Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 - Metallic Black (63A-00001)

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(32)

 

 

It's an ok mouse, but for the performance/ built quality definitely overpriced. My experience with Microsoft products has always been positive so this mouse was a bit of a disappointment. The right silver button is a somewhat awkward and feels stickier than the left one. The scroll button is too loose on the right/ left clicks and way to hard to press down which makes it difficult to use it in the pan mode. And I could really use more buttons. Another source of frustration is the polished finished on the top surface - after a while the standard right and left buttons feel oily from my fingerprints.

Conclusion: while an ok-ish mouse, not the best one around.

*** UPDATE ***

ok, i've used it for a couple of months now. i fixed the slippery top by (carefully) roughing it with sand paper. i was reluctant to do it, but for me performance/ feel is more important than shiny looks. it feels much better now. i got used to the right side button now, but the design is definitely awkward.

All be told: this mouse is still a huge improvement over your regular wired mouse. the side buttons i use for copy/ paste and are extremely helpful - for those guys working a lot with spreadsheets this mouse (or similar with programmable buttons) is a must.

Yes, a great mouse, but with a lot of room for improvement.

I replaced two Intellimouse Explorer mice with a pair of these and over all I'm fairly pleased considering the fact that I only paid $20 ea. The biggest issue was the "low signal" messages. I shut them off but the whole thing still annoyed me. A download of the latest Intellipoint software solved the problem. Signal strength is now "5 bars". So....

Pros-Longer battery life, smooth scrolling, good for both righties and lefties.

Cons-third and forth buttons are poorly placed and awkward. Microsoft obviously knew about the erronious low signal warnings but chose not to inform customers via website, email or any other means. Microsoft's customer support for both hardware and software is abysmal. Basically it's "You bought it, you own it you're on your own". Unless of course you're willing to shell out even more $ for the crapshoot of so called "customer support".

This is a bit different than the lopsided Wireless Laser Mouse 6000. This is balanced, rather like the Laser Mouse 6000 (corded), with one subtle improvement.

The Laser Mouse 6000 is shaped like the Comfort Mouse 3000 (which I also like), except for two thumb buttons on each side, presumably so you can use it left- or right-handed. But ... the right-side button on the Laser Mouse 6000 is useless for clicking with ... what, your pinky? This mouse, the Wireless Laser Mouse 5000, has the buttons on each side, but shifted back, and longer. So the right-side button (if you're right-handed) CAN be used. (In just a few minutes use, I started using it easily with my ring finger; your mileage may vary.)

Also, *unlike* the Laser Mouse 6000, this Wireless mouse has the tilt-scrolling wheel, that is, a two-axis scroll wheel for left-right scrolling; it's very handy in Excel, and other applications (Photoshop for instance), where North-South and East-West scrolling is a benefit.

The bottom of this mouse is a bit larger, like the other wireless Laser Mouse. It's a distinctive jet black color, with glossy black top piece, similar to the Laser Mouse 6000. In all, this one's a bargain, particularly for lefties, who were left high and dry by the right-handed Wireless Laser Mouse 6000.

I bought this mouse as well as the very similar "Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000" to compare them and choose the best. The "Optical" mouse is cheaper and superior (with identical features and resolution) to this problematic "Laser" mouse. The feature I care about is the Magnifier.

On the "Laser" mouse, regardless of whether the Magnifier button is assigned to the small right button or to the scroll wheel button, getting the magnifier to turn off by pressing the button has at best a 50% success rate (this was verified by others who tried the 2 identical "Laser" mouse's I purchased). To me this is unacceptable. A problem of lesser severity with the "Laser" mouse is that the small right button is hard to press. Pressing the magnifier button (a side button or the scroll wheel) works well on the "Optical" mouse and the side buttons are easier to use than the small right button on the "Laser" mouse.

A disturbing problem with both the "Laser" and "Optical" mouse is that a pop-up often appears to say the signal is weak. But when you look at the signal strength in "Control Panel->Mouse->Wireless" you see that the signal is noted as a good strong signal. I recommend you click the box in the pop-up so that you are not bothered with this software bug.

The "Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000" has identical specs to this "Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000", costs less, and the Magnifier function and the small buttons work better. The choice between these two models is clear. I rate the "Laser" model a 2 (unacceptable and returned) and the "Optical" model a 5, based just on the Magnifier function which is my only reason for upgrading my current mouse.

I bought this mouse to replace a Logitech cordless mouse that I wore out. I liked the Logitech mouse and should have replaced it wih the same model.
This Microsoft Mouse sits higher and wider than my previous mouse and becomes uncomfortable to use after 30 minutes or so of use.
the two side buttons are in awkward positions. The right one requires a complete change in hand position to access, while the left one is too easy to accidently hit and make you go to the previous page. My biggest complaint about this item is since it is a wirelees mouse, I don't understand why the USB reciever hangs off of a 3 foot long cord. My other cordless mice all used a small USB Dongle that was only ablut 1.5 to 2 inches long. this one uses a reciever the size of the actual mouse attached to a 3 foot cord.
I bought this with the intent of eliminating the wires, not adding to them. A corded mouse actually takes up less space than this cordles one.

