8 Essential Windows 8 Peripherals

Get the full Windows 8 experience without replacing your PC with these 8 must-have peripherals.

OB Roundup

Windows 8 may be touch friendly, but there are plenty of people upgrading to the new OS that won't be running it on tablets and touch screens. For those whose desktops and laptops get poked and prodded the old fashioned way?namely, through the keyboard and mouse?you don't need to worry about being out of touch. New peripherals for Windows 8 users put many of the touch capabilities and gesture controls baked into Windows 8 into devices usable on older systems.

When shopping for a new mouse, it's worth remembering that Windows 8 has a few elements not seen in past incarnations, like a horizontal start screen, which makes horizontal scrolling an indispensable feature for new mice. Keyboards with hotkeys for Windows 8 functions go above and beyond what standard keyboard shortcuts will let you do. Even though you'll get the usual QWERTY layout you're used to, keyboards made for Windows 8 also get some additional features unique to Windows 8 through hotkeys tied to the new Charms Bar, giving you push button access to features like Search, Share, Devices, and Settings.

Tablet users aren't necessarily getting the full Windows 8 experience either. Many programs and apps still necessitate a traditional keyboard and mouse, because they weren't designed with a touch screen in mind. Thankfully, new Windows 8 peripherals are also making progress toward greater mobility, letting you not only take the PC from one place to another, but to keep using it along the way. With compact designs, Bluetooth connectivity and long battery life, keyboards and mice are easy to connect, can be more readily carried and used on the go, and offer smart features to conserve battery life. Plus, several of these devices pull double duty?the Surface tablet has keyboards that double as covers to protect the screen, and Microsoft's Wedge Mobile Keyboard includes a tablet stand for desktop-style use on the go.

If you want the purest Windows 8 experience, you'll still want to go with something like a hybrid ultrabook, or touch enabled all-in-one desktop, but to get nearly all of the same functionality and intuitive control in a non-touch system, these new peripherals are the way to go.

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Check out our complete Windows 8 coverage.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413198,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05079TX1K0000995

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