Built for maximum performance, designed for maximum style! Get everything you've always wanted with a keyboard and mouse in one package - wireless freedom, stylish looks, and one-touch features. With customizable keys, optical mouse technology, and a cool design, it is the all-in-one desktop solution. Performance and style look better than ever.
Add wireless freedom, stylish looks, and one-touch features to your desktop with the Wireless Optical Desktop Pro keyboard and mouse combination. This desktop package provides customizable keys, optical mouse technology, and a sleek, low-profile design. Also, your digital media activities are within easy reach--start, play, and navigate music and video clips with the touch of a button. Customizable hot keys let you quickly start Messenger, e-mail, Internet, and Calculator programs. And get one-touch access to files stored in the My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music folders in Windows. Perform common tasks right from your keyboard--press a button to open, close, save, send, and forward e-mails, put the computer to sleep, log off, and more. Press the F LOCK key to toggle between the standard and enhanced function key commands.
The mouse's wider, clear scroll wheel allows you to comfortably move through documents and Web sites quickly without clicking the scroll bar. Accelerated scrolling reacts to how quickly you roll the wheel, saving you time and effort. And the optical sensor replaces your mouse ball, for accuracy and precision--no mouse pad needed. It's ambidextrous, too--whether you control it with your right or left hand, the Wireless Optical Mouse is shaped for comfort.
Both the keyboard and mouse work within six feet of the included receiver, even if your computer is out of sight. The Wireless Optical Desktop Pro comes with a three-year warranty.
1 Saved this Reviewers Reviewing Reputation
It sounded like a good idea to clean a laptop keyboard (I thought that would solve some problems), but let me tell you once you put all the lovely little keys back, nothing works. So, I figured it was either time to get a new laptop, deal with waiting days and days while the keyboard was repaired or find another solution.
It took a few hours and suddenly I decided to go look for a keyboard and try to plug it into the laptop. The thought really didn't cross my mind before or I would have bought this amazing keyboard months ago. Not only can I type way faster, I love the freedom of the cordless world. Plus, hey, hey, I can now see the letters on the keys. My laptop has a few keys where my nails literally clawed through the top of the key. It is funny, but true.
The "Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop" is quite a sexy system with a sleek look and plenty of style. I really haven't used all the features because mostly I just type and type and type some more. This is a nice package deal with one-touch features. The customizable keys will amuse anyone who has the time to figure everything out.
If you love to listen to music while you are at the computer, there is a Media Center so you can open, play and navigate music with the touch of a few buttons. I was trying to figure out why you would want a keyboard that works within 6 feet of the receiver and then I figured it was for the music functions.
The Wireless Optical Mouse is shaped for comfort and can be used by right or left-handed users. The clear/wider scroll wheel allows you to move quickly through web pages. I noticed that the scrolling was much faster and there is no need to click on the scroll bar. Basically everything works faster with this keyboard. I'm quite impressed.
This works with PS/2 or USB. 4 AA batteries are included. Two for the keyboard and two for the mouse. They seem to last quite a long time.
The Software installation and setup was so easy, I thought I was dreaming. Within hours of finding out I was not able to type, I was suddenly back in the review-writing mood. Although my husband says I sounded like someone had died when I told him I could not type. Talk about feeling helpless. Since fixing a computer is a few hundred dollars these days, I think we really lucked out by buying this very affordable desktop system. When I comparred prices, I saved myself over a thousand bucks. Well, if I had to go buy a new computer.
The reason I chose this particular keyboard is because it has a palm rest, which makes typing very comfortable.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
2 I can't get why some people are not satisfyed
Ok, let me start by saying that like most other human beings I don't like Microsoft, but lets not allow this to prevent us from judging a product objectively.
This keyboard-mouse combo does exactly what it should do, nothing less, but a few things more.
The keyboard is excellent. Reception is perfect, and the extra multimedia keys work well and are programmable with the supplied drivers. The fact that the CAPS/NUMLOCK lights are on the receiver haven't bothered me a bit so far.
The mouse is simple yet efficient. It does what it should, a bit heavy and most be used from a shorter range than the keyboard (but still surpasses the 6-foot specification), but other than that very good.
Installation couldn't be easier, unless you're a complete newbie to computers. Battery life is good, channel switching is possible (though I didn't need it at all), and the design looks great.
The price is very cheap, what more do you need?
Very recommended.
3 DO NOT BUY!
The design of this keyboard is HORRENDOUS. I have many gripes.
