The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 1 of 6 (Channel 9)

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 1 of 6

Posted: Sep 21, 2009 at 9:30 AM

By: Larry Larsen

(7)

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4 Comments

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You may have heard that Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD. Over the coming days you'll see the model shop (with all the really cool upcoming stuff hidden, sorry), the Wireless Lab, the Video Lab, the Reliability Lab, and the Acoustic Lab.

Today we're going to start with the Mouse Tracking Lab where mice are tested across a number of surfaces at various speeds and heights.

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Sabot My name is Dave Oliver. I'm a CTO

Sep 21, 2009 at 9:51 AM

This is going to be a very interesting set of video's if the first one is anything to go by.

I was surprised that the range of tests the humble mouse under goes was that sophisticated. It has given me a little more respect for it.
wisnia Tomasz Wisniewski

Sep 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM

I agree I've been using a SideWinder X8 for two weeks now and I know how it was tested
ChrisStepaniuk

Sep 21, 2009 at 8:56 PM

I'm with you on this one. I couldn't believe the amout of test surfaces the tracking sensor goes is exposed to. Not to mention the machines used to test the poor mice. I find it funny, I know lots of users (Mac and PC) who have ditched their default keyboard/mouse their system came with in favor of Microsoft hardware.

I look forward to part 2!
kkk

Sep 24, 2009 at 6:04 AM

Hey !

I hope that in the future you will build even better illuminated keyboards.

I'm planning to buy one in the future...

And I have a preference for wired stuff.

I wonder: Can't you put a USB port of some kind on the keyboard that will accept either a transmitter or a USB cable ?

In that way it could be both wireless and wired.

And if you buy a wireless and run out of battery or you don't want it to be a wireless, you simply remove the transmitter from the keyboard and plug a USB cable in.