Microsoft Hardware rains down fiery peripheral death

As if to prove a point to their comrades in the Microsoft Windows division, Microsoft Hardware has just launched nine new peripherals to show 'em how its done. We won't trouble you with all nine products, but the four highlights of the launch are plenty to be getting on with. Pictured above is the new Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, which claims to be the first wireless rechargeable backlit keyboard, and who are we to argue? The 'board features ambient and proximity sensing, while keeping it slim at a mere 1-inch thick, and it should be available next February for $250. Next up is the do-it-all Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000, which stuffs in slide presenter, laser pointer, media remote and laser mouse functionality into its meaty girth. The Bluetooth mouse should be out mid-October for about $100. Microsoft also has the new Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, with high-def laz0r tracking and intense ergonomics, and the new LifeCam NX-6000 webcam, which features 7.6 megapixel stills and 2.0 megapixel video in a minuscule package. The cam should be out in November for $100, while the Laser Mouse 6000 should follow in January for $80. Now, if only we had a shiny new OS to use these with. Keep reading for more pics.

Read - Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000
Read - Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000
Read - Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000
Read - Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000

Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000


Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000


Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000

[bluemonq @ Sep 13th 2006 5:25PM]

Setting Windows and Office aside, Microsoft makes some decent keyboards and mice.

[Sparkie @ Sep 8th 2007 2:47PM]

Yea, I thought so too until I discovered the MX Revolution. MS has nothing.

[Deezee @ Sep 13th 2006 5:29PM]

Damn I want that keyboard!

[Matt @ Sep 13th 2006 5:31PM]

2 megapixel video? Did I read that right? Isn't that higher than HD video? Someone correct me here...

[BeRoes3d @ Sep 13th 2006 5:48PM]

same question ... 2 MP video and 7.6 MP STILLS???
O MY GOSH? and it costs 100 BUCKS? o_O

[bluemonq @ Sep 13th 2006 5:48PM]

No, 1080p is just about megapixels.

[bluemonq @ Sep 13th 2006 5:49PM]

Oh, and those stills are crappy interpolated.

[Benson Leung @ Sep 13th 2006 5:55PM]

I'm not terribly impressed with Microsoft's keyboards. As decent as they are from a comfort and travel point of view, the proliferation of the nonstandard truncated keyboard layout sours my opinion of Microsoft, and to a degree, Logitech as well.

[jojo @ Sep 13th 2006 6:06PM]

I hope that natural laser mouse gets bundled with a new wireless natural keyboard soon.

[theninthcloud @ Sep 13th 2006 6:06PM]

I continue to buy and regret Microsoft hardware.

I'm typing on a Wireless Comfort (keys are only moderately tilted) which is ergonomically quite good...
but damn, the RF reception is just ugly! Ctrl keys don't work that great, sometimes the shift keys stick. And I've seen the same from another wireless MS set I have for another computer.

Either way, I still think these new ones look to be good.

[Zallman @ Sep 13th 2006 6:14PM]

I love my microsoft keyboard.
It's comfy and has taken a serious beating.

I look forward to more of their peripherals.

[Andrew @ Sep 13th 2006 6:30PM]

Finally, a decent bluetooth notebook mouse?

[Corey @ Sep 13th 2006 6:41PM]

I've never really bothered with Microsoft hardware before. Logitech keyboards (and mice sometimes), Kensington Mice, and cheap $10 laser pointers do it for me.

[Matt @ Sep 13th 2006 6:49PM]

1 inch thick and lightweight, so I can chill on my couch with it. The media Center and net will be on my tv very very soon. I have all my movies already encoded to xvid files, ready to go on demand.

[tbyron @ Sep 13th 2006 7:22PM]

The funny thing is, MS is actually pretty good with hardware. There have been plenty of duds in the marketplace but, their overall quality is usually pretty good, better than average.

[_man1c_ @ Sep 13th 2006 7:53PM]

hmm. although i dont need a new mouse a keyboard would be very appreciated..

[iceman2929 @ Sep 13th 2006 8:00PM]

umm... doesnt microsoft own logitech?

[ian @ Sep 13th 2006 8:04PM]

that webcam is HOT!

[_man1c_ @ Sep 13th 2006 8:04PM]

@ iceman2929. to my knowledge i dont think they do.