1. THE MOST ANNOYING THING IN THE WORLD: F-lock key. I do not even use Microsoft Office/Outlook or whatever program those buttons are for. I would not WANT to use them. Every time I power up my computer, I have to press the F-lock button.
2. The function buttons are grouped in threes, and instead of F1 F2 F3 etc being on the top of each key, it is on the side. The crappy software shortcuts are printed on the top of each key. I would not mind if the keys were grouped in 4 as is normal, but with groups of 3, I find myself constantly having to look at the key to know which one it is - and I have to look at the SIDE of the key to tell!
3. NO LIGHTS. Well, there -are- lights, but they are not on the keyboard. They are on the hub. I do not understand the logic of this. Who the hell looks at the hub? I keep my hub on the desk and never look at it. This means that you cannot tell whether F-lock, scroll lock, CAPS lock, or num lock are on unless you look at the hub - and it uses some sort of code that I don't understand. There's an "A" light, a "1" light, and a "F" light, but they do not light up as expected. When I press F lock, the F button does not go on...
4. The keyboard seems to decide that, if you have been holding in a key for too long, you are done, so it shuts off. This is particularly annoying for games with WASD movement, as W will often be held in, but you have to keep pressing it every few seconds or the keyboard will turn it off.
5. Range. It says 6 feet, but it is not. It is 1 foot. I have no idea why they say 6 feet, it doesn't work that far, even with nothing in the way.
6. Insert has been moved up as a 2nd function of Print Screen, and Home/End/PgUp/PgDn are in a strange arrangement. Delete is double size. Arrow buttons have been moved down and to the left, causing absolute chaos when trying to find the arrows. I rarely look at my keyboard, and having to look to find the arrow keys slows me down.
I have no problem with the mouse, except that it is next to impossible to add/remove batteries. The slot for batteries is very tight and I actually pierced the plastic wrapping for my batteries on the edge of the hole. I tried putting the battery in every which way. It did not fit. You have to PUSH it in. There is also a problem with the scroll wheel. I can't quite figure out exactly why it's annoying, but I think it's because of the slippery grip, it makes me have to push down on the scroll wheel to move it. I'm used to just pushing it around with ease.
Conclusion: For a new/amateur computer user who uses many Microsoft products such as Office and Outlook, you are in for a treat, because this keyboard is made just for you and nobody else. If, however, you do not fall into this category, this keyboard will be useless to you. It is horrendous for gamers (especially!), touch-typists, fast typists, programmers, or people who type a lot. Or basically anyone who is comfortable with the standard keyboard layout.
On the upside, it's wireless... which is why I still use it. But for a wireless keyboard, it's CRAP. ABSOLUTE FILTH.
Another horrible idea from our friends at Microsoft.
4 Bad reception.
I received this as a gift. I am happy I haven't spent any money on this one. It has a sleek design and it works fine if you are within 1 feet to your computer. If you want to get a little far, it becomes useless.What is the point of having it wireless if you have to stay next to your computer.Really bad reception. I am trying to watch a movie couple feet away from my computer and I cannot use the keyboard or mouse to control. I tried everything. I took the communication part as close as I could, still I had to bring the keyboard almost next to it. I used brand new batteries hoping that was the problem, but unfortunately it was the useless microsoft product.
5 Very good wireless keyboard
I purchased this as an upgrade to an old Microsoft Internet keyboard. Right off the bat, the stylish look had me hooked. I was a bit wary about wireless, but so far no problems. It works like a charm.
Unlike other wireless keyboards, this one does not need a direct line-of-sight to the reciever. I've typed with my back to the computer, as well as clear across the room. It works fine. The software that came with the keyboard is the same standard "Intelli Type Pro" that comes with all the Microsoft boards. It's very good and comes in handy if you'd like the hotkeys at the top of the board to do something else. The hotkeys at the top are My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, a Play/Pause/Stop/Prev/Next and volume control grouped in the middle, a mute button, Mail, Web/Home that will activate your browser, and Messenger. The Messenger button worried me a bit because I thought it was hard coded for Microsoft's MSN service, however the software lets you change it to anything.
There is an F-Lock key on the board that might take some getting used to, but comes in very handy. If you have the lock on, the F keys will work as normal. However if you turn the F lock off, the F keys will do a lot of other tasks such as replying, forwarding and sending e-mail, bringing up a spellchecker, saving and printing any document or web page you're currently on, and more. All the buttons are labeled with these extra functions, which is nice. The software will also let you change these as well.
