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More Microsoft mice and keyboard are on the way

Microsoft today launched the world's first wireless rechargeable and backlit keyboard and mouse combination that is compatible with Windows Vista.  Microsoft first announced the keyboard/mouse combo in late June. The Bluetooth-based Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 will be available in February 2007, with a retail price of $249.95. The Wireless Entertainment Desktop will be available in January 2007, with a retail price of $149.95. The keyboard is one-inch thick and is wireless up to 30 feet away.

The keyboard features an automatic backlight adjustment that will turn on or off depending on how close a user is to the keyboard. There also is a three-port USB hub built directly into the keyboard. The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 also has a Windows Start Button that will offer one-click access to the features of the Windows Start Menu.

The company also released the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000, a model that does not have as many features as the 8000.  More information on both models is available on Microsoft's peripheral website.

Because the needs and demands of PC users are continuing to evolve over time, hardware design teams have to push the envelope. Dan O'Neil, industrial designer with Microsoft Hardware said: “The Hardware team took both visual and interaction cues from Windows Vista to help create this unique product line that keeps up with consumers' performance expectations, comfort needs and style preferences with better recharging.”

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ummm
By QueBert on 9/14/2006 12:38:13 AM , Rating: 2
wish some company would wise up and release a wireless keyboard without the damn mouse. I will probably never use a wireless mouse, but I love a wireless keyboard.




RE: ummm
By tuteja1986 on 9/14/2006 1:21:58 AM , Rating: 2
I love Wireless Mouse :( well wifi one anywasy... been using Wifi Wireless mouse ever since Logitech MX700 to MX1000 and now G7. Can't wait for the next model which should come out by late october ;)

I can never go back to using non-wireless mouse :) yes i play PC games and yes i do go to Lans and i have won some comp so no lag issue with G7/MX1000 mouse.


RE: ummm
By h0kiez on 9/14/2006 11:04:09 AM , Rating: 2
The new model is out...it's called the MX revolution.


RE: ummm
By MobileZone on 9/15/2006 9:48:21 AM , Rating: 2
WiFi mouse? That's new to me. Is there an internal HD in it? Maybe some FTP server as well...


RE: ummm
By bollwerk on 9/14/2006 11:13:27 AM , Rating: 2
I'm SO DAMN TIRED of companies (Microsoft and Logitech basically) always selling keyboards WITH mice. WHY CAN'T I BUY A NICE KEYBOARD BY ITSELF??!?!?!?!?!?!? DAMMIT!

Sorry for all the caps, but this crap REALLY pisses me off. I have a drawer with about 3 mice I never use, because of this crap. (I use a G7 wireless mouse)


RE: ummm
By TomZ on 10/9/2006 8:25:04 AM , Rating: 2
Wireless mice are not WiFi!


Start button?
By Diesel Donkey on 9/13/2006 11:26:24 PM , Rating: 2
Is this new button somehow significantly different from the Win 95 Start button that we all know and love?




RE: Start button?
By splines on 9/14/2006 1:52:12 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, I wondered about that too...

The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 also has a Windows Start Button that will offer one-click access to the features of the Windows Start Menu.

So that would be the windows key, right? Unless they've killed the handy shortcuts, it's the same thing in a different location.



RE: Start button?
By tuteja1986 on 9/14/2006 2:18:03 AM , Rating: 2
Is this keyboard wireless recharable :? or is it world 1st wireless keyboard to have backlit ?

If it can charge without plugging in some kind of cable :) woo i need to know what technology they are using then


RE: Start button?
By peternelson on 9/14/2006 5:39:43 AM , Rating: 2
solar powered, obviously.

Or maybe it's a flux capacitor ;-)

Also, is it just me or am I missing the really useful Microsoft function keys, and the handy F key to turn them on and off, oh and the really really annoying default to lame "reply/fwd/send" rather than function keys.


250$ for a keyboard?
By lucyfek on 9/13/2006 11:59:11 PM , Rating: 2
a bit expensive. the news does not state it directly if the 150$ model (also expensive but if the quality was right) is a radio or IR wireless (worthless but we've seen this already). most likely it's radio (to get mouse to work) and if so, the 100$ premium for BT is way too much for the possibility of synchronizing one's BT enabled cell phone with the pc.




