Customer Reviews

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop - ( K48-00001 )

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've just purchased this keyboard/mouse combo to replace my existing MS Natural Keyboard (original with full-size function keys) and MS Intellimouse Optical. As I type, I see that this keyboard has a softer "touch", not meaning that the keys are too easily depressed but rather that their sound and feel is softer and quieter. That's a plus overall yet something I'll still have to adjust to somewhat, in terms of "feedback" while typing. Although I don't use the insert key often, I think I prefer the old layout with Delete above Insert rather than the new layout with a double-tall Delete button while insert is moved off to the PrtScrn/SysRq key.

The extended function keys are nice but I'd prefer that standard functions keys be the default while the F-LOCK key could activate the extended assignments. No doubt this is purely a personal preference though.

Overall, I'm pleased with the build quality of both the mouse and keyboard but I miss one thing...the 4-button functionality of the Intellimouse Optical. The Wireless Optical Mouse is a standard 2-button plus wheel mouse. I've come to so often use the 3rd/4th buttons of the Intellimouse Optical for browser forward/back operations, that I'll miss that feature a lot. At the moment I'm debating returning this item for that very reason....4 keys on a mouse are just that much more efficient to use, especially once one has begun to use them often. If Microsoft would package the Intellimouse Wireless Explorer mouse with this Wireless Optical Keyboard Pro, they'd have a real winner. That's the only reason I don't give this combo 5 stars. At 4 stars it's still a winner but one that just doesn't quite cross the finish line with quite the flair it could have.

I love it, the 6 feet limit thing, thats garbage, it works like 30 feet away, and through multiple walls. The normal complaint of wireless devices being too slow, doesnt apply, this one is good for gaming.

At first the keyboard didnt register some of my keypresses, but when i moved the receiver away from my monitor it started to work. The mouse at random times (frequently) jumps to random places on the screen.

The color scheme and shape, way cool. And the mouse doesnt have sharp edges like the Intellimouse optical. (Which i still love, no flaws other than the sharp edges ont he two side buttons)

The mouse doesnt turn off with the computer, but thats understandable since it would need a receiver, and the receiver would need a transmitter, which is more expensive. Same for the lack of indicator lights on the keyboard. Battery life is unknown, I recommend taking the batteries out of the mouse at least when not in use. BATTERIES INCLUDED!!!!

The arrow keys are nice, unlike their natural keyboards where its all crunched up. And the general layout is a nice standard one so its easily memorizable. Cept for the Home/End/ inser/delete pgup/pgdown, its odd now. Scroll lock is gone, but never used anyway. Missing the right side start button but i never used it anyway. The function lock, i dislike, i like my normal keys and it doesnt even seem to work. But I may be wrong.

The options are right in the control panel and easy to use.
I got a big cut on my finger opening the box so watch out.
They should put a mouse and keyboard ps2/usb port on the receiver for when the batteries run out you c an plug the old ones back in. And all cordless devices need recharger docking bays!!!!

I think I've covered everything, oh, i wrote this review with the keyboard in question. I love my new board, and i'll beat someone to death with my old one if they try to take my wireless baby away from me.

Over the past 14 years I have worked with a number of different keyboards and mice, I have found that the wireless models are usually better and more flexible. I also am a big fan of optical mice because they break down far less than standard mice.

Microsoft's release has you working with both a wireless mouse and keyboard and the results are good but a few improvements are needed. I found that I had to install the software first and then the hardware, I think this needs work to have the install of both hardware and software at the same time. Also you need to remove the old drivers as well before installing the hardware.

While the installation was flawless in Windows 98, 2000 and XP, Windows ME did not recognize the mouse or keyboard at first. ME did find the keyboard after I changed to the USB adapter. Also the user manual, while helpful could be expanded with more information for the novice users.

The keyboard, which is the natural model, had something I have never seen before, enhanced "F" key function providing you with additional features. Also included on the keyboard is a media center. As for the feel of the keyboard, if you like the natural layout this is certainly for you.