I do have a couple issues with it. There is a bit of a learning curve if you're used to basically any standard keyboard. The F keys are laid out in groups of 3, instead of the usual 4. Also, Microsoft changed the Home, End, Page Up/Down, and Delete keys a bit by putting them in 2 columns instead of 3. The the Insert key is up in the F key area and the Delete key is double size. The arrow keys are nudged over to the left a bit (see images). Futhermore, the Windows key only appears on the left side on this board. These changes are probably not a big problem if you don't use these keys much or at all, but if you do and especially are a touch typer, it might throw you off for a little while.
The mouse is a bit heavy with the double A batteries and also might take some getting used to. The light on the bottom does not turn off when you boot down. Apparently the batteries (included) are supposed to last a few months, but mine started going out in about 3 weeks with daily use. The software that comes with the package lets you program the scroll wheel when it's clicked with a plethora of standard and common commands. A message pops up on the screen when the batteries are getting low, which is very nice.
Overall, this is a very good wireless keyboard and mouse combo.
6 Makes a Great Gift
I received the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop as a gift six months ago and haven't had a single problem. I love the wireless aspect and I'll never go back. The mouse takes two AAA batteries and I replaced them after about four or five months - a message box appeared on the screen and notified me that my batteries were getting low. Two days later another box stated that my batteries were really low, so I changed them. I'm buying this for my father (who has everything) for Christmas after he mentioned how much he liked using the wireless mouse.
7 Downlevel software for WinME
I bought this new at a local computer specialty store. The product came with IntelliType Pro 2.2 and IntelliPoint 4.1. The software would not install, generating an error message that complained of missing file 1033.MST. A search of the Microsoft website showed this was a known problem, and fixed in newer releases. Each of the downloads are about 10 meg.; not a lot of fun with a dialup connection. Once IntelliType Pro 2.22 and IntelliPoint 4.12 were downloaded, it installed fine.
The keyboard and mouse work fine, but the non-standard arrangement of the delete, Page Up, Page Down, Home, End keys takes some getting used to. The mouse is slightly hour-glass shaped, and feels heavier than a "standard" mouse.
One more thing that bothers me: the F1-F12 function keys are arranged in four groups of three; all the other keyboards I use have them in three groups of four. This is an improvement?
8 Stylish upgrade to any system -- worth the price!
GOOD:
I bought this set from Compusa for about $70 and it was totally worth it. The keyboard/mouse looks great (black and silver styling), and the wireless transceiver seems to have a very good range. I use rechargeable batteries that I switch out every couple months. The media control keys at he top of the keyboard are really cool. They work with whatever application is currently open with no configuration required. If nothing is running they will launch the default media player app. This means if winamp is the default player, you can control volume, track, pause/stop, etc... and later if you are watching a DVD through powerDVD or something like it the keyboard will control powerDVD instead with no config. changes. It's really pretty smart. I highly recommend this product :)
BAD:
Mouse light stays on at low setting all the time, mouse battery must be switched every two to three months with normal use (not too bad). Also, the caps lock, numlock, and function lock (special function keys on this keyboard) are all located on the transceiver base (not on the keyboard). Since I keep this thing behind my desk, I can't always tell which lights are on. Oh well... :)
9 Mouse problems corrected
My wife liked the keyboard and mouse very much but the cursor would randomly jump and move down and left. I played with receiver location and batteries then I read the comments here and on the circuit city site.
I want to thank whoever said they fixed similar problems by adjusting the mouse control software. It solved my problem. No more jumping.
Now works great and rock solid.
10 Excellent keyboard but mouse does not have enough buttons
The keyboard is excellent but the mouse has too little buttons, especially if you use the net a lot - luckily there is a way past it. If you have the Microsoft Wireless Explorer Mouse you can use it together with this keyboard by changing the channels on the receiver you get with the keyboard. You can switch the channels so that the keyboard uses the one channel and the mouse the other one. Install the software of the Explorer Mouse and the keyboard before you connect the receiver to your PC by using your old keyboard and mouse. I also discovered that the farther away the receiver is from the PC case or monitor, the more responsive the mouse is - when the receiver is right next to the pc case the mouse goes to sleep much quicker and more often. I also found that the PS2 connection works better than the USB connection (I am running WinXP Pro)
11 Generally Very Reliable with One Small Gripe
This is my first wireless desktop and I've been very pleased with it. I occasionally get a problem with one of my PCs where the mouse and keyboard lock during bootup, forcing me to plug in a wired keyboard simply to reboot. However, this happens rarely plus I've got a real Frankenstein of complexity going on between my multiple PCs (relevant detail: wireless desktop into Belkin KVM swtich). Plus, this problem has never occurred on any of the other three PCs that the desktop is controlling, so problem may be in that one PC.