RE: 250$ for a keyboard?
By Belegost on 9/14/2006 1:44:56 AM , Rating: 2
If you look at the MS website, the 7000 model will also be Bluetooth. However, it will not have the rechargeable keyboard with 4port USB hub charging dock. Beyond that they seem to be approximately the same thing.

I'd really like a rechargeable wireless keyboard, but BT has too many issues, and I'm not going to pay $250 for it. $150 would be just within reason, but losing the rechargeable keyboard kills it.

Maybe Logitech will come out with a rechargeable keyboard to counter this.


RE: 250$ for a keyboard?
By othercents on 9/14/2006 10:40:08 AM , Rating: 2
You pay a premium for bluetooth keyboards and mice. This is mainly because they have a much better range than the normal RF keyboards and mice.

Other


RE: 250$ for a keyboard?
By rcc on 9/14/2006 1:23:39 PM , Rating: 2
I suspect it is mainly due to the holders of the patents. : )


USB Ports
By abakshi on 9/13/2006 11:37:45 PM , Rating: 3
The 4 USBs are on the charging dock, not the keyboard itself, as the article indicates -- otherwise, it would have been interesting, with USB ports operating wirelessly haha (though Bluetooth speeds would make it pointless).




RE: USB Ports
By juancferrer on 9/14/2006 12:10:53 AM , Rating: 2
Any reason why it's $150?? A little steep for just a wireless keyboard and mouse.


Thickness
By Burning Bridges on 9/14/2006 10:35:23 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The keyboard is one-inch thick

Wow, MS made a keyboard that is one inch thick, while Apple made a laptop that was one inch thick back in 2001.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/jan/09pbg4.ht...

Yay MS!!

In all seriousness though, I think that an inch thick keyboard is just a bit too chunky for general use. :(




RE: Thickness
By rcc on 9/14/2006 1:27:52 PM , Rating: 2
lol, well, they needed room for the built in Sony lap heaters.... er. Lithium Ion batteries. : )


Ummm...
By FoxFour on 9/14/2006 9:20:08 PM , Rating: 2
Where's my numpad?





RE: Ummm...
By TomZ on 10/9/2006 8:27:23 AM , Rating: 2
...gone the way of the dinosaur. I suspect that only a very small percentage of people use the numeric keypad. For those folks, they can choose either a keypad that still has that feature, or use a stand-alone keypad.


no high res pics?
By Locutus465 on 9/13/2006 11:24:37 PM , Rating: 2
No higher res pics of the KB? I was hoping to check out the layout.




By Invincible on 9/13/2006 11:30:03 PM , Rating: 2
I don't know if that pic / the demo on the MS site does it justice, but my personal taste tells me that's ugly. Ok, maybe not ugly but I wouldn't describe it as appealing.

Kudos to MS for bringing some innovative features to the input world though. Now I'm curious to see what Logitech will match / better it with.




BT for the lose!
By BillyBatson on 9/13/2006 11:47:53 PM , Rating: 1
I will NEVER buy another bluetooth keyboard or mouse EVAR again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every single one i have used lags especially after being idle (not used) for mroe than a few mins, random drops in connection every 2-3 weeks on average even from just 2 feet away from the reciever. Also my Logitech 5000 is ESPECIALLY crappy for some reason. RF FTW!
if this was not BT i would have seriously considered it though i so not like the angled "ergo" design




RE: BT for the lose!
By lucyfek on 9/14/2006 12:03:39 AM , Rating: 1
that's right - both ms BT keyboard and mouse are POS - not even fast enough for typing - especially first letter takes forever to show up (power save mode?). and to make things worse they require extra software/drivers and won't work in BIOS.


PS/2 support?
By Trisped on 9/14/2006 1:37:34 PM , Rating: 2
Does it support PS/2? I know many do, but my friend's doesn't, so every time the computer goes to sleep or hibernate you have to restarted it get it back on because the USB ports don't have any power.




"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer











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