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By James E. Powell
Imagine the key-board as the centerpiece of your system. Or a mouse that can execute macros. No longer content to remain at the periphery of your PC, high-powered mice and keyboards are clamoring for attention.
"The Microsoft Natural Keyboard changed everything," said Steve Baker, director of channel sales at Key Tronic. "It was a high-valued [$99] product and sold an incredible number of units; [besides a] strong name and Windows 95, it gave customers a reason to buy a replacement keyboard besides just spilling Coke on it." Long known as a major player in the OEM market, Key Tronic is entering the retail arena with a product blitz for its Lifetime series.
With customers looking for added value, Key Tronic is offering integrated Logitech trackballs in some keyboards, touchpads in others and a series of infrared models, all with lifetime warranties.
And that's just the beginning. Key Tronic is working with Intel on Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology so your keyboard can serve as the hub for four to six peripherals, fingerprint recognition for secure transactions on the Net and better ergonomics.
And Key Tronic isn't alone. According to Beth Johnson, senior product manager at Kensington, retail purchasing is definitely on an upswing, thanks in part to systems that have substandard keyboards. In particular, users want high-end features not found in bundled products-pen-based input devices and graphics tablets, for example. Kensington offers sophisticated driver software and applications that provide extra functionality for mice and trackballs.
Software can also be the distinguishing feature in keyboards. For example, Mind Path Technologies' wireless, 86-key keyboards include some 20 special effects, such as the ability to zoom in on a selected section during a presentation.
But there's a caveat: Will we now see "mouse and keyboard extra" in tiny print, the way some retailers tout Windows PCs at low prices-with "monitor extra"?
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