Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Overview:
I use this mouse at work where I do software development. The mouse is nothing exceptional when taking into consideration a Logitech mouse at the same price point. The MS Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 offers slightly more and no less than previous MS Explorer offerings. From a functional standpoint, this is a good thing. Ergonomically sound and as responsive as a wired counterpart, this mouse does well tracking on a mouse pad or table top but does have some trouble with a white reflective surface. I have not played any games with this mouse so I cannot attest to it responsiveness on that extreme but for everyday usage, it is beyond what is needed. The resolution of the mouse is excellent even on a fast setting. The range of the mouse is about 6ft which is fine if the mouse stays in front of the computer but does not work when across the room. This may be a problem for some but the mouse is never further than 1 ft from the receiver for me. Loses a star for having a shorter range which may be the reason you will not find the range advertised on the box.

Pros:
- smooth scroll wheel
- responsive and precise
- ergonomic

Cons:
- 6ft range vs. Logitech 32ft, this is not the mouse to use for a media center across the room
- difficult to click scoll wheel and small side button

Other optical mice owned:
Intellimouse Explorer 1.0
Logitech MX310

Except for the original 1-button Apple mouse, every mouse I used with my iMac produced jerky cursor movement (irrespective of mousing surface). This includes Logitech mice (even the mighty MX1000), which unfortunately come packed with some of the worst mouse software for Mac OS X.

Then I tried the M$ Laser Mouse 6000 and it is flawless on the Mac. The cursor moves predictably and smoothly every time. In 2 weeks of use so far, there hasn't been a single problem. The software is good, too; unlike Logitech, it is "smart" enough to maintain separate preferences for multiple users.

The mouse itself is near perfect. Despite its reliance on two heavy AA batteries, it glides easily enough with just enough solidity of feel. The scroll wheel is big and smooth, though its middle-button clickability is difficult. The side buttons work well and are well-placed, though they are a bit too soft when clicked. The silver-grey finish is high-quality, with rubberized grips and Apple-complementing aesthetics.

It gets 4 stars because its build quality and ergonomics are still 2nd-best to Logitech, though that gap is narrowing.

Pros
1. Best ergonomics on the market
2. Works on shiny black desk
3. Large enough for big hands
4. Customizable buttons
5. Smooth scrolling instead of the bumpy type
6. Mouse slides much easier on the desk than logitech
7. Quieter and easier clicking than logitech

Cons
1. RF reception needs work but good enough
2. Thumb buttons need to be slighlty lower
3. Only available in the light silver color
4. Must install the drivers to get proper tracking
5. No PS/2 support

This mouse has great ergonomics. It's small and fits in your hand. The fact that it is wireless makes it better. I have been using this mouse for months now. I have THREE of them on three different computers: Windows XP, Mac OS X and Fedora Linux.

Problems
1. The mouse buttons do not always register even after multiple clicks.
2. The mouse movement is rough. You would think that a laser mouse would be more accurate but it is less.
3. Eats batteries! You will be replacing batteries very often with this mouse.

I have already switched one out for a wired basic MS optical mouse. I hope they recall these mice because if they can fix the flaws, they would get 5 stars. I'm giving them 2 because they did such a good job on the ergonomics.

I banned Logitech and have since looked into Microsoft products. When I needed a new mouse I found this. The reviews here and elsewhere suggested a risk in buying it...there seem to be common problems with the mouse. However, having used plenty of mouses (yes, mouses) I figured the majority of glitches are caused by the software. So, I took a chance and got the mouse but DIDN'T install anything from the CD...Just plugged it in and go go go. It's been just fine. Other than the commonly referenced problems, I don't like the side buttons. The one that would make you move Forward on a web browser is too far away for my thumb :( Might just be me... I also don't like the wheel with it's side-scrolling action. I find it difficult to use the wheel-button (Mouse Button #3). So, because of these minor things that I've had to adjust to I give the mouse a 4. Works JUST fine without drivers.

