Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Mouse (M54-00013)
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Similar in Keyboards and Mice
- Input Interface Type: Keyboard and Mouse
- Motion Device Type: Optical
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Interface: USB (Mouse) USB (keyboard)
- Platform: PC
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Mobile's hands best friend...stationary's maybe...
Pros
Very affordable for the combo, comparing to Logitech, with all the bells and whistles.
Cons
Lack of ergo design and battery usage time.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
With a budget, this is a perfect combo. If you got some to spend, the newer Entertainment 5000 is the way to go. Forget Logitech MX5000.
Microsoft had done it again. For every good idea for something, the idea never gets carried throughout without somekind of bug attached. Nevertheless, it's a good beginning. Can't wait for the affordable Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000. That may be the keyboard that mercilessly top all bluetooth keyboards.
Operating Systems:
Windows XP Pro, SP2 (for laptop and PC/Workstation)
Windows Mobile 5 (Verizon XV6700 PDA)
Bluetooth Receivers:
Microsoft BT v2 from package
2 universal dongles BlueSoleil BT v2 (from laptop and PC)
Verizon XV6700 PDA bluetooth receiver.
Overall:
When I see the combo on eBay, it was a perfect price match for my budget, yet, I had a bit of doubt when I was looking over the specs at the Microsoft website for its hardwares. With a bit of courage, I shelled out the ultra low price of $25, with shipping and handling, just for the experimentation. Why not...It doesn't cost me an arm and a leg like you've purchased it at the local retail store. My aim was to test the unit on multiple devices, and hoping that I'm able to use the keyboard from one device to another without any problem. Well, to my surprise, it works on all devices.
Functions:
- Design:
The layout is slick, but not stylish. If you want stylish, go for the new ultra thin ergo Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000. Now that's style and slick, with a sick twist of functions. The large base allows a comfortable small set of hands to be positioned upon it easily. For my large hands, slightly problematic without the ergo curvature. Unlike the ergo layout of the wired keyboards, the keyboard is pretty flat out straight like any generic keyboard. The only ergo design about the keyboard is the thin layer of cushioned polyvinyl wrist rest, which by the way, cannot be removed. It's built in. If the soft wrist rest is damaged/stained, forget about putting on a new replacement.
The mouse ergo design is quite odd to the touch. Of all my years using ergo mouse and keyboards, this mouse takes the cake. If you're a lefty, well, I wouldn't recommending using this mouse. It's tailored specifically for right handed person. It takes about a few hours to get use to the curvature of the shell design. Whether you have a large (me), medium (my wife), or small hand (my 8 year old), it accommodates all sizes.
If you're taking the keyboard on the go, the keyboard gives adequate support for your hands. The combo quite durable and fit for punishment, unlike the small BT keyboards that you spend $70 up towards $200. Bigger is definitely better. Just lugging the keyboard around is an issue.
Keys
The keys are slightly tactile. Soft to press, but doesn't stick to the base like most tactile keyboards out there. The keys have some spring to it. The large base housed the 101 keys, plus some additional specific tailored keys for your entertainments, and web surfing. Those keys are shortcuts to your standard Windows operating system command lines. If you install your default software elsewhere, good luck in using those shortcut keys. The software that you can download from the Microsoft site will allows you to assign the Favorite 5 shortcut keys, and a few others, to your liking. From what I can see in the registry, you can pretty much reassign everything with a bit of patience. The neat thing about the keyboard is that it has an F-Lock key, which allows you to enable or disable quick usage of the F-keys designated shortcut command built in. Very very neat idea! Then the mouse wheel with the Back-Forward keys on the left side of the keyboard. That's superb modification for a quick web surfing session!
The numerous mouse keys can cause a bit of chaos to a child, and frustration to an avid PC user like me. Imagine programming all the buttons, and you end up using a max of 3, with the tiltable roller wheel. Next thing you know it, you're clicking on all the buttons just to get to where you're going, because you've forgotten which button is which. In the games, on the other hands, it's a blessing, since all your arsenal is at the tips of your fingers (especially in MechWarrior series). Why can we remember the basic Windows functions programmed on those buttons, but games bring those button functions forward so well? Heh.
Unfortunately, not all the keys work for all operating system type. The PDA with the Windows Mobile 5 only takes on the 67 keys (65 key basics, with some F-keys that preprogrammed with the Close/Open/New/Help/Save/Spell/Undo/Redo function. Oddly enough, the Back/Forward keys above the roller to the left of the keyboard actually works for the PDA web browsers.
The mouse WILL NOT connect to the PDA. The PDA query the mouse for the security code input. Unless the mouse knows now to enter number via morse codes, forget it!
Bluetooth v2 Sync rate:
This is nothing short of a great achievement. Whether you're 1 foot, or 60 feet from the bluetooth receivers/dongles (with interference such as walls), whether the dongle is from Microsoft, or the generic v2 BT dongles, the sync rate is incredible for both mouse and keyboard. My workstation is in my office, and I'm typing up my paper in my bedroom about 60 feet away, on the 2nd floor. Whether I'm punching in one key, or barrage the Word program with my 128 words a minute typing, all the key presses got communicated and recorded without fail. Incredible! Now, I can type up my papers just using the keyboard and mouse in my spa, and have the reflection of the LCD forwards the reflector set up next to my pool. Nice...In a straight line of sight, the connection and sync can go up to 110 feet. Very impressive! Anything beyond this, nope...
