Microsoft Launches NewPeripherals

September 9, 2004 - (Hostreview.com)-  Microsoft Corp. today unveiled six new peripherals with comfort, productivity, mobility and wireless connectivity advancements designed to help employees succeed and businesses thrive. Introducing innovative features and technologies — including a new way to view detailed documents, spreadsheets and PDFs, and a unique, ergonomically designed flat keyboard — these peripherals will give users the best tools to help them work efficiently and comfortably in the office or on the go.

Designed for the way employees use their computers today, the new mice and keyboards from Microsoft deliver the following advancements:

"Productivity gains are at their highest in 50 years, and our research shows employees are spending more time working in front of a computer than ever before," said Tom Gibbons, general manager of Microsoft Hardware.

The commercial market has become an integral focus of Microsoft Hardware, and research is at the core of product development. A recent survey initiated by Microsoft Hardware found that the U.S. work force is spending more time in front of the computer than ever.

According to estimates from Gartner Inc., worldwide computer shipments will increase 13 percent in 2004 as businesses upgrade their computers. Gartner expects nearly 100 million PCs to be replaced this year and 120 million more in 2005.

In addition, Wireless Optical Desktop Comfort Edition features a new zoom slider that allows employees to more quickly and easily zoom in and out of detailed documents, spreadsheets, PDFs and more.

"In the past 20 years we've worked to create innovative features that make products more intuitive and efficient," said Hugh McLoone, product ergonomist and usability researcher at Microsoft Hardware.

Mobile computing represents a huge area of growth for the PC industry. According to IDC, worldwide shipments of portable PCs will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent from 2003 through 2008. In response to this trend, Microsoft is answering the need for a better way to work on the go by introducing Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse.

The new products introduced today will be widely available to businesses through Microsoft Hardware's reseller partners by the end of September 2004.