Toting around a portable keyboard to go with that portable computer seems like a contradiction in terms of portability, but apparently Microsoft’s hardware division has sensed an opportunity that others have missed.
To that end, the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000.
For those who prize keyboard comfort, laptops and netbooks leave much to be desired. However, the ultraslim 6000, which connects via Bluetooth, is only about as thick as an triple-A battery at the back end, and tapers toward the front. “The design tenets of compact, clean and refined really set the stage for the success of the keyboard,” said Chris Kujawski, industrial designer for the division. “There is nothing extraneous.”
The 6000 adopts Microsoft’s curve design, which the company calls the Comfort Curve. The curve’s benefits over a traditional rectangular shape remain a matter of personal preference.
The product arrives in stores next month for $90, and a separate number pad will sell for $45. Netbook users might prize that item alone, since netbooks and ultraslim notebooks rarely offer a number pad. Stephen Williams
