Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
by Microsoft
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
Customer Review: Constant wireless mouse user
Summary: 2 Stars
I don't typically write reviews but I have such a mix feeling about this product, I felt compelled to write one. I got this mouse in the beginning of this year (01/2010). I don't have a desktop system and I depend my work and life on laptops. Having a wireless mouse adds on so much better accessibility when I work or just doing some casual web browsing. I have used many regular wireless mouse (RF; non-bluetooth) from both Logitech and Microsoft. I love both brands and they have provided a very consistent and reliable service for the past several years. I have gotten a new MacBook Pro late last year to replace my aging IBM T60 and the new MAC came with Bluetooth functionality. I decided to spend $35 to purchase this new Microsoft bluetooth mouse. I was under the impression that Microsoft has many solid product in the past that this new mouse should be reliable. More on that later.
I love this mouse initially. It is egronomic, small but works very nicely with new Mac (pairing has been no problem and never connection drop). I did notice the contruction is not as solid as it looks (comparing to the normal Microsoft mouse that looks good and well-built). I read other reviews about this mouse complaining about the button functions. I never really mess around the other buttons; I only use the scroll wheel and left/right buttons. The "back" button has different function in the MAC OS and Windows (using VMWare in MAC OS 10.6 Leopard). I switch between MAC and Window OS constantly; to avoid my mind twisted in "what is the fourth button for in 2 different OSs", I just avoid using it. Overall, it is a good mouse to use.
However, I wouldn't recommend this mouse to anyone. I don't like the fact it broke down twice. I never have purchased a product that broke twice within the warranty period (one year warranty). My first mouse lasted from January to June. I called Microsoft and I was put through the "troubleshooting" session with the IT. I wouldn't call myself "expert" but I handles nearly all the PC issue well. After an hour, the IT decided to send me a new mouse (after I told the IT I can pair my PC with my phone but just not my mouse). The second mouse only lasted from July until end of August. New battery and pairing the mouse again did not help. It failed the same way as the first one. I never even have the chance to test out how long the battery will last for 10-hour-a-day usage between the 2 mouses. They are just broken. I called Microsoft in early September and Microsoft indicated they no longer carry bluetooth mouse and they cannot replace the mouse (maybe such a poor built quality, Microsoft decided to pull the production on this mouse after loosing so much money on IT support and replacement???). Microsoft will refund the mouse to me after I send in the Amazon receipt for proof of purchase.
If you don't mind the regular USB wireless dangle, stick with the regular wireless mouse. It is much more reliable from either Microsoft or Logitech. If you get this mouse, remember Microsoft won't replace it after it dies.
Customer Review: The Mouse That Roared
Summary: 5 Stars
The Mouse that Roared
I waited five months to write this review to give the Microsoft Bluetooth notebook mouse a complete workout. I am using it frequently with my Asus EEPC netbook on the road and at home and am very impressed.
The size is excellent considering this is a small mouse. I have medium-large sized hands and enjoy a mouse that is usually much larger. The Microsoft Bluetooth notebook mouse fits nicely under the hand and has excellent response. In fact, the mouse works on more surfaces and more obscure locations than of the other wireless mice I use on my home computer.
The reason I waited so long to do this review was because others complained about the on-off switches breaking. I had no problems with this switch and while I take good care of my equipment five months of constant use has proved that the switch is as sound today as when it arrived. The on-off switch is located on the bottom and is embedded into the unit. It does not stick out and it would seem difficult to break unless you are pushing it too hard.
As far as battery life, well I am still using the original batteries sent with the unit and five months of use is a lot of life from a single set of regular batteries. I have many times put it away without turning off the power switch yet the original shipped batteries are still working fine. Of course that leaves me unable to comment on the light that would appear if the batteries start to go.
The Bluetooth works perfectly and it is so nice to this feature built into the mouse and the EEPC, which leaves the netbook with no dongles or use of the USB ports. The most interesting thing for me is that the mouse operates on almost any surface. No need for a mouse pad or surface with color or patterns. I can use it on a white table, the couch, a piece of white paper or whatever and it is live and responsive. It also can be used at a greater distance and more obscure angles from the netbook than my other full size wireless (USB related) mice.
While the mouse has a page-back feature button it has no right hand page-forward button. A small drawback. There is a very responsive scroll wheel, which besides scrolling up and down, you can bend to the right or left to scroll pages in the direction you want. This is a great feature on the newer netbook 10-inch screens, which seem to never put the content in view without movement. It now becomes apparent why advertising takes up all the top of a page.
The Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse is a solid unit that is handsomely designed, well engineered, works without dongles, does not use one of the valuable USB ports, and energy efficient, which offers most, if not all, the features of a full sized mouse in a small compact netbook sized unit. All in all I am extremely pleased with the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook mouse and highly recommend it.
Customer Review: Very good bluetooth mouse
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been using this mouse for almost a month now and I am very satisfied with it. It is smaller than most mice, but fits snuggly in my hand, considering that I have big hands. It is very responsive (sometimes too responsive) and the back button and mouse wheel complement its functionality. The battery indicator is another great plus, cause at least you can get a warning when you are running low; although it is very energy-efficient, I'm still using the packed standard AAA batteries with an average of 6-7 hours of daily use. And the power switch is also great for saving energy.
To sum up, Pros:
- Excellent Microsoft design (esthetical, ergonomical)
- Great price
- Very responsive (it's laser, not optical)
- Great battery life (I'll let you know on the comments when the first pair of batteries run out. I already have a rechargeable pair on stand-by).
