REDMOND, Wash. Jan. 7, 2010 The home office is changing; it’s no longer one room but is constantly evolving as people use their laptop computers all over the house. To fit this trend, Microsoft Corp. announces a redesign of the keyboard as we know it — the Arc Keyboard. Small enough to move easily around the home and so attractive it fits seamlessly with chic home accessories, this product looks at home wherever it’s used.
Microsoft’s best-selling Arc Mouse shares its design language with the Arc Keyboard for a beautifully curved profile, clean lines, light weight and portable shape. The Arc Keyboard is all about the home, and Microsoft Hardware’s industrial design team drew its inspiration from modern home accessories such as flatware, lighting fixtures and vases. The result is a keyboard that looks and feels like it belongs with other objects in the home; it is as much a part of the décor as the chandelier in the dining room and the vase in the kitchen.
“The design tenets that we looked to for the Arc Keyboard were simplicity and crisp softness, creating an aesthetic for this product that is casual and sophisticated at the same time,” said Monique Chatterjee, industrial designer for Microsoft Hardware. “We drew our design inspiration directly from the places where we envision this product will be used so it perfectly blends with existing home accessories.”
The Arc Keyboard looks and feels like it belongs with other objects in the home; it is as much a part of the décor as the chandelier in the dining room and the vase in the kitchen.
Style That Works
Weighing in at less than a pound, the Arc Keyboard is easy to move from room to room throughout the house, and its domed keyset comfortably rests on the lap so people can kick back on the couch or type away on the kitchen counter. It includes a snap-in Nano transceiver that is so small it can remain plugged in to the computer at all times, or can be magnetically snapped in the bottom of the keyboard for storage. With its unique, compact design, the Arc Keyboard becomes a functional and stylish part of any living space.
Pricing and Availability
The Arc Keyboard is available for pre-sale on BestBuy.com today and will be available exclusively at Best Buy starting Feb. 21 for the estimated retail price of $59.95 (U.S).1 The Arc Keyboard is backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty. More information about this and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About Microsoft Hardware
For more than 26 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
1 Actual retail prices may vary.
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