Microsoft PC accessories rise from the grave just in time for Christmas

Microsoft's line of PC peripherals is being revived in time for the incoming festive season, with a range reintroduced under the "Designed by Microsoft" brand. The plan was first revealed by Onward Brands earlier this year in a deal that would see one of the company's subsidiaries, Incase, manufacturing and distributing …

[David 132]

Alas, no "Internet Keyboard Pro"

I still use an "Internet Keyboard Pro" from circa 1997 as my daily typertool. Wrist-rest, nicely angled, no "ergonomic" split-layout nonsense, and the joys of a built-in unpowered USB 1.1 hub - perfect for the Microsoft mouse wireless dongle.

There are still a few out there for sale, either from fleabay or as NOS on Amazon, but it would be nice to see it re-introduced. Albeit perhaps with USB 2, 3, or dare I dream, USB-C ports :)

[wolfetone]

Oi!

Some of us like that "ergonomic" split-layout nonsense.

[David 132]

Re: Oi!

Then you are bad and your opinions are bad and you should feel bad.

(I’m not the one who downvoted you. I can see both points of view on most matters. Except for Atari ST enthusiasts. They are just wrong.)

[David 132]

Re: Oi!

Downvoted? My word. Someone around here hasn’t had enough hugs lately.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Oi!

I too happened to like using the split ergonomic keyboards when I wasn't wfh. Definitely needs a desk though and takes about a day to get used to it. I highly recommend making the effort to try as the benefits are reduced stress injuries.

These days I've got a lightweight logitech with standard layout. More easy to use on my desktop (belly) working from home :)

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Oi!

"More easy to use on my desktop (belly) working from home"

Well, without wishing to be rude, perhaps there is a wider market for a keyboard with a concave base.

[ThatOne]

Re: Oi!

> the benefits are reduced stress injuries

YMMV. I've written over half a dozen (thick-ish) books on a cheap standard PC keyboard, and one on a laptop keyboard, without any problems so far. *shrug*

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Oi!

You're welcome to your opinions. Personally, they drive me nuts; apparently I often reach across where MS decided to put the "divide". The keyboard at my workstation at $WORK started as one of those. I had a bog-standard USB keyboard less than a week later. (80+ wpm when at speed, not hunt-and-peck.)

[Grogan]

Re: Alas, no "Internet Keyboard Pro"

I don't care for those "ergonomic" keyboards either, always found them awkward.

I can't even find a keyboard that I really like. For decades, on my main rigs. I'd been using a big old IBM clickety clack keyboard from 1986, one of the first PS/2 keyboards. I first tried to use it on my new rig (no PS/2 on this board) with an i/o converter dongle, but it proved gimmicky. Sometimes latency, sometimes even missed keystrokes and one or more of the keyboard lights would blink (caps lock, numlock, scroll lock). I still have it on an older rig but I seldom sit at that one anymore (use it headless mostly now).

So waaaah is me, I can't get used to anything. It's been several months too and I still have to backspace and correct a lot of rtoubg (typing lol). I don't look at my fingers when I type and I'm forever disoriented. I've since tried a mechanical keyboard, gaming keyboards and finally settled on this plain jane logitech keyboard/mouse combo because I needed a new mouse at that time anyway. The less shit in the USB ports the better, too.

[el_oscuro]

Re: Alas, no "Internet Keyboard Pro"

I still have one of those too - it is currently hooked up to a 20 year old PC in an arcade cabinet that runs MAME on Lincade.

[Ian Entwistle]

Today happens to be the 12 year anniversary of my Filco Majestouch Ninja KB.. still performing flawlessly and has seen me through many a major incident alongside my trusty Logitech Cordless optical Trackman... All safely transported between locations in my 25 year old Dell Leather Laptop bag.. all three of these I fully expect to see me long past retirement..

[Cruachan]

I still have a couple of old Intellimice, and the original Arc Mouse was one of my favourite ever mice, great for laptop users.

Sadly my experience more recently has been of rather less robust peripherals than those ones, I had an Arc Touch mouse that stopped turning on and off after about a year and currently have a Surface Mobile Mouse which is incredibly stroppy.

[Anonymous Custard]

I still have several Intellimice - for me they're one of the best for general use with the 5-button design.

Have found that over an extended period the microswitches do wear out, but given such extended periods for some of mine are 10-15 years I don't think that's too bad, and it's not that difficult to swap them out for new ones (even a klutz like me can do it).

So somewhat sad to read they won't get resurrected as a product line, although a second MS keyboard might be nice for my home office set-up to match the one on my "play" PC that has equally been doing strong for many years but is now out of production too.

[ibmalone]

I eventually had to part ways about two years ago with the wireless Intellimouse Explorer (PS/2 and USB adapter dongle) I bought in 2000. Was mostly still fine, the battery cover catch had been re-glued on several times and every couple of years I had to open it up to bend the little spring that connected the PCB to (what I assume is) the aerial on the inside of the shell. I just no longer have a desktop machine where the nokia 3300-sized dongle isn't an inconvenience (on reflection should have just taken it into work for my workstation there).

