While the company has considered an inductive charging mousepad, they opted against it so that people can mouse on the surface of their choice and to keep the whole package portable and inconspicuous.
In addition to negating the need for a mousepad except for personal expression, the new mouse's optical technology will make it a good alternative for PowerBook and iBook owners who don't like those computers' built-in trackpads.
He also got me thinking about a box that has been sitting on my desk for several weeks: A Microsoft Touch Mouse, which features a surface studded with touch sensors, so you can perform gestures on the mouse, the same way you might on a touch pad.