If microsoft payed the same attention to detail to their software as they did their hardware, apple and linux would cease to exist.

I have a wireless intellimouse explorer 2 and a microsoft keyboard, and I can honestly say they are far superiour to anything else out there. Especially the mouse, even for gaming, it's a spectacular piece of kit.

I am old-fashion. I expect my keyboard and mouse to do a certain amount of things. All the rest is just bells and whistles.

It should speak volumes that Microsoft doesn't give you a single clear view of the keyboard in its "experience" flash demo. Best Buy had what appeared to be the exact same backlit keyboard in their store in Chicago this weekend. Let's just say it's not built for productivity, but for doing nothing more than listening to music while replying to emails.

Microsoft needs to stop reinventing the wheel. It ain't broke.

So - it won't walk my dog?

At least it should make tea and sound the horn when I come into the room.

O yeah - and maybe it'll read my thoughts, so they can fry me right in front of my nice, nice MS computer . . .

It's not ultimate until i can spill something on the keys and it will continue to work. A friend spilled mountain dew on my natural ergo 4000...and fried it to no end. I loved that keyboard but I dont want to dish out the cash again for something that will just die. I bought a 30 dollar microsoft keyboard/mouse combo at best buy that says "spill proof" in hopes of combating this issue in the future.

Well man, there are loads of keyboards out there that will not only take your "mountain dews" but you coffee, your coke, your milk and even your hydrochloric acid, if you care to use that one, too . . . But those are no "Microsoft" keyboards - what a shame, pity and shock!

It'll be the "Ultimate" when it can do what the Optimus will do, if it ever gets made :(

http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/

haha yeah. ive wanted this keyboard for a LONG time.

Hmm... from a still I froze the flash file on, it looks like MS is trying to reinvent the keyboard, at least the stuff outside QWERTY.

We'll see how that works out. At the very least it looks better than most "multimedia keyboards" that just have a row of identical buttons running along the top above the function keys.

I don't think I like the ESC and function keys on it though... too small.

Here's more of a description based on the bits and pieces you can see if you pause the flash animation...

On the right side we have an OK button surrounded by what appears to be some sort of directional pad... could be just decoration tho. Below that is a back button (which will come in handy as vista is implementing more back/forward buttons in apps). Then we have a window key below it? It could just be decoration though...

You'll notice the numpad and the nine keys to the left of it are gone. Page Up/Down is moved above the arrow keys... the key above is either Insert or Delete (probably Delete). The key it is not appears to be GONE FROM THE KEYBOARD. I better be wrong, because you know half the people who buy the keyboard are gonna use a legacy app that needs that key press.

ESC and the function keys are smaller and lined up above the keyboard... there also appear to be two of the following: PrintScreen, ScrollLock, Pause. I'm betting they got rid of ScrollLock, as Windows never really implemented it (because it's useless).

On the left we have left and right mouse buttons (which is odd considering the Ultimate Keyboard is bundled with an Ultimate Mouse?) and under there a hotkey for the Magnifier app and a "Gadget" key for functionality in Windows Sidebar.

To the right of that appears to be a set of media player buttons.

Under those we have what looks like a record and also a mute button.

Then we have +/- buttons (for normal +/- keys?) and volume up/down.

Under that is an "Answer Phone" icon... perhaps for Windows Collaboration (I think that's what Netmeeting turned into?) and perhaps other software.

Finally, the very upper right corner has a slider, probably for power.

The keyboard docks at the top, and the docking station also docks with the mouse it appears (it better, what good is a rechargable keyboard if you still need batteries for the mouse). The mouse appears to be your standard 5 button 3 axis mouse.

I always liked Key Boards from Microsoft.But I hate working using a wireless keyboard as the battery drains out very quickly.I dont mind using my current keyboard as long as my current wired(Microsoft)Key board works fine.The claiming that it is Vista ready is a pure marketing trick to make people buy those who are buying or assembling a new PC.

The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is still my keyboard of choice. This new "Ultimate Keyboard" doesn't even compare, even if it is wireless (the 4000 is not).

They can have my IBM AT keyboard (with no stupid Windows keys and real alps keyswitches) when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.

Amen. I'm lucky enough to have a PS/2 version w/top-row Fkeys. Used to have two but one of em' died :(

IBM Model M pre 1996, bucking springs, removable key caps, and no Windows keys. Professional grade equipment for people that type all day.

It will just be a matter of time before an ubergeek is assasinated using a Vista keyboard proximity activated bomb

Prozac?

