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Microsoft shows off first Windows 7 hardware

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Geoff Spick10 August 2009, 11:30 PM

Even we find it hard to get excited about a mouse and keyboard set but, hey, this one has the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo on it.

With every Microsoft OS release comes a new keyboard to take advantage of the odd extra feature that it possesses. For Windows 7, Microsoft's new range includes instant access to Windows 7's Taskbar Favorites, saving a little bit of movement and time whenever you need to access one of your more popular files or applications:

"Instead of the traditional My Favorites Keys with stored locations, Taskbar Favorites will map to the location of open applications on the improved Windows taskbar. The icons in the taskbar can be easily rearranged just by clicking and dragging; Taskbar Favorites will instantly adapt to the new icon locations." says the release.

The keyboard has a textured wrist rest and a curved design to encourage a natural posture. There are Media Player controls on a row across the very top and a battery meter light to indicate when the power is running down. The mouse also has a textured grip and an alarmingly shiny top which will need a lot of buffing to keep in that state.

Using tried and tested 2.4 GHz wireless, you can use the keyboard from up to 30 feet away, although we'd like to see the monitor you can use at that distance. The hardware also supports Device Stage and there's a Windows Flip button to show the open applications.

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GuniGuGu (New user):

I HATE CURVED KEYBOARDS!!! Honestly. Once your used to typing on a normal keyboard, all these curved things do is slow you down with unnecessary typo's!!

11 August 2009, 10:18 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

GuniGuGu (New user):

haha lol... I think I got the same setup, but with the mx5000 + MX 1100 mouse I think... I can't remember, but I do know it wsa around the ~$200 point. I don't mind wireless either. It does keep the desk tidy, plus I often drag the mouse away to watch stuff in bed..

12 August 2009, 12:10 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

Hmmm, I think I'll still stick with my Logitech MX 5500 Revolution thank you very much! I do like Microsoft Keyboards (esp their wireless) but the MX 5500 has the best keyboard I have ever used and the Revolution Mouse is also very top notch! But then again it did cost me like $180 or something lol, any word on AUD pricing for this?

11 August 2009, 11:40 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting todd_h86:
But then again it did cost me like $180

For a keyboard? Wanna buy a bridge?

11 August 2009, 11:53 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Raindog:
For a keyboard? Wanna buy a bridge?

It was down from $250... lol, and it is a bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo....

It took me a while to get over the $$$ shock but in the end I figured it was worth it, I type all day every day at my PC for university/work and a good solid comfortable keyboard that doesn't make your hands hurt after a long coding session is worth a lot more than $180!!

11 August 2009, 1:35 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Using tried and tested 2.4 GHz wireless, you can use the keyboard from up to 30 feet away"

Well you could do that, the harder exercise would be working out a good reason why you'd want to, and if that was to be a feature wouldn't a design with integral trackball, thingy or glidepoint have been a lot more appropriate?

11 August 2009, 11:51 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TV Bis (User):

Quoting Raindog:
Using tried and tested 2.4 GHz wireless, you can use the keyboard from up to 30 feet away"

Well you could do that, the harder exercise would be working out a good reason why you'd want to,

My $303 dollar Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is worth the money. I do sit the keyboard on my lap and type a metre away from the PC screen. It's better than being up against a desk or crouched over a Laptop.
The whole idea of this keyboard is to control your media centre using your big screen TV as a monitor. Your PC could be at the other end of the house (30 feet) if it wants to be and still be able to control your media centre from the lounge room. A variety of situations made possible if the need arises.

12 August 2009, 12:07 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting TV Bis:
I do sit the keyboard on my lap and type a metre away from the PC screen.

That's nice for you.

Quoting TV Bis:
It's better than being up against a desk or crouched over a Laptop.

I never knew operation of a desk could be so fraught with issues. Maybe I just have better desks.

Quoting TV Bis:
The whole idea of this keyboard is to control your media centre using your big screen TV as a monitor.

That is curious, I'd have always considered a keyboard to be much more universal in it's application.

Quoting TV Bis:
Your PC could be at the other end of the house (30 feet) if it wants to be and still be able to control your media centre from the lounge room.

It could be, but it won't when i have far more convenient options in place.

Quoting TV Bis:
A variety of situations made possible if the need arises.

True, this keyboard combo would be an absolute boon for example at times when a solid glass panel exists between you and your PC.

Oh there was just one thing? With the keyboard on your lap 1m from the nearest convenient flat surface where exactly do you operate that precision optical mouse?

12 August 2009, 12:49 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TV Bis (User):

Quoting Raindog:
Oh there was just one thing? With the keyboard on your lap 1m from the nearest convenient flat surface where exactly do you operate that precision optical mouse?

The keyboard also has a touch sensitive mouse pad on it. As I said it was designed to operate as a control for media centres not just for a PC. Open your mind a little RainPet and think outside your mouse...

13 August 2009, 2:29 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting TV Bis:
The keyboard also has a touch sensitive mouse pad on it.

Well there you go! Much more convenient than the combo featured in this thread. No need to use a mouse on a nearby wall or the flat spot on the top of your head.

Quoting TV Bis:
As I said it was designed to operate as a control for media centres

Well while you were busy saying and protecting the honour of all things Microsoft, you perhaps forget to comprehend that absence of an integral pointer was one of my main criticisms of the device combo this article was based on.

Quoting TV Bis:
not just for a PC

You'll also note that my expectations of a keyboard included a variety of uses, you just missed the bit where I stated that this number might fall short on some of these and was unnecessary overkill for most applications it would be pressed into service with.

