Microsoft WIRELESS ENTERTAINMENT DESKTOP 8000 [Microsoft WED8000]

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INTRODUCTION

After having given up during several years the crenel of the top-of-the-range keyboards, the material division of Microsoft signed last year sound great return on this market with the arrival of Wireless Entertainement Desktop, of the kits keyboards mouse/without top-of-the-range wire potentially able to make shade in famous DiNovo de Logitech. Whereas Microsoft announced there is one year Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 and 8000, only model 7000 had been born, his/her big brother having undergone grinds delays.

One year after its advertisement, Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is born finally! Ultra top-of-the-range, this new keyboard before is very designed for the systems Media Center and besides it takes again the majority of the functions of model 7000 with however significant improvements. Refillable, Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is also equipped with rétroéclairées keys and a sensor of ambient light. A must to view its films in its living room? Does DiNovo Edge de Logitech have concern to be done?

Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000: design and principal keys

Taking again the purified design of its predecessor, the keyboard Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000 is ultra end, its thickness never not exceeding the two centimetres. With a slightly round form and a provision of the keys in (very light) arc of circle, the last-born child of the Microsoft keyboards appeals, like Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 7000, with technology radio operator Bluetooth. He uses for his zone of striking of the keys initially designed for the portable computers with a suspension with microphone-hinges. The aficionados of the portable touch will thus be charmed by the touch of Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000, a soft, dynamic touch and which more is relatively quiet. Side of the dress, Microsoft proposes a coating silver plated to us with, at the top, a brushed aluminium preparing and a Microsoft logo covering in money letters. Puts back wrists offers as for him a silky touch, but its size is far too reduced and in fact nothing comparable with full has puts back aluminium wrists which one finds on DiNovo EDGE.

To go hand in hand with the silver plated coating of its keyboard, Microsoft equips it with so silver plated keys they. Better, those are and a sensor of ambient light automatically starts their lighting according to the current luminosity of the part. As if this refinement were not enough, Microsoft equips its keyboard with a sensor of proximity: as soon as you approach the keyboard, this one gets under way and lights whereas it dies out when you move away. If DiNovo EDGE of Logitech has a well, only the function keys benefit from it and no automatic ignition system is alas present on the top-of-the-range keyboard of Switzerland. Who more is, on our Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000, not only keys AZERTY are, but also the entirely sensitive key, function keys let us recall it since the ribbon of short cuts overhanging the mechanical keys is him entirely tactile.

Deprived of dedicated numeric keypad, just like DiNovo EDGE, the keyboard of Microsoft have all the same a numerical zone of seizure which one activates via a simultaneous pressure on key FN and button 6: certain keys of letter are transformed then into numerical keys as on a portable. As it was the case on model 7000, model 8000 sees its keys pages following/preceding or origin/fine arranged in an original way one nothing. Indeed, one finds laid out with the vertical a Suppr button and two keys following page and preceding page. The other buttons, like origin or end are them relegated on the end of the ribbon lodging the tactile keys of function, after the short cut of impression of screen and that of pause. To note with the passage that contrary to Logitech, Microsoft with the good idea not to relegate the button activating the contextual menu to an optional key: this one is always physically present at the right-hand side of the bar of space!

Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000: the short cuts multimedia, the touchpad

On both sides of the zone of striking, we find the keys multi-media with in premium an integrated touchpad. As on Wireless Entertainment Keyboard7000, the small last of Microsoft proposes on its right section a tactile zone of control of the pointer with in its center a button OK. The buttons left click and right click are on the left end of the keyboard whereas the tactile paving stone manages the tapotis for the validation. For the allergic ones, the operating mode of the tactile paving stone can be modified in order to decontaminate it to benefit only from four keys making it possible to move in the menus of its Center Media to the manner of the keys of a remote control with in premium, just in lower part of the tactile zone, a preceding button allowing as its name suggests it returning to the preceding menu…! Note that on DiNovo EDGE, the direct competitor of Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000, the touchpad cannot be used at other end only the control of the pointer. Since we evoke the problems of MediaCenter, will know that green a Windows button is present on the right section of the keyboard and makes it possible to launch the Center Media of Windows whereas various short cuts are present on the other side of the keyboard to regulate volume, to change chain, to activate the silencing device mode, to program a recording, to engage the reading or the pause or to move from one piece to another.

To the keys purely multimedias are added some additional keys. The Windows button activating the menu to start or being used for certain short cuts is replaced here by a circular button placed at the center of puts back wrists and raising the colors of Windows.Its operation is identical to that of any key Windows of any keyboard, the style moreover. Microsoft also proposes a button Windows Live Call giving access quickly its list of contacts Windows Live Messenger in order to pass a phone call whereas a button magnifying glass makes it possible to activate the zoom in its documents and that a button gadgets opens the gadgets of Windows Vista.

