Path: ...!npeer.as286.net!npeer-ng0.as286.net!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!newsfeed.xs3.de!ereborbbs.duckdns.org!.POSTED.192.168.18.18!pyrite.ereborbbs.duckdns.org!not-for-mail From: kyonshi Newsgroups: misc.news.internet.discuss Subject: Re: Logitech 'forever mouse' has a subscription fee Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2024 12:27:29 +0200 Organization: Erebor InterNetNews Message-ID: References: <66b5e7a9$3$1439835$882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: c3066ed76bae8bcc0e476efb157ff758 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Injection-Info: ereborbbs.duckdns.org; posting-host="192.168.18.18"; logging-data="31769"; mail-complaints-to="usenet@ereborbbs.duckdns.org" User-Agent: Pan/0.154 (Izium; 517acf4) Bytes: 4438 Lines: 71 On 09 Aug 2024 09:55:53 GMT, Retrograde wrote: > From the «pay forever» department: > Title: Logitech has an idea for a “forever mouse” that requires a > subscription Author: Thom Holwerda Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:27:19 +0000 > Link: > https://www.osnews.com/story/140363/logitech-has-an-idea-for-a-forever- mouse-that-requires-a-subscription/ > > Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber talked about someting called the “forever > mouse”, > which would be, as the name implies, a mouse that customers could use > for a very long time. While you may think this would mean an incredibly > well-built mouse, or one that can be easily repaired, which Logitech > already makes somewhat possible through a partnership with iFixIt, > another option the company is thinking about is a subscription model. > Yes. > > Faber said subscription software updates would mean that people wouldn’t > need to worry about their mouse. The business model is similar to what > Logitech already does with video conferencing services (Logitech’s B2B > business includes Logitech Select[1], a subscription service offering > things like apps, 24/7 support, and advanced RMA). > > Having to pay a regular fee for full use of a peripheral could deter > customers, though. HP is trying a similar idea with rentable printers[2] > that require a monthly fee. The printers differ from the idea of the > forever mouse in that the HP hardware belongs to HP, not the user. > However, concerns around tracking and the addition of ongoing expenses > are similar. > ↫ Scharon Harding at Ars Technica[3] > > Now, buying a mouse whose terrible software requires subscription models > would still be a choice you can avoid, but my main immediately conjured > up a far darker scenario. PC makers have a long history of adding > crapware to their machines in return for payments from the producers of > said crapware. I can totally see what’s going to happen next. You buy a > brand new laptop, unbox it at home, and turn it on. Before you know it, > a dialog pops up right after he crappy Windows out-of-box experience > asking you to subscribe to your laptop’s touchpad software in order to > unlock its more advanced features like gestures. > > But why stop there? The keyboard of that new laptop has RGB > backlighting, but if you want to change its settings, you’re going to > have to pay for another subscription. Your laptop’s display has > additional features and modes for specific types of content and more > settings sliders, but you’ll have to pay up to unlock them. And so on. > I’m not saying this will happen, but I’m also not saying it won’t. > > I’m sorry for birthing this idea into the world. > > Links: > [1]: > https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/video-conferencing/room- solutions/select-comprehensive-service-plan.html? sp=1&searchclick=logi#compare-plans > (link) > [2]: > https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/02/hp-wants-you-to-pay-up-to-36- month-to-rent-a-printer-that-it-monitors/ > (link) > [3]: > https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/07/logitech-has-an-idea-for-a- forever-mouse-thatrequires-a-subscription/ > (link) ugh, who even thinks of that stuff? a mouse is such a basic peripheral that having it a subscription model is basically just price gauging. Why would you need new software for a mouse for chrissakes? it's a computer mouse! how can you overcomplicate a device that is supposed to move a cursor with software in the first place?