Microsoft's Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000: barely thicker than a stack of hundies
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:41PM
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:41PM
[Via HotHardware]
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:41PM
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I really need to replace my crapware rocketfish keyboard mouse bt combo and this is the solution.
Really? Looks terrible to me. I mean sleek in design, but typical to MS's keyboards the keys are all fucked up and rearranged. I guess it's great for people who love typing on laptop keyboards... I sure ain't paying more than a few dollars for a non-standard key layout to use with a desktop.
While I probably won't spring for the full keyboard, I'd LOOOOVE to have a good number pad for my laptop. Was going to spring for a Targus cordless unit, but its tranceiver would take up a precious USB port.
THIS, though, would be perfect!
Lars:
Laptop keyboard > desktop keyboard.
Shallow keys = more efficiency = saving the world
Seen this part live last week at an Microsoft Hardware Retailer Workshop followed by an XBox 360 Workshop (Halo: ODST 4 player co-op is fun ^^). You guys should mention that it runs for around 6 months on a single AAA battery and that it has all the special hot keys for the new start bar of Windows 7. No mention of the new blue track mice? or the ultra compact keyboard?
cheers
Darksaber (Senior Ed. Techpowerup + Xbox 360 Promotion Teamleader for Austria)
Does anyone know the range of the Bluetooth on this ? Is it the 30 foot range like everything else?
Oh yeah this'll go great with my Apple Tablet... 8D
Nice ergonomics by Microsoft here - I've always loved their keyboards and if this fits in my laptop bag it may be joining my MBPro for the road trips. $85 is not that much for a good wireless keyboard, considering how much you use it.
Yea but I just want the number pad, and that's $45!
Why the ouch Engadget? I am sure there are many willing customers to pay the asking price. I know I am going to pick one up to pair with my Microsoft Laser 8000 BT mouse.. :D
Microsoft has always been creating some really amazing keyboards lately. Too bad I'm an ergonomic keyboard person.
meh flat keyboards.
Yea me too. Let me know if you know of any really good ergo boards.
stowaway bluetooth keyboard. works great for me. it easily folds down and fits in the pocket, a big pocket...
darkstar, I've got my ThinkOutside version too - worked great for my Palm Tungsten T3, perfectly for my Motorola A1000, does the job with my TyTN II and will - I hope - do perfectly with my HD2 in a few weeks. But with those not being made anymore, what are we gonna do when her microswitches finally die? That keyboard is a work of art...
any suggestions for a bluetooth keyboard/mouse/trackball unit?
I LOVE Lenovo's keyboard with the built in track pad and pointing stick. It's great to have my mouse and keyboard in one.
As much as I like my keyboard that came with my HP Firebird, I really need an ergonomic keyboard. Microsoft makes great Keyboards and Mice.
The ouch is obviously for paying $44.95 for a number pad
Apparently you haven't seen how high my stacks of hundies are.
I've only seen rolls
hundies...
underwear made of money.
Why is it that keyboards are the one thing that Microsoft actually does consistently well?
Hopefully it works better than my old Logitech MX5000 bt keyboard, which was a total piece of crap. The bt mouse is decent though.
Actually, the bluetooth number pad is even better. I would frequently use this with my laptop when I'm at work and it's nice not to have to deal with cords.
I like this keyboard. Who cares about number pads anyway? Unless you work in accounting. A keyboard without a number pad is more convenient and takes up less space. I even prefer laptops without number pads. A laptop with a number pad must be that much harder to type on. Now getting back to keyboards. IMHO, the best keyboard manufacturer is Deck, with their led backlit keyboards. Deck keyboards never die and are made to professional standards. And you can order one without a number pad. I don't sell their products but I sure can vouch for them. This Microsoft keyboard is a good alternative, I doubt it will take on a spill of water.
"Who cares about number pads anyway?"