Let us announce that as on the majority of the keyboards, the function keys F1 in F12 propose all one second option, that one activates by pressing short cut FN. One will announce in particular the possibility of assigning his own short cuts or favourites to the F5 keys to F9. You will be able to thus define the access to Clubic.com on the F5 key. Contrary to Wireless Entertainement Desktop 7000, model 8000 has four diodes announcing the state of the keys: active numerical locking or not, locking capital letter credit or not, touchpad in pointer mode or mode operates by remote control. It is practical and rather well considering!

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A refillable keyboard!

Until now, we did not evoke the mode of food of Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000. And due, since this one is for the first time at refillable Microsoft. Whereas DiNovo EDGE was the first keyboard without refillable wire, Microsoft arrives one year afterwards with a similar, but different solution in its implementation. Whereas Logitech selected a battery Lithium-Ion integrated into the keyboard, Microsoft chooses four rechargeable batteries with the format LR6 which one inserts on both sides of the top of the keyboard. Naturally, there is no question of removing the piles to reload them. Not the keyboard slips under the base of refill provided by Microsoft. This one is rather elegant and has two contactors which come effleurer those from Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000 whereas a magnet ensures the good positioning of the keyboard under its base.

Contrary to Logitech, the keyboard is not reloaded in driving, but horizontal position: it is thus still usable during the refill. Intelligently conceived, the base of refill of Microsoft integrates a base to reload the mouse delivered with the keyboard and better still a hub four ports USB 2.0! One of the ports however is dedicated to accomodate the Bluetooth key delivered by Microsoft and used for the communication with the keyboard and the mouse. Connecting itself in USB to the PC, the power pack of the base is to be connected on cable USB and not directly on the history basis to reduce the number of apparent wire on your desk.

In order to control the level of the piles, will know that the keyboard has a visual indicator which is located in its top right at the top of the keys F7 and F8 and which will be illuminated of red when the piles are empty (it ignites in green at the time of the refill). Let us specify finally, that a button located at the back of the keyboard makes it possible to extinguish this last completion.

A mouse… already seen!

Whereas Logitech made the choice deliver its naked top-of-the-range keyboard, without mouse, Microsoft accompanies its unit Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 by a mouse. It is here about Wireless Laser Mouse 8000, a well-known model which is also delivered with unit 7000. Supplied with a rechargeable battery, the mouse Wireless Laser Mouse 8000 adopts an ambidextrous form which makes it usable as well by the left-handeds person by the droitiers. Alternating the nuances of gray, it is provided with a brushed aluminium hull, but this one is worked in a different way compared to first Wireless Laser Mouse 8000 since it is chechmate and not shining.

Equipped with two buttons of click, the mouse comprises on each one of its ends an additional button, one falling under the inch, the other under the annular one, whereas one finds the famous multidirectional serrated roller of Microsoft at the top of the machine. This one is always also unpleasant since it is not notched, but Microsoft persists and signs in its error… Provided with a witness of operation which flickers in red when the level of the battery is too low, the mouse can be completely extinct thanks to the button goes/stop present under its shoe. With its four Teflon shoes, the mouse slips relatively well and its laser sensor of a definition of 1000 points per inch ensures of the precise and fast movements.

Conclusion

Although in delay of almost twelve months, Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 signs indeed the great return of Microsoft on the top-of-the-range keyboards. Ultra-end, magnificiently beautiful, technologically advanced, Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000 is of not to be doubted the ideal keyboard to accompany its Center Media. It does better than its direct competitor DiNovo EDGE, and this, on practically all the points while innovating with a complete of its keys or a sensor of light and a detector of luminosity.

Refillable, Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 8000 there too has the good taste of the intelligence: rather than to provide a base which forces to put the keyboard in driving position for the refill making it unusable, Microsoft proposes a base under which the keyboard slips. This last remainder thus in horizontal position whereas it is completely operational. Better the base in question acts as base of refill for the mouse and comprises ports USB!

Intended to facilitate the life of the users of Center Media thanks to its well thought and thus essential short cuts, Wireless Entertainment Keyboard allured by its touchpad which gets an excellent control of the pointer to the screen whereas navigation in the menus can be done as with a remote control Media Center of a simple click. With its comfortable ultra striking and its enough successful ergonomics, the last keyboard of Microsoft does not miss assets to be essential. Damage however that the mouse is slightly in withdrawal since Microsoft does not want to still hear reason on the crantage of the serrated roller. As for the price, it is naturally with the height of this technological jewel since it will be necessary for you to spend in the appox. Rs. 16500 for you to equip some.