New Microsoft Keyboards Feature Zoom Slider

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/features/zoomslider.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/features/zoomslider.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"If you've ever edited digital photos, you can appreciate the value of seeing details up close, so that you can fine-tune your photos quickly and easily. Wouldn't it be great to remove imperfections from your photos without the squinting and guesswork? Well, now you can zoom in effortlessly, thanks to the new Zoom Slider. Featured on some of the latest Microsoft® keyboards, the Zoom Slider makes it a cinch to zoom in for a closer look at pictures, text, and Web pages. It's as intuitive as adjusting the lighting in a room by using a dimmer—just slide a lever on the keyboard to zoom in and zoom out, without ever taking your hand off the keyboard."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/images/features/mk_article-zoom_image01.jpg" /><br /><br />This is an interesting idea, but I question the need for a dedicated keyboard button when most of us have scroll wheels on our mouse hardware already. It's all about the implementation in this case, so we'll see how Microsoft does.

[ctmagnus]

I've been using this for a while. For the amount of zooimg I do, I'd rather be able to toggle the zoom to a scroll, much like how it's possible to switch Microsoft's new F keys to the standard F key functions.

[Jason Dunn]

I've been using this for a while.

Really? I thought these keyboards just came out! Where did you buy it at in Canada?

[ctmagnus]

I've been using this for a while.

Really? I thought these keyboards just came out! Where did you buy it at in Canada?

Staples on 9th Avenue. ;)

[that_kid]

Interesting I might give it a try, I'm used to using my scroll mouse like everyone else.

[Neil Enns]

I question the need for a dedicated keyboard button when most of us have scroll wheels on our mouse hardware already.

It's all about offloading work from your busy dominant hand. Buttons + pointing + scrolling is an awful lot for one hand to manage, and being able to offload part of it to the useless non-dominant hand that is just sitting there is great. My old professor in school actually surgically removed the wheel from his wheel mouse and put it in a box on the left side of his keyboard.

This is precisely why the Shuttle Pro I have for editing videos (watch for a review here soon!) is so useful: it lets my left hand do gross movements while my right hand does the intricate pointing.

Neil

[David Horn]

You can zoom using your scroll button? Neat. I guess you learn something new everyday. I always used the scroll wheel, for, well, scrolling. ;)

[James Fee]

You can zoom using your scroll button? Neat. I guess you learn something new everyday. I always used the scroll wheel, for, well, scrolling. ;)
Its really fun on a keyboard that has a control key that sticks... :lol:

[dane]

Because of pretty severe carpal tunnel, I've used a Logitech trackball for a number of years. It has two auxillary buttons above the main ones that are supposed to function as scroll buttons, but never have. They usually work as forward/back buttons.

As such, I for one would not mind a keyboard mounted zoom alternative. As with most other input device enhancements, there will be those who love this, and those that don't.

[Jason Dunn]

Because of pretty severe carpal tunnel...

You might be interested in this article I wrote last year:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,9806

I'm not a doctor, but I'd encourage you to look into ART as a treatment.