Microsoft Has Lost its Mind—$450 for a Keyboard, AI Button Included

[AleksandarK]

During yesterday's Microsoft Event, in addition to the new AI features and Surface devices, the company also announced its new Surface Pro Flex wireless keyboard, compatible with the Surface Pro 8, 9, 10, and 11 models. Officially called "Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen," the wireless keyboard is a $449.98 add-on keyboard that doesn't include Microsoft's Surface Slim Pen 2, only an indentation at the top of the keyboard to charge it. So, without a pen, what does the keyboard offer? According to Microsoft, up to 41 hours of continuous typing while detached, a dedicated Copilot key, and a touchpad with a vibration function for haptic feedback. The touchpad can have varying pressure levels, and applications can use it to build different functionalities.

Its thin and light design measures 289x221x5.25 mm with a weight of 340 g. The dedicated Copilot key summons the AI assistant and all the functionality Microsoft plans for its Windows 11 integration, which has been completely revamped for AI. The material choice is a Alcantara polyester-blend, which can be difficult for maintenance, and the keyboard is sold in either black or bright sapphire colors, becoming available on June 18th. Interestingly, given the name "Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen" and a price tag of $449.98, it is intriguing as to why Microsoft doesn't bundle the Surface Slim Pen 2 with the keyboard, as it is designed with a dedicated wireless charging indentation for the pen.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[euricog]

That's an awesome...

title!

 

[chrcoluk]

The migration to an Apple clone is almost complete.

 

[Caring1]

Surely that is false advertising saying "with pen" if it doesn't come with the keyboard.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

The migration to an Apple clone is almost complete.

I think this is MS's "Ludicrous Speed" moment.

 

[64K]

MS lives in a special little world all to themselves and just do whatever in the hell they want to and assume that everyone likes it.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Copilot this Copilot that.

I'm almost joining the Windows 7 holdouts in their loony bin, it's looking rather comfy.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Crazy

They expect anyone to buy these

 

[aktpu]

The SKU without the pen is $349.99. This $450 SKU includes the pen

So... fake news?

edit: don't get me wrong, this is still overpriced. Just not in the way the article tries to paint it

 

[Daven]

The award for most ‘out to lunch’ pricing still goes to the $999 Apple monitor stand but this is a close runner up.

 

[Jermelescu]

The SKU without the pen is $349.99. This $450 SKU includes the pen

So... fake news?

edit: don't get me wrong, this is still overpriced. Just not in the way the article tries to paint it

This.

Given the battery and everything, $249.99 would've been a not great not terrible price.

 

[zigzag]

Only up to 41 hours of continuous typing while detached?? And price almost matches Surface GO 3 price.

 

[P4-630]

Copilot key

I hope to expect copilot stickers soon, then I'll sell my current keyboard....

 

[Courier 6]

there are always idiots that are going to pay for this stuff...

 

[Dragokar]

Soon on Aliexpress for 39$

 

[Onasi]

Or you could buy a top tier LP wireless mech keeb, like the Air from Nuphy, add their folio accessory and still be at less than half price with something objectively better.
Oh, but it won’t have a Copilot button. Sorry, that’s worth at least a 100 bucks by itself.

 

[Denver]

Good thing it includes the AI key, I was suspicious that it wasn't worth 450 dollars. /s

 

[kondamin]

Sell it to some early adopters at full price and cut by 200 when those 3 bought theirs

 

[Hyderz]

The keyword here is flex… for the wrong reasons…

 

[ARF]

The migration to an Apple clone is almost complete.

and nvidia, actually...

MS lives in a special little world all to themselves and just do whatever in the hell they want to and assume that everyone likes it.

there are always idiots that are going to pay for this stuff...

This is obviously not for us. I find it ugly, useless because of the small size and lack of features, and expensive, but I guess it is directed at some celebrities, millionaires, billionaires, and the likes, who would find it to be an insult to buy a 20$ keyboard...

 

[Philaphlous]

This reminds me of just the other day when I went to Whole Foods... who pays $13 for a thing of bacon... you can get the same stuff for $5-6 anywhere else... its insane. I hope people don't pay prices of stuff because retailers need to know they can't price things that high...and then we have deflation....

 

[dgianstefani]

The SKU without the pen is $349.99. This $450 SKU includes the pen

So... fake news?

edit: don't get me wrong, this is still overpriced. Just not in the way the article tries to paint it

I'm not sure about that.

 

[Vya Domus]

I mean Apple does shit like this every day, asking a gazillion dollars for basic things and a lot of people don't seem to mind.

 

[Wirko]

Oh, but it won’t have a Copilot button. Sorry, that’s worth at least a 100 bucks by itself.

M²$ will steal you idea and start selling a one-key Copilot keypad for at least 100 bucks.
(M²$ = mega squared = trillioin)

 

[Firedrops]

This is outlandish - but in many (large) workplaces, company pays for stuff like laptops and accessories. I wonder if MS is leaning heavily into milking that with the MSRP - and hopefully providing frequent and heavy discounts through retail channels.