In addition to negating the need for a mouse pad except for personal expression, the new mouse's optical technology will make it a good alternative for PowerBook and iBook owners who don't like those computers' built-in trackpads.

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While Windows 8 will work with a mouse or touch pad and a keyboard, it will be heavily oriented toward tablet-type touch-screen navigation.

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He also got me thinking about a box that has been sitting on my desk for several weeks: A Microsoft Touch Mouse, which features a surface studded with touch sensors, so you can perform gestures on the mouse, the same way you might on a touch pad.

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