Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 4000 (3.0) Silver PS2/USB Mac/Win
by Microsoft
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List Price: Our Price: $79.50 You Save: $0.45 (1%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $39.95 (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 Optical Desktop 4000 (3.0) Silver PS2/USB Mac/Win
Customer Review: Great signal, even from far away
Summary: 4 Stars
I rarely ever miss a key with this keyboard. I can type all day and every letter I type will appear. The signal is great. I frequently use this keyboard 10 feet away from the monitor for extended periods of time, and it doesn't lose the signal. The first time it said "low signal detected" I just told it not to remind me, because I never have problems with signal. If you don't turn off this setting, the computer will frequently remind you that signal is weak, even when the signal works just fine. I have always kept the sensor directly below the keyboard anyway.
For these devices I rarely need to replace the batteries, and they get very good use. I think I replaced the keyboard batteries once in the keyboard and once every 3 months maybe in the mouse. I can't even remember how long it was.
The keyboard is very comfortable and ergonomic (I'm a guy with medium sized hands). I use all the shortcut keys. Honestly I wasn't sure if I would use them, but I use every one of them. They are easy to change in Microsoft Keyboard. I don't use the special F keys, I just use the regular ones. Maybe for someone who doesn't normally use F-keys, they would be useful. Also the zoom function doesn't work in some programs like Firefox. It does work in windows live messenger and Internet Explorer.
The mouse is very comfortable also. It's not too big or too small. And it never jumps on the desktop surface I use except on a rare occasion when I am holding the mouse at an angle in the air to move it. I don't play any games on my computer, and for that reason, I can understand if some people think the scroll mouse is annoyingly touchy while playing games. But it is very smooth and easy to use (I personally don't like when the scroll clicks on other mice). I have a widescreen monitor, but I still think the side scroll is handy on big pictures and stupid myspace pages. The side scrolling doesn't work well in notepad and inside text boxes though, because it just moves the cursor.
Customer Review: Great keyboard; mouse is a piece of junk
Summary: 3 Stars
I have only the nicest things to say about this keyboard even though writing this review will probably contain 50 typos before I look it over. The keyboard I can tell already is extremely ergonomic but the shape by which Microsoft used to achieve this is strange to say the least (such as the "B" button being 3 times as large as the "A" button.) The device will certainly take some getting used to but once I master it, I expect to have the best keyboard on the market. The keys emit a very dull, rather quiet sound and the soft bottom part of the keyboard only adds to the comfort. I'm also impressed with the many customizable features that this keyboard includes such as 5 favorites buttons, customizable F1 through F12 buttons (with an F lock,) as well as web, calendar, mail, messenger, and My Documents keys. The premier problem with the keyboard would probably have to be the fact that there are no lights on this device, leaving me to look to the bottom of my screen to see whether my Caps Lock or Num lock are on. This is a small problem for me because I use this in conjunction with a laptop where I can see easily a light indicating the utilization of the lock keys.
The mouse that comes in this package however is a very sad disappointment (how dare you Microsoft.) Although it's one of the more comfortable and lightweight mouses I have ever used, it has the cheapest, most flimsy feel. It feels like I bought it from the dollar store. The batteries seem like they're buried inside the device so I can't use my rechargeable double-A's because I use them with my digital camera as well. The reception signal for the mouse is horrible. Luckily, I hadn't thrown my GE wireless mouse away. To top it off, the WOM 2.0 mouse is ugly as sin.
All in all, I wanted to give this package a 4-star but the small problem with the keyboard and the crapiness of the mouse left me sorely disappointed. But thanks to Amazon's marketplace, the 20 bucks I paid was well worth it.
Customer Review: Mixed bag
Summary: 3 Stars
I read some of the excellent reviews before my purchase, so there were not many surprises. The name of the set is different on Amazon than in other stores, which was a bit confusing. Microsoft itself calls it the wireless optical desktop - comfort edition. My impressions after a few weeks of use:
Pros:
- The radio signal appears to be strong and is resistant to interference. I've got a Gyration Ultra cordless mouse, a WiFi router, and speakers near the base receiver, but both the keyboard and mouse work without a hitch.
