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Brand: Microsoft
Model: MFC-00001
Price: $39.99
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Low-Profile Wireless Keyboard and BlueTrack Mouse Desktop Set - USB ....read more
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Easy to set up, just okay on glass surfaces
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My husband is the non-techie in our house. I tasked him with setting this up on his computer to see if it would be easy for him to set up and use. He had no problems getting it set up with his PC. His desk is a glass-surface desk, and, up until this product, he has had to cover the attractive glass surface with an unattractive desk pad in order to use his mouse. Now, he can use the mouse on the glass surface.
It does seem like using the mouse on a glass surface is slow/skippy compared to using a solid surface, so he may eventually go back to the deskpad. This was a disappointment, as the main reason to buy a Bluetrack mouse is to get usage on non-standard surfaces like glass. However, several other non-standard surfaces (carpet, his jeans leg, leather sofa) worked fine.
The receiver on this system is relatively small at around an inch. Compared to a Logitech nano receiver, it’s significantly larger, but compared to most wireless desktop receivers, it’s very compact.
The system takes 4 AA batteries to operate (2 for mouse, 2 for keyboard). For those who are unfamiliar with having a wireless desktop, I do recommend using rechargeables with a spare set kept near the computer. This isn’t because the system uses battery power at a high rate so much as that when your batteries do run out, you want that spare set handy and ready to go. Murphy’s Law dictates that the batteries will run out at the worst possible time.
The keyboard is reasonably quiet. It does have a good mechanical feel from keypresses without having a “clacking” racket from fast typing.
As for range, we were able to use it as much as ten feet away from the receiver. We didn’t experiment any farther away than that.
Standard Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Nothing fancy or new here. This is your typical wireless keyboard and mouse. My boyfriend and I occassionaly use our flat screen television as our computer monitor and this allows us to do work from the couch (nice once in awhile but not as convenient as it would seem). I owned a far cooler wireless set where the mouse did not require a flat surface to work on, you could use it in the air (or) on a flat surface. I’d recommend that type of wireless setup over this one any day but if I recall, that set was $100+ at the time (bought it a few years ago so maybe not as expensive anymore) – so if you’re just looking for a basic wireless desktop, this’ll meet your needs.
A nearly perfect keyboard and mouse set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As the title to my review indicates, I’m pretty fond of this desktop keyboard and mouse set. The Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 honestly deserves the title of “nearly perfect” because it works flawlessly, has good ergonomics, a great combination of features, and offers a great value for the price. That said, I couldn’t say it was “perfect” due to a few minor flaws.
First, the keyboard looks and feels larger than it needs to be. My old Logitech Wave keyboard is more compact in every dimension than this keyboard. Granted, desktop users don’t usually care about that, but if you’re working on a very small desk then this is something to keep in mind.
My next complaint sort of relates to the first, but the backside/bottom of this keyboard is huge and ugly. Yes, I realize that no one really looks at the bottom of the keyboard, but it’s ugly white plastic with an ugly shape and it makes the keyboard thicker than it needs to be.
Honestly, these two complaints are pretty minor when you consider how comfortable the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 is and how it’s packed with features. The mouse is likewise a fantastic “Bluetrack” mouse that works on any surface. The mouse glides extremely well and feels good under your hand. It’s not the most ergonomic mouse I’ve ever used, but it’s a very good design.
Bottom line, buy this keyboard and mouse set. I’m sure you’ll love it.
4 Stars _ Very Good Keyboard and Mouse Combo
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is my 5th wireless keyboard and one of the best that I have used. The mouse and keyboard are just the right size to make them both easy to use and efficient. The biggest advantage is the Bluetrack technology which helps in allowing the mouse to be used on most surfaces so a mousepad is no longer a necessity. Also the transmission is great without errors or delays (unlike some of the other wireless keyboards I have used). All in all this is a great product though a bit pricey.
*** Plus Points Include: ***
- Great design with soft touch surfaces in the right places and good build quality
- Bluetrack technology really does help to let you use this on most surfaces.
- Error free wireless transmission and I have not had any range problems using it about 5-10 feet away from the USB adapter.
- Keyboard function buttons are optimized for Windows 7 though they can be programmed for all Windows versions
- USB adapter is very tiny and can be stored on the bottom of the mouse
- Low battery indicater on the keyboard and the mouse
- Basic functions can be used without installing the included software and drivers, great for using on low resource netbooks.
*** Negative Points Include: ***
- The mouse has a glossy surface on the top which looks great but attracts oil and fingerprints
- The white undersurface looks great but will likely become dirty over time.
- Keyboard is not backlit like some of the competition
- Mouse scroll wheel is an improvement over the older Microsoft designs but still does not feel as accurate. It simply does not provide the “click” feedback that some other models provide
- The side buttons on the mouse are a nice idea but difficult to use.
- Some of the extra function buttons take the place of the traditional function keys, this is somewhat mitigated by the funtion lock key
- Has many productivity oriented function keys.
- Driver CD is not model specific so you have to check the underside of the keyboard and mouse to select the appropriate model (I know a minor point but couldn’t they just make one CD for each model?)
*** Overall: This is a great keyboard/mouse combination that has the advantage of the mouse being able to work on most surfaces. A bit pricey but the error free transmission and build quality makes it worth it.
A Good Option
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
There are a ton of wireless desktop sets out there. I should know, I’ve reviewed a ton of them.
And really, the issues come down to comfort, functionality, and connectivity. Happily, I can report that this set scores pretty well in each area.
The keys themselves are at just the right height, without too much travel. Tactile feedback is excellent, outdone only by my clicky Microsoft Sidewinder keyboard. It’s a full size unit, which is nice for those that need a keybpad, with programmable function buttons as well as a group of programmable buttons dedicated to thinks like launching programs, volume control, zoom, and the like. Pretty standard, actually, but exactly what you need.
The mouse feels good in my hand, though it’s a bit large. It is, however, workable in either your right or left hand, so that’s good news for lefties. It’s got four progammable buttons, plus the scroll wheel which can be clicked. One HUGE advantage this mouse has over most Logitech units is the ability to program that center click to trigger Flip 3D in Windows, something my Logitech inexplicably cannot do (without installing a hack). Another nice thing about the mouse is its ability to track on almost any surface, including reflective ones like granite. This is due to what Microsoft calls BlueTrack technology; I don’t care what they call it though, it just works great.
The software is clear and easy to use, but you don’t need to install it if you want to use the keyboard and mouse in default configurations. Connectivity has thus has been excellent, with no dropouts at all. The dongle is a small, but not tiny, USB dongle that you can plug into the back of your computer and forget about.
All in all, a really solid desktop set that I can recommend with only two caveats: those that have smaller hands might want a set with a different mouse, and if you need a curved keyboard, well, this isn’t that. Otherwise, I think it’s a bargain, and well worth giving a whirl.