The Microsoft Touch Mouse looks nice. The snarky editorialized title doesn't do the blog post justice. Nowhere does Microsoft imply that these are a "new" type of input device. The article title only mentions, "New Windows 8-ready mice and keyboards..."
Just like Apple, it makes sense for Microsoft to sell accessories specific to its Surface offerings.
I can tell about Microsoft Touch Mouse (last mentioned in the article) first hand. I've been using it for about seven months, and sometimes it is annoying. Idea is great - multitouch mouse, but implementation is shaky. I'd like to call this bug "unintentional scroll".
Since its surface is touch-sensitive, it is really easy to perform unwanted tasks like scrolling, when just moving it or clicking. For example, when holding Ctrl and trying to click a link to open it in new tam, you should be really accurate. If you're not (I'm often not) it starts scrolling and with Ctrl it just zooms in and out web pages.
You can get used to it, but it happens from time to time anyway.
On the other hand, Microsoft Arc Touch mouse ir an awesome portable mouse to keep in your bag. It takes time to get used to it, but when you do, it is awesome. It fits anywhere, because of its design (flat, when switched off). It is light. It is wireless.
I don't get it. The keyboard looks like a cheapo plastic thing that offers nothing different from other cheapo plastic keyboards, and the mouse looks dreadful. Why would people choose this over a normal bluetooth keyboard/mouse?
Hope this keyboard comes with a simple 1 click shut down hot key for desktop versions, 4 clicks to shut down my PC in Preview told me that Windows 7 will be a strong runner in desktop OS for a long time yet. Mouse looks dreadful too.
Doesn't one press of the power button work? Even then, newer PCs are so power efficient that you can generally just put the PC to sleep and not bother turning it off.
Just like Apple, it makes sense for Microsoft to sell accessories specific to its Surface offerings.