- The keyboard is relatively comfortable to use with good tactile feedback, and the faux leather wristpad is nice. Microsoft has a knack for well-built keyboards.
- Love all the extra buttons! They are reprogrammable with the Intellitype program, which is included.
- The zoom function is pretty nice when the type on the screen is too small to read. I don't have to always have my reading glasses on.
- The mouse is ambidextrous (one of the few wireless mice that isn't ergonomically designed only for righties).
Cons:
- The mouse has only 2 buttons plus the scroll wheel. Most of the newer high-end optical mice have more programmable buttons.
- The keyboard is not a true ergonomic keyboard (despite the "comfort" label). Although the layout is slightly curved, there is not much wrist angle reduction when typing.
- As others have noted, the F Lock key and the new and improved function keys are a serious step backwards to all of us used to working with the old function keys. For example, I am used to hitting F12 in some programs. Now, by default this is set as a "print" function. I've printed out more than a few pages accidentally.
Overall I am reasonably satisfied with the keyboard and mouse, but as with most Microsoft products, I think it will take a few iterations to get things really right.
Customer Review: not entirely plug-and-play
Summary: 4 Stars
What you're looking at on this page is Microsoft's latest wireless keyboard & mouse setup. You can also buy the keyboard and mouse separately; this is the keyboard and the mouse together in one pacakge.
On the one hand, I love this keyboard, designed to replace Microsoft's older model, the white ergonomic keyboard, famous for innovatively featuring a vast space between the keys corresponding to each hand. As far as I know, that keyboard is currently being phased out, and Microsoft is only offering this less dramatic version instead.
This one has a built-in, sturdy, non-detachable palm rest and the rows of keys are is curved in the ergonomic style, though not to the extent that they were in Microsoft's former incarnation. Additionally, there is now no space between the keys.
The keyboard has a solid, smooth, and very comfortable feel, but there is something you should know.
The keyboard needs software installed (they give you a disk) to run properly. If you don't install the software (for example because you don't have the disk or you don't have administrative privledges over your machine), then the keyboard won't work right.
The lower, basic keys will still all work, but none of the bells and whistles will, including the function keys. And there'll be no way to remap them to work right since Windows will simply not register any input from anything except the basic keys.
So this is something you might want to think about if you're thinking about getting this to replace your keyboard at work: unless your computer administrator allows it, you won't be able to use most of the keyboard's special features.
The mouse suffers no analogous impairment in functionality, however. In case you're interested, the "wheel" on the mouse scrolls smoothly: there is no clicking.
Customer Review: Put "Silver Wings" On Your Desktop
Summary: 5 Stars
The Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 4000 (3.0) Silver PS2/USB Mac/Win is like having "Silver Wings" on my keyboard tray. No wires, no fuss and they always work. This is my third wireless keyboard/mouse combination, but my first combo that really works well for me. The keyboard and mouse set up very easily. They work so flawlessly that my hands and fingers seem to fly along.
It has been three months and I am still on the first set of batteries. I have not seen any false battery "alarms" and I am always connected when I boot up the computer. Interference does not seem to be an issue with this Micorsoft setup.
The keyboard is easy to use and the mouse fits my hand very nicely. My hands are of average size - so it may be a good idea to "preview" this setup at a store somewhere. My wife's hands are small, but she says that the mouse and the keyboard seem to fit her "fairly" well. She does prefer a smaller mouse - so that should be taken into consideration.
The extra features such as the Tilt Wheel Technology and the Smart Technology to reduce the likelihood of interruption by notifying you when it detects interference, or low battery levels are nice. However, I don't really notice them. Personally, that is the way I like it! One "sweet" touch is the one-touch button on the keyboard that brings up your calculator. No more searching for a calculator when you want to use one.
I don't know about the half year of battery life yet but so far, so good. I do appreciate the fact that the keyboard is not over-designed by the Microsoft ergonomics experts. The arched shape to provides support for your hands in a natural, comfortable position is not overdone, and therefor is easy to become familiar with. Microsoft got this one right!