Microsoft hardware

Microsoft Corporation has been selling branded hardware since 1980,[1][2][3] and developing devices in-house since 1982, when the Microsoft Hardware division was formed[4] to design a computer mouse for use with Microsoft Word for DOS. Since then, Microsoft has developed computer hardware, gaming hardware[5] and mobile hardware. It also produced drivers and other software for integrating the hardware with Microsoft Windows.

In April 2023, Microsoft announced that it would discontinue the production of most branded PC accessories, electing to focus solely on Microsoft Surface-branded products (which are aimed at a high-end market).[6] In January 2024, Microsoft announced an agreement with Incase, under which it would license designs for a number of its existing hardware products (including its mice, keyboard, and webcam designs), and provide it with access to its existing supply chains. These products will be marketed under the Incase branding moving forward, but will carry a "designed by Microsoft" tagline.[7]

  1. ^ Lock, Robert (May–June 1980). "An Apple Breakthru". Compute!. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Z-80 Board Puts CP/M on Apple". InfoWorld. 2 (6). Popular Computing: 3. April 28, 1980. ISSN 0199-6649. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017.
  3. ^ "Seminar Spills Negotiating Secrets". InfoWorld. 2 (21). Popular Computing: 24. November 24, 1980. ISSN 0199-6649. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Unsure of the demand for the product, Microsoft took a prototype to the last West Coast Computer Faire
  4. ^ Cargile, Andy; Fry, Ken (2008), "Managing the Evolution of Microsoft's Hardware Business", in Lockwood, Thomas; Walton, Thomas (eds.), Building Design Strategy: Using Design to Achieve Key Business Objectives, Allworth Communications, p. 87, ISBN 978-1-58115-653-9, The Microsoft Hardware Division was founded in 1982 on the principle of deep integration of hardware with software.
  5. ^ Cargile, Andy; Fry, Ken (2008), "Managing the Evolution of Microsoft's Hardware Business", in Lockwood, Thomas; Walton, Thomas (eds.), Building Design Strategy: Using Design to Achieve Key Business Objectives, Allworth Communications, p. 87, ISBN 978-1-58115-653-9, The division was originally charged with creating the company's first mouse compatible with Microsoft Word. [...] the 1990s saw an expanding variety of products, including PC keyboards, gaming joysticks and gamepads, a cordless telephone system, PC audio speakers, and trackball devices.
  6. ^ Warren, Tom (2023-04-27). "Microsoft's mice, keyboards, and webcams are being discontinued in favor of Surface accessories". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  7. ^ Warren, Tom (2024-01-05). "Microsoft's keyboards and mice will live on under a unique new partnership". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-01-05.