The increasingly high level of popularity enjoyed by portable computing systems, most of which also feature built-in Bluetooth modules, has led hardware manufacturers and designers in a whole new direction, allowing them to develop a whole new range of peripherals based exactly on the aforementioned wireless standard. And one of the latest big names in the industry to provide such a product is none other that Microsoft, who's just unveiled its slimmest keyboard ever, the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000.

Microsoft claims that the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 is just a few mm thicker than an AAA battery and that it tapers down toward the front, so that it is light and easy to pick up. And to enable the small footprint to still deliver ultimate comfort, the keyboard uses a Comfort Curve design for a more ergonomic typing experience over the straight keyboard layout of notebook computers. For those of you not familiar with the Comfort Curve concept, you should know that it encourages natural wrist posture with a slight 6-degree curve that is easy to use with virtually no learning curve.

Accompanying the Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 is a stand-alone Bluetooth Number Pad that can be used with the keyboard or by itself to help increase productivity. The number pad comes with a carrying case for added portability and also will be available in a stand-alone version.

"The design tenets of compact, clean and refined really set the stage for the success of the keyboard," said Chris Kujawski, industrial designer for Microsoft Hardware. "There is nothing extraneous about the design. We removed everything that didn't fit with those ideas and ended up with something we're really proud of -- a compact, sophisticated keyboard that pairs perfectly with Bluetooth computers."

Both the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 and the Bluetooth Number Pad will be available in October 2009 for an estimated retail price of $89.95 and $44.95, which are not exactly some very low price points, but they're probably worth it, all things considered.


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