Winning Microsoft Products Team Up for Special Edition Desktop

REDMOND, Wash., March 19, 2002 — The industry’s most powerful optical mouse technology has been combined with breakthrough keyboard innovation to create the latest Microsoft® limited edition desktop offering in a cool, sophisticated color. Now dressed in black, the Office Keyboard and Wireless IntelliMouse® Explorer combination will hit select retailers’ shelves today.

“The Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer and the Office Keyboard are two of the Hardware Group’s best-selling products, and offering them in one desktop package was a natural fit,”
said Matt Barlow, group product manager of the Hardware Group at Microsoft Corp.
“Providing our consumers with a wide range of choices to fit their computing needs — from the most advanced technology available and attention to aesthetic design to seamless software compatibility — is a priority in every product decision.”

Offering unparalleled performance, ergonomic comfort, eye-catching design and hardware/software synergy, this new desktop delivers on all fronts.

Office Keyboard

Features of the Office keyboard include the following:

  • For a limited time only, the keyboard is available in a special edition black color .

  • The single-touch pad is designed to reduce keystrokes and increase productivity with the innovative keyboard scroll wheel.

    – Hot Keys for the most commonly used tasks of Copy, Cut and Paste
    – Application toggle to switch between open applications on a desktop
    – Back and Forward buttons for quick Internet navigation

  • Simplified F keys allow the performance of common tasks with just one touch.

  • Twelve Hot Keys provide instant access to popular programs, functions and controls, while multimedia Hot Keys control volume or mute with a quick touch.

  • Office XP features a dedicated Task Pane Hot Key and an Office Home Hot Key, enabling users to find files more quickly, discover popular tips and tools, and present their work more efficiently.

Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer

Features of the Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer include the following:

  • Proprietary Microsoft Optical technology captures 6,000 frames per second, delivering up to three times the performance of other optical mouse products.

  • Wireless freedom clears the desk of clutter while delivering performance with two-channel radio frequency technology. It works within 6 feet of the receiver, even if the user’s computer is out of sight.

  • Power-saving technologies include Intelligent Touch. Unique sensors recognize the presence of a hand, immediately engaging the optical technology. When the user’s hand is removed, the mouse turns off, reverting to sleep mode to conserve battery power.

  • Faster wheel scrolling adjusts to how quickly the wheel is rolled, providing faster movement through Web pages and computer applications.

  • Program-specific buttons let users reprogram all five buttons, including the wheel button, to perform popular commands in favorite applications with a single touch.

  • Recording favorite keystrokes lets users assign common keystrokes, such as Bold, to any of the mouse buttons.

The special edition featuring the all-star products, which debuted separately last fall, is available now for $104.95 (U.S.). *

This new package is both PC- and Macintosh-compatible, and operates with the Microsoft Windows® 98 operating system, or with Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) or Windows XP and a PS/2 port. Macintosh users must have Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition or later, or the Mac OS 8.6 or later operating system (excluding Mac OS 10.0 or later).

The Microsoft Hardware Group employs innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that improve the software experience and strengthen the connection between users and their computers.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

* Price is estimated retail price. Actual retail prices may vary.

Microsoft, IntelliMouse and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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