MSFT: Microsoft Hardware’s Innovative Industry Firsts Earn Top CES Honors

This week at the 2007 International CES in Las Vegas, Microsoft Corp. will showcase its award-winning peripherals, the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 and the Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000, both named CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Awards Honorees on the basis of their innovative designs and advancements in peripheral engineering, including industry firsts and technologies that complement Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows Vista™, as well as the 2007 Microsoft® Office system.

Microsoft is responding to the changing ways consumers are interacting with their PC, and both the Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 and the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 are being honored for incorporating innovative technologies and stylish designs that allow users to be more productive and move effortlessly from work to play. These devices, along with the full line of Microsoft Hardware mice, keyboards and LifeCams, will be fully compatible with Windows Vista once the operating system is available to retail customers.1

“CES is the culmination of excellence and innovation in consumer electronics and a fitting venue for Microsoft to highlight its new operating system, Windows Vista, and the desktop accessories that help PC users get the most from their computing experience,” said Matt Barlow, director of worldwide marketing and partner development for Microsoft Hardware. “Our new line of mice, keyboards and LifeCams combine cutting-edge design with the technologies consumers need to work and play smarter, and we are thrilled to have two of our newest products recognized at CES for their superior innovations.”

The Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 is the first notebook mouse to serve as a four-in-one device: a slide presenter, laser pointer with digital ink, media remote control and a 2.4GHz Bluetooth® laser notebook mouse. One key new feature of this mouse is the Instant Viewer tool that complements the Flip 3D feature in Windows Vista where, at the touch of the button, users can see each project they are working on and easily switch between applications for added productivity.

The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, dubbed the “ultimate keyboard,” is the industry’s first wireless backlit and rechargeable keyboard and mouse ensemble, delivering enhanced wireless performance with 2.4GHz Bluetooth and First Connect Technology, removing setup hassles and designed to work right out of the box. This smart desktop pushes the boundaries of innovation with ambient lighting that adjusts based on external lighting and proximity sensing that turns on and off based on the user’s presence. With unrivaled industrial design to complement Windows Vista — the symmetrical keyboard is only an inch thick and is detailed with real metal accents — this desktop features deluxe enhancements that allow users to work and play where, when and how they want.

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards began in 1989 to recognize outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products. The Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 and the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 were selected by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the trade press. More information about the awards and details on Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Honorees can be found at http://www.CESweb.org/innovations.

Pricing and Availability

The Microsoft products highlighted at CES will be available for the following estimated retail prices:2

• Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000: $299.95 (U.S.), available May 2007

• Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000: $99.95 (U.S.), available now


These products along with most of the Microsoft Hardware line will feature the Windows® Hardware Qualification Logo to help consumers easily identify Windows Vista-compatible peripherals.

About Microsoft Hardware

For more than two decades, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design, and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft IntelliMouse® Explorer, which was launched in 1999, earned a place on PCWorld.com’s December 2005 list of “The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years” as the first mainstream optical mouse that “brought gunk-free pointing devices” to a broad consumer base. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware



1 The products will have limited functionality with beta versions of Windows Vista. Users will need to download a Windows Vista software update to be fully operational at the public launch.

2 Prices are U.S. estimated retail prices. Actual prices may vary.