I was having serious mouse problems at home and office, so I went on an Internet Quest to find the best one currently available. Narrowed it down to MS 5000, Logitech LX7, and Logitech MX700, for me. Didn't really care if there was a cord or not; I just wanted one that works right. Wound up with the MS 5000, which was $20 at Office Depot this week.

1. The "feel" is absolutely teriffic, on a pad. Tried it first on the desk, and the pointer "skipped" when when I moved it left and right. That's the way the grain of this desk lies, so it was obvious to put it back on the pad.

2. I've been a Logitech person for years (MouseMan Wheel ruled), so I was unsure when I read that the scroll wheel doesn't have the "ratcheting" action I've always been used to. This is BETTER. Some other reviewers talk about it "freewheeling", like it's out of control, but it isn't. It moves just the right amount, without the clicking.

3. The fit on my hand is almost perfect. (I'm an average size guy.) It would only be better if it were made specifically for a "right hander" (back to the MouseMan Wheel). I can accept that, tho; I could have been a left hander myself. On the other hand, without the cord, I can use it with my left hand.

4. I got that same message someone else mentioned: "The signal is weak," or something. Receiver was 6 inches from the mouse. After the second time, I just shut off that message. So much for that.

5. Can't speak to the battery usage question, since I got it yesterday, but I don't care. If it needs batteries every month, I'll do it. It's worth it.

6. My only criticism, and the reason I didn't rate 5 stars. Why-oh-why have these manufacturers decided that the left and right side clicking be little buttons mounted high on the mouse????? Why not just have the left and right side panels click in???

I generally like this mouse. It has a nice weight to it and it moves smoothly on a siliconized mouse pad. It feels really solid in my hand. You can modify its buttons every which way you want. The side buttons are a bit of a problem to use as they seem to be misplaced or maybe it's that they seem too small. The back hump of the mouse is not high enough for my hand so it causes a bit of discomfort when I use it for a long period of time. I like the way the side of the mouse curves in. Prior to buying this mouse I was using a Microsoft Optical Intellimouse which fit my hand perfectly and had nice large side buttons that were well placed. So if I hadn't paid so much money for this wireless mouse, I'd go back to using my old mouse. Maybe I need a mouse pad with a wrist rest. I'll keep experimenting to make using this mouse more comfortable. Oh yeah, I'm using Windows XP 64 bit edition and the mouse software works fine with it.

While it might seem to defeat the whole purpose of shopping online, before you buy a mouse, you should go to some stores that have them and try them out to see if they fit your hand. Unless the store is having a sale or rebate though, you will generally find the products to be less expensive at most online stores. So test in a store, then go home and buy it online.

This is a nice hefty stabile handfull of a mouse. A five button mouse it ain't!

The two side buttons need to operated by pushing them sideways. That requires holding the mouse on the opposite side to hold the mouse still. The result is that both side buttons get activated at the same time. The same holds true for the sideways scrolling. When scrolling sideway you need to stabilize the mouse from moving sideways and you wind up hitting one of the side buttons at the same time. As a five button mouse it is really badly designed.

However, if functions very well as a two button mouse with a scroll wheel.

I have set the right side button to do nothing so that I can use the left side button to perform tne back function.

I purchased my 5000 Microsoft LaserMouse from Amazon to replace a wired Microsoft Explorer 3.0 that had a failing scroll wheel. Amazon was offering the 5000 for only $19.95 plus shipping, way below the big box stores.
Laser technology has been getting rave reviews for its improved tracking over optical and I've found this to be true. You can lean back in your chair, put the mouse on any flat surface and surf without missing a beat.
The box contains a copy of Intellipoint 5.5, the mouse and the receiver.
It's got a listed range of 6 feet but I've found it to be farther than that.
The 5000 uses two AA batteries, supplied, but I'd suggest investing in a 4 pack of the new "hybrid" nickel metal hydrides. These are the newest in rechargable batteries. They come from the package charged and ready to use. Instead of losing their charge in a month like normal NiMh batteries, these hybrids can stay fully charged for a year. Perfect for a product like the 5000.
The only "con" are the two programmable side buttons. They're too small, especially for someone who's been using the large button wired Microsoft mice. Other than that, it's a fine product.

I bought one for my office and liked it well enough to buy another for home. It's comfortable -- maybe not the most ergonomic mouse available, but quite good for the price. I have had no trouble with transmission to the base station and find the mouse will operate well with the base tucked out of the way. I enjoy the freedom of not having to point the front end of the mouse at the base station -- it works any way is comfortable for my hand position. A real plus for the laser feature. Once in a while the erroneous low power signal comes on, but I just click it off. Have used for months with no new batteries. Laser didn't work on my office desk surface so I have to use a pad. A little annoying, but not a big deal. I'd recommend it, especially for the price.