In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, Microsoft has shipped a series of PC peripheral hardware devices, games, reference, and productivity products. Details are in the chart below. Microsoft’s complete current product catalog is available at www.microsoft.com/catalog/.
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Category
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Title
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Description
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Estimated Price
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| Hardware |
SideWinder Game Voice |
Headset with microphone and control pad enables both voice commands and voice chat over the Internet or LAN during game play. Speech recognition engine allows game players to speak rather than type commands. (www.gamevoice.com) |
US$60 |
| |
SideWinder Strategic Commander |
Left-handed controller designed for specific strategy games published by Microsoft and other vendors. Allows users to navigate a game and execute commands with their left hand, while selecting game elements with the mouse in their right hand. (www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/sidewinder) |
US$60 |
| |
Trackball Optical |
Features thumb-operated ball tracked by an optical sensor. (www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse) |
US$45 |
| |
WheelMouse Optical |
Least-expensive version of optical mouse. Includes wheel for scrolling with index finger. (www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse) |
US$35 |
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| Games and Kids |
Age of Empires II: The Conqueror's Expansion |
Add-on to Age of Empires II offers new civilizations and campaigns based on conquerors such as Attila the Hun, El Cid and Montezuma. (www.microsoft.com/games/conquerors) |
US$35 |
| |
Crimson Skies |
An air war simulator, based on the premise that the year is 1937 and the United States has fractured into squabbling nation-states. (www.microsoft.com/games/crimsonskies) |
US$45 |
| |
Golf 2001 |
Golf simulation game with seven courses. (www.microsoft.com/games/golf2001) |
US$20 |
| |
Metal Gear Solid |
PC version of a Playstation military action game. (www.mgspc.com) |
US$45 |
| |
Midtown Madness 2 |
Race through urban settings in various types of roadsters. Features 10 all-new vehicles to smash and crash. (www.microsoft.com/games/midtown2) |
US$45 |
| |
Motocross Madness 2.0 |
Update to motocross racing game, with better graphics and new stunts. (www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2) |
US$45 |
| |
Scholastic's The Magic School Bus in Concert |
Music education software for kids 6-10, which teaches about musical instruments, speakers and microphones, how sounds are made, and how sound travels. (www.microsoft.com/kids/msb/concert.htm) |
US$20 |
| |
Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Lands on Mars |
Exploration of Mars for kids ages 6-10, with information about Mars, Mars missions, and interactive learning and games. (www.microsoft.com/kids/msb/mars.htm) |
US$20 |
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| Reference |
Encarta Reference Suite 2001 |
Bundles Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2001, Encarta Interactive World Atlas 2001, Encarta World English Dictionary 2001, Encarta Africana Third Edition plus one year of Encarta Online Deluxe. Available in seven-disc CD-ROM set or as a single DVD disc. (www.encarta.msn.com/products/info) |
US$75 |
| |
Encarta Encyclopedia 2001
|
Updated version of the Encarta encyclopedia. Deluxe version includes a dynamic timeline and access to Encarta Online Deluxe. (www.encarta.msn.com/products/info) |
US$30 (Standard)
US$45 (Deluxe) |
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Encarta Interactive World Atlas 2001 |
An interactive globe with comprehensive articles, multimedia elements, and statistics. (www.encarta.msn.com/products/info) |
US$45 |
| |
Encarta World English Dictionary 2001 |
Combined dictionary, thesaurus, book of quotations, almanac, dictionary of computer and Internet terms, and guide to grammar and punctuation. Includes audio recordings of word pronunciations. (www.encarta.msn.com/products/info) |
US$45 |
| |
Encarta Africana Third Edition |
Update to multimedia encyclopedia of black history and culture. (www.encarta.msn.com/products/info) |
US$45 |
| |
Encarta Language Learning (French and Spanish Versions) |
Based on the situational and communicative approach to language learning, the products allow English speakers to develop conversational skills in French or Spanish. All versions come with their own microphone headset. Deluxe versions include two audio CDs, a 240-page workbook, and a CD with full-screen videos. (www.encarta.msn.com/products/info) |
US$35 (Standard)
US$55 (Deluxe) |
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| Productivity |
Picture It! Photo Edition 2001 |
Photo-editing software with photo cataloguing and editing features. Premium version contains templates for calendars, photo albums, Web pages, CD labels, and sports trading cards. (http://pictureit.msn.com) |
US$45 (Standard)
US$55 (Premium) |
| |
Picture It! Publishing 2001 |
Update and re-branding of the Home Publishing product line. Integrates photo editing, desktop publishing and multimedia projects. More expensive versions include additional templates. (http://pictureit.msn.com/) |
US$35 (Silver)
US$45 (Gold)
US$55 (Platinum) |
| |
Works Suite 2001 |
Bundles Word 2000, Works 6.0, Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2001, Money 2001, Picture It! Publishing 2001, Streets & Trips 2001, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer 5.5. (http://works.msn.com) |
US$109 |
| |
Works 6.0 |
Combination word processor, spreadsheet, database, calendar, and address book for home use. (http://works.msn.com) |
US$55 |
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