from Hacker News

Microsoft shows off 'new' Windows 8 input devices

by saxamaphone69 on 7/30/12, 8:29 AM with 10 comments

• by FreshCode on 7/30/12, 10:18 AM

  The Microsoft Touch Mouse looks nice. The snarky editorialized title doesn't do the blog post justice. Nowhere does Microsoft imply that these are a "new" type of input device. The article title only mentions, "New Windows 8-ready mice and keyboards..."

  Just like Apple, it makes sense for Microsoft to sell accessories specific to its Surface offerings.

• by laacz on 7/30/12, 7:55 PM

  I can tell about Microsoft Touch Mouse (last mentioned in the article) first hand. I've been using it for about seven months, and sometimes it is annoying. Idea is great - multitouch mouse, but implementation is shaky. I'd like to call this bug "unintentional scroll".

  Since its surface is touch-sensitive, it is really easy to perform unwanted tasks like scrolling, when just moving it or clicking. For example, when holding Ctrl and trying to click a link to open it in new tam, you should be really accurate. If you're not (I'm often not) it starts scrolling and with Ctrl it just zooms in and out web pages.

  You can get used to it, but it happens from time to time anyway.

  On the other hand, Microsoft Arc Touch mouse ir an awesome portable mouse to keep in your bag. It takes time to get used to it, but when you do, it is awesome. It fits anywhere, because of its design (flat, when switched off). It is light. It is wireless.

• by _b8r0 on 7/30/12, 9:12 AM

  I don't get it. The keyboard looks like a cheapo plastic thing that offers nothing different from other cheapo plastic keyboards, and the mouse looks dreadful. Why would people choose this over a normal bluetooth keyboard/mouse?

• by ditoa on 7/30/12, 9:50 AM

  That wedge mouse looks awful. Horrific memories of the Apple puck mouse coming back.

  The first keyboard looks like the cheap £5 keyboards you can get on ebay. The second one doesn't look so bad but still nothing amazing.

  Pretty "meh" line up in all honesty.

• by robin_reala on 7/30/12, 8:55 AM

  The Wedge Touch Mouse looks suspiciously puck-like.

• by duqee on 7/30/12, 10:29 AM

  Hope this keyboard comes with a simple 1 click shut down hot key for desktop versions, 4 clicks to shut down my PC in Preview told me that Windows 7 will be a strong runner in desktop OS for a long time yet. Mouse looks dreadful too.