Gizmodo Exclusive: Groping the Backlit Microsoft Entertainment Desktop 8000 Keyboard

We got some hands on with the novel , proximity - sensing , backlit Microsoft Keyboards . Jump for picture and mental picture .

The Bluetooth keyboard itself is quite nice . With a gentle ergonomic curve , its scissor - Florida key give you a pleasant tactile feel that ’s not too sensitive , yet not too heavy . The usual bevy of multimedia buttons come along in the computer peripheral of the peripheral , and can be programme to work with whichever media role player the user prefer ( not Windows Media Player 11 for us ) .

The backlit keys dim in reaction to the ambient twinkle . In addition , Microsoft has built in a propinquity - sense function that turns the backlight off after you ’ve removed your hands from the keyboard , and turn it back on as your paw draw near . This utilize a electrostatic electrical energy detector not unlike those used in laptop touchpads . We had heard of the proximity lineament , and were hoping it would do magic , such as setting our instant messengers to “ Away ” condition for us when we went to get another beer , but its range is only about six inch , so that ’s impractical .

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Besides sensors across the bottom of the unit of measurement , 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 responsive corners . This can be used to navigate the computer mouse around the screenland . There are also a left - click and right - get across release on the leftover hired man side .

Other illustrious controls include cutaneous senses - sensitive function key fruit , a Call button to activate Windows Live for full - motion web coming together ( with the right hardware ) , a Media Center button on the right field , and a Windows Start button . Microsoft keyboard presently include a Start - menu button , but this one is centrally - located under the spacebar , and pulse when the backlight is off . By clicking it , the Start menu comes up . Start typing , and Vista start look for . A coolheaded feature , since Search is the cant 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 desire .

There are other pieces to the keyboard , but all typical , such as barrage index number and ego - destruct , you have it away , the usual stuff found on wireless keyboards .

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All of this interfac - inating is done via the one part that actually plugs into your microcomputer : 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 is n’t distracting at all . The keyboard slides in neatly , while the mouse can be docked for lefties or righties as .

All in all , it ’s a in full - operational , fun - to - use , high-pitched - end interface package that is effective and pleasing to the eyes and hands . The $ 250 price tag might be a niggling much for most user , but for power user or those with limited motivation , it ’s not a bad direction to go . It should appear on shelves soon , and it signals the start of many raw Vista - themed appurtenance to come .

Photo Credit : Michael Ragen

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