By John Mark V. Tuazon
Computerworld Philippines
July 26, 2010

Software giant Microsoft is building on its software roots and spreading its wings across the horizon, setting its sight on capturing more of the hardware market as it releases several peripheral devices that make the “Windows experience” complete, a regional executive remarked Thursday.

Yet many do not know that Microsoft, easily one of the largest software companies in the world, has been in the hardware business for more than 26 years now. “Not a lot know that we’ve been doing hardware since 1982, it’s actually been quite a long time,” explained Simon Tan, senior director, entertainment and devices division, Microsoft South East Asia.

Tan claimed that the software vendor actually created the first mouse, made for use with Microsoft Word, which started the whole mouse revolution.

A quick check, however, reveals that the first mouse ever invented was by Douglas Engelbart, a computing visionary from the Stanford Research Institute, shown during a public demo in 1968. It was a one-button device with two small metal wheels that determine coordinates, housed in a wooden enclosure, and adequately fits the grip of an average person’s hand.

It can therefore be argued that Microsoft’s claim was that of the invention of a commercially available and functional mouse. Still, Tan maintained, the company has been in the hardware business for a long time now, “it’s just that we did not really expand in a big way.”

Tan said their beefed-up hardware offerings are extensions of the Windows experience, as these devices are “the actual touching aspect of Windows, because they allow people to feel Windows through their mice and keyboards.”

Speaking of touch, the Microsoft executive revealed that they have a number of projects in the pipeline that will be built around this emerging technology. “Now, there’s a lot [of vendors and users who are into] touch technology. We’re also exploring that technology, but I can’t reveal the details yet,” he pointed out.

Despite this fresh focus on touch, Tan said the company has no plans as of the moment to release its own Tablet PC. “We have no plans as of the moment for that segment, so I can’t comment on that,” he stressed.

It can be remembered that Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer touted Hewlett Packard’s Slate as its tablet offering during this year’s CES, but the deal apparently didn’t fall through after the latter ditched Windows 7 and acquired the dying smartphone pioneer Palm, to allegedly use its WebOS mobile operating system for their tablet lineup.

Tablet or not, Microsoft is bent on making a dent in the local hardware devices market, as it teams up with MSI-ECS to exclusively distribute its hardware peripherals to the local market.

MSI-ECS has a long-standing relationship with the software firm, according to Tan. “MSI-ECS is one of the largest distributors in the Philippines, with a very large network of sales and marketing, and are very much established in the market,” Tan related.

One of the foremost offering borne out of the partnership is Microsoft’s wireless mouse which uses BlueTrack technology, a first-of-its-kind innovative tracking technology which combines the width and power of optical technology with the precision of laser tracking.

Debuting in September 2008, BlueTrack Technology is now available in eight Microsoft mice to suit different tastes and needs. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level mouse like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500, a sporty design like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 or go to the extreme with the SideWinder X8 Mouse, there’s a BlueTrack mouse to suit your taste and demands.

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