Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 v2 (69A-00001)

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

I purchased this keyboard on Amazon about 2 months ago for my new HP computer. I loved it so much that I purchased another one for work.

After purchasing the 1st keyboard, for research purposes, I went into an office supply store and tried all of the keyboards to see if there was another one that I liked better. I tested about 20 keyboards and could not find one that I liked the feel of better (of course this is a personal preference). I purchased a second one of the same keyboard for the office.

I have had no connectivity issues with this keyboard or mouse.

One keyboard is being used in a business environment with WinXP. The other keyboard (the one I am currently typing on) is connected to my new Vista computer at home. I have had no trouble with either.

Hint: I have attached the wireless transmitter/receiver to the base of my monitor with Velcro. Wherever the monitor is I automatically get a strong signal from the keyboard and mouse.

The keyboard is usually about 12-18" from the transmitter. The mouse is usually about 24-36". I have never had signal problems with either keyboard.

This is my third desktop combo from Microsoft and definitely the best one. Finally they also included a decent mouse - the Laser Mouse 6000 (please note: this is right handed mouse). Keyboard is very responsive, has plenty of customizable keys and a nice classy feel to it. F-lock is now separated from the rest of keys, so you don't hit it as F12 anymore. The transmitter looks exactly the same as with older models, but this one actually works appx 4 ft away without any problems.
Mouse comes with magnifier and with the Instant Viewer which is a neat alternative to Alt-Tab. Got hooked to that immediately. I belive that this software would work with older models as well.
This is a clean 5 star product - very happy with it!

I paid premium prices for this product expecting naively that the "Microsoft" label provided some assurance of quality. I paid an additional premium to get Version 2 (the v2 of 'Desktop 6000 v2') of model 6000. Version 2 claims to be "Certified for Windows Vista", as indicated in their advertising as well as on the box. First of all the installation disk supplied in the carton would not work because it said it was designed for XP, not for Vista. I was able to hunt down a Vista driver from Microsoft's web site, and its installation program reported a successful completion. However, I subsequently noticed that the screen saver and power management were no longer working. I did not fault the keyboard/mouse at the time and spent far too much time looking for the problem elsewhere. Eventually I did determine that the problem is in fact caused by the keyboard/mouse/driver. See Microsoft's Knowledge-Base article 911895. This Microsoft article acknowledges the problem on dozens of their products, including this one. The article gives a cumbersome work-around for XP, but not for Vista. The article further states: "The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products." How is that for artfully washing their hands of the issue? Another minor problem is that it complains about the mouse being too far away from the receiver unit, even though it is only about 12 inches from it. On the positive side, I do like the feel of the keyboard and the responsiveness of the mouse. Otherwise I would have rated it a 0 rather than a 2. Call it buyer's remorse. Why pay top dollar for inferior product that even its producer disclaims?

The keyboard itself is amazing. Best feel ever, you can't even compare other keyboard to how good this one feels. But: wireless induces some missed keys, especially double characters "ee" would miss the 2nd, and SHIFT + character, so CAPS letters sometimes are just missing.

Mouse is OK but not ergonomic AT ALL. Microsoft has a good ergonomic mouse, the 6000 model... but it's sold standalone and it should be in this pack.

I like everything about this keyboard except for the fact that it starts dropping random letters if I type reasonably quickly. I've tried various placements of the wireless base as well as replacing the batteries, but the problem hasn't gone away, and is extremely annoying since I don't enjoy having to retype everything twice. I find this unacceptable given that my 5-year-old Logitech wireless keyboard has never had this issue (I've heard Bluetooth gives more reliable connections, but given my Logitech experience, I can't excuse Microsoft's poor performance in this regard).

It's a shame, since ergonomically it's ideal for me. The keys are soft, light, quiet and yet substantial, and I actually like the way the keys are tilted away from you, encouraging better wrist posture I guess. I also like the gentle curve better than the full-on "ergonomic" layout that Microsoft also sells. The mouse on the other hand is so-so. It feels very chunky and not particularly accurate, although it doesn't appear to suffer the same poor connection issues as the keyboard. I'd like to give this product a much better rating, but the basic failure to handle fast typing accurately is pretty much a deal-killer for me.

