Microsoft announced today their first keyboard/mouse combo designed especially for the Mac, the Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac. From what I've seen on the spec page, the combo uses an RF signal to communicate with the devices. Now that every Mac ships with built-in Bluetooth (and has had it optional for a long time), why not use Bluetooth? With the proprietary dongle you lose a USB port and you have at least one cable coming out of your machine. Bluetooth eliminates both of these problems (though a dongle/charger is useful for charging the mouse) but Microsoft went for the easiest way of getting into the Apple Stores instead of giving customers something really useful.
As someone who has been using a Logitech MX900 for the past two years, I'm surprised neither Logitech nor Microsoft have come out with a true replacement for it yet. My MX900 is pretty beat up from sitting at the bottom of my backpack on many trips and it recently lost a button due to some tinkering. What's out there to replace it? There are plenty of Bluetooth mice out there (most of them travel-sized, though), but none of them have a charger base! Until one comes along, I'll stick with my banged and bruised MX900 for the PowerBook and the nice but corded Mighty Mouse on the iMac.
Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Wireless Laser Desktop, keyboard, mouse, wireless, Bluetooth, Mighty Mouse, Logitech, MX900, RF, Mac, Apple
