Microsoft hardware

{{short description|Overview of hardware branded by Microsoft}}

Microsoft Corporation has been selling branded hardware since 1980,{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1980-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_004_1980_May_Jun#page/n7/mode/2up | title=An Apple Breakthru | work=Compute! | date=May–June 1980 | access-date=25 October 2013 | author=Lock, Robert |page=6}}{{cite journal | title = Z-80 Board Puts CP/M on Apple | journal = InfoWorld | volume = 2 | issue = 6 | page = 3 | publisher = Popular Computing | date = April 28, 1980 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Wj4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT2 | issn = 0199-6649 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170314155224/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wj4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT2 | archive-date = March 14, 2017 | df = mdy-all }}{{cite journal | title = Seminar Spills Negotiating Secrets | journal = InfoWorld | volume = 2 | issue = 21 | page = 24 | publisher = Popular Computing | date = November 24, 1980 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mT4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT23 | issn = 0199-6649 | quote = Unsure of the demand for the product, Microsoft took a prototype to the last West Coast Computer Faire | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170314141224/https://books.google.com/books?id=mT4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT23 | archive-date = March 14, 2017 | df = mdy-all }} and developing devices in-house since 1982, when the Microsoft Hardware division was formed

{{Citation

| last1 = Cargile

| first1 = Andy

| last2 = Fry

| first2 = Ken

| publication-date = 2008

| contribution = Managing the Evolution of Microsoft's Hardware Business

| editor-last = Lockwood

| editor-first = Thomas

| editor2-last = Walton

| editor2-first = Thomas

| title = Building Design Strategy: Using Design to Achieve Key Business Objectives

| publisher = Allworth Communications

| page = 87

| isbn = 978-1-58115-653-9

| quote = The Microsoft Hardware Division was founded in 1982 on the principle of deep integration of hardware with software.

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=B5tZkKg5v20C }} to design a computer mouse for use with Microsoft Word for DOS. Since then, Microsoft has developed computer hardware, gaming hardware{{Citation

| last1 = Cargile

| first1 = Andy

| last2 = Fry

| first2 = Ken

| publication-date = 2008

| contribution = Managing the Evolution of Microsoft's Hardware Business

| editor-last = Lockwood

| editor-first = Thomas

| editor2-last = Walton

| editor2-first = Thomas

| title = Building Design Strategy: Using Design to Achieve Key Business Objectives

| publisher = Allworth Communications

| page = 87

| isbn = 978-1-58115-653-9

| quote = 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.

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=B5tZkKg5v20C }} 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).{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2023-04-27 |title=Microsoft's mice, keyboards, and webcams are being discontinued in favor of Surface accessories |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/27/23700998/microsoft-keyboard-mouse-webcam-discontinued-surface-brand |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=The Verge |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2024-01-05 |title=Microsoft's keyboards and mice will live on under a unique new partnership |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/5/24026323/microsoft-incase-partnership-keyboards-accessories-partnership |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=The Verge |language=en}}