I just bought the Microsoft wireless mouse and think it is a pretty good overall mouse. The major problem I have is the very short range, it is only about 3 feet. If it was 6 feet I would have kept the mouse, but at 3 feet, I couldn't keep it. I am going with the Logitech which I understand has a much larger range.

I realized soon after getting this otherwise great product that it disables Windows' ability to idle and enter sleep mode or activate the screensaver. This is a known issue according to Microsoft, and they claim they are working on it. The problem is that other services running, including PCMService which is a critical part of Dell Media Experience, conflict with MS's Intellipoint software. If you disable this (or a host of other possible culprits) using MSCONFIG, the problem will go away. Unfortunately, disabling one service to make another work is not a reasonable option for most users. This is just another problem that MS admits but is unwilling to come up with a solution. Sound familiar? I hate to give up the nice performance of this mouse, but it looks like I'm returning it for a Logitech... Time to sell MS stock again and buy some Logitech...

Good wireles mouse. Can be used on a variety of surfaces. I can even use it with my laptop on my bed w/o a mouse pad. Good range. Never ever ever had a problem with accuracy, not even due to range.

My biggest complaint is the middle mouse button (or wheel button). I use this to open new pages in Firefox. But with the MsWLM 6000, it is VERY difficult to depress this button. I find this very annoying as I use it quie often. It's especially annoying since previous Microsoft optical mice had very easy middle mouse buttons to push.

There are 2 buttons adjacent to the left mouse button (fwd and back for web pages). The fwd button is NOT easy to get to without looking at the mouse... or unless you have a very long thumb. I've never used these buttons (I use the Backspace key to go back a page) and I've used the Explorer mouse since 2001. But if you do use these buttons, that could pose a problem for you.

Let me preface this review by stating that I've been a fan of Microsoft hardware (primarily mice & keyboards) for some time now. I'm not die-hard a MS fan by any means (heck I prefer Unix over Windows for most uses), but I have to admit they've done a decent job at making computer hardware. I especially like their ergonomic keyboards and optical mice. I know many people prefer Logitech's products, but I'm not a gamer, so Microsoft's input devices suit me just fine.

I thought I bought the holy grail of mice when I upgraded to the Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0 about a year ago, so much so that I got the notebook version for my laptop not long after. So I was skeptical about the level of improvement on these new-fangled laser mice, and hadn't planned on buying one.

However, I never really cared for the snap-in receiver on my Wireless Notebook Mouse 3000. It is designed to be adjustable so that the end of the receiver can be repositioned to different angles for the best wireless reception. Unfortunately, this design also makes the receiver come loose easily when stored in the bottom of the mouse, causing it to turn on frequently while not in use--draining battery life. So I decided to give the MS Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000 a try, as it comes with a fixed receiver that doesn't move.

I was blown away by how much better the laser notebook mouse tracks. It is surprisingly more precise and accurate than the previous mouse devices. It's hard to understand the improvement until you've tried one. The mouse is extremely responsive, and makes other non-laser mice feel like heavy paperweights in comparison. The laser is not just a gimmicky marketing trick, it really makes for a better mouse! I subsequently bought the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 for my desktop, and am experiencing the same level of improvement there as well. It feels terrific in my hand, and I like the fact that it can also run on one AA battery (like other MS wireless mice I've used) for a reduced weight.

The only drawback is that the laser is invisible, as I miss the red light on the bottom of my old mouse sometimes (but not enough to go back to the old mouse!). Also, I would rather have a black receiver than the more standout silver color. I experimented and found that the laser mouse will work with the black wireless receiver for the Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0, but scrolling doesn't work as well, so I'm sticking with the silver receiver.

Congrats on improving a nice product, Microsoft!

Great new product. I bought the Notebook version. Only problem is, when the receiver is plugged into a USB port, Windows screen saver will never kick in. Once you unplug the receiver, presto! - screensaver works.

Other than that, it's a great little mouse for notebook use.