Interesting...

The Wedge is rather small... but an attention getter. MS getting back into hardware.

I like the move to Bluetooth, as the dongle system has always annoyed me.  I do wish setting up and dealing with multiple Bluetooth devices was less of a hassle, though.

True. No 'Wizard' for that, it seems.

MS never really got out of it... they've pretty much always done keyboards, mice and other PC peripherals

Microsoft should stick with software as none of that is impressive to me. But then again, neither is Windows 8, so .....

Aw I don't know, if MS does anything well it's their hardware products.  Over the years I've purchased a number of Microsoft hardware items and they've all been well made quality products that have outlasted similar pieces from other manufacturers.  I still have a MS keyboard and mouse combo that I bought in 2004, and 8 years later it still performs without missing a beat... something I cannot say for other brands I've tried.  Their webcams are good as well.

That's how I felt about Win 8... until I found that I could completely eradicate Metro and use 8 as I do Win 7.  Sure, it'd be better if it worked that way right out of the box and you didn't have to rely on 3rd party apps to make it that way, but once I installed Winstep Xtreme to enable all my shortcuts and access points, etc. - not to mention restoring the start button and menu - it was like being back in Win 7 only faster.

True, that Metro abomination should be consigned to Hell in an express elevator, but underneath it, there's a decent OS that functions pretty well once you configure it to your needs.

This , for me is one of the biggest drawback to Touch enabled devices.  Sure, they are "trendy" and portable but then you need some good old-fashioned peripherals to have control in a more traditional/usable manner. I see 3 things one would need to lug around instead of one laptop, all requiring charging and/or batteries. It's not so portable if you have to carry a bag full of parts, chargers and supplies with you.

Touch phones make sense although I don't own one and will fit in your pocket but tablet "computers" (I use the term very loosely) are underpowered,under equipped and overpriced toys, IMHO.

As for Touch screens themselves. Are you kidding?  Every laptop I've had in for repair comes to me with a filthy screen. Most users are either too afraid or too lazy to clean the thing, even if it is almost unusable.  Better make the next gen of tablets dishwasher safe.

WindowSteamBlog! <grin>

I thought this was about some new Microsoft hardware not what someone thinks about Win 8.  I was hoping to get some new information not \s. 

As to Microsoft keyboards and mice I have yet found anything that can beat them for durability, but that just me.

If they would get a fully functional trackpad like the iMacs have I'd buy it in a second.

Their keyboards and mice have held up pretty good for me.

And yeah, I'm gonna buy a $2000 monitor with hi def, color and 3D and then smear my fingers over it all day.  Morons.

My thoughts exactly!   Besides, I still prefer the mouse and keyboard option anyhow.  Despite touch technology supposedly being faster and more direct, I don't want to sit that close to my monitor, within arms reach.  No, I prefer to sit back farther than that and see all of my 32" screen without having to turn my head to view both sides. I mean, what's the point of having a large screen if you can't sit back to enjoy it.

It may be alright for a pad device or notebook sitting on your lap, but I imagine tired and aching arms would be the likely result when using touch in a desktop environment.  Nope, it's not for me!

So don't?  MS isn't forcing anyone to use touch.

I know I'm not going to.

Not sure how Win8 will handle it, but you might look into something like this:

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/mice-pointers/mice/8417

Thanks for the heads up, Rosco_P, that Logitech device looks rather interesting indeed.

Not just you....I recently bought 2 more Intellimouse Explorers....the 'big' things that are more comfortable....model 1007.

The old one was getting old....the 'rubber' surfaces had gone a bit tacky.... and the new ones were half the price of the original at the time....

And I bought a second [spare] diNovo Edge [though that's Logitech]....again half the price of what it was....