Just one day on from confirming that Windows 7 will arrive on 22 October, Microsoft has begun punting “exclusive” hardware features for its operating system.

In order to entice customers to buy computer peripherals produced down at the Redmond ranch, Microsoft is promising its hardware devices will be compatible with the upcoming OS.

Customers who want mice, keyboards, webcams, gaming devices and notebook accessories that play nice with Windows 7 should buy Microsoft goods, said, er, Microsoft.

The company has already slipped out beta versions of software for its peripherals that work with the latest release candidate of Windows 7.

MS said final versions of the software would be released on 26 June for its mice and keyboards. Completed LifeCams software will land on 31 July. ®

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