While many believe that Microsoft will announce a Surface all-in-one (AIO) later this month, we know from recent FCC leaks that the firm will at the very least release new Surface-branded PC peripherals, including a keyboard and a mouse.
It’s not clear whether these peripherals will only be sold separately or whether they will also be bundled with that presumed AIO. But what is clear is that neither is particularly interesting.
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The keyboard is a flat design with a full numeric keyboard, and similar to the keyboard Apple started bundling with its iMac a decade ago or more. It is not in any way ergonomic, and I am having trouble imagining how or why Microsoft would make such a thing.
The mouse, amazingly, is even worse. It’s clearly modeled after the flat Microsoft Designer Bluetooth Mouse that I refused to review because of its terrible, non-ergonomic design. But this isn’t the first time Microsoft made a Surface-branded mouse, of course: Its previous Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition simply took the Arc Touch Mouse design and added a now out of date Surface-like color. This new mouse does the same, but with a more current magnesium-like gray color.
Long story short, yes, we’re all excited to see what Microsoft announces later this month. But neither of these peripherals is in any way a step forward. And that, to me, suggests that they do not deserve the Surface brand.
Hopefully, there’s more coming.
5510
<blockquote><em><a href="#18678">In reply to Dawindbag:</a></em></blockquote>
<p>No. The Surface is not elegant. The HP Spectre is elegant, not any of the Surface computers are. You can slap the Dell logo and the Surface would believably look like a Dell. </p>
5510
<p>Truthfully, I don’t see what Paul is complaining about here. A keyboard is a keyboard is a keyboard is a keyboard. Same thing can be said about the mouse. The "plainly-ness" of the keyboard and mouse doesn’t surprise me at all. After all, the Surface line is a very plain looking device with very little to no external appeal. With four (4) generation of Surface products in the line, why exactly is it a surprise to Paul that the keyboard and mouse look like the way it is, according to those images.</p>
<p>Also, if the keyboard and mouse are associated with the rumored Surface AiO and that computer’s purpose is for the living room and not the office as Paul, Mary Jo, and others have indicated in the past, then what exactly is the problem? The living room is not where a poweruser normally works, where ergonomics can play a key role to personal productivity. Anything meant for the living room has to look neutral to the space’s overall design and decor. The keyboard and mouse appear to be as neutral as it gets.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think the keyboard and mouse look bad at all. Nor will the experience of using it will be either.</p>
6115
<p>In my opinion the keyboard below is the best one Microsoft has ever made. (Microsoft Wired Keyboard 500) I bought a case just to be sure I would not run out. Nice and compact, full keys and key travel, very cheap (only about $20), and I like the vertical orientation of the Home/End/Delete/etc. keys.</p>
<p><img src="http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/images/8/9/wired-microsoft-keyboard-500-model-rt2300-x801383-230-black-ps-2-interface-1d770080578ced35aceb981b78d7e605.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>