The Studio XPS 8000 starts at $800, and that includes a 500GB hard disk, 4GB of DDR3-1066 RAM, and Intel's new Core i5-750 (2.66GHz) processor. That's not too shabby, and early Core i5-750 tests suggest its shaping up to provide some respectable bang for your buck. If that's not enough grunt for your games, the Core i7-860 (2.8GHz) and Core i7-870 (2.93GHz) CPUs will cost you an extra $170 or $380. RAM capacity goes up to 16GB, and you can also opt for up to 2TB of storage (RAID 0).

As you'd expect with mainstream gaming/multimedia themed PCs, Blu-ray is also an option for both PCs. The 9000 isn't up on Dell's site yet, but it's expected to start at about $900, and have slightly higher-end CPU and graphics options. [Dell]

Product Page [Microsoft]

So how good is it?

It's fantastic. Best improvement on this keyboard is, without a doubt, the magnetic dock. It's similar to the dock used in the 7000, but now has a magnetic clasp to hook into the keyboard. That means now both the keyboard and the mouse are rechargeable and wireless. Just dock the keyboard, oh, every few months or so, and you'll never run out of juice. Even the laziest of us can do this, and trust us, we're pretty lazy.

The great thing about this dock is that it doesn't just charge the keyboard, it's also got a built-in 4-port powered hub! You can even plug in the included USB Bluetooth dongle in one of the ports (especially shaped to hold it) so you won't have to give up one of your regular ports on your PC. Brilliant.

Microsoft's also swapped out the black, plasticy keys for a more silver/aluminum material which goes around the entire trim—which makes the keyboard more solid and less cheap. But underneath that finish lies a MacBook Pro-like backlight, which looks pretty spectacular when you're playing WoW at 3AM. The whole setup is controlled by a motion sensor in the wrist rest, which turns on the keyboard and backlight if you approach. The 7000 also has this sensor, but all that does is turn on the keyboard.

According to the industrial designer, they took design details from Cadillac and BMW and certain cellphones to shape the keyboard and mouse. If you're going to be inspired, might as well be inspired by the best.

The bad news is that many of the problems the 7000 had are still present in this version. Since it's essentially the same keyboard, that means the arrow keys are still too small, the touch-sensitive F1-F12 and escape keys are hard to press, the Windows key has been moved, and there's no num pad.

The guys we talked to claimed that the Wireless Entertainment Desktop series of keyboards are supposed to be used as media keyboards and not as productivity keyboards, hence the focus on styling and the difficult-to-use function and arrow keys. But, since we've been using this keyboard daily for our own blogging activities, we can attest that it makes for a more-than-decent productivity keyboard—even if you do have to look down to hit the escape key.

Would we recommend this keyboard? Only for people like bloggers, programmers or chat maniacs who are at their computer for 10+ hours a day. If you can deal with the difficult function keys, the lack of a num-pad, the small arrow keys, the weird Windows key placement and the gigantic price of $249, you'll definitely feel like you're typing on the ultimate keyboard. Otherwise, if you can do without the 4-port USB hub, the rechargeable keyboard, and the silver finish, head for the WED 7000 instead—which is available now instead of in May, like the 8000. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Microsoft]

We got our hands on an almost-final production version and took enough pictures of it to make you feel like you've already purchased it, sprinkled it with crumbs, and accidentally dribbled coffee on the ALT key. Review? Coming soon.

– Jason Chen

The Bluetooth keyboard itself is quite nice. With a gentle ergonomic curve, its scissor-keys give you a pleasant tactile feel that's not too sensitive, yet not too heavy. The usual bevy of multimedia buttons appear in the peripheral of the peripheral, and can be programmed to work with whichever media player the user prefers (not Windows Media Player 11 for us).

The backlit keys dim in reaction to the ambient light. In addition, Microsoft has built in a proximity-sensing function that turns the backlight off after you've removed your hands from the keyboard, and turns it back on as your hands approach. This uses a static electricity sensor not unlike those used in laptop touchpads. We had heard of the proximity feature, and were hoping it would do magic, such as setting our instant messengers to "Away" status for us when we went to get another beer, but its range is only about six inches, so that's impractical.

