Incase to Re-Launch Microsoft PC Accessory Portfolio in 2024

[TheLostSwede]

Incase, a leading global design-driven carry and protection brand, today announced it will re-launch products from the Microsoft accessories portfolio in 2024. Onward Brands, the parent company of Incase, has licensed rights and associated intellectual property from the Microsoft accessories portfolio. The deal includes manufacturing components of well known Microsoft accessories, ensuring that the products stay true to the favorites that consumers enjoy and trust.

The strategic partnership allows Incase to leverage Microsoft's world-class product design and proven technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Incase will manufacture and distribute a broad suite of Microsoft accessory products including Keyboards, Mice, Webcams, Headsets and Speakers.




Best-selling products such as the Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard, Modern Mobile Mouse, Wireless Desktop 850, and Modern Webcam will be marketed under the Incase brand as "Designed by Microsoft." In addition to these existing products, Incase will debut a new ergonomic keyboard under the "Designed by Microsoft" designation.

"We are thrilled to license design and technology from the Microsoft accessory portfolio and to strategically expand our lineup of consumer tech solutions to include PC accessories," said Marshall Clark, Onward General Manager, Productivity Business Unit. "Consumers can anticipate their favorite products back on shelves in 2024 under the Incase brand as we immediately begin to transition the portfolio."

Onward Brands CEO Charlie Tebele added, "We look forward to building on the more than 30 years of outstanding product development that the Microsoft accessories business was well known for. With this product expansion, Onward will offer consumers the most comprehensive selection of accessories across our trusted brands."

Brett Ostrum, CVP Microsoft Devices, commented, "Microsoft is excited to partner with Incase to bring Microsoft-designed PC accessories that our customers love to market."

Incase products are available worldwide and at retailers including BestBuy, Amazon, and others, and online at www.incase.com. For additional information on Onward Brands, please visit www.onwardbrands.com.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Incase sock hat ?

 

[mechtech]

"microsoft" ??

Looks like Apple gear

 

[ThrashZone]

"microsoft" ??

Looks like Apple gear
View attachment 328547

Hi,
Looks like they have a bottle opener to ow they will go far with this stuff

 

[Chrispy_]

There's only one PC accessory from Microsoft that I've ever truly cared about, and it's too unpopular and/or polarising to ever make a comeback, I fear...

I know there's also an Intellimouse Explorer following from the same era, though it's never a shape I got on with very well. Aside from that, a lot of Microsoft's accessories from the last 15 years have been overpriced e-waste; Glued-together disposable stuff with form-over-function design, fast-wearing materials and iFixit repairability scores of 0/5. In trying to copy Apple, they recreated the proprietary, generationally-incompatible, anti-consumer nonsense that Apple excel at, without capturing the care, attention to detail, and marque status that Apple at least give in return.

I have hands-on experience with most of the mice and keyboards Microsoft have designed over the years and since about 2005 there's nothing I'd want to save. Some of them are passable if you can get a good price on them but that's about the nicest thing I have to say.

 

[P4-630]

"microsoft" ??

Looks like Apple gear
View attachment 328547

That apple LOL!!

 

[ZoneDymo]

wish they would make some new trackballs

 

[R-T-B]

I have a Windows NT branded swiss army knife somewhere... got it at the state surplus store from airline/customs surrenders. Always wondered who the heck requested that be made.

 

[cvaldes]

I have a Windows NT branded swiss army knife somewhere... got it at the state surplus store from airline/customs surrenders. Always wondered who the heck requested that be made.

A Windows NT marketing manager as giveaways.

All these Fortune 500 companies have promotional schwag not sold to the public as merch in a company store.

Pens are the most common since they are compact (easy to schlepp lots of them to a tradeshow) followed by the ubiquitous t-shirt and baseball cap.

Something like a knife would have been a premium promo, parsimoniously gifted to better clients, partners, vendors, etc.

Undoubtedly the Windows NT knives were produced before 9/11 and the more stringent TSA security screenings that followed. I think I have a logo penknife somewhere from a UNIX company (Sun? SGI?) from the Nineties.

