3000 Visitors and Counting
Tuesday we passed 3000 visitors to the site. Very exciting for a launch that has been very low key. From around the world, we have seen this spread to many countries and different people very quickly. The power of the Internet never ceases to amaze.
Some Highlights:
- Brazil, Japan, Russia, US - Thanks - you are the top countries we have received hits from. (We love the rest of you too!)
- For those who have been asking when will it get to your country, we need your help. We need people to help us learn some of the things that we’ll need to be a success in your country. Specifically, any regulations that we need to pass as well as potential distributors. We can ship to anywhere in the world, but outside of the US, it will be easier with distributors. Please contact us at retail at zspire.com
- Please email with any questions. We have been trying to respond quickly, and updating either the store or the blog with any answers that we can do quickly (tougher to update the Flash with my limited knowledge of it). Feel free to email at info at zspire.com or iroo at zspire.com.
Thanks to everyone who has commented on what they have seen so far!
December 12th, 2005 at 3:18 am
Wow, it’s a real live transformer turd! WOOHOO!
Twice as much in price as a real mouse, and half as functional.
Not to mention it’s probably going to give you carpal tunnel too.
I say that’s 3,000 people that are astounded by its retardedness.
December 12th, 2005 at 3:37 am
Thanks for your opinion.
New design is always controversial. It’s hard to make a valid conclusion about functionality or comfort without actually using it.
Is it more than a “normal mouse”? Sure. Check the price of metal vs plastic. Check the retail price of a Bluetooth mouse.
If you don’t like it, great. Use what you have. If you do like it or are curious, great. Try us out!
December 12th, 2005 at 7:32 am
Who in the right mind buy this. What is the advantage of using metal vs plasic? What is the advantage of using that shape?; which looks like a coffin.
December 12th, 2005 at 9:14 am
it definitely is not ‘normal’. can anything be worse than this? oh yeah the new nintendo controller. but at least you can attach a vibrator to the nintendo controller
oh and some things, you don’t even have to use it to know it. you just know that it’s gonna be bad. zomg
December 12th, 2005 at 12:17 pm
NaRu: Metal can be engraved, embossed, and will last a lot longer than plastic. It’s also a bit heavier (although ours is not too much heavier - The new Logitech even gives you weights to make it heavier. Seems like we’re all on the same track). It also has a unique texture and look. Look over the things that signify status and quality. It’s not your plastic boombox - it’s metal, wood, and things handcrafted and forged.
The shape - Use your imagination. Our designer was inspired by a number of different ideas. Stealth fighters, modern architecture (in our hometown of Denver, our art museum is getting the modern look like what we are doing: http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/pro.html?ID=36). There are a number of great modern artists that are bucking the trend - and people like it around the world. You can check out Mr. Libeskind’s other works.
Our designer also did some work lookng at shapes of hands for comfort and even where acupuncture points lie.
Dr. Z: I would say the new Nintendo controller is in the same vein as the Zspire mouse. Very controversial. Every review I’ve seen of it is that we need to see it in action to make a final decision.
And anything worse or bad when you “know it”: Lots of things, but maybe we should start with your grammar and spelling?
December 12th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
HAHAHHHAHHA!!!11ichi!!1
I’ve always wanted a stealth bomber! Thanks guys for making my day!
December 12th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
Does Zspire also plan on coming out with a line of bandages?
I mean there are several acute angles AND they’re metal. People will have to be very careful how they grab it and how much pressure they apply (unless they like pain). I could probably kill someone with it if I tried.
Oh well I don’t plan on spending $120 (plus the cost of batteries) on a mouse that can’t play games anyways.
December 12th, 2005 at 7:39 pm
Sentios: The angles are not “razor sharp”. They are acute, but not sharp in the way that you propose.
We do include your first set of batteries.
We have said not for gaming because of Bluetooth more than anything. You cannot compare a 2000dpi mouse on USB with a full voltage to a battery driven, wireless mouse. Will it play games? Probably. Will it be as nice as a top of the line gaming mouse. Nope.
Thanks for your comments!
December 12th, 2005 at 11:06 pm
However because it’s metal the angles can be easily sharpened just like a dull knife. Why would anyone do that? Bad practical joke or a serious threat.
So those batteries are like a $3 gift. >.>
The price is still way~ to high in my opinion. I’ve looked around since seeing this and I found that many Bluetooth wireless mice that were $120+ were had wireless keyboards included with them as well as the mouse. The dpi on those I have no idea it’s a pesky thing to find.