Quoting TV Bis:
Open your mind a little

That's a little rich coming from a Windows zealot lacking comprehension skills.

Quoting TV Bis:
RainPet

Your intention may have been to insult, the result however was to highlight your inability to present a point of view with reasoned argument.

Quoting TV Bis:
and think outside your mouse...

Your the one waiting to have your ideas thought out for you, I'll make my own decisions, just like I always do, thanks all the same.

13 August 2009, 8:40 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Abaddon (Regular user):

Who needs to see the screen? I can remember during particularly hot summers, sitting in the air conditioned half of the house (computer in the other half) and blindly typing up a document for uni.

11 August 2009, 1:23 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Ummm, a projector would easily allow you to be more than 30 feet away... Sure that's not a household setup, but what about someone doing a presentation with the laptop 5+ metres away?

11 August 2009, 10:21 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Tin:
Ummm, a projector would easily allow you to be more than 30 feet away..

As would a large plasma or LCD, that's not the point.

Quoting Tin:
but what about someone doing a presentation with the laptop 5+ metres away?

Most laptops I've ever dealt with come with both keyboard and pointing device. Giving presentations 101 says the less battery operated and wireless devices you rely on, the more likely your presentation will be able to succeed without embarrassment.

Lets face it 99.9% of these things will ultimately be used within 1m of a desktop box, where $100 worth of hardware replaces a short piece of cord via the use of batteries and yet more RF smog. As a reward you get slower response and the need to tend to yet another battery.

11 August 2009, 11:21 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Raindog:
As would a large plasma or LCD, that's not the point.

Yes it is... The article seems to make fun of the quoted distance like no one would ever use it that far away. The point is that plenty of people do want to, thus the reason for them stating that point.

Quoting Raindog:
Lets face it 99.9% of these things will ultimately be used within 1m of a desktop box, where $100 worth of hardware replaces a short piece of cord via the use of batteries and yet more RF smog.

Yes... I totally agree on the pointlessness of a wireless keyboard and mouse on a desktop. But that doesn't make it pointless in situations where it's harder to run a lead than to use a wireless one.

12 August 2009, 11:11 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Tin:
The article seems to make fun of the quoted distance like no one would ever use it that far away.

For most uses requiring distance a separate keyboard and mouse are inappropriate.

Quoting Tin:
The point is that plenty of people do want to

the same plenty of people who don't think through their needs prior to purchase, most of those oh so desirable distant location wont have an available flat desktop space appropriate for use of this new plastic marvel. But hey if it floats boats who am I to argue.

12 August 2009, 11:25 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

The Big Baboo (User):

Gee I must be really behind the times :) I'm still using the original "Diamond Touch" keyboard that I got back in 1999 and a Trackball mouse which I have just replaced coz my old one died about a month ago :)
Viva Us Old Geezers :)

12 August 2009, 9:50 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

My old Diamond Touch keyboard went all weird and you had to push the keys straight down or they got stuck. It's still going fine on my server, but was annoying for normal typing.
I replaced it with a BTC USB keyboard back when USB keyboards were hard to find. It's still going fine, and probably won't be replaced until it dies.

12 August 2009, 11:18 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

texasboy1 (Regular user):

lol i like my logitech wireless desktop S510, i hate curved keyboards anyways.....to many typos.

12 August 2009, 2:54 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

I see the anti MS brigade are still hard at it!

MS hardware, especially the Sidewinder series has been second to none in terms of quality and longivity.

13 August 2009, 8:39 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Me In Oz:
I see the anti MS brigade are still hard at it!

We prefer to be referred to as OpSsys Change Sceptics, thanks! :>

13 August 2009, 9:29 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Raindog:
OpSsys Change Sceptics

So that's the OCS or even OX.
You're going to have to abbreviate a bit more to keep the conspiracy theorists happy, Raindog! :)

13 August 2009, 9:47 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Me In Oz:
You're going to have to abbreviate a bit more to keep the conspiracy theorists happy, Raindog!

If it's good enough for Ms Wong it's good enough for all self serving fanatics! :>

13 August 2009, 9:50 AM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TV Bis (User):

How can everyone care so much about how far something can transmit?
Oh yes the keyboard can transmit from 30 feet away. That's great and practical in certain ways - it's just a sales pitch! It's just like saying I can use my RC transmitter at a distance of 2 Kilometres. That's also great but who can see the RC object at that distance? But hey it's good to know!
This type of keyboard has been out for over two years. Nothing new other than the keyboard now has Windows 7 on it instead of Vista. They have returned the number entry pad which was taken of with the previous versions. It also looks like they have taken the touch mouse option on the keyboard away which makes it less usable as a wireless keyboard to operate at a distance as did the 7000/8000 versions.

There is nothing better then reading comments of people who think they are in the know debating on issues and statements that are years old.
Look out for the price because it’s going to hurt!

13 August 2009, 3:14 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting TV Bis:
There is nothing better then reading comments of people who think they are in the know debating on issues and statements that are years old.

and you include

Quoting TV Bis:
This type of keyboard has been out for over two years.

Your statement is akin to saying the reciprocating petrol engine has been around for over five years. Correct perhaps but so inaccurate in detail it could almost be considered deceptive.

Quoting TV Bis:
It also looks like they have taken the touch mouse option on the keyboard away which makes it less usable

Eureka!! See what happen when you make the extra effort? :>

Quoting TV Bis:
Look out for the price because it’s going to hurt!

Strange as it may seem, that out there price is likely a feature for many of the potential market for this thing.

13 August 2009, 8:51 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend