Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Elite

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I'm a developer, gamer, and I've built my own systems from scratch for the last 15 years-I've owned a wide variety of Logitech and MS input devices, most recently Logitech's MX Duo and this set. Neither is without their flaws, but ultimately I got rid of the MX Duo for this one.

Easy part first: The keyboard is great. It's definitely MS's best to date, and possibly the best one currently available. They seem to have figured out quite a bit from their previous boards, and this one does away with a lot of the useless features that previous ones had, and which Logitech boards are full of (like buttons for "Webcam", who needs that?). Extra buttons for multimedia, F Lock, and other doodads have been distinctively reshaped and repositioned, and they're just better, period. The leather-like palm rest, also great. They've retained their non-standard Delete cluster layout, which takes a little getting used to but I actually prefer it now over the traditional setup. Keystroke feel, very good. Not clicky or heavy but just right in my opinion. Also fairly quiet.

The board just LOOKS good too, especially if you have a black case or other black accessories. The keys are actually somewhat translucent, so you'll be able to see that coffee, OJ, and pet hair that inevitably makes it in there.

The new Favorites buttons are very useful, which give you five programmable buttons to go right to a website or file, or launch an app/game (getting this last to happen is a little more work, like making a new shortcut, but for websites and files, you just hold the button down until it programs). There's a worthless additional scroll wheel and buttons on the left side; if they ditched that, and maybe had backlit keys like some of the new electroluminescent ones, you'd have yourself a perfect keyboard.

The mouse is a little more of a mixed bag. To me the most important quality is shape and ergonomics, because I've had my fingers go numbish with using the wrong shape for hours on end. Logitech used to rule here, but they've gone in a different direction lately, and I find their MX designs to be very bad like that. My rightmost two fingers trail off and are uncomfortable; the MX overall has some unpleasant curves and edges to it. Looks good, feels not so good. The MS shape is supportive and much, much more comfortable, so it wins there, hands-down.

The new tilt wheel feature for side-to-side scrolling...is worthless. Enough said. But it's just there to ignore, and doesn't get in your way. It's not a revolution like the addition of the up/down scrolling mouse wheel was. You definitely won't be doing it by accident.

As a gamer, I like the mouse's response. I'm not a super-frag-twitcher who has to have 1500dpi or die, but it responds a lot more smoothly than my previous tailed Logitech optical, and seems about as smooth as the MX700. First-person shooters are a much better experience with it. I'd have to say that the MX700 has a smoother slickness in its slide on the pad, and the response seems maybe marginally better, but this one is just fine for me.

BE AWARE, if you're a gamer, that the wheel does NOT have detents-if you don't know the term, that means the `clicks' or `stops' when you roll it. It just rolls smoothly. This is way better for nongame scrolling; for work and surfing it's much better than the detents. Not so good for weapon select in the heat of battle. It takes a lot of getting used to, and the driver software makes it much worse-even on the lowest sensitivity, an accidental touch of the wheel can spin you through three weapon choices. Detents are better for gaming. Logitech has them, Microsoft doesn't. This alone might cause you to steer clear of the mouse if your thing is gaming. Also the middle button has a very heavy throw to it and it's difficult to get quick action out of in games when you assign it to a critical function.

This would be a perfect mouse if they made a gamer edition which has the detents, ditches the whole side-to-side scrolling nonsense, and made the middle click lighter.

Wireless issues: MS wins. Logitech was finicky about where its receiver was placed, and until I got it right, stuff wouldn't respond correctly. The MS receiver doesn't seem to care that much, but it did have issues with using the PS/2 keyboard plug (I leave mine dangling, and go USB-only).

On the other hand, the MX receiver is also a recharger for the mouse batteries, even when the computer isn't on (you do pay the price of another power cord running to the back of your computer at the USB plug). MS would do well to imitate that feature. I've only had mine for a couple of weeks so I can't speak to battery life, but even if they died this minute, I'd be keeping this set. The receiver also has lights on it for Num Lock, Caps, and F Lock-the board doesn't. I like that too. Logitech's receiver is similar there.

Far and away the worst part of the whole thing is the software. MS's current generation of Intellipoint/Intellitype drivers, 5.0, absolutely blows (and was never great to begin with). They limit you to only a few choices for what the keyboard and mouse buttons can be programmed to do, and they won't let you just use the excess mouse buttons as "Mouse 4" and "Mouse 5" so that games can assign functions to them. The programmability should be infinite, and it isn't. Logitech definitely has the upper hand with driver capability (they also go overboard on the features, it's kind of a theme with them). Also sadly missing is the ability to have "F Lock" on by default, although the new F Lock button is much better placed and easier to hit. Maybe they'll fix this in a future release, maybe not.

Overall, with those flaws noted, I'm very happy with this set. I'm even thinking about buying a second one so I can use it at work.

Deciding between the Microsoft Wireless Elite Keyboard and Mouse and the similiar offering by Logitech was difficult. I read multiple reviews on each and they were both so closely matched that the decision was hard to make. I ended up buying the Microsoft product based on some features (buttons) I found useful for myself as well as my own personal preference for the Microsoft mouse. I am really happy with my decision. The Microsoft Elite keyboard really looks great on the desktop - very upscale with its faux-leather wrist rest. I don't have any complaints with the performance of either the wireless mouse or the keyboard - in fact, I find them as responsive as my corded ones. The nice thing is that I don't have those cords crawling across my crowded desktop and I'm not always tugging at my mouse cord which had a tendency to get caught on things behind my desk. I highly recommend the Microsoft Wireless Optical Elite Keyboard and Mouse duo. I also recommend buying from amazon.com for the savings as many stores are selling the boxed set at nearly $100.00.

We use these in a 24 hour air-medical dispatch center. Everyone loves them and they help to keep our desktops a little less cluttered. They look very sleek next to the Dell LCD monitors.

The keyboard and mouse are very comfortable to use for long periods and time. The keyboard has a slight step-down from the top to the bottom that took me a little getting used to, but I think its part of what makes it so comfortable. There is also a huge <DELETE> key and a myriad of quick launch buttons, including a calculator button aboce the number keypad. I never have to search in the desk drawer for a calculator now. My only real complaint is having to press the F lock button every time I log in. The keyboard has set to f1-f12 keys as MS Office apps features and you have to push the F Lock key to turn them back to regular f1-f12. Shouldn't be a big deal to the average person, but our programs here require the use of the function keys, so its a pain. The mouse wheel scrolls very smoothly, but I occasionally have problems with the left mouse button not working on the first try. Battery life has been awesome, we've had these things for 6 months, and no low battery warning yet. We use these things 24 hours with computer dispatch systems, and we've really had no problems.

I have only had this keyboard/mice combo for 2 days but absolutely LOVE it so far. I read some reviews of people complaining about a few things such as use in games, difficulty setting up, and the new key set up. As far as gaming, I am an avid first-person-shooter gamer and have used it with Medal of Honor and Unreal Tournament 2004 (demo) and it is working flawlessly. The set up was almost painless. I say almost because the keyboard would not work at first, but one press of the button on the receiver and, voila, everything is perfect. The new key set up (larger delete key, F-keys different, no insert key, etc.) really don't bother me. Actually, for what I do, I haven't noticed a difference.

The keyboard has a very nice feel and layout. VERY nice selection of programmable keys and I really like the scroll wheel on the keyboard. Same goes for the mouse, nice layout, good size, nice feel. The new tilt-wheel is a nice addition and I am finding myself using it more and more.

I am not usually sold very quickly on items like this but this one has grown on me fast. In fact, this is one of the few online reviews I have ever written. I looked at some other products similar to this and I believe this is the best on the market. And at the price Amazon.com is selling it for, there really is no other competition. Hope this review helped you.

My friend used this keyboard and mouse for approximately 6 months and did not like it. He gave it to me and I have been using it for the past month and a half.

Pro's:
1. If the only thing to consider was aesthetics, then this set would take the cake. It's sleek, and has a modern look to it. I never knew that a mouse and keyboard could look so impressive.
2. Microsoft name which means that it is not a hokey $2.00 product.
3. Highly efficient battery usage. I am still using the original batteries that came with the set when my friend originally purchased the keyboard/mouse combo. This is very unlike the first generation wireless products where you had to swap out the batteries every week or so.
4. A large number of "hotkeys" where you can hit one button to load up your favorite webpage or function. Easy to program and change.
5. No messy cords in the way.

Cons:
1. Non-intuitive design: a) the delete key is in an awkward location. Microsoft has decided to place the "insert, delete, home, end, page up, and page dn" keys in a vertical fashion. b) still cant get used to the shape of the mouse. it's designed so that the user has to palm the entire mouse - (maybe to prevent injuries? but still awkward) c) there is no caps lock light on the keyboard itself, you have to look at the receiver to find out if the "caps Lock" button has been hit.
2. Susceptible to "act out". Sometimes, out of the blue, while I am viewing a webpage or document, it scrolls up and down erratically. My friend complained of non-registering keystrokes and then a ton of letters finally showing up at once. i am guessing his workstation was susceptible to wireless interference, as is mine. But in this age of cordless phones and other gadgets, it is pretty hard to eliminate all interference. Just letting you know that there may be glitches here and there.

Conclusion: Would I recommend this set to a friend? Hard to say, my suggestion is to go out to a physical store and try the product out. Hold the mouse and see if you like the feel of it. Don't be wooed by the looks of the set alone, as comfort should be your first priority.

I bought ths Elite Optical Desktop about a month ago and have used it for all types of programs and software. Thus far I have no complaints.

While I am not an avid gamer as many of these reviewers seem to be, I do occasionally play an action game. I have no noticed no hesitation from the mouse or keyboard that I couldn't otherwise blame on my graphics card (64MB nVidia GeForce).

The keyboard is incredibly comfortable for me to use in my lap (where I prefer to type; I find typing on a desk to be straining after long periods of time). The fau-leather band around the front is non-removable but I enjoy it thoroughly nonetheless. And I also love the scroll wheel located on the left of the keyboard, great for collaborative web-surfing or video editing.

The mouse is wonderful as well. It fits my hand wonderfully, not perfectly, and its a hundred steps above my last optical desktop (Logitech) in terms of comfort. I do however wish that Intellimouse had kept the zoom feature available for the two extra buttons, but oh well, I'm not going to whine about that minor loss. The scroll wheel, of course, doesn't have the 'divets' that other mice have, so it in effect scrolls perfectly smoothly. It only took about a week to fully get used to it, and now each time I use another mouse without this feature I long even more to return to my Elite Desktop.

I placed the receiver/transmitter on top of my desktop which is in the corner (~ 6 feet up) and have been able to get full and rapid reception from anywhere in my 12 x 12 room (with both the keyboard and mouse). I have, furthermore, been able to use the mouse down the hall (~ 15 feet away) while it is still in view of the transmitter. I am very impressed; other wireless desktops I've used have never achieved such range.

Overall I am very pleased and am glad I made this purchase. I finally have found the keyboard/mouse desktop I dreamed of (for now).

Plus, it is entirely compatible with both my PC and Mac! This makes me happy.

I greatly recommend this product. I hope you find it as enjoyable as I do.

I just bought this keyboard, and I like it a lot. I'm definitely going to keep it. I've had no problems with RF interference, and the responsiveness of both the mouse and the keyboard is excellent. The typing "feel" is nearly perfect and, in my opinion, better than the Logitech-branded keyboards. Furthermore, this is the first keyboard I've found where all of the extra keys are actually useful.

I have only three complaints, and they're all relatively minor. First, why does Microsoft feel the need to change the shape and layout of function and cursor keys? Three groups of four function keys is good enough for the rest of the world, and requires a bit less space than the four groups of three found on this keyboard. Second, the "f lock" key, which allows me to use the function keys as function keys doesn't remember its state through reboots. I'd like a way to make it default to always allowing the use of the function keys. Third, the "padded" wrist rest needs to be detachable. It's barely padded at all, and resting your wrists (really the heels of your hands) while typing is bad practice anyway. I guess it's forcing me to finally learn good typing posture, since I have to consciously keep my hands off the wrist rest.

The keyboard itself is comfortable and very nice, but after a year and a half of use, the scroll on the keyboard stop working vertically now only work horizontally.

The mouse is very good and have no issues so far.

Battery life is just great in a year and a half of every day use I had replaced the keyboard batteries only once, and the mouse 3 times.

I got this product about one week ago and I like it very much. Both mouse and keyboard act more than adequately. I like the way it looks. I like some (but not all - some are useless) additonal buttons on the keyboard, particularly 'back/forward' buttons for browsing the web and scrolling (up/down) capability. Both mouse and keyboard are battery-powered. There are some similar solutions on the market that include a cradle for recharging. I don't know yet for how long the battery will work but I am still good (after heavy one week usage) for now. The layout of 'utility buttons' somewhat different and it takes some time to get used to it. Yes, there are some minor changes I would like to see (some of those mentioned in other reviews, such as ability to switch mouse/keyboard off when you are not using it to preserve the battery) but they are really minor and do not spoil my impression from this product.

I've been using this keyboard and mouse for a few days--it's very well conceived. Example: the lights that show whether the caps lock, the num lock, and function lock are on are placed on the little wireless base that plugs into the USB port. This means that you tend to keep this in front of you so you can see the lights--which means that it's close enough to keyboard and mouse that the signal's always strong. (Someone in their comments said there was no way to tell whether the function lock was on or off--not so: the indicator light tells you.) The 5 favorites keys that you assign to launch programs are quite handy. The scroll buttons--one on the mouse, one on the keyboard--work like a charm to scroll vertically or horizontally. Controls for media are at the top center of the keyboard: volume control, play/pause, stop, mute, fast fwd and back. The keys are responsive. The navigation cluster--home, end, pg up, pg dn, ins and delete--is well designed: it has a double-sized del key, which is the one you use all the time, and the insert key is placed outside the cluster--a great idea since it's very seldom used but (in the usual placement) often hit by mistake. Altogether, the best keyboard I've had in quite a while. The mouse is exceptionally comfortable, and it works smoothly. I've had none of the problems described elsewhere (dropped keystrokes, reluctant clicking on the mouse, etc.). I think this is because I've placed the radio thingy where I can easily see the indicator lights--i.e., it's relatively close to keyboard and mouse. I'm very happy and satisfied with the product.