Logitech's Newest Mice and Controllers "Scroll the Net" in Leading Browser Applications; "CyberJump" Software, 3-Button Programmability Enhance Travel through Web Pages in Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0

Business Wire, Oct 10, 1996

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 1996--Logitech, the world's largest manufacturer of computer mice, has tackled Internet travel with new software and its award-winning three-button pointing devices. Whether users choose Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, Logitech's devices provide effortless navigation through easy access to scrolling.

For those using Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, the middle button of three-button mice and trackballs can be mapped to Microsoft's "free scroll" function (included in Internet Explorer 3.0 and the Explorer feature of the Windows 95 operating system), enabling easy vertical or horizontal scrolling, depending on the direction the mouse is traveling. Scrolling speed depends on how far the mouse pointer is moved. Because the scroll function is locked in once it is activated, users can concentrate on their task, without worrying about the hand-eye coordination necessary in manual scrolling. What's more, Logitech's three-button design means that additional programmability is still possible. Thus, individual users can easily customize their mice to best meet the needs of their workstyle and applications.

Earlier this year, Logitech introduced the SurfMan Cordless Internet Controller, a three-button control device whose radio technology lets users navigate the Web in Netscape Navigator while sitting back from their monitors in a completely "untethered" position. The SurfMan package includes Logitech's MouseWare 7.2 software with its exclusive CyberJump feature. Using CyberJump, Net surfers can click on the middle button and immediately access a grid containing six Netscape Navigator shortcuts: Go to Bookmark, Add Bookmark, Vertical Scroll, Stop, Horizontal Scroll and Back, as well as two Windows 95 commands: Activate Start Button and Fast Access to Menus. Unlike infrared-based cordless devices, SurfMan does not rely on line-of-sight for signal transmission. Users can simply plug the SurfMan receiver into their computer, and it will pick up the user-initiated signal through most any obstacle that may be in the way, without the need to point directly at the computer.

"Logitech is committed to providing desktop accessories that enhance the computing experience," said Julie Goebel, Logitech product manager. "Today, the Internet represents a significant part of this experience for a growing number of people. By making navigation in the Internet easier, we have freed users from the task of concentrating on their hardware and enabled them to focus instead on the information they are seeking."

Logitech designs, manufactures, and markets products that make communication between humans and computers more intuitive and natural. Logitech International, the financial holding company for the Logitech Group, is traded publicly in Switzerland. With operational headquarters in Fremont, Calif., the group maintains manufacturing facilities in the Pacific Rim, and offices in major cities in North America, Europe, and Asia. -0-

Note to Editors: Logitech, CyberJump, SurfMan, and MouseWare are trademarks of Logitech. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For additional information on Logitech products, contact the Customer Sales Center at 800/231-7717, or visit Logitech's Home Page at www.logitech.com

CONTACT: Logitech

Betty Skov, 510/713-4463