Hot wired: Little things count with software giant

By PAUL BRISLEN

Microsoft. They make software, right. Operating systems, suites of office products, games. Well the Redmond software giant also makes mice and keyboards. I know! What a funny old world. Why does it do it, I wonder? What's in it for Microsoft? Beats me, but the keyboards and mice are pretty nice and the new generation of wireless gear means you can sit on the bed and play sollitaire on the screen to your heart's content. Of course, I can't see the monitor that far away from the desk but that's probably not Microsoft's fault.

Wireless Optical Desktop

Between the curvy mouse, the slightly curvy keyboard and the complete lack of wires, this is a the cruiser of the Microsoft hardware fleet. The mouse has a scroll wheel that doesn't just go backwards and fowards like most - this one has a wiggle in its tail and moves from side to side allowing users to scroll side-to-side as well. That's quite nice, I must say. Very easy to get used to that kind of capability.

There's also a zoom slider, which is not something you buy on K Road but instead lets you better zoom in and out on graphics. Great idea for anyone who is playing with digital photography and wants to get closer to the action without a lot of toggling back and forth.

Wireless Optical Desktop: $199

Wireless Optical Desktop with Bluetooth

This beastie adds yet another flavour of wireless connectivity. Bluetooth is the short-range standard developed by telecommunications company Ericsson and adopted by the industry for the Personal Area Network. You've seen those guys with the headsets that look like refugees from Star Trek? Well they use Bluetooth to connect with their cellphones.

The drawback with Bluetooth has always been the lack of buy-in by PC manufacturers, so instead of being able to connect your laptop wirelessly with the nearest printer using Bluetooth, you've had to jolly well walk over there and plug it in.

This keyboard is a great in-between solution. It allows users with Bluetooth devices to connect them to the PC. Great idea, and a good way to start making actual use of a technology that otherwise doesn't really have a point.

Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth: $349

Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse

Just because you're away from your desk and using your laptop you shouldn't be reduced to rubbing your finger against those stupid little touchpads. As for that silly pencil eraser thing some laptops use for a mouse, well no. We shall not sully ourselves discussing them.
Microsoft's wirelessness extends to a mouse designed for notebooks as well. It has a small receiver that snaps onto the bottom of the mouse when not in use and which slots painlessly into the laptop to connect the two together. Very nice if you hate those little portable mice you can buy.

Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse: $89