I just purchased the Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 v2 as a replacement to a wireless optical desktop pro keyboard and mouse. I wanted something that was a bit sleeker and with the low-profile quiet-touch keys. I was not disappointed. Although it has taken a little bit of time to get used to the wireless laser mouse that comes with this package (the wireless intellimouse explorer 2.0 comes with the wireless optical desktop pro, is a bit larger, and has softer and grippier sides for your fingers, and the laser mouse appears to be much more sensitive), I have had no issues with the wireless signal, and love the touch of the keyboard. In fact, I took my old keyboard home, and already like the feel of the new keyboard better. I like the customizable favorite buttons, and one of my favorite features is that the F lock key remembers what setting it was at the last time the computer was turned on. My old keyboard infamously turned the F lock key on (or off, whichever it was) every time I booted up my computer. All in all, I am extremely happy with this product, and would recommend it to others. I like the layout better, like the quiet touch keys and the slim profile, as well as the cushioned palm rest.

I use both a keyboard and a mouse A LOT so need something that feels comfortable. This is definitely not it. The wireless connections work fine, I have no problems there. What I don't like is the physical build of both the mouse and keyboard.

First the mouse. I'm a large woman and wear a man's large/x-large glove, yet this mouse still feels too large for me. If try to "line up" my fingers to where they have to be to work all the buttons, I get a hand cramp. I suppose it's supposed to feel better in the same way an arch in a shoe might, but one size definitely does NOT fit all. Play with one of these in a store before buying.

The keyboard is also a miss. I was attracted to this new "comfort" design because I generally use a ergonomic keyboard, but my husband has a hard time with them since he's a hunt and peck typist. This has just enough curve that the key placement is ok for me yet doesn't throw him off too much.

However, the keys are recessed so far down into the silver "frame" that any key on the edge is a pain--literally (numbers, space bar row, left and right rows, etc.). When I hit the space bar with my thumb, I also hit the silver framing every time because I have to press the key so far down. And forget using the ten key unless you hunt and peck with your index finger. I've yet to get the "0" key to depress with my thumb because it's already so far recessed that my thumb only hits the framing. Also, with the keys so far recessed it's harder to "feel" them and I find myself looking down at the keyboard more often to find things like the arrow keys--very distracting.

The keyboard has some neat features, I just wish they hadn't come up with this sleek, user UNfriendly design. My recommendation--if you're a touch typist, forget this and find something else. If you hunt and peck and are looking at the keys all the time anyway, it may work for you.

I've used Microsoft Ergonomic keyboards for over 10 years now, but looks like it's time to find another brand.

This keyboard has a nice soft touch, and I have not experienced too many connection issues. But there are two major problems with it.

First, it misses keys consistently. If you are a fast typist this will drive you nuts, because by the time you realize that it had missed a key, you have already typed in quite a few other characters, and need to go back to adjust.

Second, all of the keys have a very low profile. I don't know if this contributes to ergonomics, but for me it's a problem when using the modifier keys, especially the control key. I may not be in the mainstream, but I need to hold the control key down for a lot of what I do on the computer (editing in Emacs mostly), and because the keys are so low, trying to hold down the control key along with another is quite a challenge.

Overall I would not recommend this keyboard.

Am writing this on my new keyboard -- the 6000 v2. It was a snap to set up, however, it doesn't want to connect to a 1.0 USB port, so beware...everything else is steller -- hooked up the shortcut keys 1,2,3 -- and I love the feel of the keys - and the silent typing -- however, my space bar makes ALOT of noise, so I'll probably return this one, and get another that doesn't have a rattle. I have had Microsoft keyboard and mouse products before -- they didn't ever stop working, they just got outdated, and the letters on the keys wore off -- not a problem for me, but my house guests complained!! Very happy with the keyboard -- didn't think I'd like the curvature, but I do -- and, the mouse doesn't seem to be any larger than the previous one I was using, and is a good fit for my hand (a woman's large). I would have given the system a 5 star rating if the space bar didn't rattle...I have been a touch typist since 1973, approx 110 wpm -- this keyboard has a nice feel, and has no trouble keeping up with my typing speed. I recommend it highly.

I have my PC connected to my HDTV and I bought this keyboard so that I could sit on my sofa 10 feet away and use my HDTV like a PC monitor. The wireless laser keyboard 6000 v2.0 is advertised to work up to 30 feet away from its receiver but it barely works at 6 feet. Sometimes it will work from 10 feet away but it misses half of what is typed. The range of the mouse that came with it is even less. The keyboard works fine within 3 feet of the receiver but the mouse is sluggish and sometimes unresponsive at any range.