Anyway, the only daily gripe that I have is that the keys are configured differently than most other keyboard. I'm a big keyboard shortcut guy and rely heavily on the section of keys with Home, End, Insert, Delete, etc. I guess in order to make the keyboard a little smaller, the keys are in differently places than on most 102-key keyboards. Not only did this take me a while to get used to, but this also means that I'm messed up when using other PCs, i.e. at the office. This is a trifle, but worth mentioning.
I was wary in the beginning about the mouse and keyboard using batteries, but I'm happy to say that I haven't had to change either after over a month of heavy use. Of course, they may die at any inst
12 sub par
I was disappointed with my purchase...several things made this set a less than perfect product. My main problem is the mouse; not only does it eat through batteries- it never shuts off, so I pull the batteries out at night- but it also has shoddy drivers- the mouse will freeze up occasionally, and if you don't move it constantly, it will left click and move down diagonally the next time you move it. THe keyboard is fine, except the delete key and the F-lock system. Because I already know the Word shortcuts, the F-lock system is just redundant, and actually get in the way because it forces you to relearn the key. If F-lock is on, Spell-check is F-10 instead of F-7. This is unnecessary IMO. The different setup for the delete/home/end/pgup/pgdn might be more efficient, but I still have problems with it. Overall, I wish I'd gone the Logitech route.
13 Imperfect, but welcome freedom from wires
I've been using this for about a month and a half now, and I am ambivalent about it. On the positive side, it brings a much-needed freedom from tangled wires, which was a real problem for me as I move my computer around the room a lot. I can now type while in bed, then a little later move to a different spot and all it takes is turning the monitor around, not having to worry about wires. The keyboard and mouse are very comfortable and have a slick, professional look.
On the negative side, once you change your position, the mouse and keyboard don't respond immediately. Sometimes all it takes is moving the scroll wheel of the mouse to get it to work, but often it involves moving the receiver.
Also on the positive side, I found the battery life of the mouse to be very good -- I had to change batteries only once, recently, which is nice considering that I use my computer a lot and that other brands seem to have a much shorter battery life. The mouse uses a neat low-consumption mechanism that diminishes its light gradually over periods of inactivity.
In all, I am happy to have switched to wireless, though if you are picky about having things responding immediately after periods of inactivity, this may not be the thing for you.
14 Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse- Way to GO !
1st off amazon is the best.. I ordered this item Monday, and it has arrived to me 2 days later on Wednesday, can't beat Amazon! As far as the keyboard is concerned, love it.. works great and keys are nice.. Mouse is also very nice.. I tryed the Logitech brand, liked it, but it was heavier..this one does appear lighter.. Overall a great deal if you want to get rid of some wires in your computer work area...
15 Non-standard key layout
Maybe all MS keyboards have the strange layout with the double sized delete key and the insert key up higher, but I'm still struggling to get used to it. I prefer the 6 key layout for the home, page up/dn, end, delete insert between the letters and numeric keypad. I don't like the fact the function keys are off by default. The cordless works very nicely, they keyboard has a nice feel. I just can't get used to the key layouts.
16 Almost Heaven
I love this wireless duo. I use the set at home with my Gateway laptop and its so nice to have a simple hookup and fewer wires in the way. My cat can't pull the wires and mess up my work anymore! I'm still on my first set of batteries after 2 months and very pleased with the overall performance. Only 2 minor issues: First, if you use the NUM Lock to use the 10 key pad and fail to unlock it prior to disconnect, the F Lock sticks on the laptop keypad. Second,I got spoiled using the extra side buttons as back/forward on my previous optical mouse and this mouse does not have that lovely feature. For a casual home user its a great buy.
17 Be warned: functions keys mapping a pain
2 stars because the wireless and optical part works fine. Loses stars for wacky keyboard layout and for stealing the function keys.
I have owned the Logitech optical mouse/keyboard combo for over a year and I much prefer the Logitech. Performance is very similar, but the MAJOR problem with the Microsoft keyboard is bizarre function key layout and mappings. The function keys (F1--F12) are by default mapped for commands in the microsoft office suite. You cannot change the default permanenently, you must remember to remap every time you boot or come back from standby. When you use any non-office programs that have useful function key mappings, you are liable to mess yourself up and lose a lot of work. It is way beyond exasperating -- just bad design.
