Rating: 
Summary: Microsoft Wirless Optical Desktop Pro by Microsoft
Review: I can't tell you in words what a great keyboard this is. My friend told me about it, I have a chonic illness and my joints especially in my wrist hurt all the time. I had one for 3 years and than someone spilled something on it and didn't tell me. By
the next day it was to late. I searched for this keyboard again and wouldn't settle for anything less. I love it! In fact I just now purchased another one again for my friend as she has the same problem I do and I know how this will be such a help to her. I highly recommned this keyboard, if fact I would have paid more for it, if I had to.
Rating:
Summary: You Need to Buy This Now....
Review: I got this as a b-day present from my wishlist. I am thrilled with it. I never used the extra buttons on my previous optical mouse so the absence of extra buttons was a non-issue for me. As far as the battery life goes.... does anybody use regular batteries for electronics anymore. I have been using rechargeables since I purchsed my digital camera years ago. I always keep extra batteries charged just in case I need them and so far I have not had to change the batteries once. Granted I have only been using this item for a little over a month, however I don't think this is ever going to be a problem. Somebody complained about the weight of the mouse with the 2 batteries included. It's probably about 5 ozs. heavier.... I don't know about anyone else but I use it to just move around, I don't continually pick it up. My machine boots in the same amount of time as before and the setup is as easy as falling off a log. Do I miss the lights? The answer is not really. Yes, they were nice but not all that necessary in my opinion. I don't use the function keys so that is also a non-issue for me. The surprise for me was all the keys at the top of the keyboard which allow me to access the net, my email, documents, pictures, music, not to mention the multimedia sound options for recording. I also like that the delete key is longer. As you can see, I can't say enough in support of this product.
Rating:
Summary: great keyboard
Review: I hate to admit it, but I like something that comes from Microsoft. I've been beating the heck out of my DELL inspiron 5100 so badly with my school work that the keys are starting to pop off. So I needed a new keyboard. The last thing I needed was more cords running over my desk, so I bought this wireless keyboard and mouse combo at Best Buy.
It was a bit on the expensive side ($109), but well worth the price. Setup was a breeze. Since Microsoft wrote the drivers, they actually worked the first time!
Best of all, the ergonomic style really helps when you are crammed on a small desk.
I recommend this product!
Rating: 
Summary: Comparing MS Optical Desktop Pro and Logitech's system
Review: I have bought and used now... both the Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse system and the MS Wireless Optical Desktop Pro. Both wireless operations work perfectly and for the money, the improvement of an optical mouse which is quite noticeably more accurate and the lack of wires is the ONLY way now to go, you'll love it.I have a new Dell system and use Win. XP Professional. No radio interference problems at all in either the MS or Logitech. Instalation was for both as simple as it gets and fast... put in the batteries in both the mouse and keyboards, install the software... and that's it. Although the Logitech did have a little "connect" problem at first... but with a few minutes of playing with the "connect" buttons, the reciever found the mouse and keyboard and that was it forever. At every boot it was there. The MS sytem was even easier. The software is about the same for both. I bought the Logitech with a split keyboard, optical wireless keyboard and mouse first because recently the Microsoft was on backorder. I have used the MS split "Natural" keyboards for years and once you get used to the feel... the lack of fatigue in the forearms is a night and day difference. I found the Logitech to have an OK keyboard with one major flaw... a major "clack" when one hits the space bar, so bad that I put little pieces of paper in to dull it down. The MS has a much more solid feel, but it must be said that the space bar here is still a little too noisy... still, a substantial improvement over the Logitech. Both have some multimedia functionality, but the MS has more buttons, with all of the 'F' keys labeled for common functions, Open, Close, Redo, Send, Spell, Undo, and Help. There is a really nice CD/sound control up top on the MS with volume control and so on... a Mute button on the side of that and other buttons to Open, My Doc, My Pictures, Calculator (like that), Log OFF and Sleep. Since on occasion one finds the keyboard on the lap with no wires to keep one from doing this... these extra keys do help. Both the MS and the Logitech will work from ten feet away, which is way farther than one can see the flat screen. But I can see how some people might want to set in that comfortable chair and type and correct later Bottom line... depending on the deal, both systems are about the same price... 80 bucks US give or take 10. The Logitech would be fine if the MS did not work better, feel better and have more functionality. The Logitech mouse however does feel a little better to me and has an extra button on the side... its larger size and fit to hand feel is superior, in my opinion, but the MS mouse is fine.
