Now this was a good idea!
Microsoft has announced that new versions of its mouse will be fitted with wheels that tilt as well as roll.
The innovation means that users will be able to scroll vertically as well as horizontally without using on-screen navigation bars.
Wired and wireless versions of the mice will be released in early September.
Buttoned up
Since the vertical scroll wheel was introduced, it has become a very popular way of moving quickly through documents.
Now 80% of the mice sold have a centrally-placed scroll wheel.
Microsoft's new mice will have the wheel sitting in a tilting cradle that means it can be used to scroll from side-to-side and help people browse documents, spreadsheets or webpages that do not fit neatly on a screen.
Viewing large documents or spreadsheets usually involves recourse to the scroll bar that is usually found on the bottom edge of a window.
The mice will also have a feature that lets people switch between open applications by pressing down on the scroll wheel instead of using the keyboard.
Microsoft's new mice are due to go on sale on 3 September when retail prices will be revealed.
Peripheral rival Logitech said that it had no plans to introduce a competing mouse that adds vertical scrolling.
It also questioned Microsoft's decision to stop scroll wheels clicking as they are spun back and forth.
Logitech said research with consumers showed that they liked to get some feedback from a mouse when they were using its buttons.
Microsoft has announced that new versions of its mouse will be fitted with wheels that tilt as well as roll.
The innovation means that users will be able to scroll vertically as well as horizontally without using on-screen navigation bars.
Wired and wireless versions of the mice will be released in early September.
Buttoned up
Since the vertical scroll wheel was introduced, it has become a very popular way of moving quickly through documents.
Now 80% of the mice sold have a centrally-placed scroll wheel.
Microsoft's new mice will have the wheel sitting in a tilting cradle that means it can be used to scroll from side-to-side and help people browse documents, spreadsheets or webpages that do not fit neatly on a screen.
Viewing large documents or spreadsheets usually involves recourse to the scroll bar that is usually found on the bottom edge of a window.
The mice will also have a feature that lets people switch between open applications by pressing down on the scroll wheel instead of using the keyboard.
Microsoft's new mice are due to go on sale on 3 September when retail prices will be revealed.
Peripheral rival Logitech said that it had no plans to introduce a competing mouse that adds vertical scrolling.
It also questioned Microsoft's decision to stop scroll wheels clicking as they are spun back and forth.
Logitech said research with consumers showed that they liked to get some feedback from a mouse when they were using its buttons.