- Instant pairing with bluetooth enabled PC's (I did not try it on a Mac)
- Back button functionality
- Power switch lets you turn it off when not in use to save battery, and you just turn it on and in a couple of seconds it reconnects (this has been a life-saver since I walk away from my desk very often, and I would not like that some envious co-worker "borrowed" it for his home, and it fits quite nicely on my shirt or pants pocket)
- It glides very smoothly on almost any surface (even on my bed sheets)
- It comes with a nice carry-bag.
Cons:
- It has dropped the connection about 5 or 6 times during the time I have been using it, but it reconnects after turning on and off again. Kind of annoying.
- I wish it had a forward buttong as well.
- It is somethimes too responsive, depending on the surface you wear it on. I fixed this by tweaking the mouse sensitivity on the Windows mouse settings.
I recommend this bluetooth mouse.
UPDATE (2/23/08): Well, the battery indicator is going red now (3 months after I started using it), but, if I could, I would downgrade my rating to 3 stars because of the following: The power switch broke like a week ago (the damn thing kinda got loose of it's place and still moves, but it doesn't change the power state). I tried going DIY and tried fixing it myself, but ended up getting it worse, although I managed the leave the power on. This means poor craftsmanship from Microsoft, because I consider I did not misused the mouse. I now can't turn the mouse off, so I have to remove the batteries every time I don't use it. This resulted on casting the mouse aside and leaving it just for special occasions (long meetings or surfing @ home).
I still consider the mouse is good, but this has negatively changed my opinion on Microsoft hardware (don't even get me started on their SW).
Customer Review: A wireless mouse that actually works
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a wired (thumb) trackball mouse that I have had for years. I started to have problems with either arthritis or carpal tunnel making it difficult to use that mouse, so I started shopping for a new mouse. I had a wireless (non-blue tooth) mouse in the past. I hated it. I would move the mouse and there would be an obvious delay before the cursor on the screen moved. I wound up throwing it away. This mouse has excellent, immediate response - just like my wired mouse. It is slightly smaller than a standard mouse so it will probably be popular for use with notebooks. I have a wired notebook mouse for my laptop that is several years old - this mouse is much bigger than that notebook mouse.
We have our TV hooked up to our computer as a second monitor. Our computer is the DVD player, plus we use the TV to watch Netflix streaming on the TV screen. We can move the mouse away from the computer onto the coffee table and use it on the coffee table - so we don't have to get off the couch to use the menu on DVDs or control the Netflix on the TV. This mouse may be useful with presentations (power point, etc...) - we get decent distance on this mouse - this room is about 15 feet wide and we can use it everywhere in this room. I am told that bluetooth usually gets about 30 feet, but I am unable to test that in this room.
Since my husband still prefers the trackball mouse, we actually keep the regular wired mouse plugged in all the time. When I use the computer, I just turn on the mouse. It has an automatic shut-off - which is a good thing since I usually forget to turn it off. I then have to move the switch to the off position and back to the on position to turn it on again. We can switch back and forth between the two mice without a problem - even with this mouse on and the wired mouse plugged in.
I use a rechargeable Enloop battery in it - I thought I would be going through batteries a lot with it and I did not want to keep on buying batteries for it. I got this mouse for Christmas. It is now Valentines day and I have not had to re-charge the battery once. I am on the computer every day for at least an hour or two daily. I think the paperwork that came with the mouse said it would last for three months. At this rate, I believe that.
Overall, I am very happy with this mouse, and my "mouse thumb" problem has improved drastically.
Review edited to add:
I have to change my enloop rechargeable batteries about every two months. I thought that the mouse had automatic shut-off, but it does not. Windows just forgets that it is there. I have to turn it off and back on again for Windows to realize it is there again periodically - the mouse does not shut itself off.
Customer Review: Great little mouse for my HTPC
Summary: 4 Stars
So I wanted to run some educational software on my Home Theater PC for my kids who are 2 and 3 and get them learning how to mouse around. It is inevitable and imperative a child learns the hand-eye coordination required to perform such complex tasks and at this time in history if kids do not learn to incorporate a computer into their learning they will be behind by the time they enter first grade.
The mouse fits well into my three year old daughters hand and she has an easy time guiding the cursor around the screen. This is only day one so I cannot comment on battery life although the pairing was instant and hassle-free. I can mouse precisely about 25 feet away THROUGH A WALL! I cannot emphasise adequately how amazed I am at this feat. Albeit there are fresh batteries in the mouse and that probably will become less amazing as they drain but for now, wow.
The mouse will repair with the PC running Win 7 64bit Ultimate in about 2 seconds after I flip the power switch to on and move the mouse around (after the initial pairing of course). I have the tiny IOGear USB 2.1 Bluetooth Micro Adapter GBU421 sold on Amazon as well as a Bluetooth HID Wireless Keyboard Mouse Control for PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone 4, PDAs which has a mouse built into top right corner with left and right click buttons on upper left corner which is good for an HTPC, but the mouse is not for little hands trying to work with tux paint and such. I love this combo.
I like the back button but wish it had a forward button also (it looks like there is one there but it is just part of the frame. It would have been nice is all).
Batteries are easy to install from bottom and cover appears sturdy getting batteries out is another issue. It appears they placed some kind of a plastic flexible tab to help you pull out the batteries, however it is too short to get a grip on to help you get the batteries out unless you have extremely dainty fingers or even those of a child. Even if you keep tension on the tab while inserting the batteries you still need a jeweller's screwdriver or pair of needle nose pliers to grab the tab and lift it. But we will see just how long the battery life lasts.
My only other tiny complaint is that the scroll wheel button, like many mice I have owned, tends to require too light of a touch to push the third mouse button. I find trying to scroll and accidentally hitting the speed scroll option instead. I will get used to it though. For me this is only minor.