Microsoft’s press release verbatim:
Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac, its first Mac-specific desktop complete with a stylish wireless Comfort Curve Keyboard and a wireless High Definition laser mouse. With this new desktop set, the Microsoft Hardware division combines comfortable design with High Definition technology to deliver the ultimate in cutting-edge performance, luxury and style to any Mac user. The futuristic silver finish complements the Mac design to make a mark on any desktop while providing the freedom of wireless control.
The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac features Microsoft’s first keyboard designed specifically for the Mac. The key layout is consistent with Mac-only keyboards. To truly meet Mac users’ needs, this is Microsoft’s only keyboard without the Windows Start button. The Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac is compatible with the new Intel-based Mac machines as well as PowerPC models, and will have Hot Keys that map to Mac programs such as iTunes and iPhoto.
“We are excited to see our colleagues on the Microsoft Hardware team provide this Mac-only keyboard and mouse to strengthen Microsoft’s lineup of products for Mac users, which includes our productivity suite, Office 2004 for Mac,” said Scott Erickson, director of product management and marketing for the Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft. “This launch further demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing the computing experience for Mac users. We were able to preview the product at Macworld this January and saw firsthand the very favorable response from Mac customers.”
Classy Comfort
For greater comfort at work or in the home, the Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac’s Comfort Curve Keyboard encourages natural hand and wrist positioning in an easy-to-use layout for enhanced comfort and productivity. The Comfort Curve design is preferred by a ratio of 3-to-1 over flat, straight keyboards, and includes a cushioned palm rest for supreme comfort.(1) Designed and tested by Microsoft’s in-house ergonomists and usability experts, the Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac is the ultimate in comfort and performance for Mac users and includes the following key features:
• Mac Modifier Keys. Control, Option and Command buttons are right where users need them.
• Zoom Slider. Consumers can zoom in for a closer look at digital pictures, maps and more.
• My Favorites Keys. These five keys can be customized to instantly bring up favorite photos, folders, files and Web pages.
• Eject key. This key lets users easily eject CDs and DVDs.
• Hot Keys. These buttons offer one-touch, immediate access to programs consumers use the most, including those for e-mail, chat, music, photos and the Web.
High Definition for the Mac
The Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac features a sleek silver wireless High Definition laser mouse. Microsoft’s cutting-edge High Definition technology is two generations ahead of standard optical mouse products and gives the mouse ultimate precision and responsiveness.(2) In addition, the mouse utilizes Microsoft’s Intelligent Tracking System for smoother tracking without interruptions or skipping, even over unique surfaces. For enhanced performance this mouse also features a Tilt Wheel for navigating and viewing documents and spreadsheets with ease. One-click access to Microsoft’s Magnifier tool makes the Mac magnifier feature more discoverable for real-time document enlargement.
“The Hardware team has been creating Mac-compatible peripherals for many years,” said Rusty Jeffress, general manager of the Microsoft Hardware team at Microsoft. “We always value the feedback of our customers; for this product we went back to the drawing board with the specific requests of our Mac users, and are excited to deliver our first Mac-specific keyboard and mouse that provide the tools and features Mac users need to be productive.”
Pricing and Availability
The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac will be available this summer for an estimated retail price of US$99.95.
More info: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=078
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Mac users should not buy Microsoft software (or hardware) – May 16, 2003
Hey, there’s still a lot of room for buttons on that palm rest.
Wow, that stuff really has the “Microsoft look” to it alright. About as elegant as an American SUV.
any word on whether this mouse “feels” more like a windows mouse or a mac mouse? There is a huge difference in how the pointer behaves and it may be the only thing I miss about windows. I’ve gotten used to everything else on the mac but after 3 years I still feel like I have more accurate control of a mouse in Windows. I’ve seen similar posts about the same subject so I know it bothres some other people as well. If this mouse gives me that control it might be worth buying, even though I have a logitech wireless desktop that I love.
I like the palm rest curved key layout that makes it easer on the wrist. I can see where this would appeal to some users.
Choice is good.
Yeah, it should have come with that holier than thou glowing white halo color like the standard mac keyboard.
I like the fact some good folk are jumping to the defence of Microsoft here.
But please, don’t dismiss all the comment as dogmatism and nor are the criticisms universal..
– It is incredibly UGLY. Can you argue with that? I hope not.
– It has FAR too many buttons and gizmo’s on it. It is meant to be a KEYboard, not the fucking bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
I am fine that MS want to make keyboards and mice and see a growing opportunity to make money from Mac owners, and the products are probably very good too. But why can’t they do it in a way that means they look half decent with the products they work with?
Nope, I think you lilly livered apologists ought not to be accepting such design mediocrity even if you like they way they work.
the keys look like a matt type finish. anyone seen one?
a matt type finish could be good. although could pick up gunk more too.
It’s missing the sliders for the transporter! How will I ever beam down to the surface?
