Microsoft has a pretty good track record with its peripheral lineup, particularly when it comes to keyboards and mice, and it seems this latest crop is no exception. We got a quick look at the goods, and we'd say that new
Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 (pictured) could find a place in our hearts with little trouble. It's deliciously thin, but feels closer to a regular Microsoft Comfort keyboard than just another transplanted laptop keyboard. Key presses are shallow, to be sure, but they feel much meatier than on Apple's keyboards, for instance. The
Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 keyboard is less of a surprise, and we're not sure if we'd really find much use for those shortcut keys to taskbar icons, since they're all the way at the top of the keyboard, but it'd take some practice with the board to find out. Lastly, the
LifeCam Cinema HD is a fairly nice bit of hardware design for a webcam. From the footage we were seeing, it's not going to make you loathe your laptop's built-in camera, but it's probably a fair step up in image quality.
posted Oct 7th 2009 4:08PM
It looks like a comfortable keyboard. Better than my piece of junk!
imma, imma let you finish, but that is the best keyboard of all time, OF ALL TIME!
Do they make one with a Swarovski Crystal-embedded sterling silver snake? If so kill me now!
that made my day : )
hahaha, nothing would actually surprise me now after seeing that God-awful laptop.
test
Well, I tested the "-" button. It works!
From Microsoft?....nah
You clearly didn't read the opening line:
"Microsoft has a pretty good track record with its peripheral lineup"
microsoft makes great peripherals you jackass. apple fanboys are all the same: losers
i'll attest to both statements. I've used Microsoft hardware for more than a decade now. they've proven reliable and very quick on replacement should even the smallest thing fail. That is basically what kept me going back.
As for the fanbois.... when they are the fanbois! What do you expect from a bunch of (fairly tech smart yet street dumb) people? Do you think you can compete in the fandom where people are willing to pay premiums for yesterday's goods repackaged?
MS does make some nice stuff. My two favorites being the Arc and the 360 controller.
But I use a logitch mouse...before that I had a MS though. It was great. But in it's age and years of my cat knocking it off the deck it started to miss track a little. : /
Annoying Poster: disliking Microsoft ≠ liking Apple
You should have noted that, as much as you disapproved of his anti-MS comment, alexster404 did not mention Apple at all. Didn't say he was pro-Apple, didn't compare MS with Apple, didn't say Apple were better ... he just did not mention Apple at all.
People who assume that every anti-Palm, anti-Microsoft and anti-Google comment must have been written by pro-Apple people are all the same: prejudiced, and disturbingly unable to understand that someone might actually be anti-MS AND anti-Apple at the same time (or heck, hey about anti-MS and don't-care-about-Apple? Or anti-MS and who-the-hell-are-Apple?)
And when are we going to be able to purchase these little jewels?
the guy is strong he's bend the keyboard.
maybe this keyboard was left under the sun a little too long.
If they made one of those keyboards with a USB option (don't like bluetooth) I would definitely add that to the buy list.
Another thing MS needs to do: Have a couple USB ports on their keyboards so they can act as a hub for other input devices like mice and trackpads. My old belkin ergo keyboard had that 6 years ago!
Agreed. Bluetooth peripherals(such as mice and keyboards) are terrible! Even with the best implementations, they're constantly losing their connection and you have to reset everything(wasting anywhere from a couple minutes to half an hour trying to do so). The normal RF ones work significantly better and are much more reliable.
odd... I can use my BT desktop set even before Windows start.....
@mark
how far you trying to get away from your comp? Never had problems with BT except for BT headphones that was a waste of 80 dollars.
While this might be sacrilegious on some level, would this BT keyboard work with a PS3?
Should do.
Well, is Windows running on a Sony Vaio also sacrilegious?
I can't see why this would be any different, but I use another MS BT Mouse and Keyboard set on my PS3. Love it!!
Looks nice, I am hoping that they sell that little bluetooh number pad seperately. I don't need the keyboard to travel with me, but the number pad I often need.
i want that one too... almost all the rest of these wireless keypads are using the old 2.4gHz and need an extra transceiver.
+100
The CPA firm I work for would buy those in bulk! Are you listening Microsoft? Release a BT numberpad and mobile bean counters everywhere would be knocking down your door.
The number pad is separate.
Hi marks on the webcam in this review. Better than the Pro9000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw0ZoiODe3w
I am sorry Microsoft.... but I think that Beyonce had a better keyboard ! Who doesn't want to touch those keys :P
If thou like it, ye hast better put a ring on it.
I'd rather play with Alicia's keys.
Now if they start selling fantastic Trackball Explorer again, or even better come up with a bluetooth version of it, everything would be perfect.
My Trackball Explorer is so worn out from using it non-stop for 7 years, the ball does not glide anymore, making it hard to use. And that my friends is one hell of a sturdy peripheral.
I've been using Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 keyboard for a while now-it's areally comfortable keys setup-and it'd be great if there was a wired version of that Comfort Desktop 5000(To be more specific-Comfort Desktop 5000 is a set of mouse+keyboard -which engadget_guys didn't notice?).
Paul, you just like ALL keyboards! :D
I think that the Apple slim aluminum bluetooth keyboard is much more rigid and durable than this plasticky microshaft keyboard. I have the slim wireless Apple keyboard and I love it.
Only some microsoft stuff is good. My personal experience has been mixed.
The MS sidewinder keyboard is junk, the plastic on the backlight keys wears off way to easy.
There's a thin microsoft Bluetooth mouse/keyboard set I bought that the keyboard flexed way to much to be used off the desk, so much so it breaks something inside, and the mouse tracked terribly on any surface that wasn't a mousepad.
The expensive first MS bluetooth mouse/keyboard combo always losses the link on the mouse.
The sidewinder mouse seems to work pretty good though.
Buta are the keys back-lit?
The cam has an awsum design. Too bad apple cant come up wiv stuff like that. Just goes to show. I bet it works like a champ too.
I have used plenty of MS WIRELESS keyboards, both at my workplace and at home (for gaming). In both cases, they suck. I can not tell you how many times I would be typing only to watch the screen catch up or miss letters all the time. Game playing, just forget it. It's like the keyboard goes to sleep. I have contacted microsoft about these issues and all the do is send me the same keyboard for free, in which case, the same issues happen again. Now, I know you guys are going to say, where is the receiver. Well, I would put the receiver as close to and in direct view of the keyboard/mouse. Sometimes, I would have it about 2 inches from the keyboard and would still get the issues. Now, for the causual user, sure, probably a good product. However, I am a software developer by day and a gamer by night, these wireless keyboards just don't cut it in either case. So, I am back to wired keyboards for both my work and home.
As for the camera...
Nice- so long as Microsoft is not planning on using the Comfort Desktop 5000 to replace the Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard...
Price or no dice.
$89.95
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=016
The mobile keyboard 6000 looks sweet. I never use the number pad, so i like not having it there, and having my mouse closer (for ergo reasons). I have an old school goldtouch, and the wireless apple keyboard, but this looks like a worthy replacement.
Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD works with Mac on Leopard. Results are not as good as on Windows. http://bit.ly/pXEkq
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