Anyone in science, engineering, architecture, accounting, mathematics, etc. Glad you get a choice with the number pad though. Apple makes you choose between having a number pad and wireless, and I don't want to choose between the two.
man, where was this a week ago. This would be great for my HTPC. Settled for a ms wireless desktop 3k, but would have preferred no numpad
That looks absolutely delicious. I did buy a wireless MS keyboard a few months back, but no matter how fresh the batteries, and how close the receiver, it still misses some keypresses here and there. It's especially noticeable in FPS's, like TF2 which I play a lot. Yeah, I know, I probably should go with a wired keyboard if I play games, but I hate wires A LOT.
So yeah, as good as this one looks, I'm not sure.
Sweet. I hope its Mac compatible. I hate that Apple makes me buy the corded version if I want a number pad. Having a separate key pad would give me the best of both worlds.
$90 is kinda high, but reasonable for a new product.
$45 for that number pad is way too high.
It's a quarter of the size of the keyboard at half the price of it.
I understand that you're paying for the tech inside, but they could at least make the number pad $30 if someone also bought the keyboard with a rebate or something.
Keyboards are a dying breed anyway.
They'll be all but gone in a few years.
"Keyboards are a dying breed anyway.
They'll be all but gone in a few years."
Wow, well, what do you suggest we replace keyboards with? Tablet keyboards? Styluses to input? Pfft!
We all know that tablets are still improving in recognition. Physically typing on a keyboard is a hell of a lot more efficient than a tablet keyboard (either with a stylus or with your fingers). It's even more efficient than writing on a tablet with a stylus. The writing is deemed inconsistent with the software's recognition of letters, numbers, punctuation, etc.
Any other suggestions?
Otherwise, yes, the number pad is too pricey. Add an Arc mouse with it, plus a rebate when you buy all 3 together, and... well, I don't necessarily need it. But others might like the idea.
We'll have a combination of hand movements and sub-vocal speech recognition.
Even though normal voice recognition is rapidly improving, the downside is that you'd have offices of people talking constantly which is not really productive or secure (unless every cubicle/office has some kind of advanced noise cancellation).
With sub-vocal, it's different. It's as if you are talking without making a sound. There will be a device that will attach to your neck somehow and the computer will be able to type whatever your sub-vocal voice says.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subvocal_recognition
Hand movements might be replaced with mind control later on.
Yessireebob, the future is coming sooner than you think.
This keyboard is similar to the HP Elite Wireless keyboard isn't it? (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=accessories&landing=computer&category=categories&subcat1=mice_keyboards&orderflow=1&a1=Type+of+product&v1=keyboards&product_code=FQ480AA%23ABA&catLevel=2)
Of course, the HP one isn't BT, and it's not curved, but it is as thin (if not thinner) includes the number pad. The HP one is also 50 dollars, which is less than half of the MS one plus number pad.
I bought one with the academic discount and it cost me like 30 dollars, and I really like it.
Why do people keep bending keyboards? Just leave them alone! I can't type on that crap.
Y'all's should post on the new ThinkPad keyboard: http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=2364 . Not everyone's cup of tea, but the TrackPoint and the ThinkPad feel definitely have a posse.
(ThinkPad external keyboards existed before but, if you look at the specs and customer reviews, they were bulky (due to numpad + trackpad), expensive, and people said they felt flimsier than real ThinkPad keyboards.)
Bluetooth? Sounds PS3 compatible? i'd totally get,..
Can I pair this bluetooth keyboard with my cellphone and type at 90wpm?
I have the Three UK Skypephone S2 handset with the most annoying T9 keyboard on the planet!
I just bought this today. It works well with Macs - even the volume keys. I highly recommend using the keyboard control panel to swap the left alt and command keys. The entire package -- keyboard and included number pad -- costs $90. Batteries (non-rechargeable) included.
please tell me if this will work with mac 10.6.1 I just bought this mobile bluetooth 6000. I have gotten no where talking to microsoft and apple. It says a error when trying to pair. the device does not have services.