// ZDNET — INTELLIGENZA ARTIFICIALE
Microsoft’s Surface Mouse is back, now with haptic feedback – and I need it
Home & Office > Smart Office > Office Hardware & Appliances
Due October 13, the $80 Surface mouse packs an impressive array of features. I want one.
I’ve tried a lot of different mice with my Windows desktops and laptops. But the ones made by Microsoft have always been my favorites. I’ve used both the IntelliMouse and the Surface Mouse; however, both have been unavailable from Microsoft for years. Now, the Surface Mouse is finally making a comeback.
Also: Microsoft’s most underrated Surface accessories are coming to business users
In a blog post announcing new Surface devices, Microsoft snuck in a surprise about a new Surface Mouse soon to hit the market. Available in stores on October 13 and priced at $80, the new mouse marks the first return of this classic device since the original launched in 2016. This one, though, comes with a few twists.
The new mouse offers haptic feedback, which means you’ll feel a sensation when you click on the screen, snap a window into place, or align an object. Microsoft promises that the sensation will be subtle but noticeable. I think of other devices that provide haptic feedback, such as my Apple Watch, and I look forward to experiencing this on a mouse.
Next up, there’s a customizable action button. Though it’s designed to be used with Copilot, you can tweak it to perform other actions. For that, you’ll need Microsoft’s Surface app, which comes preinstalled on Surface laptops but is available for non-Surface computers via the Microsoft Store. Just download and install the app, and you’ll be able to use it with Surface accessories such as the new mouse.
Focusing on the action button, my fellow ZDNET writer Adam Doud has good news and bad news. The good news is that the mouse can be reprogrammed to do different things. The bad news is that you can’t change what it can do for each app individually, as you can with other mice.
In its description, Microsoft also said that the mouse would offer everyday shortcuts. The new model sports a redesigned ambidextrous shape, so you can use it in either hand. Though I’m right handed, that design is certainly a boon to left handers who often can’t use certain mice.
Outfitted with Bluetooth 6.0, you can pair the mouse with different computers and devices and switch among them. The new version is also made with 30% recycled plastic, another plus.