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Oct 26

New Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 4000 Keyboard Caters to Vista Users

This article was written on March 20, 2007 by CyberNet.

Microsoft4000 Microsoft has announced that their newest keyboard, the Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 4000 (also includes the Laser Mouse 5000)will be ready for purchase next month for $79.95. Several sites around the web are already taking orders for them.

This is part of Microsoft’s effort to expand their line of hardware that caters to Vista users. Nearly all of the features you’ll recognize from previous keyboards, but there are new ones like:

Windows Gadget Button – Gadget are an important customization element with Windows Vista, and now a Windows Gadget Button will give you one-touch access to information like weather, stocks, etc.
Windows LiveCall Button – “Speed dialing for webcams” – with one-touch you can start an instant message conversation, or a video call.

Other nice features that some of their previous models have that you’ll also see with the Laser Desktop 4000 include a zoom button that will allow you to zoom in and out of pictures and maps, and customizable hot keys that you can use to launch your favorite programs.

And in case you’re not familiar with the Laser Mouse 5000, you’ll enjoy a magnifier tool that enlarges a specific section of your screen so that you can easily edit images and documents, and a tilt wheel which gives you 4–way scrolling.

Sean Butterworth who’s the product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware says, “The Wireless Laser Desktop 4000 is the latest in our growing line of products optimized for Windows Vista and illustrates how we continue to diversify our product line to meet a broad range of consumers’ desktop needs.”

It doesn’t appear much different from previous keyboards, and the only main difference is the addition of a couple keys to make your Vista experience better. It also has the comfort curve design that has generally gone over well with people who have purchased keyboards with this design.From the sounds of it, expect to see other Vista specific related peripherals coming from Microsoft.

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