Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 Debuts

Even those who aren't too keen on Microsoft's software strategies often admit that the company's hardware arm pushes out some decent peripherals, and the latest such example of that is their Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000.  A low-profile wireless 'board  that comes complete with a separate, Bluetooth-connected numeric keypad, the Mobile Keyboard 6000 borrows the firm's comfort-curve ergonomic layout for more contented wrists.

It's also the company's thinnest keyboard to-date, measuring slightly thicker than an AAA battery at the back and tapering to the front.  The curve is roughly 6-degrees, which Microsoft claim is small enough to require no retraining but significant enough to prevent wrist-ache.

What it isn't is especially cheap.  The full Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 will be priced at $89.95 when it lands in October; meanwhile the Bluetooth Number Pad on its own will be $44.95.

Press Release:

Microsoft Unveils Company's Thinnest Keyboard, Designed Exclusively for Bluetooth Computers

New keyboard features stand-alone Bluetooth Number Pad for productivity on the go.

REDMOND, Wash. Sept. 9, 2009 Thin is in; Microsoft Corp. today announced its thinnest keyboard ever — the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 — made exclusively for Bluetooth notebook and desktop computers. Projections show that over 55 percent of notebook PCs will ship with Bluetooth by the end of 2010.1 With mobile PCs getting more compact, the Microsoft Hardware team created the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 to address consumers' need for comfortable and portable computing accessories.

Microsoft Hardware's Industrial Design team designed the keyboard so it doesn't sacrifice style, while creating a compact, clean and refined product, offering ultimate comfort with Microsoft's Comfort Curve layout. The keyboard also features a portable Bluetooth Number Pad that helps people stay productive wherever they work.

"The design tenets of compact, clean and refined really set the stage for the success of the keyboard," said Chris Kujawski, industrial designer for Microsoft Hardware. "There is nothing extraneous about the design. We removed everything that didn't fit with those ideas and ended up with something we're really proud of — a compact, sophisticated keyboard that pairs perfectly with Bluetooth computers."

Keyboard Looks As Good As It Feels

Microsoft's thinnest keyboard ever — just a few millimeters thicker than a AAA battery at the back — the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 tapers down toward the front, so the keyboard is light and easy to pick up. And to enable the small footprint to still deliver ultimate comfort, the keyboard uses a Comfort Curve design for a more ergonomic typing experience over the straight keyboard layout of notebook computers. Microsoft's Comfort Curve design encourages natural wrist posture with a slight 6-degree curve that is easy to use with virtually no learning curve. With more than 10 million Comfort Curve keyboards sold, it's a consumer favorite, with 94 percent of users who own a Comfort Curve keyboard saying they would recommend it to friends and family.2

Perfectly Portable Bluetooth Number Pad

One of the top consumer pain points when using a notebook or netbook is the lack of a number pad. Accompanying the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 is a stand-alone Bluetooth Number Pad that can be used with the keyboard or by itself to help increase productivity. The number pad comes with a carrying case for added portability and also will be available in a stand-alone version.

The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 and Bluetooth Number Pad will be available in October 2009 for an estimated retail price of $89.95 (U.S.) and $44.95 (U.S.), respectively.3 The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 and Bluetooth Number Pad are backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft. More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.