Windows 8 hits the streets later this month, but people who choose to run it on desktops will miss out on some of the handy touch controls. That is, unless they pick up the latest accessories from Logitech.
If you've ever been jealous of Apple's spacious, smooth trackpads, Logitech's catchily-named Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 ($80) might turn the tables. It's about 5 by 5 inches wide, and has a number of gestures built in for Windows 8, or different ones for Windows 7 if you're not upgrading yet. One thing it's missing is the helpful two-finger tap to right click, but there are plenty of others to choose from, and it's also rechargeable, meaning there's no need to carry around an extra pair of AAs.
You may think that the above is some kind of alien egg (or perhaps an Apple product), but in fact that is the new Touch Mouse T620 ($70). Think of it as a sleeker, more gemlike version of Microsoft's own Touch Mouse. The whole thing is touch-sensitive, so you can tap, swipe, and do other gestures right on the mouse.
And the one to the left is the Zone Touch T400 ($50), which has taken design cues equally from whale baleen and platform shoes. It too has a Microsoft counterpart, the Explorer Touch Mouse, which has a slightly more understated look. The patch at the top is touch-sensitive, allowing for scrolling vertically and horizontally.
The devices are all available for pre-order now, and should be shipping later in the month, probably about the time Windows 8 and other associated devices show up on people's doorsteps.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
