Why did no one think of this before? Like all other mouse makers, Japan's Elecom ships its new wireless input device, dubbed the "M-MBDUR", in a box. But this time it's no ordinary case - the plastic packaging doubles up as the rodent's recharger and its wireless transceiver.

Open the box and next to the 800dpi mouse is a fold-away USB cable. When you've finished for the day, drop the mouse back into the case to recharge its built-in battery. The company said the mouse will work for 32 hours on a single charge. When not being pushed around a desk it drops into sleep mode, in which state the battery charge will hold out for 180 days.

The box measures 8.7 x 5.8 x 2.9cm - about the same size as a closed clamshell mobile phone, Elecom said, making it easy to carry. We're not sure about the mouse itself though - it looks like it might prove a tad uncomfortable for some hands. The mouse measures 8 x 4.4 x 2.4cm and weighs 41.5g.

The box-mouse combo comes in a range of co-ordinated colours: black, red, blue, and grey. It is due to ship early April for ¥4,410 (£7/$12/€10). ®