Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 3.0- White Box ( BX2-00004 )

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Bought the first one for me and I loved it. I have arthritis in my fingers & knuckles and I find the key arrangement more natural. I've tried, the other styles with the keyboard separated more with more exaggerated angles and they seem to be about as unnatural has a standard straight keyboard. Bought this one for my wife and saved $20 through Amazon as compared the purchase of mine through Walmart. Really like the hot and programmable keys. Wish there was a written manual included for the key board. The mouse is straight forward except for the convenience of being able to move from one side of keyboard to the other with no hassle. I do have interference between our two mouses now. They are located about 8 feet apart. I'm still trying to change channels to find a setting where they will not interfere with one and another.

I'm a touch typist, typing at 60+ wpm and found this keyboard very frustrating. It seemed to miss letters. If I try to enter multiple ctrl key sequences, it wouldn't take them, recognizing the first ctrl key, but not the subsequent one. I'd have to release the ctrl key after the first selection and re-press it for the second one to register.

I also had trouble with multiple selections using ctrl-click to select them. I'd start selecting a few items and then all of a sudden, I'd see only one item selected.

I'm running flat panel monitors. If I put the receiver on the desk, but behind the flat panels, the keyboard would not work (total distance from receiver was about 12 inches). The receiver had to be in front of the monitors.

The Mouse software would not install on Windows XP 64-bit. Note that MS does not say this driver is 64-bit compatible. Kind of disappointing that their own product doesn't support Windows properly.

While the price was great for the product, you do get what you pay for.

Pros:

-it works :\ mostly

Cons:

Software: The software it's bundled with is mediocre. The media buttons work, but I had problems with the zooming, and especially assigning keys. It allows you to customize where certain keys took you (including webpages,) but no matter how many times I tried, it still opened Outlook when I specifically told it to open Gmail. In other words, the software SUCKS. In fact, when I formatted my computer and reinstalled everything, the only things I loaded from the included CD were the drivers, none of the software. I recommend you do the same.

Keyboard: The keyboard sucks too. It feels fine ergonomically, but it's a bit loud, and the custom keys don't work with the software (read above.) The most annoying thing though, is that the keys get stuck a lot. I'll hold the backspace key down to delete a sentence, but it keeps on going after I release the key to delete the next few words. Letter keys get stuck too, and quite frequently it misses keystrokes, so if you don't look at the screen when typing, you have to go back and type that part over again. It's really annoying.

Mouse: Maybe it's a Microsoft thing, because this is the second MS mouse I've had that doesn't track correctly on anything but blank paper. It's the weirdest thing. No mousepad works, and neither does my desktop surface. I had to use the back cardboard surface of one of the yellow paper pad things.

All in all, even for the price I don't recommend this Desktop set. It will end up driving you nuts. I ended up throwing mine away and getting a Logitech, it's much better. Trust me on this, go get a Logitech instead. You won't regret it.

The price was great on this duo, I got both for the price of a mouse. That should have tipped me off...
The keyboard is excellent, I've had other wireless keyboards and had all kinds of trouble, this one is fine so far. The design is OK and I like the features. The mouse is another story, it's design is a bit clumsy and it's very temperamental. The movement is fine, the scrollwheel is also OK, but the buttons only work when they feel like it! I've tried changing the wireless channel and sometimes it works, but not all the time. I sometimes have to click on something 5 or 6 times before it registers. I've found no help on their troubleshooter or support site either. Other times the mouse works great. Unless you are very patient and have alot of time on your hands I would steer clear of this duo. Buy the items separately this way you can just return one if it doesn't work properly.

I love this my only problem is battery on mouse keeps saying low battery but the battery is still good. Overall it is good for the price.

I landed on this product when it was on a deep discount. Immediately bought it because of the following reasons:
Pros:
* I type a lot, and hence needed an ergonomic keyboard.
* keys are meaningful response. Have to get a hang of it initially, but it worked well afterwards.
* Mouse sync was good (unlike other reviews), just punch the button on the transmitter (the one you connect to the USB port) and you will see the LEDs making some signals. Then punch connect button on the back of the mouse and you will see the LEDs becoming normal. This ends the sync process (you can read it in manual though)
* The cushion at the bottom for arm rest is pretty good.

Cons:
* Mouse Battery life (indication) - it fooled me to change the battery within a week. The second time, I took the battery out and replaced it again, still working for more than a month.
* Sometimes I end up seeing the character punched twice (may be due to fast typing too)

Overall, I am very pleased with the ergonomics and the wireless feature.

very happy with design and layout - but the mouse wheel does not work. I am able to use it as a third button but I cannot use it to scroll in MS Word or MS IExplorer. I have downloaded the latest dirvers (v5.3) and have checked the mouse config settings to make sure it is enabled - but no joy. I will re-install drivers one more time and then return it, which would be a shame as I do like the price/value.

Bought two as Christmas gifts one worked one did not. Sent it back no problem second one worked okay.I think that you will have a problem if you have to many wireless electronics near this.

Definitely not a set-it-up-once-and-forget it. Constantly requires attention to make it work. The keyboard is very noisy, and the mouse is heavy. Cannot use the mouse on a slanting surface, because it will slide down due to its weight. There are better wireless ones that have come out recently. Features are good (bookmarks, shortcut keys, etc), but bad usability. I would never buy it again.

Totally usless keyboard and mouse!! Looks like it was dug out of a dumster somewhere. Keys fell off in box...dent in hand rest..mouse would not work at all..dirty finger prints all over limited instructions,no batterys, I'll never deal with them again...for sure!! They should send me a new one for free...no custemer support as well>>>