Microsoft Corp. has unveiled a new collection of seven mice and keyboards, the largest desktop peripheral roll-out in the company’s history. Microsoft said that “most” of these new products are Mac and PC compatible.
Coming are: the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse Blue, Optical Mouse Blue, MultiMedia Keyboard, Natural MultiMedia Keyboard, Wireless Optical Desktop, Wireless Optical Desktop Pro, and Notebook Optical Mouse. The latter is the company’s first optical mouse designed specifically for notebook computers.
Four of the new products — Optical Mouse Blue (US$34.95), Wireless Optical Mouse Blue ($44.95), MultiMedia Keyboard ($34.95), and Natural MultiMedia Keyboard ($54.95) — sport an Astral blue finish, an enhanced scroll wheel, and a keyboard multimedia center. The wider, translucent mouse scroll wheel is designed to provide easier navigation of Web pages and playlists, according to Microsoft. The multimedia center features the media controls for Stop, Forward, Play and Pause Hot Keys.
The Wireless Optical Desktop ($84.95), Wireless Optical Desktop Pro ($104.95) and Notebook Optical Mouse ($34.95) are built for “users who are deeply engaged in technology.” The first two are black-and-titanium-accented and have a shared receiver for their wireless operation. The Notebook Optical Mouse features red-accented titanium finish.
The products will go on sale late this month. Bluetooth products are also in the works at Microsoft.