Additionally, the home/end/insert/delete key layout is nothing short of bizarre. Home/end is arranged vertically on every keyboard I've ever met. With this keyboard, if you are any kind of touch typist you will find yourself doing shift-DELETE when you mean shift-[select-to-]END. This keyboard is a classic example of Microsoft fixing what ain't broke and coming up with a white elephant. Avoid it.
18 Mouse is Wonderful, Keyboard Deserves a Second Look
I have had to get a replacement product before. I bought the combination and then, 3 weeks after I installed it, the keyboard went bad with no warning. It wouldn't connect with the base station. I would press the connect button on the base station, and then press the connect button on the keyboard, but the base didn't recognize it, or didn't even get a signal. I contacted Microsoft's E-mail support, and they were of no help. I finally had to call long distance to get any help. I have never had any problems with either of the mice. The second keyboard is great, but the range from the base is much shorter than the mouse. It is kind of disappointing that I can only take the mouse across the room. If you do not want to take the combination very far, than I highly recommend the product. If you want to take it longer than 4 feet away, you may want to look at other products.
19 Keyboard is superb, mouse is less than great...
I purchased this product with the intention of removing some of the many wires which cross my desk. I am completely satisfied with the wireless keyboard, but the mouse leaves something to be desired. Both units worked immediately after install and reboot, and install was very simple. I have never, not once, had a problem with the keyboard. There is no lag, or any discernable difference between the wireless and a wired keyboard.
In most instances, the mouse works fine. Initially, I had the same problems with the mouse as many other reviewers. Namely, the mouse jumping around the screen for no appartent reason. However, after I changed several of the default settings (very easy to do through the dialog boxes) the jumping problem went away. The only problem that I occasionally experience with the mouse is a slight lack of precision. It is not critical, and is rarely apparent, but if you are doing digital photo editing or other precision tasks, this mouse may not work you.
20 A Nice Upgrade With Easy Installation
I plugged the keyboard and mouse into my P-4 running ME and booted up. It worked immediately, without the software. I did need to install the driver to get the multimedia keys to work. They are nice. I use MM Jukebox to play MP3s. I expected Microsoft to have the system default to their own media player, but when I hit the music key, Jukebox popped up with my last play list. The volume and play keys worked without a hitch. The mute key is a great feature when you receive phone calls. I have a 2.4hz wireless phone and a wireless network. Neither were disrupted by this system, or had an effect on the performance of the mouse/keyboard. If they do, you can select a different channel. Other fast keys include MyDocuments and MyPictures. A nice feature on the keyboard is printing on the front side of keys used in combination with the Ctrl key. For instance, the "B" key says BOLD, the "C" key says COPY and so on. The only reason I did not give this product five stars is because of the mouse. I was using a wired Intellimouse Explorer and liked the programmable thumb keys that I used for Forward/Back. They are missing on the wireless mouse. My original Intellimouse Explorer came with a limited lifetime warranty. One of the thumb switches stopped working after three years of heavy use. Microsoft replaced it promptly at no charge. I was impressed. Unfortunately, the wireless keyboard/mouse combo comes with only a 30 day warranty. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
21 Not dependable.
The concept of a cordless keyboard and mouse is nice, but the application is less than perfect. The product is handsome and well-constructed and seems durable enough to withstand heavy usage. It installed quickly and effortless into Windows XP Pro. The unit requires batteries to be installed into both the keyboard and the mouse, which is a little inconvenient, but an onscreen alert warns you to change the batteries when the power is low, so you don't get surprised with a dead mouse or keyboard every few weeks.
However, from the beginning, I've had trouble with the unit. Although the mouse tracks fairly accurately without a cord, every once in awhile, the cursor flies widely across the screen for no discernable reason. This doesn't happen enough to make the unit unusable, but it does happen enough to be annoying.
Almost immediately, I began experiencing periods where the mouse would stop working, sometimes for long periods of time (days) although the keyboard would still work. I eventually discovered that a 2.4 gigahertz cordless phone near the mouse was the culprit. Whenever the phone was out of the cradle, the mouse would freeze. I solved the problem by getting a new phone, although I now have a corded phone so that I can have a cordless mouse. This is self-defeating for my objective of getting rid of cords running across my desk, but at least everything was working.
However, after a few months of use, the keyboard stopped working. The cordless phone was long gone and not to blame and multiple battery changes, reinstalling the software, and checking the hardware failed to correct the problem.
