KEY POINTS:
Remember the scratchy mouse you used 25 years ago?
Looking at the mouse that squeaked its way into our world a quarter of a century ago, it's staggering to see just how far hardware has come.
It's like playing one of those blocky old pioneering games and then getting into some of today's no-holds-barred, high-def action.
This week, I went to a special function Microsoft held to celebrate 25 years of its hardware and was fascinated to compare the early mouse with the wide range of ergonomic wireless models available today.
Have a look at the picture gallery to reminisce or see what you missed.
Back then, any keyboard and mouse combination was pretty much the same bit of beige, but now we can get excited about buying hardware that's perfectly matched to our needs.
In those dark days, there wasn't even such thing as a specialised gaming mouse.
It's interesting that Microsoft has now revived its trusy SideWinder line with its first gaming mouse that's been designed from the mousepad up.
Features on the new one include a performance-enhancing macro that lets users check their perimeter from wherever they are in-game; the first-ever LCD on a gaming mouse.
And, in a fit of 'but wait, there's more', the cable anchor doubles as an accessories storage box.
What is your favourite desktop rodent?
