Microsoft B5W-00001 Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 3 inches ; 7.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000A6NUVA
• Item model number: B5W-00001
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 2, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

When you first start using the Microsoft B5W-00001 Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000, you'll wonder how you've managed without it all these years. Offering an unmatched package of ergonomic design, accuracy, style, and advanced features, this mouse will give you the comfort and performance that your work deserves.

Four-way scrolling with Tilt Wheel Technology.View larger.

Get five times closer with The Magnifier. View larger.

Snap-in receiver automatically turns off the mouse.

Microsoft's Laser Mouse 6000 features an innovative, ergonomic design.

Accuracy and Performance Features
Featuring high-definition laser technology, the Microsoft B5W-00001 offers laser precision as you scroll through your files. Smoother tracking means less strain on your hands and wrists, and higher responsiveness means that you'll quickly notice an increase in your productivity. The mouse offers four-way scrolling, adding even greater efficiency and comfort to your work. The entire scroll wheel tilts from side to side, acts as a button, and reacts to how quickly you roll the wheel to enable smooth, accurate maneuverability. For example, if you're working with a super-wide spreadsheet, you can tilt the wheel from side to side to scroll right and left, without having to click the sheet's tiny scroll arrows.

If you work with a lot of digital imagery, you'll love the mouse's magnification feature. With this feature, you'll think that you have a magnifying glass pressed against the screen. With a simple press-and-hold motion, the magnifier enlarges the area of your screen that fits inside the lens. You can easily adjust both the size of the lens and the level of its magnification. The Magnifier works in most programs. (The Magnifier is not compatible with Direct3D API in full-screen mode, media players, OpenGL, and Layered Windows. If you are using Mac OS X, the Magnifier enlarges text and images on the entire screen.) When it's time to touch up photos, or fine-tune detailed tasks, the magnifier will quickly become your best friend.

The mouse also features advanced Microsoft technologies that help prolong the life of your batteries, which means that you can spend more time working and less time running back and forth to the store. The B5W-00001 automatically enters standby mode when it's inactive for a certain length of time, which minimizes unnecessary battery drain. In addition, the light in the mouse's optical sensor illuminates only as brightly as is necessary to provide optimal tracking power. And finally, the mouse features a handy snap-in receiver that plugs in when you're ready to work, then snaps into your mouse when you travel, further preserving battery life.

Of course, as its name implies, the Microsoft B5W-00001 is wireless, which means you'll never have to hassle with cords again. An ambidextrous, ergonomic design that features a rubber-sided grip and a sophisticated form gives this mouse a cutting-edge look and feel that will complement today's latest technology. So if you work with a computer that runs Windows XP and has an available USB port, the Microsoft B5W-00001 could be the mouse you've always wanted.

What's in the Box
Wireless laser mouse, receiver, 1 AA battery, software CD-ROM, and user's manual.

Product Description

Go mobile with wireless comfort and laser precision
Work in comfort on the go. This notebook mouse offers the unmatched accuracy and control of advanced laser technology. Easily enlarge and edit details with the new Magnifier.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better alternatives exist, January 27, 2006

By 

Rahul Singh (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft B5W-00001 Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000 (Personal Computers)

I do a lot of Powerpoint and Excel, so the choice of the right mouse is very important to me. I already own the "previous generation" Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 (available on Amazon for $24.99 at the time of writing), and thought they had the design nailed with the 3000! When I got my new notebook, I decided to get this one as an upgrade, assuming this would give me higher precision (1000dpi Laser) and 4-way scrolling, and would certainly exceed the standard of quality established by the 3000.

Well, I was wrong - Microsoft has taken a few steps back this time. Ergonomically, the mouse does not sit as well in my hands as the 3000, and I feel less in control of the pointer. I see no visible increase in precision over the 3000 - in fact its worse. The small left button is badly implemented (too small, not well positioned), so I don't use it (maybe I'll get better at it after some time).