After days of wrestling with the problem, I finally ditched the offending keyboard and replaced it with a USB keyboard. Although I'm back to having a cord, it's a small price to pay for a keyboard that works reliably and doesn't need constant troubleshooting.
I still have the cordless mouse, which works adequately, but every once in awhile the cursor flies widely across the screen to remind me of the folly of this purchase. Corded keyboards and mice work well. Although cordless would be nice, it doesn't seem to me that the technology is adequate yet. Bottom-line, I want my keyboard and mouse to work without any effort on my part. Corded versions to do this well, but the cordless equivalents offer less reliability.
I don't recommend this product, although if you wanted to buy one slightly used, we could probably work something out......
22 I Love Wireless
The Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop is very much like a luxury automobile. It's expensive to start out with and costs alot to keep working. At 4 batteries about every 2 months is 24 AA batteries a year. I buy them in bulk now. If you need a highly demanding mouse and keyboard for computer games or endless work I would suggest a corded keyboard and mouse. However if you want a great looking keyboard that had no wires and don't mind going through alot of batteries this is for you.
Cons- Eats batteries. Weak signal past a few feet. Need to push the "connect" button on the base and bottom of the keyboard every so often so they reconnect. This takes 10 seconds and happens about once a month.
Pros- Program keys how you want. Great looks. Mouse is the prefect size. Quiet key strokes. No wires to get in the way. Perfect for unclutered workspace.
23 Fast Keyboard, Sluggish Mouse
The Package:
- Setup was easy. I use a KVM switch, which was one of the reasons I liked this package, because of it's support for PS/2 connections.
The Keyboard:
- Performance was excellent. There was never a delay, and the shortcut buttons were a nice convenience.
- The layout is awkward with regards to the Home|Delete|End|PageUp|PageDown keys. Microsoft apparently wanted to reduce the width of the keyboard, but I would have prefered the standard layout.
The Mouse:
- Performance was choppy. At times the mouse pointer would "stutter", and other times it would fly across the screen just fine. This is annoying. I tried different batteries (the problem started within minutes of use with the batteries included in the box), different mouse pads, and making sure that there was a clear line of sight to the receiver (only 3 feet away).
I give this product 3 stars for a good performing keyboard but a sub-par mouse...
24 Works Exactly Like Advertised
I love this keyboard and mouse. I'm one of those people who have an extremely cluttered desk, and the ability to remove some cords and have the freedom to position the keyboard and mouse any way I want appealed to me. It was pretty easy to set up. I had to try a couple of times to get the receiver to find the mouse, but that's the only problem I had. The only thing that prevented me from giving this five stars are the keyboard short cut keys (e.g. Media Player, Mail, Messenger, etc.) If you are running Windows XP in workgroup mode and have more than one user logged in, these keys will open the associated app for all of the logged in users -- potentially a memory drain. Other than that, this is one excellent package.
25 This keyboard and mouse rock
I got this setup for X-mas, and based on previous bad reviews on Microsoft's wireless Optical Mouse, I had needless concerns. The mouse is a real rocket, fast and exact and you can custom tailor it to the speed and feel you want. It is absolutely superb. The keyboard shines with all the superb multimedia buttons that give me instant access to my music, photos, e-mail as well as volume controls, play controls etc. It is stacked. Microsofts experience shows through on its ease of installation. Just slap in the CD and the software loads in minutes and the hardware hook up takes seconds. I was up and running in under 5 minutes. I use Windows 98 with a Pentium II computer and I am flying with this dream of a X-mas gift. I highly recommend this, it is hard to beat the price and performance. Logitech will soon be filing for Chapter 11 because Microsoft has broken the code on wireless and optical hardware.
26 It says six ft. range on the Box....
It says six ft. Range on the box but I found that you can use it from about a distance of 15-20 ft. Much farher then I actually need. The distance allows me to go anywhere in the room.
The mouse works great, better then my other mice. I like this set.
27 Major disappointment
After waiting more than a month for this product to be released, I was very disappointed to find the wireless optical mouse is very slow. You can use the USB port and the enclosed software and tweak it all you want, but it still will never speed across your screen. The keyboard seemed fine, but the two items are a package. I returned the Microsoft product and bought a Logitech Elite Keyboard (yes, it is corded, but who really needs a cordless keyboard?) and an excellent Logitech Cordless Optical mouse, which speeds across the screen as fast as I want. The Logitech mouse also has a slightly higher profile, which I find more comfortable.