The mouse is optical with an enhance scroll wheel, I found the wheel to be smoother when surfing the internet or working through documents. The fact that is optical is certainly a big plus and also I was able to work with both items over the 6 foot limit, another plus if you have to do presentations.

Overall this is a very good product; Microsoft does have a model with the standard layout for those looking for a more traditional layout.

I have bought and used now... both the Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse system and the MS Wireless Optical Desktop Pro. Both wireless operations work perfectly and for the money, the improvement of an optical mouse which is quite noticeably more accurate and the lack of wires is the ONLY way now to go, you'll love it.

I have a new Dell system and use Win. XP Professional.

No radio interference problems at all in either the MS or Logitech. Instalation was for both as simple as it gets and fast... put in the batteries in both the mouse and keyboards, install the software... and that's it. Although the Logitech did have a little "connect" problem at first... but with a few minutes of playing with the "connect" buttons, the reciever found the mouse and keyboard and that was it forever. At every boot it was there. The MS sytem was even easier. The software is about the same for both.

I bought the Logitech with a split keyboard, optical wireless keyboard and mouse first because recently the Microsoft was on backorder. I have used the MS split "Natural" keyboards for years and once you get used to the feel... the lack of fatigue in the forearms is a night and day difference.

I found the Logitech to have an OK keyboard with one major flaw... a major "clack" when one hits the space bar, so bad that I put little pieces of paper in to dull it down.

The MS has a much more solid feel, but it must be said that the space bar here is still a little too noisy... still, a substantial improvement over the Logitech.

Both have some multimedia functionality, but the MS has more buttons, with all of the 'F' keys labeled for common functions, Open, Close, Redo, Send, Spell, Undo, and Help.

There is a really nice CD/sound control up top on the MS with volume control and so on... a Mute button on the side of that and other buttons to Open, My Doc, My Pictures, Calculator (like that), Log OFF and Sleep. Since on occasion one finds the keyboard on the lap with no wires to keep one from doing this... these extra keys do help.

Both the MS and the Logitech will work from ten feet away, which is way farther than one can see the flat screen. But I can see how some people might want to set in that comfortable chair and type and correct later

Bottom line... depending on the deal, both systems are about the same price... 80 bucks US give or take 10. The Logitech would be fine if the MS did not work better, feel better and have more functionality.

The Logitech mouse however does feel a little better to me and has an extra button on the side... its larger size and fit to hand feel is superior, in my opinion, but the MS mouse is fine.

I agree with most everything everyone else said, so.. here is my .02 :)

1) I do not like the new placement of the Home/Insert/End...keys. I want Shift-Insert to work like it has on just about every other keyboard.

2) I wish the Wireless Optical Mouse has the 2 side buttons like the Intellimouse Optical. Yeah, I actually am used to those for going back/forward on web pages without having to move the mouse.

3) I wish the F-Lock could be set as a default. I am more interested in F-keys then yet another Open key.

4) All of the multimedia keys (non-standard keys across the top) should be programmable.

5) Why did they have to get rid of the RIGHT Windows Key? It was so easy to Press the windows key and L to lock my system before I walk away. (I fixed this by changing the Logoff button on the upper right to be a Lock Workstation button.)

It is a great wireless keyboard... just hope MS addresses the above in the future.

[In regards to the other comment about Caps Lock and Num Lock, the lights for these are on the receiver unit. Also the F-Lock light is on the receiver. Supposedly, the lights are not on the keyboard itself as they would dramtically decrease the battery life. The receiver looks like a squished mouse.]

The idea of a wireless keyboard and mouse has a lot of appeal to those like me who are tired of tangled cords getting caught under foot. Microsoft's Wireless Optical Desktops are very good products. They come in a "regular" multimedia keyboard version and "Pro" version which is equivalent to the Microsoft Natural ergonomic keyboard but with added features.

