HOW MICROSOFT'S INNOVATIVE NEW TABLET ACCESSORIES GIVE ITS NEW ELEGANT SURFACE TABLET MORE POP AND EASE-OF-USE

Microsoft's new Surface Tablet comes with the "Wedge" mobile keyboard and touch mouse 

MICROSOFT'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DESIGN AND ENGINEERING BUILT INTO ITS "WEDGE" MOBILE KEYBOARD AND TOUCH MOUSE GIVE ITS NEW SURFACE TABLET ADDED ZING WHILE PRESERVING ITS ELEGANCE, MINIMALISTIC DESIGN AND EASE-OF-USE 

When Microsoft showed off their Surface tablet a few months back, it wasn’t the OS, the battery life, or the touch screen that stole the show. It was a clever case that doubled as a keyboard. In retrospect, of course that case was a big deal; typing is the one important thing that you really can’t do well on a contemporary tablet. Microsoft recognized the platform’s chief design flaw and fixed it.

 

Mcrosoft's "Wedge" Mobile Keyboard folds and doubles as a stand for its new Surface Tablet (Click Images To Enlarge)

But this week, Microsoft revealed another keyboard (and mouse) solution for the Surface and other Windows 8 tablets. They’re called the “Wedge” Mobile Keyboard and Touch Mouse, and it’s an apt name, as the wedge is at the core of their design paradigm.

Mcrosoft's Touch Mouse for its new Surface Tablet (Click Images To Enlarge)

The keyboard is much like any compact Bluetooth keyboard you’ve seen. But where it differs is its folding case, which pivots to support the tablet like a monitor when the keyboard is in use. This simple piece of fabric ostensibly turns a Windows tablet into a PC.

The mouse is just as interesting. Also playing on the “wedge” idea, it combines a trackpad and a traditional mouse by placing a whole touch surface right on top of a standard mouse. It might be overkill--after all, one style of pointer control can usually do--but it’s an interesting bridge technology to support multitouch gestures for those who insist on using a standard mouse (or those who really need one for using Photoshop or Illustrator in their desktop-style incarnations). What you may not notice from the picture, however, is just how tiny this mouse is. It’s the smallest, lightest mouse Microsoft has ever made, and it will fit in your pocket.

More and more, Microsoft’s unique approach to tablets is playing out. While the iPad is the perfect couch computer, Microsoft is trying to make the Surface into the perfect mobile computer. Of course, that isn’t stopping Microsoft from selling multiple, confusing SKUs of their tablet software. And, however unrealistic it may be, we can always dream of a workhorse tablet that can get by without the keyboard, can’t we?

The Wedge keyboard and mouse will be available “in the coming weeks and months” for $80 and $70, respectively.

COMMENTARY:  In a blog post dated June 19, 2012, I commented on Microsoft's new Surface Tablet.  Here's Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer presenting the new Surface tablet.

 

Courtesy of an article dated August 22, 2012 appearing in Fast Company Design

Comments

[uglybetty]

The clever case that doubled as a keyboard for Microsoft Surface Tablet PC is wonderful. Next, there would be a lot of tablet pc manufacturers to produce variety of accessories for Surface, do you believe?

[Busy Sylvia]

These Tablet Accessories are really cool that I never saw it before. The design is very special and attractive. The keyboard case is my favorite.

[Karieston]

When I was young, I attempted to do the same thing and nearly destroyed myself.

[watches]

Beneficial article, incredibly useful, plus I like them.

[tablet pc]

I never, ever imagined I would have to understand this, but thank goodness for google, right?