Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 - Slate
by Microsoft
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List Price: Our Price: $13.50 You Save: $16.45 (55%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.95 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 - Slate
Customer Review: Amazing battery life
Summary: 5 Stars
I have both versions of this Microsoft wireless mouse - Winter Blue and Slate. Just in case you're wondering: they are identical except for the colors, so you might as well choose which ever one is on sale. Of course if you need two wireless mouses, then it is best to pick one of each color. This way you can ensure that when you operate both mouses in close proximity, their wireless transmitters will not interfer with each others.
What I found surprising is that this wireless mouse consumes very little power when it is in low-power standby mode. When you move the mouse around, the LED light brightens up, and current cunsumption jumps to about 25mA briefly. But once you stop moving the mouse, the current soon drops to only 0.4-0.5mA. Therefore you can expect a single AA alkaline cell (typically rated at 2800mAh under light load) to last for about six months, even if your never turn the mouse off. This kind of battery life is simply amazing.
If you want to use rechargeable battery in this mouse, make sure you choose the latest generation of "ready-to-use" low self-discharge cells (such as Sanyo Eneloop or Rayovac Hybrid). Don't even bother with older generation 2500mAh NiMH cells from Energizer or any other brands, because those cells will completely self-discharge within a few weeks.
One final remark: This mouse can be used under Windows XP without any software drivers. However, it is best to install the IntelliPoint 5.0 (or later) mouse driver from Microsoft. It gives additional customization features, plus a battery status monitor from your PC.
Customer Review: Ergonomic, lightweight, and easy to install, but interferance problems
Summary: 2 Stars
Owned for 1 year so far.
PRO:
-lightweight
-easily detected and works without any problems on windows xp, vista ,7, and linux (fedora core 10-13)
-I like the recessed design of the usb dongle, so it will not pop out easily compared to a logitech v220 I used to own.
CON:
-The usb reciver is kinda long and gets in the way. I had a few occasions where my leg bumped into it a few times when using on PC's with the tower positioned under the table. This causes the mouse to lose connection with the usb receiver. The only way to reconnect "easily" is to disconnect the receiver and reconnect.
-Also the size of the receiver causes problems with some usb ports that are stacked vertically flat. I have to remember to put the receiver on the lower port or else i risk bending or hitting it when I connect a different usb device below it. The receiver loses connection if it is disturbed in some ways. Also putting the usb receiver on the lowest positioned port avoids the accidental activation of the reset button on the bottom of the receiver. This will cause my mouse to lag with long response time. I usually have to disconnect and reconnect to fix it.
-Wireless seems to get interference easily from neighboring wires. If I have the mouse sitting next to maybe a firewire able connected to an HD, the mouse movement starts to lag and have considerable loss of response time. Also I had a usb cable sitting next to the usb receiver one time and it caused the mouse to have a very low responsive time. Solution is to have no powered electronic wires near the mouse or the usb receiver.
I never ran into interference problems when I owned a logitech v200. Only reason I bought the MS one was because I left the logitech mouse somewhere in a public place and someone decided not to turn it in.
Customer Review: FYI - Receiver is no longer adjustable to 90 degrees
Summary: 4 Stars
I received a previous version of this mouse as a promotional gift from Microsoft, and since have not been able to separate myself from it whenever I travel. It is the most "plug and play" piece of hardware I have ever purchased for a pc (noteboook or otherwise) -- no software installation or complicated setup necessary. It of course does not have the bells and whistles that the Logitech Revolution series mice have (ie. tilt wheel/side to side scrolling, customizable buttons, and easily-accessible forward/back buttons for fast and efficient web browsing), but for basic functionality, this mouse simply cannot be beaten. As a travel companion, it is extraordinarily lightweight and low maintenance -- with its snap-in receiver, there are no worries of ever leaving for a business trip with unnecessary weight or having to account for multiple devices/attachments just to make offsite work more tolerable (ie. why bring a mouse when just using the laptop's touchpad was a better option than having to worry about one more thing to keep track of?). This mouse, however, has me spoiled -- I even use it while working on my laptop at home, sitting on my couch (the optical laser even works quite well on the surface of a leather couch!). The soft-touch buttons and scroll wheel are also amazingly easy on the hand when doing a ton of repetitive movements. One thing of importance to note, however, is that the version I got from Amazon does *not* have the same adjustable receiver that my promotional version has. While the receiver still easily and conveniently snaps into the bottom of the mouse, it sticks out quite a bit more than the adjustable version does, and resultingly would also not work as well with notebooks that have a vertical (as opposed to horizontal) USB port. Nevertheless, this is such a great mouse I felt compelled to have more than just one.Customer Review: small defect
Summary: 3 Stars
I found my left click button had a small but irritating defect. If you hold the mouse 3000 up to your ear, then press the left click button near the edge you hear a click. So far so good. When you release the button very slowly you again hear the click. Then you take your finger very slowly off the button and you hear a twang. If you do the same thing with your finger away from the edge the twang does not occur. The right button does not have the twang no matter how you do it. When doing a lot of work my finger works its way to the edge and I find this characteristic highly irritating since it makes the left click seem loose. I do not know if this happens on all of the 3000's.
I finally bought a Logitech VX Nano Notebook Wireless Mouse. The buttons work flawlessly. The USB plug is so small it can be left in the computer all the time and you do not have to plug it into the mouse to shut it off. I found you do not have to turn it off at all. This mouse has software to tell you how many days the batteries will last, which is 6 months. So no more wear 0n the USB socket with the mouse plug.
The Microsoft optical mouse gave errors. Sometimes the cursor would move slowly across the screen by itsef. Sometime it would jump suddenly when used. The Logitek Mouse gave no errors of any sort, probably because it uses a Laser and not just an LED.
The VX Nano has no flaws in use and feels good to use. No more tinny irritations. The Manufacturer said that moving the mouse in the power on condition can trigger it on (no mention in write up). For example, the vibration from a fan can keep the thing in the power up state. I never shut mine off and it does not seem to reduce the battery life which is 6 months.
Customer Review: Great mouse with a few flaws *Edited - No flaws to speak of!
Summary: 4 Stars
I've tried three or four wireless mice and have never found one that I like at all - they've either been floaty and unresponsive, or included ridiculously bulky wireless base stations that completely defeat the purpose of having a wireless mouse at all.
This little Microsoft mouse solves these problems very well - it has razor-precise responses and communicates with the computer through a relatively small USB stub. The mouse itself is small, but not by any means uncomfortable. The USB stub snaps into the back of the mouse when it's not in use, which is a great idea and makes it truly portable (about the size of a small digital camera).
The only problem is that the mouse doesn't have an on/off button on it, which makes me worry about battery life. The mouse does switch off whe the stub is snapped in (it has a tiny pressure switch like you'd find on a telephone), but there's no way to turn it off when you leave your desk is you don't unplug the USB connector. Maybe this doesn't actually effect the battery life very much (I've only had it for a few days), but I would have appreciated a manual on/off (and, as another reviewer already said, a carrying case).
All in all, though, this is a great wireless mouse for portable or stationary applications. Microsoft may have its problems as a corporation, but nearly every Microsoft mouse I've purchased has been great, like this one.
EDIT, March 2005 - I complained about the lack of an on/off switch, but this mouse has lasted for MONTHS on the initial battery. It seems to go to sleep when you're not using it, so there's no need to worry about switching it off to conserve battery. Truly an excellent mouse, I would give it five stars had I known this initially.