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30 Great Years and Counting

Hardware Team — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:03:27 +0000

CES is an exciting time for our industry, but we’re especially excited this year as it marks Microsoft’s 30^th year in the Hardware business. Do you remember what kind of PC setup you had in 1982? Did your mouse look anything like this one?

A lot has changed since our humble beginnings in 1982. This was the year we began to realize that the complete PC experience should encompass so much more than a strong and efficient computer. Building on our extensive background and knowledge of PCs and computing, we paved the way for the hardware industry by delivering products that make the time you spend with your PC more efficient… and better yet, more enjoyable.

As we reflect on our 30 years, a few things remain true about our approach. Our commitment over the years has been to create products that offer comfort, design, control and a better interactive experience for you, our customers. These design developments have been shaped by years of watching and learning how you work and play on your PC, ergonomic findings and data, as well as input from usability experts. All of which help develop and deliver products that improve the way you interact on your PC.

Showing Off Cool, New Colors
Building on this, we are excited to unveil two colors of the Arc Touch Mouse never before seen in the US: Sangria Red Diamond and Cement Gray. If you haven’t seen the Arc Touch mouse in action yet, check out CNET Senior Editor Rich Brown’s video review here.

Art of Touch
If you’re at CES this week, please come by the Microsoft booth and show us your inner artist! The Art of Touch lets you release your inner Da Vinci–we know you have one hiding in there somewhere. And stay tuned to @MSFTHardware to hear more about an Arc Touch Mouse giveaway we’re doing on the show floor.

Thank you so much for being a part of our first 30 years–here’s to 30 more! We’re looking forward to celebrating this milestone with you throughout all of 2012!

- Hardware Team

New brush by artist Erik Natzke now on Art of Touch

Hardware Team — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:25:15 +0000

Even if you’ve already created art over at The Art of Touch, there’s reason to go back and do it again. We just added a new brush by artist Erik Natzke to the site, lending more color and style to an already rich array of brushes.

Natzke has dedicated his life to making art that uses technology as an extension of human creativity. Describing his brush, Natzke says, “It’s is a continuation of a theme that I have been pursuing in my own digital artwork. Striving to create work that enlists the computational strength of the computer and then blends it with gestural input through the mouse … enabling me to create snapshots of emotions through abstract expression.”

We think you’ll enjoy the newest addition to the Art of Touch palate. Go check it out and show us what you can make!

Visit the Art of Touch now >

Give the Gift of Microsoft Hardware this Holiday Season!

Hardware Team — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:05:13 +0000

Let the season of giving begin! With Black Friday just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get a head start on crossing a few gifts off your list for friends and family.

And you’re in luck because major retailers are discounting a variety of Microsoft hardware devices for every special person in your life. Here’s a look at this year’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday discounts:

• Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500: 50% off brings the price to just $14.99 at OfficeMax. Exclusive Colors Jade & Gold as well as Poppy Red, Imperial Purple, Sea Blue, Dragon Fruit Pink

• OfficeMax is also running a “Your Choice $9.99” special on the VX700 Webcam (save $10), Wired Keyboard 200 (save $5) and Optical Mouse 200 (save $5). Take your pick!

• LifeCam Cinema Webcam: $20 off at Newegg.com. With true 720p HD video, it delivers smooth, detailed video and crystal clear audio.

• LifeCam VX-3000: $14.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29.

• LifeCam VX-5500: $20 off at Newegg.com.

• Wireless Media Desktop 1000: $24.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29 (regularly $49.95 MSRP). $26.99 at Newegg.com. Sit back and enjoy fast, easy access to all your favorite digital pictures, music, videos, and more!

• Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000: $24.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29 (regularly $59.95 MSRP). Also discounted at Amazon.com. Make day-to-day tasks comfortable and easier with a more natural wrist alignment.

• For the gamer in your life! Take home the SideWinder X4 Keyboard ($30 off), SideWinder X8 Wireless Gaming Mouse ($35 off) or SideWinder X5 Mouse ($25 off) with specials from Newegg.com.

• WNOM 3000 Winter Blue: Just $9.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29.

• Cooling Base for Notebooks: $20 at Amazon.com (regularly $29.95 MSRP)

All of these deals are only available while supplies last. We hope you enjoy shopping.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

-Microsoft Hardware Team

Fresh new patterns for the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500

likuja — Wed, 19 May 2010 11:04:16 +0000

As a user experience designer in the Microsoft Hardware group, I helped develop the new mice we’re announcing today – the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 Studio Series, a bold collection of mice that will refresh your mobile gear.

Our team wanted to take these mice a step beyond color, and offer you a way to really mix it up. A collaborative effort, each graphic began as a series of sketches, which eventually filled the entire hallway outside our design studio. After much debate, the selected favorites were evolved into digital drawings and infused into the surface of each mouse.

When creating these designs and patterns, we were inspired both by the incredible patterns found in nature, like rock formations and stones, as well as the bold and modern graphic style that’s all over the skate and snowboard industry today. We combined those inspirations to create minimal designs alive with vivid colors. There are three graphics to choose from – (left to right) Wave, Folk and Geode. Wave is a vibrant organic pattern, Folk was inspired by Scandinavian and tribal art, and Geode references rock facets and formations.

The Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 Studio Series has been one of the most fun projects that took place in our studio recently, and we’re psyched to share them with you! You can get your hands on one exclusively at Best Buy Stores for $29.95 and let us know what you think.

If you’re looking for a solid color, the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 is also now available in purple, red and blue, along with the original colors, grey and pink. Which mouse pattern or color expresses your personal style the best?

Go Green For Earth Day – Recycle Your Hardware

Hardware Team — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:23:52 +0000

Looking for an easy way to be more green this Earth Day? Thanks to Reconnect, a partnership between Dell and Goodwill, you can drop off any unwanted mice and keyboards at participating Goodwill locations to be recycled at no cost to you. Reconnect was launched in 2004 as an easy, convenient and responsible way to recycle your used computer equipment, and since then the program has diverted more than 96 million pounds of e-waste from landfills – that’s a lot of gadgets!

Just announced today, in addition to computers and computer accessories like mice and keyboards, Reconnect will now be collecting Microsoft entertainment products including Xbox, Zune and accompanying accessories for free recycling. You can check out more details on the newest additions to the program here.

So go ahead – clean out your junk drawer and help the environment at the same time. Visit the Reconnect website to find the drop-off location nearest to you.

Welcome to the Microsoft Hardware blog!

Brett Ostrum — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:30:39 +0000

Welcome to the Microsoft Hardware blog. If you’re looking for a new product, or want to make the most out of the one you already have, then this is a great place for you. We’re going to use this space to tell you about new mice, keyboards, webcams, headsets and gaming devices, keep you up-to-date on new software or product features, and give you insight into how we design our products for you that maybe you weren’t aware of.

But the most important thing is that you can use this blog to give us feedback and ask us questions. If you like something – tell us! If you don’t like something – tell us!

You’ll hear from a variety of people on this blog, and each of us look forward to telling you more about what we do, and hearing from you.

Again – welcome to the Microsoft Hardware Blog.

Brett Ostrum, General Manager