Logitech Considers 'Forever Mouse' With Subscription Fee

[MacRumors]

Logitech has worked on a "forever mouse" that could come with a subscription fee for regular software updates, according to Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber.

There are no plans to release such a product at the current time, but Faber explained the concept during a recent appearance on The Verge's Decoder podcast with Nilay Patel. Apparently, the Logitech innovation center team in Ireland showed Faber a "forever mouse" that is designed to be used for many years. It's a "little heavier" than a standard mouse, and it has "great software and services" that get constantly updated.

The other day, in Ireland, in our innovation center there, one of our team members showed me a forever mouse with the comparison to a watch. This is a nice watch, not a super expensive watch, but I'm not planning to throw that watch away ever. So why would I be throwing my mouse or my keyboard away if it's a fantastic-quality, well-designed, software-enabled mouse. The forever mouse is one of the things that we'd like to get to.

Logitech is aiming to increase the longevity of its products through more premium devices that can be updated over time. Of course, as a mouse is a one-time purchase, continual software updates would need to be funded through some kind of service model.

Patel asked Faber if she could "envision a subscription mouse," and she responded "possibly." Faber went on to explain that customers would "never have to worry about [their mice] again," which is similar to Logitech's video conferencing services.

When asked whether Logitech had some other model for monetization than subscription fees or advertising, Faber said no, and that she was "intrigued" by a forever mouse that has an accompanying business model around software updates.

We're continuing to recycle and refurbish products. All of that is good. But that said, I am intrigued by a forever mouse or forever video conferencing solution that you just update with software and create a business model around that.

Later in the interview, Faber said that there could also be a model where customers trade in a mouse for a newer version, similar to something like the iPhone Upgrade Program.

The forever mouse, and the forever mouse could be the mouse that you keep and we just send you software updates, but it could also be the mouse that you turn in at Best Buy and we get it back or Best Buy takes it back and refurbs and resells it, which is another business model. We're starting to do that but not yet at the scale that we need to.

Faber pointed out that customers spend around $26 on a mouse or keyboard on average, which is "really so low" for "stuff you use every day." She said there's "so much room to create more value in that space as we make people more productive."

Article Link: Logitech Considers 'Forever Mouse' With Subscription Fee

 

[jonnyb098]

100k clicks/month for $9.99….. we used to be a civilized people…..😩

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Non-Apple brand & product rumor? Subscription model? Pass the popcorn. 🍿

 

[DocMultimedia]

Hmm. I have a mouse from 2006 or so that cost $79. How does that compare to modern subscription pricing? Lol

 

[Someyoungguy]

My $24 Microsoft mouse is on year 5.

 

[jz0309]

I double-checked my calendar right now, it is July 31, not April 1…

 

[JPack]

Yeah, no.

The only reason this is under consideration is because Logitech is designing mice using microswitches that can fail in less than a year. The old Microsoft mice from years ago never failed like the current Logitech stuff.

 

[brofkand]

I actually listened to the interview and this is a non-story. "Subscription" is the boogeyman for tech media that drives clicks, I get it.

 

[G5isAlive]

I dont know about this subscription fee nonsense, but what I can say is that the Logitech vertical is the most comfortable mouse I have ever had

 

[maxpayne.co.uk]

I have used these for 20 years and I cannot find a more comfortable mouse. The first one became faulty after about 14 years of continual use. I purchased another for £9 which is what sits on my desk today. A subscription mouse sounds horrendous.

 

[Agent007]

Yeah, no.

The only reason this is under consideration is because Logitech is designing mice using microswitches that can fail in less than a year. The old Microsoft mice from years ago never failed like the current Logitech stuff.

My dad bought a budget Logitech mouse/KB combo after the KB on his 2010 laptop failed - the Logitech KB had a non-working key in under a couple months. But, of course, he didn't save a receipt or packaging for a $16.99 product. I think that's Logitech's other business model.

I had a bunch of Logitech stuff and my brother and I have had MX518s that were amazing but those days are OVER.

 

[SnowCrocodile]

You will own nothing, and be happy.

Well, the happy part is up to you...

BTW I still have a few cheap no name mice that would be graduating from college in a couple of years if they were children. Still work fine.

If Logitech releases a subscription mouse, I will make a very conscious effort to never buy another Logi branded product ever again. The "subscription" model is the ultimate rent seeking scam and it's prime time the customers started pushing back.

 

[now i see it]

I would love to pay a subscription for a mouse and a subscription for a keyboard and a subscription for a monitor and a subscription for my desk and a subscription for my chair…and software
Hmmmm. It sounds a lot like renting

 

[MacAndMic]

If it requires a subscription, it wasn’t worth buying in the first place.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Can I share my password with my family for this?

 

[AZhappyjack]

This is beyond stupid... and anyone who subscribes deserves to be separated from their money... the idiotic lunacy must stop now.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

only if the software updates would make it more snappy.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Considering a forever mouse?

Consider never using Logitech instead. 😌

 

[TechnoMonk]

100k clicks/month for $9.99….. we used to be a civilized people…..😩

Call 1-900 to extend.

 

[dreamsayer]

Never had a mouse fail me my entire life. Only have replaced due to them getting grungy or rubberized coatings wearing off or something. A mouse subscription has to be the most ridiculous thing I've heard of yet!

 

[boss.king]

Aaaaand Logitech is going on the "never buy again" list.

 

[JordanCautious]

Yeah. I think this confirms it. These Tech CEOs are completely delusional. Literally no one wants a subscription for their MOUSE! And what happens if you stop paying the subscription? Does the mouse brick itself?

I genuinely don't understand how the company that made my favorite mouse that I'm using right this second (The MX Master 3S for Mac) can be so unbelievably stupid. Then again, the CEO doesn't make the products...I'm looking forward to the MX Master 4 whenever they release it but I'm skipping if they make it a subscription

 

[SpaceJello]

What ”software updates” can there be to make a mouse “new”? Are they adding camera functionality, text messaging or a toaster oven?

If by ”software updates” they mean everyday OS and software maintenance, then that’s ridiculous.

There are many things we use that are EVEN lower the $26 we pay on average for a mouse. A pencil is max $1 or 2. The air we breathe is FREE. I am sure she would be for charging for air.

Logitech just lost my interest.

 

[Porco]

The final revenge of rodentkind: a mousetrap where it is the mouse who traps the humans.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I read a different summary of this discussion that emphasized different parts. She did mention subscriptions. It was in the context of how a company can sustain itself if people aren't constantly buying its products.

I now realize the Macrumors summary did not mention what I'm talking about below, which was the more interesting part to me.

But the context of the $200 mouse was that you would probably never buy another one. It would be durable and repairable.

Mice tend to take a lot of abuse so I don't know if that could be made to work. But I bet a lot of people on this forum would buy a $200 mouse if it was very nice and repairable and the company specifically said they'd probably never need to buy another one.

How much do you figure the average user is worth to Logitech over a lifetime? Certain people would rather spend that money up front and get really nice hardware. Many people buy lots of $20 mice. Many are in the middle, buying several $50 mice. There's no right answer for everyone. She was just talking about options. In many ways, that $200 mouse is the best bargain.