Gizmodo: wireless entertainment desktop

Microsoft WED 8000 Keyboard Pushed Back to September

Jason Chen — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:15:59 EST

If you were looking forward to getting your hands on a Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 this summer, we have some bad news. Microsoft's just told us they're pushing back the release date to September, which means your only choice now is to go with the $100 cheaper 7000, which is just about as good if all you care about is how it types. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Microsoft]

Hands-On With Microsoft's True Ultimate Keyboard

Jason Chen — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST

If you're the kind of user who enjoys either soft, laptop-like scissor keys or a curved ergonomic keyboard, you're already gonzo'd over Microsoft's earlier keyboard, the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000. But if you're looking for the top of the line—the real grandaddy of Microsoft keyboards—you're looking for the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, otherwise known (by Microsoft) as the Ultimate Keyboard.

So what makes this keyboard so "ultimate"? Well, if you take the already impressive featureset from the 7000—the wireless connectivity for mouse and keyboard, the impressive styling, the comfortable key placement, the extra media keys, and the rechargeable mouse—but add in a specialized magnetic dock and an even sexier aluminum finish, you're going to end up with one beautiful input device.

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]

The Real Microsoft Ultimate Wireless Keyboard Gallery: My Fingers Are In Love

Jason Chen — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:55:11 EST

This is probably the sexiest keyboard we've ever played with. Beating Microsoft's own Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000, the WED 8000 is the ultimate in design coming out of their exceptional peripherals department. This, my friends, is Microsoft's Ultimate Keyboard.

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

Microsoft Releases Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 and 8000

Jason Chen — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:39:41 EDT

We liked the Wireless Entertainment Desktops when it was called the Microsoft Ultimate Keyboard, but a name's just a name. The WED 7000 and 8000 have a few interesting buttons and features, and are integrated with some current and upcoming Microsoft apps.

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]