Microsoft's Mice, Keyboards, and Webcams Are Being Discontinued in Favor of Surface Accessories

Microsoft will no longer manufacture mice, keyboards, and webcams that are Microsoft-branded. Instead, Microsoft is now focusing on its Surface-branded PC accessories, which include mice, keyboards, pens, and more. From a report: It brings an end to the legacy of Microsoft-branded PC hardware after the company first launched its first mouse in 1983 and bundled it with Microsoft Word and Notepad. "Going forward, we are focusing on our Windows PC accessories portfolio under the Surface brand," says Dan Laycock, senior communications manager at Microsoft, in a statement to The Verge. "We will continue to offer a range of Surface branded PC Accessories -- including mice, keyboards, pens, docks, adaptive accessories, and more. Existing Microsoft branded PC accessories like mice, keyboards, and webcams will continue to be sold in existing markets at existing sell-in prices while supplies last."

As long as they still sell split keyboards

[mikaere]

I've been using a Microsoft split keyboard for 25 years. I don't care if they rebrand to Surface (TM) or whatever, but I really like their split keyboards.

Re:

[Dutch Gun]

Was just thinking the same thing. Have literally been using the same keyboard type (MS Ergonomic Keyboard 4000) for 25 years or so. I don't care about the branding, but the form factor is really perfect for me. Hopefully they don't discontinue it.

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[Jamu]

Logitech have something similar [logitech.com]. Did consider it for a bit when my Sculpt died, but saw the recent Microsoft Ergonomic on special offer and bought one of those.

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[will_die]

I have that one and really like it, took a little to time to get use to it because the wrist rest is higher than the back.
Also has the nice feature of supporting 3 device so great with a laptop to the side, just hit the key and I can start typing on that.

They have already broken their split keyboards

[Ecuador]

They have already broken their split keyboards for me. I started using the Natural Keyboard Pro almost 25 years ago (gift from an old girlfriend - no, she is not fictional). I used that for years, and replaced it with the Natural Multimedia Keyboard which was the one I could find with the same layout (it wasn't better though).
After that, Microsoft changed the curve of the keys, so they don't feel right and on my next purchase I managed to find a replacement, the Perixx PERIBOARD-512. It follows the same fa

And...

[eneville]

Companies who have bought into Microsoft's stack will likely continue to buy the devices. I suspect the home market has already shrunk as users have migrated to phones. Don't need keyboards and mice for casual ClockTock and fecebook scrolling.

Only thing they ever made worth a damn

[Major_Disorder]

So they are going to try to tie it to their seriously tainted Surface crap.
That had to be thought up by an MBA.

As if they were doing more than labeling them?!

[thesjaakspoiler]

Giving up the most profitable division to make yourslef look cool is always a justified decision.

No Microsoft peripherals?

[andywest]

Logitech rejoices.

Re: No Microsoft peripherals?

[denisbergeron]

I hÃte logitech eith their unify usb doogle.
Every computer I have, events my desktop have a bluetooth radio.

Maybe the logitech doogle was a Nice thing 30 years ago, but they have to more on.

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[Voyager529]

I hate logitech eith their unify usb doogle.
Every computer I have, events my desktop have a bluetooth radio.

Maybe the logitech doogle was a Nice thing 30 years ago, but they have to more on.

Most of their mice do both now, and they have a good number of keyboards which can also do Bluetooth. The unifying receivers are nice because they can be purchased separately if you lose one, and while one might correctly argue that Bluetooth solved that entirely, I'm generally a fan of having the option, which Logitech tends to give in all but their lowest end keyboards and mice.

Re: No Microsoft peripherals?

[denisbergeron]

I have like 5 unused unify adapter, because they use to work longer that the periferic.

Re: No Microsoft peripherals?

[Malc]

Bluetoothâ(TM)s annoying if you have multiple computers. A dongle is good because you can move it to the device youâ(TM)re using. Or, if you have say a Thunderbolt Display with a USB hub, just move that cable and youâ(TM)re always typing on the device youâ(TM)re looking at.

