Thanko's Silent Mouse 2: now with more quiet

If there was ever a device that probably didn't need a sequel, it'd be the silent mouse, but leave it to Thanko to invent a "new and improved" rendition that somehow proves even quieter and more versatile than the original. Of course, there are certainly other ways to nix the clicks in your computing routines, and this here gizmo won't really do you any good unless your PC sounds more like a gentle breeze and less like an impending tornado. Still, the Silent Mouse 2 touts five total buttons, a scroll wheel, an unfortunate tail, and walls of soundproofing material lining the innards. According to some fairly unscientific testing, this unit pounds out just 36.5 decibels compared to the "industry average" of 58 decibels, so if you just can't stand to hear yourself click on any longer, Thanko's latest can be your cure for ¥2,980 ($25).

[Via AkihabaraNews]

[Jobson Lemos @ Jun 2nd 2007 9:39AM]

Woohoo, I'm a spammer! Spam me back: [e-mail]

[kaztm @ Jun 2nd 2007 10:47AM]

Noise made by people around you can be more bothering than machine noise. Considering that offices in Japan is like airplane cabin where people are so tightly packed, it's entirely understandable that silent mice are big hit.
By the way, you guys have covered silent keyboards, too, right?

[Pal @ Jun 2nd 2007 11:25AM]

You click (for instance, "click here"; ここクリックして), but the sound is still kachi. Not to mention it doesn't flow so well (sound effects are usually repeated twice or more, and kachi kachi is snappier, which characterizes its sound).

[Ryhan @ Jun 2nd 2007 11:41AM]

So "kuri'ku" is the action, while "kachi" is the sound? I'm bilingual, but I've never heard of someone saying "kachi'to pasokon kara..."; you would say "kuri'ku shite, ...". The only place I've heard of kachi is when someone takes a photograph (camera). Maybe I'm just to old to have heard these newfangled terms. :)

[kaztm @ Jun 2nd 2007 2:39PM]

Ryhan, the sound of camera (shutter) is "pachi" not "kachi".

[VJH @ Jun 2nd 2007 2:48PM]

"カチカチ" (kachi-kachi) is any somewhat repetitious clicking or ticking sound. Your keyboard does it, as does your mouse, clock, cab meter and a whole host of other devices. "クリック" (kurikku) has a much more limited usage in Japanese compared to "click" in English. It's used primarily for the computer related button pushing on screen, but not for pens or heels, and not for the mouse button per se only the cursor.

I used to work with about 45 people in an open office, it get's really annoying to hear that many people banging on their keyboards and mice loudly. I have no doubt this mouse will be big, well at least in impact only.

[Chris @ Jun 2nd 2007 12:10PM]

I think the clicking of the mouse is soothing.

[Ryhan @ Jun 2nd 2007 5:08PM]

Oops! My fault...thanks for correcting me; mi culpa/boku no machigai... gomenne... :) better touch up on my japanese... I haven't visited in almost a year!!! (finally, summer!!!)

[Nipponese @ Jun 2nd 2007 4:40PM]

VJH is correct. Also, remember that kachi-kachi is followed by 音(ON) as in sound. Japanese have numerous ways to describe sound in this manner. Like ジージー、キーキー、しとしと、からんころん, etc.

[drebes @ Jun 4th 2007 4:28AM]

Didn't know that "click" in japanese is "catchi" (カチ). Interesting.

[Ryhan @ Jun 2nd 2007 11:00AM]

Japanese is phonetic. Sounds like what it signifies. Demo, boku "kachi" wa ki-ita koto wa nai. (boku ke'ko nihon ni sunde e mashitayo) "kuri'ku" ja nai desuka? (shouldn't it be just "click" with a japanese accent?)