HP in an expansion of its mouse and keyboard line on Thursday claimed a first by shipping the first practical Wi-Fi mouse (pictured on the left). The simply titled Wi-Fi Mobile Mouse can pair up without needing either a USB adapter or Bluetooth. Its implementation is currently Windows-only, but it gives a much longer runtime than Bluetooth, at nine months on battery, while still preserving the 30-foot range.
The five-button, four-way scroll mouse should be ready in June for $50.
Macs and Windows PCs also have newer choices. The basic Wireless Mobile Mouse, larger Wireless Optical Comfort Mouse, and Wireless Laser Comfort Mouse all use a mini, 2.4GHz RF receiver that like Logitech’s Nano receivers can pair multiple similar devices over one USB adapter. They scale in features from the three buttons and vertical-only scrolling of the notebook-oriented Mobile Mouse up to the five buttons and tilt-wheel input of the Laser Comfort Mouse.
All three mice are due in June at prices of $25, $30, and $40 from the Mobile Mouse upwards.
Three more Windows-oriented, though not exclusive, wireless keyboards are also coming. Both the standard-width Ultrathin Wireless Keyboard and the Wireless Mini Keyboard borrow cues from Apple’s wireless keyboards and use the battery area as a stand. While the Ultrathin uses a traditional keyboard layout with compact arrow keys, the Mini uses chiclet-like keys and takes its cue from Apple’s current compact wireless keyboard. A third, the Wireless Elite v2, hasn’t been detailed but should be identical with a fold-out stand and notebook-depth though not chiclet keys.
The three keyboards use the same 2.4GHz, five-device RF adapter as the mice. Both the Mini and the Ultrathin are available today for $60 and $50 respectively, while the Elite v2 arrives in July for $50.
HP Wireless Laser Comfort Mouse
HP Wireless Mobile Mouse
HP Wireless Optical Comfort Mouse
HP Ultrathin Wireless Keyboard
HP Wireless Mini Keyboard