By itself, this mouse is a good choice in its category - its very compact, very portable, wireless, and has an excellent battery life (as in the 3000, the USB wireless transmitter snaps back into the base of the mouse and turns off battery usage).

You are better off buying the 3000 - you will get a better designed wireless mouse for your notebook for a lesser price. Can't beat that!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, November 27, 2005

By 

Patrick Choi "Pat" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft B5W-00001 Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000 (Personal Computers)

I've been a user of the Microsoft Wireless Notebook mice for a year, and found it to be a wonderful device. It was just comfortable and a pleasure to use. The only drawback was the hideous receiver which looked... well, strange. But other than that, the buttons were simple to press, the wheel clicked nicely and the tracking was great (I use it to play games!), no lag.

When I first saw this Microsoft Laser Notebook Mouse 6000, I didn't hesitate at all to buy it. You can say I was pretty disappointed to know that I wasn't getting an upgraded version of the mouse I described above...

Pros:

- The transmitter at least looks halfway normal, and is not a big chunk sticking out of your notebook.
- A magnifyer button was added, but I mapped it to the 'back' button for browsing the internet. More buttons is good thing, but more on this below.
- The wheel is smooth scrolling and doesn't click. Nice for the lady friend who's sleeping while you work (or play games).
- Very nice tracking, the mouse is smooth as silk and doesn't lag at all, but no noticeable improvement from previous generations of optical mice.

Cons:

- The buttons are extremely hard to press. I've never encountered any mice that had to be pressed as hard as this to get an action done. You feel like you have to push your wrist forward to push the button.
- The ergonomics of the mouse aren't there. It looks like its made to be comfortable to your hand, but it isn't. Hard to describe, but after awhile, I really noticed that my hand was stuck in a "claw" shape and started to ache a little bit.
- The magnifyer button... is way too small and hard to press. Also the location of the button, while it looks like it can be easily pressed with your thumb, in fact is not. Your finger has to reach forward to the mouse to press it, which means you will most likely move your mouse too, losing the position you wanted to magnify in the first place. As mentioned in other reviews, sometimes it gets stuck and you need to push it again to pop back up. Those of you thinking it can be used as a 'back' button will be pleased to know that it can be remapped, but also know that the button is not friendly for this usage.

The main problem I have with the mouse is really the buttons. With other mice, you don't think about clicking because the mouse is easy to press. But with this mouse, you want to press, look down, and realize the button still hasn't been pushed yet. Clicking should not require a conscious effort. Your mouse should not enter your mind when you use it, but in this case, every time you click you will be forced to remember to click just a little harder.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Great, but Good Enough, April 2, 2006

By 

Puff (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft B5W-00001 Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000 (Personal Computers)

I've had this mouse for about 2 months and I've used it with both a notebook and a PC. I installed the software on the notebook and haven't had any major problems.

On the plus side: There are adjustable controls for the pointer, scrolling speed, and lots of other things. It's slightly smaller and much lighter than a regular mouse so it's easy to thrown in a bag with a notebook. There's a magnifying feature which may be very helpful for some users, but doesn't seem to do much for me.

On the minus side: The pointer can be a little erratic. I find it accurate enough but the movement is not as smooth as what you would get with a regular mouse. It can also be difficult to set an ideal scrolling/pointer speed. (The scroll wheel is very loose and it's not easy to scroll slowly through something.)

All that said, I'm satisfied with this mouse. I do not often use the scrolling wheel because of the problems with it. I never use the magnification feature. But for surfing online or writing a paper or playing solitaire on a notebook this mouse is sufficient. As a side note, my PC mouse just stopped working and I found that I can plug the USB adapter from the wireless mouse into my PC and the mouse works just fine on that computer without installing the software.

As far as the negative reviews go, I think some of those people must have gotten lemons. Of course, if lots of people end up with bad products that's something to think about. Also, if you're looking for something that feels and performs like the desktop mouse you're used to, this isn't it. But if you just want something convenient you can carry with your notebook, I think this mouse is alright. I certainly wouldnt pay the regular price for it. But if you can get it for about $30, I think it's worth it.