Rating: 
Summary: great keyboard, horrible mouse
Review: I have had no technical problems with this keyboard/mouse combination, but I have been working with it within a foot of it's receiver, so that's hardly a test. The keyboard is great. I've been using a Natural keyboard since it first arrived on the scene, had hate ot type on anything but the split layout. I have one small and one, to me, absolutely huge complaint. The small complaint: MS had rearranged the 6 button Insert/Delete,Home,End,PageUp/PageDown combination into a five button combination that loses the Insert key (I still haven't figured out how to reclaim that functionality, even though there is a button with Insert written on it's side somewhere else on the keyboard) and places delete where the end used to be, result in my constantly deleting when I want to move to the end of the line. The huge complaint: This is far and away the worst mouse design I have ever seen, and I'm on Amazon now looking to dump another $ on the Logitech combination just to get away from this horrible mouse. The problem is that the sides of the mouse slant inward instead of outward. I can pick up my Logitech mice by simply raising my hand. I don't have to do anything to grab at it. One has to put pressure on the sides of this mouse to pick it up. More pressure than even the original MS mouse from 10 years ago, which had vertical sides. My dialy usage requires me to pick the mouse up for replacement enough that after only 3 days of usage I can already feel pain in my elbow.
Rating:
Summary: XP at fault
Review: I have the keyboard working again. I was told to reinstall it, because XP has a glitch that causes Microsoft keyboards to mess up. Seems fine now. Sorry Bill.
Rating:
Summary: Comparison w/ Logitech.
Review: I have used 4 of Wireless Setup from MS/Logitech. 1st was Old Logitech Cordless Freedom Pro (with RF Natural Keyboard/ Ergonomic Ball mouse)
it had everything I asked for at that time, looking back, it missed out two critical points, optical mouse, shortcuts on keyboard. 2nd was this one. What I liked 1. Black. (matches your black speaker perfectly.)
2. Lots of useful shortcuts at keyboard (volume control is best of all, play/stop/forward/ etc is good also
3. software support. (MS does not support winamp3 at time of this 3/4/03. logitech does! kudos to them
4. 'Zero Tilt' is not just one of many marketing terms, you can really feel the difference. it does ease on your fingers and arm.
5. connection stayed perfect. (unlike MS) What I didn't like 1. Not natural keyboard/ (This might be personall opinion)
2. Logitech cordless optical mouse design really does not fit my hand perfectly. my arm hurts after a while because the bottom of my palm can not rest on the mousepad . (once again little bit personal opinion)
3. reciever does not work w/ MX700, (those who're looking to use new logitech MX700 mouse, is out of luck) ****MS Product**** 3rd is new MS Wireless Desktop (Comparable to Logitech Elite Duo) What I liked. 1. MS Warranty: MS offer 5 year warranty. if your product ever breaks, call them, and they'll send you new one. one of best in the industry.
2. Shortcuts are better organized. useful shortcuts only!
3. My hands liked MS Mouse better. :)
4. I can use the same receiver with wireless intellieye explorer What I didn't like 1. Not natural. (Personal OP)
2. Mouse doesn't have 3rd, or 4th button
3. Mouse loses connection sometime. (hopefully software update fixes this)
4. Does not have support for WINAMP3 (hopefully software will fix this. will do probably. **MS Wireless Desktop Pro** What I Like 1. Natural
2. Has all the fuction keys unlike Logitech version.
3. Same as above What I didn't like Same as above What's my choice? I use Wireless Desktop Pro + Wireless Explorer. has all the option i ask for plus the 4 button mouse :) hope everyone chooses the right gear for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Microsoft's Wireless Keyboard is Cool!
Review: I installed my keyboard and mouse yesterday and am already taken with it. It is easy to install, but before you disconnect your old wired keyboard, first install the new software. The instructions are simple to follow. Batteries are included which go into both the mouse and keyboard. The flexibility it provides is great. The Hot Keys are time savers to favorite programs, your email program, and the internet. The irregular keyboard takes a little time to get acustomed with and its shape does not fit well into built in keyboard holders. The wireless mouse works like a charm. I like it and recommend it for you computing pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Wireless is the way to go
Review: I installed my Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro this morning without a hitch, simply by ready the instruction booklet FIRST, then following the directions EXACTLY as written. I've been playing with it ever since. I do think it will take practice to become proficient on the keyboard (I'm used to the 20th century type keyboard), but already find it far superior. All of the hot keys are SO convenient. The mouse is a mouse without getting tangled up in cords, and the scrolling wheel is a great feature. Needless to say, I am a happy camper, and have already suggested/reccommended making the purchase to many of my computer programmer friends.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of problems
Review: I like the keyboard: it is very easy to type on, and I mostly like the mouse: it feels great in your hand. Maybe there is something wrong with my set, but my keyboard just stops working for about a week after i change the batteries, then it seems to fix itself. I got sick of it last week and bought a Logitech, which I recommend over the Microsoft set. The mouse also had a problem too. Occasionally, it will just move the arrow to the bottom right corner for no apparent reason. This usually doesn't bother me, except when I am playing games like Counterstrike, I start spinning around in circles and looking at the ground. VERY ANNOYING. Get a Logitech instead.
| 
