Microsoft is at it again with its boring-as-can-be product names and its
terrifically designed computer mice and keyboards. First off is the new Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 (pictured), which Microsoft calls the "little black dress" of peripherals -- something we find to be at least a little disturbing. The keyboard and mouse combo include "smoked translucent border" design elements, conveniently-assignable My Favorites Keys, and some rather sleek / thin looks. The keyboard -- which we saw
pass the FCC in February -- is of the Comfort Curve-ilk, the Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 has a horizontal charging station, and both use 2.4GHz wireless tech. The worst news is the price, at $130 when it hits in April. If you don't need all the fancy, Microsoft also has the new Digital Media Keyboard 3000 (pictured after the break) with some fun media-centric keys for the much more palatable $30 pricepoint. It'll be out in June.
posted Mar 11th 2008 9:52AM
And I just got the Wireless Laser Desktop 6000...but for a lot less than the 7000 is going to cost.
$130 actually seems cheap...
Not really a looker, is it?
Looks better than most other keyboards... Definitely better than Apple's new iMac laptop-esque keyboards.
@Zeus.:God
I've got one of the Apple laptop-style keyboards and don't see what you've got against it. It looks OK but it's definitely the best keyboard that I've owned. The short travel on the keys means less work for your fingers and the low profile prevents having to angle your wrists. I just wish they'd make a proper Bluetooth version of it rather than the silly cut-down version that is currently available.
@Kelmon
There are many people, like me, that dislike the short-travel laptop-style keyboards. I keep a separate keyboard at home and work to use with my laptop because I dislike typing on it so much (and it's one of the better laptop keyboards I've used, but I still hate it).
I'm not seeing anything after the break.
Did you break first?
[cut to me breaking it, old skool style]
Oh, there it is.
See the 3000 here as well:
http://www.hothardware.com/News/Microsoft_Unveils_Two_Windows_Aero_Keyboards/
They should make a wired version and sell it for less. That said, at least it's better than the 8000 which has that goofy charging station and lacks a number pad. I'll buy this.
I've had two sets like this, (last I tried was the wireless laser 6000), and both have suffered from missed clicks, sickly connectivity (even when outside the minimum 8 inch distance as described in the manual), and less than agreeable support for the existing touchpad on my laptop. Currently, a manager at my office has the 6000 set and he too is having missed click issues, and he's following the placement guidelines as well.
Juggernaut is right. I'd buy a wired version for sure too.
I will wait till Microsoft releases Desktop 90000 and Digital media keyboard 10000 :D
That keyboard looks heinous as usual for oversized MS plastic. Good thing the mouse looks like a perfect companion to my Enermax Aurora Premium keyboard (aka the best kb available):
http://www.enermax.com/english/product_peripherals_detail.asp?PrID=84
I'm crazy about this one.
Carmelo Anthony
www.carmeloanthony.com
"Microsoft is at it again with its boring-as-can-be product names and its terrifically designed computer mice and keyboards."
and then
"The keyboard and mouse combo include "smoked translucent border" design elements, conveniently-assignable My Favorites Keys, and some rather sleek / thin looks."
So it's "terrifically designed," with "sleek / thin" looks and "conveniently-assignable" keys? It's... horribly convenient? Terribly thin? Awfully slick?
You don't have to be objective there guys, but at least be consistent!
I don't see what the problem is. The names have been consistently "Boring", but the hardware itself has been consistently "Good".
I was just noting that it's almost as if Paul wrote the first sentence before seeing the new kb/mouse combo at all, with someone whispering in to his ear: "I need you to start writing a post about a new Microsoft wireless KB/mouse combo."
"Oh really? Which one."
"Doesn't matter, just start it off like you'd start off any Microsoft post."
"Oh shit yes."
And then by the time he got to the second sentence, he actually had a picture and specs. More editing, boys!
Well, Engadget readers are supposed to be bored and wasting their time.
Writers are supposed to... write? And make sense doing so?
Ty, reading comprehension. If someone told me the name of this product prior to seeing it, I'd think the name was boring as usual. MS has had pretty basic names for their keyboards for quite some time. What is wrong with that? He NEVER said anything bad about the physical traits of the keyboard, so I'm not sure where you are getting this inconsistency from.
You thought more about this blog than the author did.
I don't know what that says about either of you.
Is it so hard to ask for a microsoft keyboard with a touchpad on it so I don't have to use a mouse while sitting on my couch using vistaMC? Logitech put one in their PS3 keyboard, and it's bluetooth.
Noob Alert:
Isn't MSFT working on a keyboard-less Windows 7? Why waste resources coming up with keyboards and mouse?
Confused.
People currently use mice and keyboards and will for the foreseeable future.
I'm not crazy about all of them.
Carmelo Anthony
www.carmeloanthony.com
Needs more Apple keys. At least give me an option to buy them and swap them out.
Oh no, the dreaded F-lock key is back. FAIL! Darn it, I was really going for it until I saw that.
boring name? its a keyboard and mouse
wtf do you want it to be called DEADLY LAZER KEYBOARD / MOUSE SWORD V.666?
I'm perfectly content with my wired Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. For a full-sized keyboard used with a desktop computer, I don't see a problem with the wire. It's not like I need the space behind the keyboard to be wire-free. At work, I use a trackball mouse, so there isn't any movement for the wire to get in the way of. I've yet to find a responsive, accurate, lightweight and ergonomic mouse that's good for 6-hour gaming binges at home, though. I actually bought a $10 wired optical mouse since my $40 wireless one was causing severe wrist pains.
I'm actually looking for a replacement keyboard. I was looking at the Entertainment Series, but I really need the numeric keypad on the right; I just can't do without it. This announcement couldn't have come at a better time for me. Now I just have to wait until April.
I have the Ergonomics 4000 and the Comfort Mouse 3000 and I absolutely love them! I need a wireless mouse now, but I hate changing batteries in these things. With this one being rechargable,
I'm actually looking for a replacement keyboard. I was looking at the Entertainment Series, but I really need the numeric keypad on the right; I just can't do without it. This announcement couldn't have come at a better time for me. Now I just have to wait until April.
I have the Ergonomics 4000 and the Comfort Mouse 3000 and I absolutely love them! I need a wireless mouse now, but I hate changing batteries in these things. With this one being rechargeable, it satisfies that need.
"The worst news is the price, at $130"
Huh? $130 for this is CHEAP! I paid well over $200 back in the day for my Logitech DiNovo. The worst news is actually using 2.4Ghz technology but NOT BLUETOOTH! What were they thinking?! How many friggen 2.4Ghz technology devices are we going to try and get to work together?