Before use, software must be installed. Installation is seemless in Windows XP and 2000. Windows98 users may get an Error 1101 message about a 1033.MST file during installation. This is resolved by booting to DOS and deleting the msi.dll file from the Windows\System folder, then rebooting Windows and installing the IntelliType and IntelliPoint software.

The downside to wireless is that, because software drivers are required, the mouse and keyboard work only *AFTER* the operating system is loaded. But, if your BIOS supports use of a USB mouse and keyboard, you can use both wired and wireless mice and keyboards in parallel. Why would you want to? When your operating system fails to start you'll know why.

(UPDATE! Once drivers have been loaded, and when USB keyboard and mouse support is enabled via BIOS, you *CAN* do everything wireless! There no longer is any need to keep your wired input devices attached. I learned this after a few days' use.)

The mouse and keyboard's dark grey and silver colors compliment many new similarly colored machines. The keyboard's additional multimedia keys located above the F keys are programable and may be used to open a browser (which doesn't have to be Internet Explorer), email, Instant Messenger, music, etc. The keyboard has a generally good feel to it though the space bar rattles a bit when struck with the right thumb. Note that the optical mouse won't work well on a black mouse pad.

The mouse and keyboard should work within six feet of the wired transceiver. Placement of the wireless transceiver can be critical to the proper operation of the keyboard, i.e. not missing keystrokes during rapid keyboarding. The mouse and keyboard can also be forced to work on different channels in case you've taken control of the PC in the next cube. There are no lighted indicators on the keyboard for Num Lock, Caps Lock or Scroll Lock; they are on the transceiver. The keyboard's function keys are pre-programmed by default to perform new tasks. Pressing the F.Lock key returns them to their normal F-key status.

Overall a very good product. It would be just about perfect if there were power buttons to turn the devices off when not in use to conserve their battery life.

(This product should also work on Macs with OS 8.6 to 9.x or 10.1)

I really like having a wireless keyboard. But, I wanted to note some annoying downsides:

+ There is a delay after bootup, during which I cannot use the mouse or keyboard. So, it takes longer to log into windows.

+ The F-lock key is really annoying because it's setting is not stored. Each time you reboot, your F1-F12 keys are pretty much useless until you hit F-lock. The MS defined meaning of the function keys without hitting F-lock are no good for someone who is used to the normal meaning of those keys.

+ Non-standard home, end, pageup, pagedown etc, is also annoying
for anyone who uses multiple keyboards. Ther is only one insert key.

+ Post-boot delay also affects RH linux. It looks like lineak.sf.net supports this device, but I have not bothered with customizing the extra keys yet.

I love this wireless duo. I use the set at home with my Gateway laptop and its so nice to have a simple hookup and fewer wires in the way. My cat can't pull the wires and mess up my work anymore! I'm still on my first set of batteries after 2 months and very pleased with the overall performance. Only 2 minor issues: First, if you use the NUM Lock to use the 10 key pad and fail to unlock it prior to disconnect, the F Lock sticks on the laptop keypad. Second,I got spoiled using the extra side buttons as back/forward on my previous optical mouse and this mouse does not have that lovely feature. For a casual home user its a great buy.

As a Webmaster, I put keyboards through hell, but this keyboard just keeps on performing. Never a problem! Save yourself some money (and the environment) and buy a set of rechargeable batteries. Been using this set for months and keyboard batteries have yet to loose a charge, but replaced the mouse batteries several times -- simple have a fresh set always charged up and ready to go. Mouse works great at any distance, as so does the keyboard.

I've have had the wireless keyboard/mouse for five months now and I just needed to change the batteries in the mouse from the ones that were shipped with it. The keyboard is still on the original ones.

The only problem I have occasionally experienced is the loss of signal. Occasionally, I start the PC and the mouse isn't responding, so I have to push the "connect" button on the bottom of the mouse. Another minor complaint is the lack of Num lock, Caps lock, etc. lights on the keyboard. I understand that it is a power saving issue, but it would be nice to have lights more visible than on the transmitter (which I keep under my desk).

Otherwise, works great and I love not having cables dangling from my keyboard drawer.