I have a wood BoosBlock cutting board with a Toyota logo and a tape measure from a defunct server company. I'm certainly not one to chase after logoed schwag but I still have a few things in the house, some of which are pretty practical.

I still use an SGI mechanical pencil that has outlived the company by decades. Lol

 

[Dragokar]

I liked the LX-4000 LifeChat Headset and did not find another solution that fits me so well.

 

[ThrashZone]

"microsoft" ??

Looks like Apple gear
View attachment 328547

lol I just noticed the apple logo

Wow this was a poorly regurgitated promotion indeed incase
Well I guess they get kudos for recycling so kudos incase and ms approval team

 

[neatfeatguy]

There's only one PC accessory from Microsoft that I've ever truly cared about, and it's too unpopular and/or polarising to ever make a comeback, I fear...

View attachment 328568

I know there's also an Intellimouse Explorer following from the same era, though it's never a shape I got on with very well. Aside from that, a lot of Microsoft's accessories from the last 15 years have been overpriced e-waste; Glued-together disposable stuff with form-over-function design, fast-wearing materials and iFixit repairability scores of 0/5. In trying to copy Apple, they recreated the proprietary, generationally-incompatible, anti-consumer nonsense that Apple excel at, without capturing the care, attention to detail, and marque status that Apple at least give in return.

I have hands-on experience with most of the mice and keyboards Microsoft have designed over the years and since about 2005 there's nothing I'd want to save. Some of them are passable if you can get a good price on them but that's about the nicest thing I have to say.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. Love the black one I've got and the spare white(ish) one I have for backup. I'd love it of these came back.

 

[bonehead123]

I have a Windows NT branded swiss army knife somewhere

Yea, I used to have several of these, as a friend of mine was friends of the higher-ups @M$ marketing dept, who used to give him boxes of the stuff to give away...

And here is another vote hoping for the Intelimouse to be brought back (in a wireless version please !).... I know there have been some nicer/better mice since then, but I swear it was one of the only old-school M$ branded periphs that I really, really liked & used for many years.... in fact I may still have one in my relics parts box for some reason

 

[chstamos]

As far as hardware peripherals are concerned, Microsoft -apart from the gaming division which is quite capable- can't design itself out of a wet paperback. They've not even managed to design a friggin IR windows-hello compatible affordable webcam while pushing for windows hello adoption, the incompetents. It blows my mind that this is the same company that once gave us the revolutionary optical intellimouse.

 

[Chrispy_]

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. Love the black one I've got and the spare white(ish) one I have for backup. I'd love it of these came back.

It had the distinction of being compact for a full 105-key ergo board - something few, if any, keyboards have ever replicated.

Sure, there are smaller TKL ergo boards on the market, but when you include the integrated wrist rest which is mandatory for a true ergo board, the full size of any TKL + wrist rest + external numpad dwarfs the old MS Natural Elite.

 

[57er6uigyuholn]

There's only one PC accessory from Microsoft that I've ever truly cared about, and it's too unpopular and/or polarising to ever make a comeback, I fear...

View attachment 328568

I know there's also an Intellimouse Explorer following from the same era, though it's never a shape I got on with very well. Aside from that, a lot of Microsoft's accessories from the last 15 years have been overpriced e-waste; Glued-together disposable stuff with form-over-function design, fast-wearing materials and iFixit repairability scores of 0/5. In trying to copy Apple, they recreated the proprietary, generationally-incompatible, anti-consumer nonsense that Apple excel at, without capturing the care, attention to detail, and marque status that Apple at least give in return.

I have hands-on experience with most of the mice and keyboards Microsoft have designed over the years and since about 2005 there's nothing I'd want to save. Some of them are passable if you can get a good price on them but that's about the nicest thing I have to say.

For me it’s the original Intellimouse. I would buy 5 on the spot if they reissued them. And by reissue I mean color scheme, typeface, logo, materials. Those nice were perfection.