Are You Ready For Subscription MICE?

Are you ready to pay a monthly subscription fee for your computer
mouse?

No, of course you're not. What a stupid idea. But it's being floated
around at Logitech. The company is considering a "forever mouse" with
constantly updated software and services. All paid for with (possibly)
a subscription.

The mouse itself is a slightly more robust version of their current
line; good quality, well designed. The software... well, they're not
quite sure about that yet. Extra programmability and macro support for
sure. Maybe something to do with AI too. AI sells, right?

To be clear, a lot of this is pie-in-the-sky hypothesizing by
Logitech; there's nothing definite yet. But the announcement shows
that Logitech isn't averse to the concept. They're floating the idea
to see how well it's received.

And... I get it. Mice are a solved problem. They cost a few bucks to
manufacture, you can buy them for $20, and then they last for a decade
or more. Most people really don't care about what features a mouse
has; just so long as it has three buttons and a wheel, and grab the
one that's on sale. It's not an industry with huge recurring revenue.
If you're in charge of the Logitech Mouse And Pointing Device
Division, you're probably desperate to find new ways to bring in
income. An idea to somehow attach a subscription to use a mouse
probably seems like something dropped from heaven.

But this one is so ridiculous it's hard to believe it wasn't laughed
out of the board room when first suggested. Firstly, a forever mouse
implies either hardware quality that can last... well, forever, or
that Logitech will continue to support (or possibly replace free of
charge) the hardware when it breaks down. Neither seems likely.
Logitech hardware isn't bottom-level /crap/ but they're fairly average
consumer goods. I've used their mice for years, and I like its heft
and feel, but it's been problematic and I doubt it'll last more than a
decade. Logitech is not where you turn to for high-end gear, and never
has been. Logitech might want to be the Ferrari of mice, but they've
not the talent for it. They're the middle ground between the $3
Shenzhen crap and the overly-priced gimcracks from Razer and the like.
That's their specialty; their market.

And their software? Let's just say that I'm more likely to pay for
Logitech software NOT to be installed on my PC. It's bloated, buggy,
and filled with unnecessary features. I don't go looking to Logitech
for software solutions... even to use with their own hardware. They've
not the talent for that either.

Really, the only thing GOOD about the idea is how laughably ridiculous
it is. We can all use a good chuckle.

Except... then I remember that HP pushed a monthly ink subscription
service on some of its customers and I realize this sort of nonsense
sometimes actually comes to pass. (HP has recently backed away from
that idea, though). Hopefully Logitech won't even start.