[trev @ Sep 13th 2006 8:12PM]

I like design of these products, they all look sleek and stylish. My only gripe is the big brightly coloured windows logo on the keyboard - the bright colours make it look a little childish. I believe it would also look much better if it were sitting flush with the rest of the case and was a simple two tone colour scheme that matched the mouse and keyboard: such as a disk of black acrylic with the windows logo printed on in white.

Ive used a wireless IntelliMouse 2.0 for about two years now and I can't find a fault with it for everyday use - its reliable and has a very good batterly life. As a gaming mouse it's not the best you can get but it does the job for me!

[Raffi @ Sep 13th 2006 9:43PM]

Mouse with a laser pointer? I'm sold.

[Oscar Feliciano @ Sep 13th 2006 11:51PM]

Matt: 2 Megapixel video is a bit less than 1024x768 resolution video. And the stills are interpolated.

[Hunt @ Sep 14th 2006 12:11AM]

@bluemonq, I agree.
Decent is the key word. I've never been a fan of their fuzzy membrane keyboards though. Personally, I'd rather spend either $150+ on a Logitech DiNovo or a Gyration (which I did) for a true HTPC keyboard. The lighting and charger is pretty friggin slick though. Is it worth $100? Maybe.. but $250 price point is going to limit their audience. They had to make that keyboard though.

Also, with the VX and MX revolution mice that just came out, it's going to hard for anyone to say they have something truely revolutionary. No pun intended.

http://InputReview.com/

[T-Will @ Sep 14th 2006 1:19AM]

$250 on a freaking keyboard?!?!? That's ridiculous!

[Terry @ Sep 14th 2006 3:38AM]

When you run the video [interactive demo] at:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=080

The demo has a button to ORDER NOW, which takes you to a more detailed description and more deets of the keyboard and mouse combo. I pressed it expecting an error (or nothing to happen) almost fell for being able to place an order.

The mouse that comes with the Entertainment Desktop 8000 keyboard is only the Wireless Mouse 8000. I wonder if there will be an option to order the Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000 in place of the Wireless Mouse 8000 instead of having to shell out the extra $100 for the mouse with the pointer. This mouse still is not as useful as the Gyration mouse [which already includes a laser pointer] which can be used in the air instead of on the desk and having to pick up to use the laser pointer and then back to the desk to move the mouse cursor, and pick up again to use the laser pointer.

BTW the new desktop combo also charges the Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000, but no indication if it has separate docking for that device,

[PacketMonkee @ Sep 14th 2006 4:01AM]

Love or hate the manufacturer, that is one secksay keyboard...

[fred @ Sep 14th 2006 7:33AM]

@Oscar Feliciano, bluemonq:
Jesus Christ, are you guys thick or something? If you don't know something, don't post it.
1080p is 1920x1080 pixels=2,073,600 pixels, i.e. more than 2Mp.
1024x768 is 786,432 pixels i.e. less than 1Mp.
The closest common resolution to 2Mp in a 4x3 aspect ratio is 1600x1200=1.92Mp.

[J Ozer @ Sep 14th 2006 9:20AM]

I love the actual Microsoft press releases. I think they got the same people who write VCR manuals to do them. Example (not real but close):

The new Microsoft keyboard system incorporates an inovative recharging system for the Mircrosoft keyboard system. The Microsoft keyboard recharging system has inovative horizontal charging methidology integrated in due to Microsoft keyboard system internal user feedback (tm).

If anyone at MS sees this, and wants to give me a job, please don't hesitate to contact me. Or should I say:

The J Ozer commentary system has features allowing for contracting or full employment capabilities integrated into the J Ozer commentary system. Contacting of the J Ozer commenting system is considered a prefered method of employing the J Ozer commentary system.

[Ken @ Sep 14th 2006 9:32AM]

While the key board looks like its on the right track, I'm going to go out on a limb here and state that it looks as though MS has severly missed the mark set by Logitech in the mouse arena. I'm sorry but that mouse just screams, "yawn". MS mice have a horrible feel and the tactility (sp?) of the buttons is usually vague and crappy at best. Just looking at the mouse leads me to believe nothing has changed.

[garbuckle @ Sep 14th 2006 10:20AM]

ummm...

No numeric keypad, no deal. Thanks for playing MS, please try again.

