IN HAND: Swiftpoint boss Grant Odgers says it has hundreds of orders for its Kiwi-designed optical wireless mouse, which is gripped like a pen.

Christchurch firm Swiftpoint is out to trap the laptop mouse market from this week and give big cheeses Logitech and Microsoft a run for their money.

Swiftpoint chief executive Grant Odgers says it has had hundreds of pre-orders for the mouse, which ships from tomorrow and can be bought from its own website and Amazon.com.

The optical, wireless mouse – which is gripped like a pen – is designed to be used on a laptop's palm rest, although it can also glide across the top of the keyboard.

The mouse – which will initially sell for US$69.95 or NZ$125 – is charged via a USB dock, which can also be used to carry the mouse around when plugged in. A 30-second charge will give one hour's use and a 90-minute charge will power the mouse for up to four weeks, he says.

"One of the things that frustrates people is the battery running out on their mouse ... With our one, you can be up and running again really quickly."

The majority of mouses sold are for laptops, as most people who buy a laptop buy a mouse.

"Logitech sell two million mice a week, so it's a huge market, but it's also very competitive so we have to offer something different, and it is pretty unique."

About 50 online retailers worldwide have expressed interest in selling the Swiftpoint mouse and the firm plans to begin stocking the mouse in bricks-and-mortar stores at the end of the year.

The mouse is being manufactured in Thailand but Swiftpoint has distribution centres in the northern hemisphere to cut delivery times for customers there.

Much is being made of the threat that mouse-less touchscreen tablet computers – such as Apple's iPad – pose to laptops but Mr Odgers says he is unfazed.

"[Tablets] are more for entertainment. If you want to do anything productive you wouldn't really use an iPad. We don't think people will buy an iPad instead of a laptop.

"People talk about touch technology replacing the mouse, but there's a whole lot of issues with that. One is `gorilla arm', where, if you're reaching out and touching something all day long, your arms feel like they want to fall off."

Studies at Canterbury University have shown the mouse is 30 to 40 per cent more efficient than a touchpad, he says.

The Swiftpoint's debut has been noted by technology websites including Engadget and Softpedia – which says it is "quite an impressive product".

Mr Odgers says he is pleased with the response so far.

"We've spent years getting prototypes out to people and getting them to use them, so we kind of expected people would like it."

The company, which has four permanent staff, has received $2 million from investors, including venture capital fund Endeavour.

Swiftpoint's website: www.futuremouse.com