Low-Profile Wireless Keyboard and BlueTrack Mouse Desktop Set – USB
$ 34.72
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Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000
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3 thoughts on “Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000”
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Very nice, solid keyboard+mouse from MS,
As somewhat of a keyboard/mouse collector (16 mice and 12 keyboards) due to the “unfortunate” quirk of being left-handed and desiring a comfortable mouse, I’ve tried quite a few over the years. I bought this set because Microsoft advertise that it’s Mac-compatible, which is important seeing as I use Macs primarily.
Previously, I’d been using the standard Apple keyboard (slim aluminum), but wanted a keyboard with a few function keys. I scoped out the Logitech G15, as I had the older flip-LCD version and Logitech now supports Macs with their new G-series Profiler software, but I decided against the G15 because Logitech annoyed me with their Desktop Wave Pro set – which inexplicably is NOT supported by their SetPoint Mac software, even though the original Desktop Wave set IS supported. Grr!
This set from Microsoft is my favorite Microsoft set in years. The keyboard is fairly slim for an MS keyboard, which I like, and the keys are somewhat low-profile, which I also like. It took me an hour or so to get used to typing on it, as it has a bit of a weird contour to it – not quite as weird as the Logitech Wave, but a definite contour.
As mentioned by another reviewer, the keyboard is loud. I don’t notice anything particularly loud about the spacebar, but the keyboard is most definitely loud in general. This doesn’t bother me, as I tend to like the clack of a keyboard, but I can see how other people might be bothered by it. There’s no way I could type on this keyboard stealthily while talking on the phone, for example.
For Mac users, the newest Microsoft IntelliType software is fantastic. Swapping a few settings allowed me to set the Alt keys to be equivalent to my Command keys, and the Windows Menu key (next to Ctrl on the right side) to be Alt, which is convenient while gaming – as I have easy access to Ctrl, Alt and Shift. The function keys are all customizable, allowing you to perform special functions, bind them to applications on your system, and so forth. One minor nitpick is that although you can bind a key to open your web browser, you can’t bind it to a specific website – so I cannot, for example, bind my Mail key to automatically open my Gmail website. A minor nit, but it may also bother some people.
Another minor nitpick is that the F-keys are insanely small and are right above the standard keyboard, and below the special function keys. It took me a little while to get used to this, and I had to disable the iTunes functionality on the media keys because I kept hitting them while gaming, and popping up iTunes in the middle of a game. Not good! Due to per-application profiling, however, it’s easy to disable them when in certain applications.
Apart from the above, I really like the keyboard. It’s slim, low, the wristpad is of a material that’s comfortable, and the keys are very nice to type on once you get used to them.
The mouse – which I believe is a Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 with a special white underside, instead of the solid black – took me a while to get used to as well, but I love it now. The mouse is very tall, which was a definite change from my previous mouse, a Razer Copperhead. It’s ambidextrous, which is a big plus for me, and the sides are rubberized and very comfortable and keep it from slipping in my hand, which has been a problem with other MS mice.
The mouse is quite heavy, which I like, though others may not appreciate that. As is usual with Microsoft mice, the scroll wheel is heavenly – it scrolls so perfectly smooth, with just the right amount of tension. The rubber track on the wheel keeps your finger from slipping and gives good traction for scrolling. The scroll wheel isn’t a click-wheel, but it’s still very easy to scroll only one or two steps at a time, unlike the free roulette-wheel scroller on Logitech’s new mice.
Though another reviewer complained about the loud clicks on the mouse, I don’t think it’s any louder than some Razer mice (Copperhead, Diamondback or Lachesis are the three I own) or Logitech mice (the G7, VX Nano and VX Revolution are about the same loudness), though it is definitely louder than some of Logitech’s “squishier” mice, such as the MX610 and MX620, or the LX8.
I can also definitively say that the BlueTrack is amazingly responsive and accurate, especially for a wireless. After using it for a week, I still haven’t had any problems with the pointer slipping or ghosting, or just plain teleporting all over. Very nice.
My only complaint – and it isn’t a big one since I don’t plan to travel with this mouse – is that although the transceiver snaps into the mouse, it’s neither a Nano transceiver, nor does it snap flush into the bottom – it hangs out, which means if something brushes it enough, it could flop out. It would take a good bit of brushing, as there are four rubber teeth that hold the USB transceiver in, but…
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|Mixed feelings but not too bad,
If you just want a wireless combo that does the job, then this is it. But there are some annoyances.
Extra buttons that work without the software:
1. The calculator button above num lock that brings up the calculator. That is, the one you would find in start -> all programs -> accessories -> calculator.
2. E-mail, internet, and music buttons on the top left. I think if I had MSN messenger this would work too, but I can’t get it to open Pidgin without the software.
3. Play/pause, previous track, next track, stop.
4. Volume down, volume up, mute.
Extra buttons that don’t work without the software:
1. On the very left, my documents button and my pictures button.
2. On the very left, zoom in and zoom out. I think they’re equivalent to ctrl + =, and ctrl + -, but they won’t work without the software.
3. The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, keys which are software customizable as well as the star key that brings up the config for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 keys.
The F keys may or may not work without the software, I’m too lazy to uninstall and test it.
Things I like about this keyboard/mouse combo:
1. I really like the calculator key above num lock.
2. The keys are kind of halfway between a standard height key and a notebook key.
3. It looks nice on a desk.
4. Wireless range is about 30 feet, but don’t expect it to go through 2 walls. No major complaints about connectivity/tracking/etc.
Things I hate about it:
1. The mouse wheel is completely smooth. If I play a first-person shooter, and I want to switch weapons with the mouse wheel, I get no tactile feedback, and what would normally be one click of the wheel translates into me switching from my first weapon to my third weapon.
2. I can’t press spacebar, e, and 4 at the same time. For me that is a problem because unlike most first person shooters that use WASD for up, left, down, right, Tribes 2 uses ESDF. Spacebar is to ski, E is forward, and if I want to change to weapon 4 by pressing number 4, it won’t happen if I am also going forward and skiing at the same time.
3. The Esc key and the F1-12 keys are way too small. In addition, the space between Esc and F1 is the same as the space between all of the F keys, making it difficult to find the Esc key quickly. On a traditional keyboard, there is extra space between Esc and F1.
4. There’s no way to find out by looking at the keyboard if caps lock, num lock, and scroll lock are on. In order to save power, there are no lights for those locks. If you install the software, if you press any of those buttons, a message on the screen will tell you the state of the locks, but after the message disappears, there’s no way to tell. It’s not a bug though, it’s a power saving feature. LOL!
Overall, the keyboard does its job. If you don’t play games, the smooth mouse wheel and the fact that you can’t press spacebar, e and 4 at the same time won’t bother you. The only real annoyance for a standard user would be that the F1-12 keys are small and that Esc is close to F1.
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|Seriously? I got excited about this desktop mouse & keyboard?,
I have to say that I really like this keyboard and mouse….something I would never expect to come out of my mouth. The mouse has a great form-factor and is extremely comfortable due to the rubberized material on the sides. And it does work on any surface! I also am very pleased by the look of the keyboard & mouse – with the piano black finish. It’s stylish and doesn’t just look like a piece of plastic on my desk. I liked the product so much I felt I needed to write this review.
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