[Jimmy @ Sep 14th 2006 3:02PM]

The new mice say "high definition laser technology" - does anyone know what that actually means? I'm using the laser notebook mouse 6000 with "Laser technology" written on the bottom and this mouse skips a bit on my smooth desk surface. I want to have something that will pick up better detail and obviously respond more.

[hoochie @ Sep 15th 2006 12:01AM]

microsoft is a multi millionaire company and
i dont see them giving generous 3500$ loans to people who will need this cash to afford a pc to run vista.
and with vista's 400$ price tag and people stupid enough to pay this much makes you realise why theyre rich and youre not! Then people wonder why intellectuals hate microsoft.

[josh @ Mar 12th 2007 12:10PM]

"microsoft is a multi millionaire company and
i dont see them giving generous 3500$ loans to people who will need this cash to afford a pc to run vista.
and with vista's 400$ price tag and people stupid enough to pay this much makes you realise why theyre rich and youre not! Then people wonder why intellectuals hate microsoft."

Earth to dumbass, 1)I think you mean multi-billion

2) Vista doesn't freaking cost $400. In *very* rare circumstances vista ultimate may cost a very few select people $400, but anyone upgrading pays less, anyone buying a brand new computer from an OEM pays less, and anyone buying an OEM copy from newegg pays less. Really, you have the people bright enough to build their own machine but dumb enough to buy a retail copy of vista and who absolutely need Ultimate paying $400. In reality, unless you need bitlocker, RDP, or really dig dreamscense Home Premium does everything you need and it costs quite a bit less.

3) aside from obviously not loaning people 3.5 grand, what the hell are you going to buy for that much? My machine is 2 years old, was built for a little less than $1500 (not including the $700 monitor but including the $250 case), and runs Aero amazingly well even with the resolution cranked to 1920x1200. Today you could build a machine that very respectibly runs vista with everything enabled for $800 (assuming you didn't buy a $250 case) or you could just upgrade your older machine with a new video card and a bit of ram and run Aero just fine. If enabling all of the eye-candy isn't necessary than you can run vista on fairly low hardware specs (though more ram is good).

I hope you don't count yourself among the intellectuals you referenced, because you are obviously quite ignorant and possibly downright stupid.

Also, what the crap does this have to do with the hardware announcement?

[BlueSRTAndy @ Sep 15th 2006 2:56AM]

Is the $250 price tag for both the 8000 series keyboard and mouse? If it is, I'd definitely buy one when they become available. I've been waiting for MS to come out w/ a Bluetooth Keyboard and LASER mouse combo for a while.

[Kris @ Sep 15th 2006 4:06AM]

Add that to my christmas list

[ogman @ Nov 5th 2006 6:09AM]

Ugh...ugh...ugh...ly!

[Unregistered @ Jul 8th 2007 7:54PM]

I'd rather have a cheap & good HP/Compaq keyboard.

The worst keyboards are from Dell. Noisy like a rattle.

[Mull @ Sep 6th 2007 12:19AM]

Lawl, Headphones please.

[Ariel @ Sep 6th 2007 12:21AM]

when do i know when i win? i want the keyboard!

[ark_v2 @ Sep 6th 2007 12:24AM]

I can't believe it...it's nice!

[Lester S. Keys @ Sep 6th 2007 12:40AM]

Like James Brown said, " Please. Please. Please" give it to me.

[Kazu @ Sep 6th 2007 12:54AM]

i'm lovin' it!

[Ruinne @ Sep 6th 2007 1:05AM]

BioShock pretty much rules.

[Dominique @ Sep 6th 2007 1:09AM]

game on

[captain awesome @ Sep 6th 2007 1:14AM]

big money big money

[ken @ Sep 6th 2007 1:38AM]

1 in a million. Well maybe not that bad.

[hide @ Sep 6th 2007 2:50AM]

please

[shot @ Sep 6th 2007 3:22AM]

Please!!

[Adul @ Sep 6th 2007 6:30AM]

I have a Microsoft mouse, I have been using it for my design projects on many software, like photoshop, NX5, illustrator...it has good movements, good feel, easy to use...:) I am sure the product will be reliable and durable the most important aspects.

[chris.javadi @ Sep 6th 2007 10:18AM]

*drool*