December 13th, 2005 at 4:46 am
I’m going to doubt that our mouse is the first thing that will come to mind if someone is looking for something sharp. If I went to the trouble of sharpening edges that are tough to sharpen as it is, I think there are other things I would want to grab first.
The batteries are only part of the gift
. We actually have an on/off switch. Seems like a small gift, but at least one of our competitors doesn’t even have that on their wireless mice.
And your final point, Sentios, gets to the heart of the matter. As my real estate agent says, all complaints are really about price. Granted, point taken. We are more than others. We believe we are providing something more than just bundling. How much are our competitors? Are we providing a more interesting product? What’s the difference between the knockoff vs. the top of the line ?
December 13th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
On the contrary, who would ever suspect a computer mouse as a murder weapon.
An on/off switch isn’t a gift it’s a feature; if one of the competitors is stupid enough to not have it, it’s their loss brought about by their own stupidity. That’s like selling coffee mugs with holes in the bottom or vacuum cleaners with no plug on the power cord. Doesn’t make yours better it just makes their’s worse.
I could list the prices of other Bluetooth Mice but that would be a bit too much for a comment so instead you can go here http://shopper.howstuffworks.com/find and search for “Bluetooth Wireless Mice” in “All Categories” if you want prices. And while the product maybe more interesting when compared with the other decent (plastic) mice that can sell for around $40, $80 is too much to pay for a metal cover on an ok mouse.
December 13th, 2005 at 1:57 pm
Know, engraving / embossing … I never even thought of that.
Metal for a mouse, is odd, definitely. You could chop into plastic too - but … it’s plastic.
Maybe - if you get a more ergonomic design … it would be more of a shine to people like myself ( computer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ) - who don’t mind shelling for a good mouse (hey, I’ve bought so many mice it’s not funny - I’ve got at least 20 of them in a box somewhere around here), but really radical design changes - umm - really aren’t always the best thing to make (take the cyberman mouse of old for example. I have nightmares about it.)
Plus - on off switch … I’ve got a mouse … I think made by that competitor … that doesn’t have one. 3 of them actually, go figure. Lucky for me 1 is rechargable.
So far, the thing does have its plusses - for one, it’s metal. Metal is durable - I doubt the buttons will wear before the switches do after 10 years of beating … really - I could say the gun may have been jumped somewhat.
Keep in mind that the fancypants laser mouse is about $80 - so - looks like this one is really only a hair more. ( but still, it could use a little price break
)
December 13th, 2005 at 2:33 pm
everything i’ve written so far is understandable. i don’t see why my grammar and/or spelling should be superb when i’m only commenting and you obviously have understood my comment very well ^^.
so just for metal covering and looks, you pay about $40 more than average. if you want different body color/finish, that’s another $25. for additional graphics/letters, you could pay up to $60~$75. so that is about… $140 more than it really has to be? so that adds up to $260 for a supposedly ‘modern looking’ mouse (correct me if i’m wrong) that does not even have side buttons to navigate.
December 13th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
Well this thing doesn’t have the normal looks of a mouse and probably why people took a note of it.
For some odd reason this thing keeps me to remember my old mouse to my amiga 500, that doesn’t bring those comfy feelings. bulky hard edges. doesn’t feel right how you ewen try. And then I also think that it would be a mouse for games like the first space invaders and the like. Seems to fit that time period in my eyes.
Well you sucseeded on making something “new”.
PS: some people are just having fun here
December 13th, 2005 at 8:19 pm
Kwanyan: I applaud your thinking! It’s different what others are offering. I know from use it’s feels better than it appears. It lends itself to a particular position of your hand which is not uncomfortable as well as giving good control. It is not as high as many other mice as well, which will give you a slightly better wrist position as well.
Z: It was not understandability. It was a comment on what was worse, a new/different product or proper language. I have dead high school teachers who would roll over in their graves seeing your first comment. But your second was much better
.
I understand your comment on pricing - it’s something we have thought about and what it will take for customizations. To color, it’s a pretty nifty process to powdercoat and color to get the correct finishes, but it takes time. Regarding graphics, we have to make sure the graphics format is good and can work right, set the graphics up, etc. - translating to labor time. Engraving lines is easier, and thus doesn’t need the same setup as graphics, but still takes time. Have you tried to ask for a logo on an iPod? I’ve never seen a quote. (We actually lowered the price recently for graphics - we found we could be more efficient time wise if we force the correct formats). Check it yourself, and see what it would take for you to do it in a metal shop (we outsource ours)….
Nighthog: Nice memories! I had a few friends with Amigas. Just never got around to getting one myself.
And people are having fun, myself guilty as charged.