Really comfortable design to use, it resulted in all my mice being microsoft despite all my computers being linux, although the newer pebbles that are the portable mice aren't nearly as ergonomic. (Actually, the mouse I'm using at the minute is about the same size as the old dongle.)

[RockBurner]

It's odd...

but the Microsoft hardware, I always got the impression, was far, far better than their software.

I used to have both an Ergonomic keyboard and the Trackball (can't remember the exact model names). Both were excellent, robust and reliable, and made Logitech's contemporary offerings look flimsy and knocked together by comparison.

[Like a badger]

Re: It's odd...

"the Microsoft hardware, I always got the impression, was far, far better than their software"

I'm sure they've resolved that by outsourcing it all to the cheapest manufacturer. Seems Logitech already do that, judging by their often lovely but notoriously short lived products.

[DuncanL]

Re: It's odd...

Indeed - I love the MX Ergo trackball - but I've got through 4 of them in about as many years (two just under warranty) due to the button microswitches being the cheapest things they can possibly fit.

[John Brown (no body)]

Re: It's odd...

"I'm sure they've resolved that by outsourcing it all to the cheapest manufacturer."

And if they have retained any control, no doubt the new versions will have 16MB of firmware in an onboard EEPROM that needs patching every fourth Tuesday.

[ibmalone]

Re: It's odd...

but the Microsoft hardware, I always got the impression, was far, far better than their software.

It's a bit like that, "It's a shame they make beer really" joke about the old "Carlsberg don't make X, but if they did" adverts. (TBF there are far worse beers. And mice.)

Friday afternoon of course ->

[JoeCool]

Re: It's odd...

I was a logitech mouse fan since 1985 or so, and my main home squeeze is still a Performance MX.

But starting with the Intellimouse, MS produced the better mouse. I still have every one that I've used, ps/2 connectors through USB.

[uv]

Re: It's odd...

Yes, please bring back the original Trackball Explorer (palm-operated ball, thumb-clicked). After more than a decade using one, stupid me managed to break it (in a fit of MS software-induced rage) a few years ago. Not the first victim of such, unfortunately, but this time THE irreplaceable one.

[DuncanL]

Hopefully this means the Sculpt Ergonomic keybard will return at a reasonable price - what cost me £75 three years ago is currently going for £228! I don't need a replacement yet; but I will at some point and oddly didn't feel the need to buy a spare last time.

[eldel]

My last 4000 series keyboard died earlier this year and the best price I could find for one was like $500. Insane. I eventually ended up with a Periboard 835 which I absolutely adore. It's got actual keys on it.

[aregross]

...and maybe

Sidewinder Joystick?

[Groo The Wanderer]

Too late. I'm used to my Logitech K520 that replaced my prior keyboard, and a really nice Logitech wireless mouse that only needs new batteries about once every 3 months even if you leave it on 24/7. The only device I care about from Microsoft is their Xbox controller line, and they kept that one.

[Sparkus]

Bring Back......

the Thumball......

[Blackjack]

I had three Microsoft Mouses, they all were all bad.

[that one in the corner]

> I had three Microsoft Mouses, they all were all bad.

OTOH I've had three MS mice and they were so good I got the last one 2nd hand after they stopped making 'em. BTW often had two PCs on at once, chuntering away before 24-cores became de rigeur and having separate peripherals suited me better than using the KVM switch. So just one spare mouse.

One Good Thing: nice simple design, could actually be used in the left hand! Today, using R'Pi mice for the same reason. And they come in different colours for the PC or the actual R'Pi!

[Henry Wertz 1]

Nice

I'm still using a IBM Model M keyboard myself, bit I liked the Microsoft mice I used and the keyboards were decent too. Glad to see they'll continue being made.

[jonathan keith]

Sidewinder Strategic Commander to live again?

Hopefully Incase will bring gaming's most misunderstood peripheral into the modern era: the Sidewinder Strategic Commander.

[Pascal Monett]

Re: Sidewinder Strategic Commander to live again?

Oh yes, please !

Mine is getting a bit worn out.

[DaveMcM]

Time to stockpile...

I've used Microsoft ergonomic keyboards in various guises for around 20 years so I was quite concerned when they suddenly vanished from sale last year, and although my current Sculpt keyboard is still working fine (apart from the "C" print having rubbed off the key and the 7-9 row on the separate numeric keypad I never really used no longer working thanks to the cat knocking a glass of water over it!) I may have to stockpile a couple of sets just in case they change their mind and it disappears from sale again... Even the missus has one after complaining about wrist ache with her "normal" keyboard and she now loves hers too after the initial weirdness to overcome years of muscle memory to adjust to the gap.

[Aldnus]

Erm Missing th point

Many of the items marked Microsoft (keyboards,Mice) where infact rebranded Logitech units, Back when Logitech made nice kit.

Many pc manufacturers also used Logitech, Ive just sadly had to say good bue to my faithful 18 year old Fujitsu Business line keyboard nice and heavey with proper feel.

That was a logitech . the ms equivalent was Black instead of two tone brown.