Microsoft Mouse
The Microsoft Mouse is a computer mouse released by Microsoft in 1983. It is the first mouse released by the company, and it was bundled with Microsoft Word, Notepad, and an on-screen teaching tutorial for an initial price of $195.[1][2]
 | |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft Alps Electric (contract manufacturer) |
|---|---|
| Type | Mouse |
| Release date | 2 May 1983 |
Nicknamed the "green-eyed mouse", the Microsoft Mouse featured a pair of green buttons. It also featured a more curved body than the blockier designs more common of mice at the time. As with other mice at the time, the Microsoft Mouse used a steel ball for tracking.[3]
The initial version featured an InPort ISA interface, requiring a Microsoft bus card to be installed in the computer. Later versions were available with DE-9 or DB-25 serial connectors. All versions of the Microsoft Mouse could be used with IBM-compatible and other DOS systems.[4][5][3]
Later Microsoft mice
In 1985 Microsoft introduced the "gray-eyed" Microsoft Mouse, featuring a higher resolution than competing mice. In 1987 the "dove bar" Microsoft Mouse (so called for the curved palm rest's resemblance to a Dove soap bar) was introduced, in variants for both Microsoft's InPort, serial port and PS/2 port. In 1991 the trackball "Microsoft BallPoint Mouse" was made. The "kidney" Microsoft Mouse 2.0 was introduced in 1993, and its design served as the basis for the IntelliMouse, which debuted in 1996.
More Microsoft mice have been released in later years, including Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse, Microsoft SideWinder, Arc Mouse, Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse and others.
In April 2023, Microsoft announced it would no longer manufacture branded mice and would instead focus on the Surface branded accessories.[6]
References
- "The good, bad and ugly history of Microsoft hardware". PCWorld. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- Weber, Harrison (2012-05-28). "30 Years of Microsoft Hardware: From Mice to Men". The Next Web. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- "Microsoft Green Eyed Mouse ~ o l d m o u s e .c o m ~". www.oldmouse.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-08. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- Lineback, Nathan. "Microsoft Mouse - 1983". toastytech.com. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- "The History of Microsoft - 1983". Channel 9. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- Warren, Tom (2023-04-27). "Microsoft's mice, keyboards, and webcams are being discontinued in favor of Surface accessories". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
Further reading
- Paul, Matthias R. (2002-04-06). "Re: [fd-dev] ANNOUNCE: CuteMouse 2.0 alpha 1". freedos-dev. Archived from the original on 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2020-02-07. (NB. Has various information how to detect different mouse types.)