One thing I've always wondered about all these fancy keyboards that add all this extra functionality and have extra keys for everything - why do keyboards these days not have standard buttons for four of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts?
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+V
Ctrl+Z
I've got buttons which launch browsers, webcams, media players, but why are there not 4 simple little buttons which are in the same place on every keyboard which I use numerous times every day? Sure, I'm not lazy, and I don't mind too much stretching my pinky finger to do the shortcut, but I look at the other extra keys on my keyboard which are supposed to make my life easier, and I think, what's the point of those, I use them once a week, if at all!

A total rethink of the modern PC keyboard is well overdue, the last addition was the 2 Windows keys way back when (which are also rather under-used).

How hard is it to push Ctrl+C anyway? I don't want a keyboard with 10,000 keys for every little mundane task, or learn to type all over again because they moved all the damn keys around. Maybe that's just me though.

Looks great BUT WHERE ARE THEIR TRACKBALL MICE??

AMEN! I am dying for a mouse with sidescrolling wheels and smooth scroll like microsoft's other mice that looks and feels like the trackball explorer. I love my trackball explorer and those are the only two things it needs to be perfect!

Whoah... there really isn't a numeric keypad.

I think that the BetaNews article fails to underline WHY this is the 'ultimate' keyboard. It's a wireless keyboard that is meant to fit in your lap. I have a wireless keyboard with built in mouse - it's great and not something that I use for any application wherein a numeric keypad is necessary. [shrugs] - What's the price?

While I love MS's keyboards and mice, and am a borderline fanboy... No way in H*** am I gonna use a keyboard with:
No number pad.
Yet more stupid re-arranging of keys.
All sorts of extra scroll buttons and volume rockers.
arrow keys that are shoved way into the main keys and then narrowed down so they look about 2/3rds the normal width.

I could go on, but I think I'll stop with just calling this keyboard a bunch of flash but in no way a keyboard designed for anything other than light use by inexperienced users and novice typists. Ultimate my ass.

Didn't catch the lack of a number pad. Pretty much kills it for me.

Definately not a gamers keyboard.

Exactly. Not a gamers or business keyboard. Basically it's a fashion keyboard.

For a fashion keyboard it sure looks like ass

Probably be a Sheckle o 2, either way, Microsft hardware tends to be very good;)

price 4 this puppy?

Definitely looks like a sweet desktop. One of the best looking sets I've ever seen, and the backlighting is definitely a nice feature, as is the rechargable power. I just hope it's not too expensive, as I definitely will be taking a look at it.

I gots me a logitech g15 backlit keyboard. has 3 brightness settings, and 18 keys you can use for pretty much damn near anything. Macros, mapped keystrokes, mouse gestures, you name it.

The MS keyboard does look nice, though. The automatic adjustmets (dimming) is nice. Don't know if I could live without the 18 programmable keys though. ;)

Ever looked at Zboard? www.zboard.com ? I've been tempted, especially as I play Everquest 2.

There's nothing cool about Macroshaft.

And there's nothing cool about you.

Oh sweet, the Windows button right beneath the space bar where most people rest their thumb(s). Way to think this one through Microsoft!

Maybe next they'll rearrange the keys on the keyboard so that it says "Windows" or "Microsoft". I'm hoping that it's just a logo - if you look at the page where they show the keyboard, an illuminated Windows logo also appears on the right side of it.

The blue logo in the middle is the Windows Key, moved from between the Ctrl and Alt keys. The green logo on the right is the Media Center button.

Uhh...

I rest my hands on each side of the keyboard, right under the control/alt keys...just like *anyone* who has learned how to type correctly.

This will be a problem for only a very few folks who will likely not be typing much longer due to the advanced carpal tunnel damage rendering their wrists and fingers useless.

Wow, not only was that a completely unneccesary jab, it wasn't even well-reasoned. Tool, actually THINK about what the man is saying before you bite his head off (especially over something so incredibly trivial). When he says "resting" your thumbs, he doesn't mean the way you did between practice sessions in your 9th grade typing class - he means in the real world, where at least half the people I know rest their fingers and wrists as often as possible between keystrokes. I have no clue what carpel tunnel has to do with a particular keyboard layout's advantages or disadvantages, and I doubt you do either.

I would love for Microsoft to reinvent the keyboard - especially if it got rid of QWERTY. Qwerty was originally designed to slow down typists back in the typewriter era and the only way to get a better keyboard is if it was made by someone like Microsoft.