Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Cord-optional Mouse

 Unplug the cord and it's cordless!
  (+12, -2)(+12, -2)
(+12, -2) 		  [vote for,
against]

Plug the cord in, and immediately start using the mouse like a corded mouse, whether or not the mouse has charged batteries.

While the plugged in mouse charges up its batteries, the mouse can operate more precisely because of better connection and power.

Once the batteries are charged, you can unplug the mouse and enjoy cordlessness.

—rhatta, Jun 21 2004

baked! http://www.freewave.fr/
A friend's mouse by this company does exactly this. (Can't find a specific product page though) [rhatta, Feb 03 2005]

[link]






       All cordless things that *can* operate corded should work like this.
—swamilad, Jun 21 2004
   

       There isn't much to add to a good idea. Just make it give some warning when the battery runs low so you don't miss important moves because of erratic movement.
—kbecker, Jun 22 2004
   

       I can't believe they don't work like this already +
—engineer1, Jun 22 2004
   

       I have a wireless bluetooth keyboard and mouse, I've never noticed any loss of precision over my old cable ones (except for the annoyingly slow wake up time) so I'd be happy enough if I could just plug a power lead into the mouse/ keyboard when the batteries went low. This would be handier for me because of where my usb ports are.
[kbecker] I get annoying alerts way to long (a day or two) in advance of the batteries dying.
Definite [+] for your idea. The only suggestion i can think of is that it only be used in conjunction with L-ion batteries, they're far less fussy about when you can recharge them.
—q2cannonfodder, Jun 22 2004
   

       Would a USB connection deliver enough power to recharge batteries?
—waugsqueke, Jun 22 2004
   

       To me there seems a noticeable reduction in resolution when using the wireless mouse.   

       Good question, [waugs]. I'm going to guess that maybe a trickle charge is possible. I have a Canon scanner that operates completely off of the USB.
—bristolz, Jun 22 2004
   

       My Canon scanner runs off USB as well. I also have a cordless mouse made by a company whose name starts with M and I love it. No res problems to speak of but I'm not fussy anyway.
—waugsqueke, Jun 22 2004
   

       Oh, I have one of those M mouses too. Small world.   

       Maybe I'm fussier.
—bristolz, Jun 22 2004
   

       You can buy USB moblie phone chargers so I would have thought this would be possible.
—oneoffdave, Jun 23 2004
   

       Well being the sad git that I am, I still play alot of video games, first person shooters mostly. I had low res problems with an old rf optical mouse (a lidl jobby, no great shock) but I've had zero complaints about Ms bluetooth mouse.
—q2cannonfodder, Jun 23 2004
   

       Simple, obvious, useful. [plugs croissant into usb port.]
—st3f, Jun 23 2004
   

       //Would a USB connection deliver enough power to recharge batteries?//
Yes. USB can deliver up to 500 milliAmps at 5 volts, or 2.5 Watts.
—krelnik, Jun 23 2004
   

       Good idea! USB can charge these batteries no problem.   

       Swamilad, would that work for a cordless kettle ;)   

       At the moment I have three sets of nicads in rotation. I know nicads are crap but hey I keep my nimhs for my camera. The worst bit is when I am playing unreal tournament and the mouse goes! My kbd has run off its original batteries for about a year!   

       OH I got it. have you ever plugged two mice into a pc? they both work! just get a corded mouse and leave it by the way and when the battery mouse dies grab the corded one. (short term solution) I must say though the optional cord is much more elegant.
—not-arf, Jun 23 2004
   

       I have to say that my logitech cordless desktop pro combo was the best investment ever in keyboards / mice. I might change a battery every few months or so, and its the only ergo-designed cordless keyboard I've seen on the market.
—RayfordSteele, Jun 23 2004
   

       Microsoft and Logitech are you listening?
—Porsche911, Jun 24 2004
   

       I like.
—Cheekio, Jun 24 2004
   

       my friend's wireless mouse has an a/c adapter plug on in to charge the battery, it actually works better/more accurately when it's not plugged in.
—BPhilpotts, May 14 2006
   

       Good idea, I've had the same one. The keyboard should work the same way as the mouse.
—BJS, May 14 2006
   

       Baked, I bought one at Staples ($20), but can't find it listed on their site (off brand). It's a micro mouse about two inches long and has a retractable cord that also charges the on board battery for wireless operation.
—MisterQED, Feb 01 2008
   

       I have a wireless monitor that works like this mouse (Smart Display - I love it, but this idea hasn't caught on for some reason)   

       And I agree with swamilad: "All cordless things that *can* operate corded should work like this"
—ixnaum, Feb 03 2008
   
      
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