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 <gmkeros@gmail.com>
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: <hh7hok-ii5.ln1@pyrite.ereborbbs.duckdns.org>
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?