1. Introduction

Today we’ll get a chance to review something different in the category of keyboards and mice. What’s so different about this combination? It’s a wireless keyboard and mouse which uses Bluetooth radio technology as opposed to your other RF based keyboard and mice in other products. Of course a Bluetooth device also uses radio frequencies to communicate with one other. The key promise of Bluetooth is the ability for different hardware devices to interoperate with one another over this open standard. To that end, Microsoft decided to utilize Bluetooth in its newest line of keyboard and mouse suites. I got a hold of one the other day to replace my existing wired system. Let’s see how they fare.

1.1 Bluetooth Technology

The Bluetooth specification is a royalty free standard that allows different devices from all over the world to communicate with one another over the 2.4GHz frequency. Of course this is an unlicensed section of the radio spectrum and we all know of many products that also use this frequency so it will be interesting to see how Bluetooth products work in conjunction with existing 2.4GHz technologies.

For the more technical individuals, Bluetooth specifies the link layer and the application layer of the wireless protocol. In short Bluetooth specifies a short range wireless protocol which is also fairly low cost and low in power. In the years to come, you should see more and more Bluetooth enabled devices such as cell phones, headsets, printers and well.. anything that can ultimately communicate.

I’ve already seen a number of Bluetooth transceivers being sold for PC’s from companies like Belkin. Hopefully we’ll have a more thorough review of this in the future.

1.2 Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth

Microsoft has had a long history in manufacturing both keyboards and mice. Their largest competitor has been Logitech which has been developing wireless desktop suites for a few years now. Microsoft only recently entered the fray with a wireless optical desktop suite and now they’ve pulled out even newer technology by utilizing Bluetooth. No doubt you will see Logitech combat this soon enough – heck check out the new MX 700 mouse.

1.3 Packaging

The keyboard and mouse suite come in a standard Microsoft cardboard box. About the only thing that makes this box unique is the big blue lettering that claims it’s for Bluetooth. Hard to miss actually.

Front of the box and	the back

Opening the box up, you’ll find that Microsoft has included a number of pieces:
- Keyboard
- Optical Mouse
- 4 AA Batteries
- Microsoft Wireless Transceiver for Bluetooth
- Microsoft Wireless Transceiver Base stand for desktops with USB connector
- Microsoft Wireless Transceiver Base for notebooks with USB connector
- Instruction Manual
- Installation CD

The insides of the box	and the contents

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