October and November 2002 will see the largest collection of desktop peripherals ever launched by Microsoft in its 20-year history. Organised into three key lines, according to style and preferred usage, the new hardware range comes in a Fun, Sophisticated and Serious range.
"On average, people use their computers for five or more hours a daily an activity that comes only second to sleep. This means that your mouse and keyboard become an essential part of your day and has to suit your computing style and needs. Microsoft has developed a breakthrough range of hardware that delivers solutions designed for better and healthier computing," says Gayle Duffy, hardware product manager at Microsoft South Africa.
"The new products scheduled for availability later this year in SA also include the eagerly awaited Wireless Optical Desktop range," says Duffy.
According to research conducted by Microsoft, hardware users fall into three distinctive categories. The first segment views the computer as fun and relaxing, something to play games on, listen to music or chat to friends and family. For these users there are four new products: Optical Mouse Blue, Wireless Optical Mouse Blue, MultiMedia Keyboard and Natural MultiMedia Keyboard which feature the funky Astral blue finish, an enhanced scroll wheel and a keyboard multimedia centre.
For the user who is very engaged in technology and demands a product that offers superior performance, upscale finish, maximum comfort and intelligent features, there is the new Sophisticated range. With a black and titanium-accented design, wireless optical mouse and wireless optical keyboard which will be sold together as the wireless optical desktop and the wireless optical desktop pro, this range delivers the clutter-free, elegant and sleek desktop look. The new notebook mouse with its silver and red design as well as small handy size will be a must for this holiday season.
The third category includes users who want dependable products designed for maximum productivity and convenience. All the Microsoft mice and keyboards in the Serious range have refreshed colours in platinum and white.
The majority of these new products are both Macintosh and PC compatible and have been developed using cutting-edge industrial design, ergonomic engineering and extensive usability testing to ensure quality and durability.
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