Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
by Microsoft
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
Customer Review: Solid Performer with 2 Small Caveats
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been using this mouse for just over a year now with my Dell Precision M4300. Paid $60 at Office Depot so I got had on the price, but I've been very happy with the mouse.
Pros:
- I have relatively large hands so it felt a bit small at first (I use a large trackball at my desktop), but I don't even notice the small size now. Very comfortable.
- The buttons have a nice "click" feel when you press them. Not too harsh, but not the mushy feel that is typical of a lot of mice.
- Scroll wheel also has a nice feel to it.
- Quality build. The device feels very well built. I've beat the %#^$ out of mine and it's still doing just fine.
- Battery life is solid. I can get several months out of a set of AAA's . . . and I have the very bad habit of leaving the mouse turned on when I put it away.
- Not needing a USB receiver has proven to be a much bigger deal than I thought it would. It's amazing how liberating it is not having to worry about an extra piece of hardware.
Cons:
- The Bluetooth connection doesn't include any type of security setting so you have to open up your Bluetooth port security in order to use it. This was very poorly documented in the user instructions. I eventually had to find out how to get it linked via a user forum. I'm not a security expert so I don't know how vulnerable I've made myself by opening up my Bluetooth port (especially given the number of airports I find myself in), but so far no issues.
- In contrast to the comment I made before about the mouse being small, the mouse is a little bulky to fit in a slim briefcase. However, I haven't been able to find any better alternatives that don't sacrifice other features that I consider critical (comfort, mostly).
Overall, great mouse. Highly recommended.
- Scott
Customer Review: Good BT mouse
Summary: 4 Stars
I have always been a big fan of Microsoft mouses and keyboards. When I received this mouse, I was very surprised that there is no software support for this mouse. I couldn't assign a different function for the extra button, as it is defaulted 'back' for browsers. Other than this small annoyance, I feel that this mouse is perfect for my needs.
I work a lot at school, and using the laptop's touch pad got old very fast. The Microsoft BT mouse is small so it packs well in my messenger bag, and I love the fact that it includes a case to store the mouse. After looking at other mouses, I like the fact that this mouse takes only two AAA batteries, virus others that take 2 AA mouses. This factors in the weight, as I wanted everything to be as light as possible so I am not lugging more weight to class.
I found that tracking is very good, and since it is laser tracking it doesn't have that annoying red light that it uses to track on older optical mouses. The buttons are nice to the touch, but the scroll wheel is different. I have another MS mouse where the scroll wheel 'clicks' as you scroll up and down. It took me a while to get use to it. I noticed if i pressed down more to scroll, the annoying click is muted. I like the fact that it also has an on/off switch for the mouse, so it doesn't kill the battery trying to connect when it is disconnected. I have other MS cordless mouses at home, and I have to attest that the battery life on those are amazing. I have to replace/recharge them maybe once a year with heavy daily use.
Overall I would purchase this mouse again. If you have your computer on, all you have to do is switch this mouse on and you will be able to use it within seconds. It is comfortable, but there is the downside of the scroll wheel and the lack of software support.
Customer Review: Bad design
Summary: 2 Stars
I needed a bluetooth mouse because my computer only has two usb ports. I really like the look of the mouse. It's a little small, but I can live with that. It is comfortable to use, however.
It connected to my computer very easily, and I haven't had to setup the connection again. My computer finds it, and it connects.
Now for the negatives. The back button, which I didn't even realize it had, gets pressed very easily. At first I thought it was something I pressed on the keyboard, but then I realized it was the mouse. The button is placed just next to your inner thumb, and even while I was actively trying not to press it, I pressed it. IT WILL PRESS THE BACK BUTTON ON YOUR BROWSER if you have big hands.
To fix this, I had to remove the button and physically cut of the plastic attached to it, which activates the mechanism in the mouse. I would not recommend doing this because then the button sinks in because there is nothing to support it.
Another problem I had with it is responsiveness. Previously, I had a wireless mouse which used visible light to work. This one uses a real, invisible laser. I thought this was very cool, until I realized it doesn't work too well. My old mouse worked without a mouse pad nearly anywhere, even on my couch. But I need a mouse pad for this one. This is really a personal complaint, because I know most people do use mouse pads everyday.
Also, the scroll wheel on the top of the mouse jams up a little when you pull it backwards (to scroll down the page.) It doesn't affect the scrolling, but is a little annoying. This is a minor complaint, but doesn't help this mouse's ratings.
I would not recommend this mouse, at least to people with big hands who don't use mouse pads. Otherwise you should be fine.
Customer Review: Back button advertised but not supported
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this mouse for two reasons...Bluetooth (thus no receiver needed) and the back button.
When I set up the mouse in Mac OS X 10.5 (which is listed as a supported OS for this mouse, right on the package), there is no option to assign the "Back" button. The "Back" button does not work.
I called Microsoft support, they researched the issue and (to their credit) called me back, and confirmed that the latest Microsoft mouse software does not support this mouse with regard to the "Back" button.
The tech supervisor even told me point blank that the mouse was released with knowledge that it did not fully work.
Other than this missing functionality (which is frankly all I wanted this model for), it works fine. However, be warned...the features and compatibility listed on the package and here on Amazon do NOT reflect the actual features and compatibility of this mouse. In my opinion, this is false advertising, thus despite it's otherwise good quality I only give it one of five stars.
UPDATE (July 2008)
Steermouse does fully support this mouse, and the new Logitech I bought to replace it. Despite being a Mac user, I'd long believed Microsoft made good mice, but this one changed my mind to a degree. The wheel started losing sensitivity and came loose less than a year after buying it, as well. I also recently reconnected with an old Navy buddy who now works for Microsoft in the hardware department, he did some checking and confirmed that the driver did not initially support Mac OS (despite the advertised compatibility) and that there is no push or intention to update it to make the back button work. I don't recommend this mouse, unless you are a Windows user (and like a loose scroll wheel).
Customer Review: Nice idea, but design problems
Summary: 2 Stars
I was excited to get this mouse as it was my first Bluetooth device for my new laptop. This mouse replaced a previous Microsoft mouse, a wireless optical USB mouse.
I use a mouse extensively as part of my job and I'm pretty sensitive to its ergonomics. Here's what I've found so far:
1. Battery position is too far rearward. When I lift up the mouse in my normal mousing position, in order to move it, the weight of the batteries being toward the back throws the balance of the mouse off and the back end of the mouse does not easily lift up while the front-end points skyward. In order to actually move it, I have to let go of the mouse, move my fingers back a bit to find the balance point and then lift it. This is a total pain. I have found this with other wireless mice as well, but my most recent Microsoft mouse did not have this problem
2. Another problem when lifting the mouse to reposition it: the laser is *too sensitive* unless you lift the mouse much higher off the work surface than with any other mouse I've used, and I've probably used hundreds over the years. The problem is, when you lift the mouse what I consider a normal amount, in order to move it, the pointer doesn't stay fixed where it was; the laser reports you are still moving the mouse on the mousing surface and thus the pointer follows your movement. Thus, to physically lift the mouse and move it over a couple of inches (i.e,. what you have to do when trying to mouse across a large resolution area) you actually have to lift and move many times, not just once.. OR you have to lift the mouse an inch or more in the air. Both options are a pain.
I would really like to know who does Microsoft's ergonomics testing..Anyone who actually uses a computer???