have been doctored to the point where they start to look fake?

"Much Anticipated"?

[Americano]

By who? This thing looks like shit, will probably sell 500 units to the people who buy every new computer gadget that's produced, and will die a silent death in the dark, rightfully so.

I have a computer input device with a lot of keys on it already - it's called a keyboard, and it works a lot better when I'm not sliding the keyboard around on the desktop while trying to type.

This is a solution in search of a problem to solve.

Why is this in idle ?

[unity100]

is there ANY way that this is not a tech/i.t. related news ? i mean, did we move to mental interfaces since i went to bed last night ? how can a 12 something button mice news is in idle, as if something irrelevant to /. ?

Don't be so harsh...

[Endophage]

Everyone seems to be slating this in their comments. I can see a use for it. There are some keyboard shortcuts that I use frequently but are uncomfortable to hit one handed. On a laptop it's not so much of an issue, both your hands are close to the keyboard but it frustrates me on my desktop or when I'm using an external mouse. Now yes, I could reassign my shortcuts but I've tried that in the past and 2 things happen, I end up with system vs. application shortcut conflicts and I run out of shortcuts reachable comfortably with just my left hand. If the price isn't silly, I may well get one of these as I can see it as a useful tool. 18 buttons, minus the 3 standard mouse buttons, essentially makes the right hand side of the keyboard available for shortcuts without having to take your hand off the mouse.

Re:Keyboard + touchpad/mouse

[Lunix Nutcase]

The hooker?

King? Looks More Like the Clown

[knapper_tech]

Five important aspects of a mouse:
1 Frictionless Scroll Wheel (no bumps while rolling...carpal tunnel)
2 Buttons click with very little vibration. After several thousand clicks per day, the difference between Thwump and TwhaCkchkchck becomes painfully obvious
3 Very, very precise tracking. Although Blue-track is awesome on rough surfaces, I like that first pixel to be quantum mechanically entangled with the first detectable movement. Making users hands numb is not an acceptable way to bring tactile feedback and mouse movement into synch.
4 Shape. Just don't make it suck. Mechanically, I really like there to be troths for the fingers. I think they help bring more of the finger into contact and use the soft tissue to dampen vibrations quickly and gently. It also helps reduce the total moment carried by the fingertip because some of it is applied towards the base.
5 Transmitter and battery....afterthoughts but they need to be on a list that includes everything a mouse engineer should know.

When I started using blender to do tons of 3D modelling, compositing, skinning, animation etc etc, I noticed how crappy mice really are. Most seem to be designed so that oilfield workers will still feel comfortable using them after pulling several thousand feet of pipe.

When truly tied to lots of mouse action, the most important thing is to make it as much of a psychic experience as possible. The mouse should barely exist.

Re:Mod parent up

[harl]

The cord on a mouse has never been a problem. Wireless mice have issues and cost more. I'm all for technology but a wireless mouse has always, with a few niche exceptions, seemed like a pointless innovation.

The device never moves more than about 4 inches. Added complexity. Added cost. No upside. It's a completely pointless feature.

Re:Trackball

[insufflate10mg]

He didn't say he knew whether they were using mice or trackballs. He said he knew that they were well-ranked, and that he was using a trackball. Moron.

Re:Trackball

[chocapix]

I've lost track of the number of well-ranked players I have completely abused while playing first person shooters with my Trackman Wheel. Maybe your problem is too much time spent exercising the wrist, and not enough time spent exercising the thumb.

I've read/heard that line countless times, but I have yet to actually see anyone who plays Quake(*) decently with anything else than a mouse. I'll grant you that a trackball is far superior to a console pad, so if anything can be as good as (better than?) a mouse, it's a trackball but I still think it's just not good enough. I mean, if a trackball really is that good, at least some pros should use one, right?

Not that I consider myself a "well-ranked player" but I'd very much like to have a Quake Live duel with someone who uses a trackball (someone who knows Quake of course, otherwise they'll get destroyed simply because they don't know how to play the game.) I seriously think that even scoring a point would be an enormous challenge for a trackball user.

But, maybe I'm wrong so, trackball users, who's up for running circles around a smug mouser by the name of chocapix? :-)

(*) I speak only for Quake, because it's the only FPS I play. I suspect most of what I say still holds for, say, CS or UT, though.