Microsoft Releases The Wedge

When Microsoft first announced the Wedge Touch mouse for Windows 8, plenty of people wondered whether the blunt, flipper-shaped device was actually practical. Its accompanying keyboard, meanwhile, looked unusually small, with a magnetized rubber cover that folded into a tablet stand. Depending on who you asked, it was bold, gimmicky, or both. Windows 8 is still months away, but I got a chance to try out the new $69.99 mouse and $79.99 keyboard.
Despite being small, neither the mouse nor the keyboard felt cramped. The key tray is a couple inches smaller than that of my 15-inch laptop, but there’s no bezel or other empty space around it. Instead, it’s bounded with a round-cornered metal band that fits neatly against the cover. There’s no space between the keys themselves, either. If you’re as used to chiclet keys as I am, the decision to forgo them means you’ll have to get used to less clear delineation between letters. On the other hand, it also means each key gets a bit more real estate, and the design fits well with the compact aesthetic. On the brushed-metal underside, a rubber wedge holds the pairing key and two AAA batteries.

The mouse follows the same basic cues, but its shape is understandably confusing at first. It’s more or less a trackpad placed on a black rounded wedge, with metal caps on either end. Once you actually start using it, though, it’s relatively comfortable.
The mouse also supports four-way swiping to scroll, a feature that’s a little less consistent. Horizontal swipes work well, as does downward scrolling, but trying to scroll back up produces uncomfortable friction or pushes the mouse across the desk.