Microsoft Hardware Unveils New Technology

Kuala Lumpur, October 16, 2008 - Microsoft Corp. today unveiled in Malaysia thrilling new products that are at the cutting edge of style, function and mobility.

These products are: Microsoft Explorer Mouse, Explorer Mini Mouse, Arc Mouse, SideWinder X6 Keyboard and LifeCam Show.

Say Hello to BlueTrack
Microsoft Hardware has introduced the world’s most advanced tracking technology, Microsoft BlueTrack Technology, which allows consumers to take their mice anywhere and work with confidence on more surfaces than ever before. Microsoft’s first-of-its-kind innovative tracking technology combines the width and power of optical technology with the precision of laser tracking to allow consumers to mouse on virtually any surface (except glass and mirrors)  — from a granite kitchen countertop to the living room carpet.

“Microsoft Hardware has always been at the forefront of innovation and BlueTrack Technology solidifies this position further,” said CP Chia, Senior Manager (Marketing) of ECS ASTAR Sdn Bhd, authorised distributor for Microsoft Hardware products in Malaysia. “We are very proud to be the distributor for these new Microsoft Hardware products in Malaysia and trust that they will be well received by the public,” he added.

Microsoft Hardware has consistently raised the bar in mouse tracking technology throughout its 26-year history, including the launch of the world’s first optical mouse in 1999. In 2005, Microsoft introduced High Definition Laser Technology, which allowed mice to work on many surfaces that optical technology did not. But now Microsoft’s in-house engineers have taken mouse tracking to the next level.

“Research shows that people aren’t sitting at a desk all day, but they’ve gone mobile. PC shipments today are being driven by laptops and consumers need a mouse that can go with them anywhere,” said Katherine Teu, Regional Marketing Manager for Microsoft Hardware in South-East Asia. “BlueTrack Technology excels in areas where optical and laser technologies were falling short. Laser mice, for example, have a difficult time working on some common home surfaces, including granite and marble.”

Microsoft’s BlueTrack Technology works on more surfaces than both optical and laser mice because it uses a much larger blue beam which captures a high-contrast picture of the mousing surface. To see a video on the making of BlueTrack Technology and meet the inventors, consumers can visit http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/bluetrack.

Explorer Mouse and Explorer Mini Mouse
BlueTrack Technology will debut in two new high-end Microsoft mouse products this year — the full-size Explorer Mouse and the smaller Explorer Mini Mouse. These mice pair revolutionary tracking technology with a sophisticated design that brings the mice to life. A chrome trim and blue lighting around the bottom rim of the mouse create a soft glow and set the device apart from anything else on the market.

A right-handed, ergonomist-approved design offers hours of comfortable use, and 2.4GHz wireless technology delivers a reliable connection up to 30 feet away. The snap-in minitransceiver offers easy storage and mobility, allowing consumers to take their full-size mouse with them wherever they need it.

Microsoft Arc Mouse
Microsoft Corp. today raised the style stakes with the unveiling of a revolutionary crescent-moon-shaped mouse designed to be just as fashionable as it is functional — the Arc Mouse. With its unique foldable design, Arc reduces by almost half for portability when it is snapped shut, but provides complete comfort when opened to its full size.

The Arc Mouse’s elegant, foldable shape allows it to easily slip into any bag while on the go, and expand to a comfortable full size while in use. Its micro transceiver quickly snaps into the bottom of the mouse using a magnet, and is so small it sticks out less than 1 centimeter while plugged in — there is no need to remove it from a laptop while traveling. The Arc Mouse features high-end details in every aspect of its design — its strong metal hinge can be opened and closed with confidence, and testing shows that its sturdy shape can hold more than 25 pounds.

Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard
Meet the Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard — the most versatile gaming keyboard on the market with the first-ever switchable key pad that can be attached to the left or right side of the keyboard for ultimate flexibility.

The switchable key pad makes the SideWinder X6 Keyboard ideal for gaming as well as productivity, as the key pad functions as a standard num pad in normal keyboard mode, but becomes a programmable macro pad in game mode. Complementing the unique versatility of the keyboard are features specifically designed for gaming, including the capacity to store up to 90 macros per game and dual colour backlighting that helps users get immersed in the game.

Microsoft LifeCam Show
The thinnest webcam on the market, Microsoft’s LifeCam Show features a sleek, mirrored finish and ultrathin design. It looks great with any PC, attaching with ease to a desktop or laptop computer, or even sitting on top of your desk. The LifeCam Show ships with a complete attachment system to make setting up and using the webcam a snap in a variety of different scenarios.

“Our design team has been working hard to ensure that we could fit best-in-class webcam technology into such a tiny footprint. Even at only one-half inch deep, LifeCam Show packs a mean punch with industry-leading audio and video technology,” said Ralf Groene, Industrial Design Manager at Microsoft. “We also designed these LifeCams to attach with ease to any type of PC because we know that consumers move between notebooks and desktops and back again, and they want a webcam that can move with them.”

For more in-depth product information and images:
Visit the Microsoft Hardware reviewers guide at http://www.mshardwareguide.com.

For a look at Microsoft Hardware’s past 25 years of innovation:
Visit http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/innovation/history.mspx.

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About Microsoft Hardware
For more than 25 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC.

Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, which launched in 1999, earned a place on PCWorld.com’s December 2005 list of “The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years” as the first mainstream optical mouse that “brought gunk-free pointing devices” to a broad consumer base. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.mshardwareguide.com.

About Microsoft
Microsoft (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (www.microsoft.com/malaysia) is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation and was incorporated on July 8, 1992.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.

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