Microsoft Extends Its PC Accessories Lineup

Staff -- TWICE, 4/6/2009

Redmond, Wash. — Microsoft's hardware group entered a new category of notebook accessories last month with the introduction of the notebook-cooling base.

The base has a slim 1.16-inch-thick profile with a built-in fan and a cooling channel to prevent overheating and is contoured to rest on either a desk or a user's laps, providing a comfortable typing angle, the company said. It is USB powered and a cable-management clip is included.

The notebook-cooling base will be available in July in white or black for an estimated retail of $29.95.

Microsoft also announced that it will begin offering its popular Arc mouse in four special edition colors: deep olive green, marine blue, eggplant purple and frost white.

The Arc mouse, which was released last September, has a collapsible design that folds to reduce the mouse's size. Flipping the mouse shut automatically turns the power off to save battery life.

The new colorful Arcs are available for a suggested retail of $49.95

The products are backed by a three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft.