Microsoft PC accessories rise from the grave just in time for Christmas
- Reference: 1725014688
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/08/30/incase_designed_by_microsoft/
- Source link:
The plan was first revealed by Onward Brands [1]earlier this year in a deal that would see one of the company's subsidiaries, Incase, manufacturing and distributing previously discontinued Microsoft accessories, including keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets, and speakers.
It's been a while coming, and [2]Incase has confirmed the launch date for some point in calendar Q4 2024. The intent is that Incase, already a vendor for accessories such as backpacks and sleeves, will produce and sell the suite of products, along with a new ergonomic keyboard designed by Microsoft but not made available before the company pulled the plug last year.
[3]
Microsoft discontinued its branded accessories, but retained the premium Surface peripherals, [4]in early 2023 . It was the end of an era for users. Although the Intellimouse will remain dead and buried, the Incase range will include the Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse and Ergonomic Keyboard.
[5]
[6]
The illusion is diminished, however, by the Incase logo as the range is marketed under the Incase brand as "Designed by Microsoft."
[7]Ex-Windows boss who tried to save the Start Menu now Shopify tech wizard
[8]Microsoft partners beware: Action Pack to be retired in 2025
[9]The Windows Control Panel joins the ranks of the undead
[10]Microsoft Bing Copilot accuses reporter of crimes he covered
Marshall Clark, Onward General Manager of the Productivity Business Unit, expressed delight at resurrecting hardware that Microsoft had abandoned, and the company's CEO, Charlie Tebele, said: "We look forward to building on the more than 30 years of outstanding product development that the Microsoft accessories business was well known for."
If Incase sticks with its Q4 2024 availability estimate, it will be more than 18 months since Microsoft announced it was pulling the plug, meaning that fans of the Windows vendor's accessories will have an opportunity to update their keyboard and mouse supplies, assuming the quality of the Incase brand matches that of its illustrious predecessor.
Incase has long been associated with the Apple platform. There is no word yet on how much the revived Microsoft accessories will cost. We've asked and will update this piece should there be a response.
[11]
In the meantime, Brett Ostrum, CVP of Microsoft Devices, said in a statement: "Microsoft is excited to partner with Incase to bring Microsoft-designed PC accessories that our customers love to market."
A slightly odd decision to ditch them in the first place then, Brett. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/onward-brands_incase-designed-by-microsoft-activity-7149055725607006208-WXrw/
[2] https://www.incase.com/pages/incase-designed-by-microsoft
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZtHspV3tshvlvibWCO_9QwAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/28/the_end_of_microsoft_peripherals/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZtHspV3tshvlvibWCO_9QwAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZtHspV3tshvlvibWCO_9QwAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/29/mikhail_parakhin_shopify_cto/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/28/microsoft_action_pack_2025/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/27/the_windows_control_panel_joins/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/26/microsoft_bing_copilot_ai_halluciation/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZtHspV3tshvlvibWCO_9QwAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Oi!
Some of us like that "ergonomic" split-layout nonsense.
Re: Oi!
Then you are bad and your opinions are bad and you should feel bad.
(I’m not the one who downvoted you. I can see both points of view on most matters. Except for Atari ST enthusiasts. They are just wrong.)
Re: Oi!
Downvoted? My word. Someone around here hasn’t had enough hugs lately.
Re: Oi!
I too happened to like using the split ergonomic keyboards when I wasn't wfh. Definitely needs a desk though and takes about a day to get used to it. I highly recommend making the effort to try as the benefits are reduced stress injuries.
These days I've got a lightweight logitech with standard layout. More easy to use on my desktop (belly) working from home :)
Re: Oi!
"More easy to use on my desktop (belly) working from home"
Well, without wishing to be rude, perhaps there is a wider market for a keyboard with a concave base.
Today happens to be the 12 year anniversary of my Filco Majestouch Ninja KB.. still performing flawlessly and has seen me through many a major incident alongside my trusty Logitech Cordless optical Trackman... All safely transported between locations in my 25 year old Dell Leather Laptop bag.. all three of these I fully expect to see me long past retirement..
I still have a couple of old Intellimice, and the original Arc Mouse was one of my favourite ever mice, great for laptop users.
Sadly my experience more recently has been of rather less robust peripherals than those ones, I had an Arc Touch mouse that stopped turning on and off after about a year and currently have a Surface Mobile Mouse which is incredibly stroppy.
I still have several Intellimice - for me they're one of the best for general use with the 5-button design.
Have found that over an extended period the microswitches do wear out, but given such extended periods for some of mine are 10-15 years I don't think that's too bad, and it's not that difficult to swap them out for new ones (even a klutz like me can do it).
So somewhat sad to read they won't get resurrected as a product line, although a second MS keyboard might be nice for my home office set-up to match the one on my "play" PC that has equally been doing strong for many years but is now out of production too.
I eventually had to part ways about two years ago with the wireless Intellimouse Explorer (PS/2 and USB adapter dongle) I bought in 2000. Was mostly still fine, the battery cover catch had been re-glued on several times and every couple of years I had to open it up to bend the little spring that connected the PCB to (what I assume is) the aerial on the inside of the shell. I just no longer have a desktop machine where the nokia 3300-sized dongle isn't an inconvenience (on reflection should have just taken it into work for my workstation there).
Really comfortable design to use, it resulted in all my mice being microsoft despite all my computers being linux, although the newer pebbles that are the portable mice aren't nearly as ergonomic. (Actually, the mouse I'm using at the minute is about the same size as the old dongle.)
It's odd...
but the Microsoft hardware, I always got the impression, was far, far better than their software.
I used to have both an Ergonomic keyboard and the Trackball (can't remember the exact model names). Both were excellent, robust and reliable, and made Logitech's contemporary offerings look flimsy and knocked together by comparison.
Re: It's odd...
"the Microsoft hardware, I always got the impression, was far, far better than their software"
I'm sure they've resolved that by outsourcing it all to the cheapest manufacturer. Seems Logitech already do that, judging by their often lovely but notoriously short lived products.
Re: It's odd...
Indeed - I love the MX Ergo trackball - but I've got through 4 of them in about as many years (two just under warranty) due to the button microswitches being the cheapest things they can possibly fit.
Re: It's odd...
but the Microsoft hardware, I always got the impression, was far, far better than their software.
It's a bit like that, "It's a shame they make beer really" joke about the old "Carlsberg don't make X, but if they did" adverts. (TBF there are far worse beers. And mice.)
Friday afternoon of course ->
Hopefully this means the Sculpt Ergonomic keybard will return at a reasonable price - what cost me £75 three years ago is currently going for £228! I don't need a replacement yet; but I will at some point and oddly didn't feel the need to buy a spare last time.
...and maybe
Sidewinder Joystick?
Alas, no "Internet Keyboard Pro"
I still use an "Internet Keyboard Pro" from circa 1997 as my daily typertool. Wrist-rest, nicely angled, no "ergonomic" split-layout nonsense, and the joys of a built-in unpowered USB 1.1 hub - perfect for the Microsoft mouse wireless dongle.
There are still a few out there for sale, either from fleabay or as NOS on Amazon, but it would be nice to see it re-introduced. Albeit perhaps with USB 2, 3, or dare I dream, USB-C ports :)