Besides sensors across the bottom of the unit, the keyboard sports what we'll call a "clickpad" in the upper right-hand corner. Much like an iPod's Clickwheel, it's a touchpad with reactive corners. This can be used to navigate the mouse around the screen. There are also a left-click and right-click buttons on the left hand side.

Other notable controls include touch-sensitive function keys, a Call button to activate Windows Live for full-motion web meetings (with the right hardware), a Media Center button on the right, and a Windows Start button. Microsoft keyboards currently include a Start-menu button, but this one is centrally-located under the spacebar, and pulses when the backlight is off. By clicking it, the Start menu comes up. Start typing, and Vista starts searching. A cool feature, since Search is the buzzword with Vista. Also, holding down the button and hitting the tab-key will reorganize your windows into Flip 3D, allowing the user to cycle through them until they find what they want.

There are other pieces to the keyboard, but all typical, such as battery indicator and self-destruct, you know, the usual stuff found on wireless keyboards.

All of this interfac-inating is done via the one part that actually plugs into your PC: the dock. It also does duty as a Bluetooth dongle, a charging cradle for the keyboard and mouse, and a 2-port USB hub. It's finely designed and easy enough to be thought of as out of the way until you need it, and isn't distracting at all. The keyboard slides in neatly, while the mouse can be docked for lefties or righties equally.

All in all, it's a fully-functional, fun-to-use, high-end interface package that is efficient and pleasing to the eyes and hands. The $250 price tag might be a little much for most users, but for power users or those with special needs, it's not a bad way to go. It should appear on shelves soon, and it signals the start of many new Vista-themed accessories to come.–Matt Hickey

Photo Credit: Michael Ragen

Microsoft Releases Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 [internal]

Jump to see what Microsoft has in store for your hands.

The WLM 8000 works together with the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 to provide an advanced, but costly, desktop experience.

The 8000 has a few special features like a Performance Slider that can lower your scan rate to extend battery life, an Instant Viewer button that shows you all your open windows, and Quick Charging, which charges the mouse in less than an hour and a half. It's also hand-neutral, which means it doesn't lean to the left like most ergonomic mice do—say, the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000—so lefties can use it as well as righties.

This mouse also docks into the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000's charging station, which means you only need one charger to power both devices. It will be $89.95 when it's released in October.

The Natural Laser Mouse 6000 has a thumb scoop to rest your biggest digit, two thumb buttons, and will be $79 when it's released in January 2007. Nothing special about this mouse, and looks pretty similar to older Microsoft ergonomic mice that have been released before.

The Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000, however, does a bit more. It works as a mouse (obviously), a slide presenter, laser pointer with digital ink and a media remote control. There are buttons for forward, back and full-screen on the bottom of the mouse, and you can use the laser pointer on the side for blinding potential business partners. You can also use the presentation buttons to play, pause or jump tracks in your DVD software or Windows Media Player. All this in a notebook-sized mouse, which actually looks much more comfortable than normal notebook-sized mice we've seen.

The Notebook Presenter Mouse will be available January 20007 for $59. – Jason Chen

Wireless Mouse 6000 Press Release [Microsoft]
Notebook Mouse Press Release [Microsoft]
Wireless Mouse 8000 Press Release [Microsoft]

There's a gadget button, which exposes and hides the Microsoft Gadgets—their version of widgets—a Media Center Start button, and a Windows Live call button, which starts an IM session or a call with the selected contact in Windows Live Messenger. Both the 7000 and the 8000 have 2.4GHz bluetooth connectivity, so there's no need for a dongle if you've already got Bluetooth on your PC.

The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 has a few more features compared to the 7000, like the automatic backlight adjustment that turns itself on or off depending on your proximity to the keyboard. Run to the bathroom, and your keyboard will know. We imagine this can also be used to automatically set you away on Windows Live Messenger as well, showing your entire buddy list that your Irritable Bowel Syndrome hasn't disappeared as quick as you'd like them to think.

In addition, the 8000 can pair with the Wireless Laser Mouse 8000 to charge both devices simultaneously. There is also a three-port USB hub built in, to hook up your other desktop devices—you know we've got tons.

The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 will be $149.99 in January 2007, and the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 will be $249.99 in February 2007. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Microsoft]