Microsoft Optical Desktop

Whether you're for or against it, biometrics is creeping into our everyday lives. The government continues to support the notion of biometric driving licences and the world's biggest software company has just produced its first fingerprint recognition device.

Microsoft's new Optical Desktop with Fingerprint Reader doesn't look that different from its previous keyboard and mouse packages, but it comes with the aforementioned fingerprint scanner. Its primary use is for managing rather than protecting passwords, and Microsoft doesn't recommend it for storing online banking passwords.

Rather than trying to remember the plethora of user names and secret words you can accumulate these days, you can store them all on this system, leaving you the task of simply pressing your finger on the optical pad when required.

It sounds like a gimmick, but after several weeks of use, we have to concede that it's a good idea. If you're a frequent internet user you will find it handy.

Because of the fingerprint reader, the keyboard can't be cordless, but it's a small price to pay for such a handy feature. The Wireless Optical Mouse 2 is both cordless and optical and has a vertical and horizontal scroll wheel for moving up, down, left and right through a document or web page.

Our only criticism is the annoying bug in the system that requires you to reconnect the keyboard's USB plug every time you switch your computer on. Microsoft is working on a downloadable fix.

Contact: Microsoft 0870 601 0100
www.microsoft.com/uk