Apple Computer Inc. is calling its latest product the Mighty Mouse, but analysts say it's actually a Trojan horse that could further the firm's forays into the world of Windows PCs.
The Cupertino company started selling the new, four-button mouse, with a small 360-degree scroll trackball, on Tuesday. The mouse is compatible with both Macintosh and Windows computers, the latest move by Apple into foreign territory.
The list of products that work with Windows PCs now includes some of Apple's key offerings, such as the popular iPod portable music player, iTunes jukebox software, flat panel displays and Airport Express, a base station for wireless networking, said Ross Rubin, an analyst at the research firm NPD Group.
In fact, Apple will start using microprocessors made by Intel Corp., the same company that powers the vast majority of PCs around the world.
"We've seen a pattern of Apple introducing Mac-only products and modifying them later to make them more broadly compatible. But now, the trend is to make them compatible out of the box," Rubin said.
The new mouse looks similar to the white, rounded one-button variety that's standard with most Macintosh computers. The only difference in the look is a small trackball on top that can be used for things like scrolling through Web pages.
The product is Apple's first mouse with more than one button. It will likely take away the frustration of users who want to right-click for extra functions, which is common with two-button mice that come with Windows PCs, said Rubin. "It's more about making things more comfortable for those who may be considering switching to a Macintosh computer," he said.
The upper left and upper right sides of the mouse are for standard left- click and right-click functions. The buttons on either side of the mouse can be programmed for various tasks.
Apple's desire to woo consumers away from PCs made by the likes of Dell, Hewlett-Packard or Gateway is not new. The firm's "Switch" campaign has been around for a few years, using testimonials of Windows PC users who have converted to Macintosh computers, Rubin said.
Switching is more attractive now that Apple has some products -- including its $499 Mac Mini -- that Windows PC users might want to try out without having to plunk down large chunks of cash for a full-fledged Macintosh system, Rubin said.
"Now, they have the products behind the provocation," he said.
But one analyst wondered if Apple is doing the switching.
"I think that's a great question because, to some extent, Apple has done a lot of switching in recent years, switching out of proprietary products to more mainstream products," said Stephen Baker, the NPD Group's PC analyst.
In the past, even the cable connection between the Macintosh and its printers and monitors was specially made for Apple products.
Now, the firm is using the PC industry standard USB plugs for its peripheral devices like the mouse and iPods.
That is also a shrewd business move because Apple can save money in design and manufacturing when it uses industry-standard parts, which are typically much less expensive than custom parts, Baker said.
Although Apple's latest mouse, which costs $50, probably won't become one of its cash cows, the business will probably have hefty profit margins, said Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research.
Baker agrees, although Apple's share of the after-market mouse business - - estimated to be worth about $400 million -- is tiny, he said.
E-mail Matthew Yi at myi@sfchronicle.com.
The Mighty Mouse
Apple Computer Inc. today revealed a new product named ''Mighty Mouse''. The mouse has four buttons and a small 360 degree scroll trackball. This product will not only be compatible with the Macintosh but also with Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Many of the products Apple has produced over recent years have been compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems, the most notable being the iPod. The company recently announced that they will start using Intel microprocessors in their computers, and that those computers will be capable of running Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Visually, this new mouse will be very similar to the ones that have been shipping with Macintosh computers for some time. It is white and has a rounded feel to it. The only difference is the trackball used for scrolling through documents and web pages.

This is the first mouse product made by Apple that has a multi-button function. There are 'squeeze' buttons on the sides and a button under the micro-trackball, but there are no actual left/right buttons - it uses non-mechanical sensors to detect which finger is pressing when a regular click is made.

Its US price is $49, UK price is £35.