What are the extra 50 buttons for. Not a good mesh with the simplicity of Mac
Hey Bill Rancine,
Of course Steve endorses putting Windows on your Mac. It’s a very similar concept to the car companies that let you do a 24 hour test drive. Once you compare the 2006 BMW (Mac OS X) side by side with the 1973 Pinto (Windows), it’ll be a pretty easy choice as to why you should do away with the Pinto completely.
I already saw this at http://www.yuck.com.
Microsoft Bored Meeting:
Balmer: Can someone think of a way to get a keylogger onto a Mac system?
Idiot #1: How about we just make a keyboard and mouse that are specifically for the Mac boxes, but don’t tell anyone there is a keylogger built in?
Balmer: Great idea. Make it so. I want to do my dance by June 1st.
Besides the fact that I find this keyboard quite ugly, and without discounting the fact that it may indeed be ergonomically quite nice, I am always afraid to install new drivers or pref panes in my OS X setup to handle some wiz-bang button-activated functionality in an external device like keyboards, scanners, external HDs, and the like. Especially software from Microsoft.
Takes time from my CPU while it sits listening all day for those silly hot keys to be pressed, not to mention when a conflict develops with other software –you know it’ll happen–, and then no updated driver for who knows how long.
I appreciate the MS MBU for their work, but sorry I won’t be buying this one.
stylish? are the 80s back?
I have had a MicroSoft split (curved) keyboard running on my iMac for 3 years and I love it… because I am able to type again due to the ergonomics of the curved keyboard.
I simply can’t use a straight keyboard anymore. After 15 years in the newspaper and copy writing business, my wrists are shot.
But I really don’t care if my keyboard is wireless or not, so this one is probably not for me.
Marcus
Barbados Free Press
http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/
“How will I ever beam down to the surface?”
Would you really trust a MS product to assist in the scrambling and descrambling of your atomic structure?
Lots of Closed-minded Apple nerds here that put down companies that make products just for macs.
You dweebs deserve the 3% market share.
Jimbo and macromancer – lol, you 2 guys are hopeless, pathetic apple ass kissing dorks.
no objectivity = no credibility.
heY finally, gOod hardware for the white (in most cases “yellow”) keyboarded, single moUse clicking, CLOSED MINDED, Fanatics with 1 % market share…are you sure this isnt a joke? CUz, i’ve never seeN so much funcTionAlity built on a device for a mac-n-traSher..
mw – certain, as in “Certainly” i didnt pull wool with that post.
Just except that the intel macs are pc’s in a mac box. Has anybody every opened one up and noticed how few component are Mac (excluding the white box). Have you every opened a ipod and noticed it is all Samsung, Sony and Ibm components. XP runs Apps faster then OsX on Apple’s own native platform. Why can’t a Mac user use a PC? Cause they don’t know how.
It looks kinda gimmiky to me, with lots of knobs and extra buttons. I’m a touch typist who never looks at the keyboard so all those extra functions go wasted.
I’ve used several wireless keyboards and I haven’t found one that works well. I have a PowerMac attached to an HDTV that I use in my living room. The RF wireless keyboards I tried could not give dependable conections to the recievers and the BT Apple keyboard, though better, drained the batteries very quickly (about 1 week per charge).
So I still have a long, ugly USB cable stretching across the rug to the coffee table. Not pretty, but it works. Microsofts offering does not impress me.
to : macromancer
everyone should know if you need to scramble and descramble your atomic structure you should be using a SGI not mac or pc?
The level of dislike I have for the Operating system (and loathing for their business practices) is contrary to the feeling I have for the keyboard.
I have a microsoft Natural Keyboard (the original, plain white without the mumbo-jumbo extra worthless keys), and I really like it. I never tried the Extended Keyboard II or the Apple splitting keyboard (I’d love to try one of those). But the Natural Keyboard is really good.
Mice, well, I like the MS mice, (even though I use Logitech).
What I think is, would Microsoft put into Windows the quality of work they put on the mice and keyboards, they could eventually get a decent OS. Perhaps not the best looking one, but decent after all.
Of course, this is my personal take on the issue. I don’t expect everybody to agree with me. If I’m an idiot for thinking that the keyboard is OK (I don’t like the one showed here. I’d like to see the plain one, but Mac version), well, at least I’m an idiot who likes to type confortably.
meanwhile…..apple stock races to go under $60.
Where is that over $120 everyone was preaching about.
I have the MS version and use it with my mini in the living room. The key board seems to have good and bad days in the sensitivity department. I have large hands and feel more relaxed with the angle. The mouse is excellent and no problems. Batteries have a long life.
The MS Keyboard preference can change the key board to Apples layout. It looks to me like this new version just changes the lettering on a few keys.
I picked it up at Office Depot for 25 or 30 on sale so the price was right.
It is a USB wireless.
Does Microsoft advertise its hardware in Mac magazines,no.
Does Kensington and Macally advertise in Mac magazines,Yes.
Who are you going to support?