Comments on: Welcome to the Microsoft Hardware blog!

By: Nadine

Nadine — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:51:44 +0000

Hi! I purchased a Microsoft Ergonomic Natural® Ergonomic Desktop 7000 keyboard and Mouse. Someone decided they needed to have my mouse and the USB driver. Is there any way I can purchase a new mouse and the USB drive that supports the keyboard and the mouse?
If so, where can I purchase it?

Thanks!

By: Stu

Stu — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:10:04 +0000

Hi Richard, glad you’re considering the Arc Keyboard and Arc Mouse. You’ll need to use a USB port for each device, as most of our newer products (including the Arc Keyboard and Arc Mouse) use a 2.4GHz transceiver that is paired to a specific keyboard or mouse. The reason we do this is so it is an easy experience to connect the devices. Hopefully that helps!

By: Richard Arndt

Richard Arndt — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:34:11 +0000

I am contemplating purchase of the Arc keyboard AND the Arc mouse. They both come with their own respective USB transceiver. Can you use one transceiver for both devices or do you have to use up 2 USB ports?

By: Stu Holdren

Stu Holdren — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:07:40 +0000

Thanks Michael! We’re excited to have this blog up and running, and we’ll definitely be a go-to source for the latest news on Microsoft Hardware products that are being released.

By: Michael Aulia

Michael Aulia — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:21:13 +0000

This is great! Now I don’t have to go to your product page, do a refresh to find if you’ve released some new exciting products anymore :)

Looking forward to review more of your products in the future

—
Michael Aulia
http://www.CravingCech.com

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:16:25 +0000

Thanks Stu and Danguiano!

I might look into saving up for a LifeCam Cinema then :)

Also in reply to Jules Willko, I bought my sister the Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 which she used to type her PhD on. Although the mouse is great, when I was typing on the keyboard I found myself using lots of keyboard shortcuts as it was so comfortable, I was loathed to take my hands off!

By: fellowweb

fellowweb — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:47:01 +0000

Thank you, Stu.

However, although it is claimed, this version of IntelliType for Mac is not really fully compatible with 64-bit.

E.g. the German keyboard layouts do not work with OS X applications running in 64-bit mode.

See here: http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2005/11/20/using_a_british.php#c285152

By: Danguiano

Danguiano — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:45:29 +0000

@Lloyd: Thanks for the comment. The new HD Lifecams HD-5000, HD-5001 and HD-6000 for Notebooks as well as LifeCam Cinema have a Microphone with Noise Canceling Technology which helps to improve the speech quality. We are sorry that you have a bad experience with the VX-7000, we are sure that the microphones in our new webcams will not disappoint you.

You can get TrueColor in LifeCam Cinema; you just need to download the new version of LifeCam Software 3.2, You can find the latest version of the software in this link. http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/download.aspx?category=ICE

By: Stu

Stu — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:56:16 +0000

@Lloyd: I’m working on tracking down some answers for you. Stay tuned!

By: Stu

Stu — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:53:28 +0000

@FellowWeb: IntelliPoint and IntelliType for Mac 7.01 and later are fully compatible with 64-bit. The software is available by download here: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/download.aspx?category=MK

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:31:49 +0000

@Jules Wilko: Have you checked out the Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000? The keyboard in that combo features the same split Natural layout that you like in the Natural Keyboard Pro and it also includes Hardware’s only Natural mouse, which was designed to fit in your hand more naturally. That desktop will give you the most comfort with an updated design and some new productivity features over the keyboard you are using now. http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=095

By: Jed stone

Jed stone — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:43:25 +0000

I have used the Microsoft webcam VX3000 for several years although the version 1 programming is out of date,I am now on the latest programming,which i downloaded from Microsoft and it is perfect in every way still.

By: http://infopediaonlinehere.blogspot.com/

http://infopediaonlinehere.blogspot.com/ — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:01:14 +0000

hope we’ll have great benefit out of this website

By: infopediaonlinehere

infopediaonlinehere — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:37 +0000

it is interesting to see hardware blog from microsoft

By: Jules Wilko

Jules Wilko — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:42:01 +0000

Heya there,
Have you got any plans to release any new ergonomic keyboards and mouse combinations?

I’m a huge fan of the Microsoft Wireless Natural Keyboard Pro – And nothing has really replaced it like for like in terms of quality and functionality…

Do you have any insights for going forward?

By: fellowweb

fellowweb — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:57:31 +0000

Great to have a blog on the great MS hardware!

Could you please cover how to make the IntelliType for Mac driver entirely Snow Leopard compatible?

It still has difficulties with 64-bit programs.

By: Rolando Peralta

Rolando Peralta — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:36:24 +0000

Hello and Welcome! It’s fantastic to have you guys this close to talk about your great products.
I’ve been using Microsoft hardware since 2001, and I simply love it.
I cannot use other kind of brand of mouse, keyboards, webcam or headsets, and a couple of months ago, I started with a brand new desktop kit (comfort 5000) simply fantastic!
Keep your great work!
cheers,
@RolandoPeralta

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:56:52 +0000

Hi there… I see you are releasing new webcams today. How do these compare to the LifeCam Cinema? Which of your webcams has the best microphone?

I bought a VX-7000 for my parents a few years ago, they use it on their Media Centre PC in the lounge to Skype the rest of the family. We’ve had to get it replaced once already, but the replacement has some issue with the auto sound level – it’s set too low by default and you have to make a loud noise before it realises and properly meters the sound in the room. I’ve tried troubleshooting, different drivers and a new PC etc but no luck. I tell my folks to clap whenever they answer Skype and this functions as a silly workaround!

Having said that though, the mic is not very sensitive and doesn’t do a good job picking up their voices if they aren’t standing in front of the TV.

So, once again, which webcam has the best microphone, and if it is the Cinema, will it receive the face tracking software along with the True Colour update?

Thanks in advance for your response, it’s not very often you get to speak to the product engineers/managers instead of a support centre!