Microsoft Arc Wireless Keyboard for PC and Xbox 360 - Black

by Microsoft

• Revolutionary ergonomic design
• Features 4 programmable buttons

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 12.6 x 0.9 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002VR6A9K
• Item model number: J5D-00001
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (337 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #56 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Computer Accessories > Keyboards
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

Color: Black

From the Manufacturer

Overview:

Style that works. Meet the Arc Keyboard - with beautiful curves and a compact design, it's at home wherever you are.

Features:

Clean lines and eye-catching shape

Show it off - complement your style.

Lightweight and compact

A perfect fit wherever you use it - here, there, anywhere.

Stowable Nano Transceiver

Be free, with wireless freedom.

• 2.4 GHz wireless
• On-off function
• Battery status indicator

System Requirements:

• Windows 7/Windows Vista/Windows XP
• or Mac OS X v10.4-10.6x
• USB 2.0
• 2 AAA batteries (included)

Product Description

Style that works. Meet the Arc Keyboard with beautiful curves and a compact design, it's at home wherever you are. Show it off - complement your style, a perfect fit wherever you use it. Be free with wireless freedom - 2.4 GHz wireless with On-off function.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 91 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Microsoft Arc Wireless Keyboard Light & Sexy March 14, 2010

By MKT

Color Name:Black

Microsoft Arc Wireless Keyboard Light & Sexy
I tried this keyboard for a week, this Arc keyboard is much lighter and slightly smaller than Logitech K340, very compact with a very sexy arch, I'm not a heavy typist so I got all the keys that I needed,
Although I used Photoshop & publishing program more than any other program, I find it easier to navigate with the Logitech K340 because of the full separated arrow keys, the combined arrow key on the Arc works, but needed getting use to. Aside from no number pads and cap lock indicator, this is an amazing keyboard from Microsoft, it's a keeper for me, and hits my soft spots for sexy compact keyboards.

Pros:
Super compact & light, even lighter than Logitech K340
Nice Soft Edges
Arched typing surface is very user friendly
On & off key is nice
Small & concealed almost compact receiver
Better battery Life (Still too early to know)
USB plug and play, no software require
Clean with no complicated special multimedia keys
Find this receiver from responsive than Logitech K340, need more time to really know.

Cons:
Glossy Black finish is nice but it's a thumb prints magnet (but easy to clean LOL) same as Logitech K340.
No Unifying Receiver to combine with Arc Mouse, less USB clutters.
Some key location needs getting use to, same as Logitech K340.
No Cap Lock light indicator.
Combined arrow key is a letdown.
No number pad.

Conclusion:
One of the best compact keyboard around, very similar to Logitech K340t's, but lighter and more compact, K340 feels too heavy next to it, Good job Microsoft !
Its better than: SlimBlade Media Set & Logitech DiNovo Keyboard.
For the heavy typist, I recommend try it out first before getting one.

U Wish !
Universal unifying receiver for less clutters...one for all manufacturer, WHY NOT !!!
Optional number pad with separated arrow keys.

92 of 101 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Keyboard July 15, 2010

By George

Color Name:Black

A: Let it be known that I am not a gamer nor am I a MAC user. If I were either I would have purchased differently as this keyboard is not designed with gamers or MAC users in mind. Furthermore, I find it rather disconcerting when gamers purchase products clearly not designed with the gamer in mind. Clearly, there are many products on the market designed specifically for gamers. I have no doubt that if I purchased a gaming keyboard and gave it 2 stars because it had all these bells and whistles for which I had no use and only served to convolute the layout, I would be overwhelmed with the onslaught of outraged gamers politely telling me to purchase something else designed for non-gaming.

B: I've been using this keyboard for several days and I'm completely satisfied. The arrow key, however, takes just a little getting used to but was expected because I had sense enough to look at the photo before I made my purchase and decided, although I love using my arrow keys, the remaining features make the purchase worth it.

C: I purchased this key board because, as it was described, it is compact, light weight, and wireless. I wanted such a keyboard and with no mouse as I already have several to which I have grown accustomed. Moreover, I can use this with either my desktop or my laptop. I may purchase another just to use for my desktop. Sure, I would like a keyboard and mouse combo; however, I have yet to find a set that I like. Nevertheless, I like this keyboard. I do not like the arc mouse. I like that I can purchase them separately.

D: So far I can say that I like the responsiveness of this keyboard. It is tight with little noise but just enough feedback noise to let you know you are hitting the keys. The keys themselves are well spaced and firmly positioned. The design is somewhat ergonomic; good or bad I cannot attest as I am not a traditional typist, although I can hold my own if I can look at the keys while I type. It has a nano USB transceiver that also stores conveniently on the underside of the keyboard. It is equipped with PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End, mute, volume up and volume down; one Ctrl, two Alt buttons, a Function (Fn) button to activate f7 through f12, power, ins, and print screen; all the keys I've ever needed with the exception of the arrow key - its one key for all four directions.

E: While many a consumer might think of a plethora of uses for which this keyboard might come in handy, I use this keyboard to type documents and surf the web. This keyboard has not locked up on me nor has it demonstrated any delay in response. It comes with a brief manual that explains how to turn it on and off (Fn+Esc). Windows recognized it immediately and I was typing in seconds with no trouble. Obviously, no troubleshooting guide is needed as there is nothing you can do in terms of software or hardware adjustments or corrections. It either works or it doesn't. There is no software tweak that I know of that will magically enable the use of this keyboard if it is not recognized by your computer as it uses standard keyboard protocols for most operating systems. It is a Microsoft product. If I were a Mac user and need troubleshooting instructions to enable the use of my hardware, I would not be very computer savvy. I might even consider myself computer illiterate. If I had any common sense I would not buy a Microsoft product for my Mac, but I digress.

F: Lastly, I went to the other side of my apartment and into the next room and was still able to input with no delay. Thus, I have no placement problems. I hope this review was helpful.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine compact keyboard October 6, 2010

By Colin Creitz

Color Name:Black

This is a really nice keyboard. The keys have a good amount of travel, some click, and good tactile feedback. Every key is reachable without moving the hands. The four-way arrow key switch surprised me - I expected to really dislike it, but instead I find myself wishing every keyboard had one, maybe in addition to regular arrow keys. It's really fast for navigating text and saves a lot of hand movement. The curvature of the keyboard is very natural and didn't disrupt my touch-typing at all.

The keyboard doesn't have:
a right-side Ctrl key, so Ctrl-Alt-Del is necessarily a two-handed operation, and Ctrl-arrow is a little awkward
a Break key... which probably bothers no one other than me, but I really miss it
a hard F8 or F10 key - F7-F12 are Fn-key chords, and so my often-used Shift-F10 is a three-key chord
a Menu key, which would have mitigated lack of hard F10

My employers arranged for an ergonomist to come in and see if I could alter my behavior to minimize my risk of RSIs. I'm very keyboard-centric, so mostly she watches me type for a while. Then she asks, "Have you considered a compact keyboard?"

I hadn't. I've been touch-typing for 25 years! Change is scary. I tried several compact devices before settling on this one, which I've been using as my only work keyboard for two weeks now. It's very pleasant, and I can recommend it with little reservation.