'Microsoft hardware' always has been

[blugalf]

very decent stuff actually, for the most part, imho. And I suppose if that remains the case, it doesn't really matter whether the label says Microsoft. The older split ergonomic keyboards series are great, I've had mine for ages and won't voluntarily part with it. The key labels are worn out by now, but who needs those. It survived a major spill event, albeit not without being disassembled in its entirety and meticulously cleaned out. This particular model also has an annoyingly loud space bar, but that is

Re: 'Microsoft hardware' always has been

[raburton]

Agree the mice and keyboards have been pretty good, and keep working (my current Intellimouse Explorer is over 20 years old).

Anything else might well be good hardware, but when they don't bother to write drivers for the very next version of Windows they release, it's not much use for long. I've had to bin 2 MS webcams and at least one fingerprint scanner for lack of updated Windows drivers.

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[Ol Olsoc]

very decent stuff actually, for the most part, imho. And I suppose if that remains the case, it doesn't really matter whether the label says Microsoft.

Agreed. I've always preferred the Microsoft mice, and now use their BT mice, Aside from just working well and good battery life, the colors end up being important. I have several different computers at my office desk, and I use a color code to figure which mouse goes with which.

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[bippy2]

This. For a number of years in the mid-90s, the Microsoft Mouse was the best product that Microsoft sold. I never cared for their ergonomic keyboards, personally, but they were good, long-lasting products.

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[avandesande]

Yeah, I had a MS optical mouse for years, it was one of the best when they were new technology.

dang

[danda]

I better go order another MS Natural keyboard while I can since the leather has worn off mine.

Please keep the Intellimouse

[jonwil]

My current mouse is a Microsoft Classic Intellimouse and I love it. I hope that when this one dies, I can get another of the same because its one of the best mice I have ever used...

I hope Microsoft keeps the Intellimouse around (even if its renamed or something).

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[bugs2squash]

Mine too, I was hoping that buying a mouse every 15 years was going to be enough to keep them a strong viable product line, but I guess they got greedy.

Now what

[Numlock586]

Now what, have to find another provider because logitech when to the dumpster

The only thing M$ ever made

[RitchCraft]

The only thing Microsoft ever made that I honestly like are the mice, the simple $20 three button optical scroll mouse being the best (using a white one right now). I have a crap-ton of them laying around that I've acquired over the years from companies and people upgrading their systems, so I'll never run out. Rebranding using the Surface name is confusing. Surface is crap, why associate a good product with that?

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[bippy2]

This, right here.

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[JThundley]

Yeah this makes no sense from Microsoft, the company famous for naming things intuitively. They went from Xbox to Xbox 360 to Xbox One. They went from Windows 3.1 to 95 to 98 to 2000 to Millenium to XP to Vista to 7 to 8 to 9 (JK LMAO) to 10 to 11.

Also it's hilarious that the best thing a software company makes is hardware.

Peripheral hardware is the best Microsoft ever did

[Arnonyrnous Covvard]

Should've called themselves Microhard.

Bad, bad idea

[mattb47]

This seems to be an exceptionally bad idea.

Less informed customers are going to think Microsoft devices only work with Surface tablets. This will lead to reduced sales.

So likely a great day for Logitech here!

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[Voyager529]

Less informed customers are going to think Microsoft devices only work with Surface tablets.

"Oh damn...guess I'll just have to buy a new Microsoft Surface with a Microsoft365 subscription in order to use this mouse, then!"

--Some Microsoft MBA's expectation of a regular occurrence at Best Buy, probably

bluetooth

[denisbergeron]

Microsoft was the only manufacturer that make good bluetooth keyboard. I have two of them and it's my fav hardware, survive multiples computer.

I hope they continue to make good bluetooth keyboard.

Balls

[kackle]

My work mouse is a ball IntelliMouse mouse and is at least 15 years old. Did you know that ball mice use 1/5th the power of the optical ones? That must be easier on laptop battery charge... Happy Earth Day.

Cheap MS Bluetooth mice

[kaatochacha]

I have a couple of cheap MS Bluetooth travel mice, and I swear they're the only Bluetooth devices I"ve got that consistently connect without ever any errors.
They just work. Call them CrapMice, I don't care, I'll still buy them.

But those are their best products!

[jonadab]

If they stop selling the stuff they make that's actually good, why would we buy from them at all any more?

all good things

[groobly]

All good things must be discontinued by idiot bean counters. I really like the MS ergonomic bt mouse, even though it has mechanical bugs that make it fail too soon. It has a great warranty. Unfortunately it will take you 4 hours of work to get them to replace a defective $30 mouse.