Logitech's MX 610 Laser Cordless mouse with IM and e-mail buttons

Logitech presented a new wireless mouse, the Logitech MX 610 Laser Cordless mouse. It uses Logitech's 2.4GHz digital cordless technology and uses a laser instead of a LED for better tracking. The mouse displays the battery level and features fancy instant messaging and e-mail buttons which notify you when you receive a new message. The MX610 will be available in October for $59.99.

The mouse features a blue light for e-mail and an orange light for new IM messages. Logitech says it added this feature because computer screens are often cluttered with lots of information. The MX610 mouse senses when a new e-mail message comes into a user's Outlook inbox, and illuminates a blue light on the e-mail button. With one click of the illuminated button, the user opens the Outlook inbox to easily view the message.

Similarly, the PC sends, and the mouse receives, notification of new instant messages from Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Instant Messenger, communicated with the illumination of an orange button on the mouse, which can easily be seen from across the room. With Logitech SetPoint software, people can customize their mouse so they are only notified when specific people send them e-mails or IMs. And if people need to leave their PC to do something in the other room, the mouse can deliver these notifications at a wireless range of up to 30 feet.

The Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse has an expected battery life of up to three months with regular use, a significant accomplishment considering its powerful Logitech MX Laser engine. The mouse achieves this long battery life by mimicking the power status of the computer to which it is connected. As it sends and receives wireless signals, the mouse can sense when the PC has gone into sleep mode or is shut down, and the mouse powers down accordingly. Also, when the mouse battery level is low -- less than 10 percent of full charge -- an indicator light on the mouse illuminates. Logitech has found that many cordless mouse owners have thought their cordless mouse was broken when it ran out of battery power. They simply forgot that the mouse used batteries. The indicator light and advanced power system help solve this problem.

The Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse includes a USB micro-receiver that connects instantly with the mouse when it is plugged into a desktop or a notebook PC. As the mouse and wireless receiver send information back and forth, the mouse periodically may sense a wireless interruption or interference. In a matter of moments, the mouse seamlessly shifts the wireless channel until it finds one that is interference-free. The micro-receiver eliminates clutter created by larger corded receivers.

Sculpted for the right hand, the Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse delivers a comfortable fit to go along with its versatile and stylish design. The mouse features 10 buttons, including volume up, down and mute buttons for controlling music on the PC. The reset button is noticeably absent, because once the receiver is plugged in, the mouse and receiver are perpetually connected. The mouse includes Logitech's Tilt Wheel Plus Zoom scroll wheel, which allows people to effortlessly scroll left, right, up and down, and zoom in and out of images, Web pages and open documents. The mouse's key plate is coated with a brilliant chrome finish, while a cool black display panel and matte black soft-touch grips help to create a sleek, modern styling that blends with the decor of today's sophisticated flat-screen monitors.