As for re-synching and paring, it's not even a problem in anyway. On restart, or bluetooth initialization, the keyboard and mouse connect to the laptop/PC without fail instantly (5 seconds or less). Keyboard is the same for the PDA. Superb BT connection.
Battery/Power usage time:
Don't believe all the hype about an ultra long lasting connection every battery change. I use from industrial Duracel batteries, to the Lithium Ion type. On a continual usage, you're lucky if you can squeeze 10 hours of the batteries. On and off, you can achieve up to 15 hours. Since the mouse is constantly recharging via the USB port, that's not a problem. If you take it off, and forget to recharge it, you have about 6 hours of continuous usages, and 10 hours with the on-off basis.
Issues:
- Ergo Design: When it states that the keyboard is ergonomically designed, it's better be ergo on all level, and not just a wrist rest.
- Removable wrist rest: If you put something on there that doesn't have an exchangeable part, don't put it on there in the first place. The materials may seem to be durable, but a sharp nail or a sharp object, such as a sharpen pencil, will rip the polyvinyl cover apart.
- Why not build in a rechargeable battery, which can be removed, like the mouse? How about 4 LiMH, which can be replaced with other rechargeable batteries such as NiMH on the go?
Overall, I'm still quite impress with the bluetooth stacking for the v2, and the universal support for the bluetooth HID support for the newer Windows Mobile OS. Not quite sure about the Palm/BlackBerry OSes, nor the SmartPhones. That would be for the future updates.
Operating Systems:
Windows XP Pro, SP2 (for laptop and PC/Workstation)
Windows Mobile 5 (Verizon XV6700 PDA)
Bluetooth Receivers:
Microsoft BT v2 from package
2 universal dongles BlueSoleil BT v2 (from laptop and PC)
Verizon XV6700 PDA bluetooth receiver.
Overall:
When I see the combo on eBay, it was a perfect price match for my budget, yet, I had a bit of doubt when I was looking over the specs at the Microsoft website for its hardwares. With a bit of courage, I shelled out the ultra low price of $25, with shipping and handling, just for the experimentation. Why not...It doesn't cost me an arm and a leg like you've purchased it at the local retail store. My aim was to test the unit on multiple devices, and hoping that I'm able to use the keyboard from one device to another without any problem. Well, to my surprise, it works on all devices.
Functions:
- Design:
The layout is slick, but not stylish. If you want stylish, go for the new ultra thin ergo Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000. Now that's style and slick, with a sick twist of functions. The large base allows a comfortable small set of hands to be positioned upon it easily. For my large hands, slightly problematic without the ergo curvature. Unlike the ergo layout of the wired keyboards, the keyboard is pretty flat out straight like any generic keyboard. The only ergo design about the keyboard is the thin layer of cushioned polyvinyl wrist rest, which by the way, cannot be removed. It's built in. If the soft wrist rest is damaged/stained, forget about putting on a new replacement.
The mouse ergo design is quite odd to the touch. Of all my years using ergo mouse and keyboards, this mouse takes the cake. If you're a lefty, well, I wouldn't recommending using this mouse. It's tailored specifically for right handed person. It takes about a few hours to get use to the curvature of the shell design. Whether you have a large (me), medium (my wife), or small hand (my 8 year old), it accommodates all sizes.
If you're taking the keyboard on the go, the keyboard gives adequate support for your hands. The combo quite durable and fit for punishment, unlike the small BT keyboards that you spend $70 up towards $200. Bigger is definitely better. Just lugging the keyboard around is an issue.
Keys
The keys are slightly tactile. Soft to press, but doesn't stick to the base like most tactile keyboards out there. The keys have some spring to it. The large base housed the 101 keys, plus some additional specific tailored keys for your entertainments, and web surfing. Those keys are shortcuts to your standard Windows operating system command lines. If you install your default software elsewhere, good luck in using those shortcut keys. The software that you can download from the Microsoft site will allows you to assign the Favorite 5 shortcut keys, and a few others, to your liking. From what I can see in the registry, you can pretty much reassign everything with a bit of patience. The neat thing about the keyboard is that it has an F-Lock key, which allows you to enable or disable quick usage of the F-keys designated shortcut command built in. Very very neat idea! Then the mouse wheel with the Back-Forward keys on the left side of the keyboard. That's superb modification for a quick web surfing session!
The numerous mouse keys can cause a bit of chaos to a child, and frustration to an avid PC user like me. Imagine programming all the buttons, and you end up using a max of 3, with the tiltable roller wheel. Next thing you know it, you're clicking on all the buttons just to get to where you're going, because you've forgotten which button is which. In the games, on the other hands, it's a blessing, since all your arsenal is at the tips of your fingers (especially in MechWarrior series). Why can we remember the basic Windows functions programmed on those buttons, but games bring those button functions forward so well? Heh.
Unfortunately, not all the keys work for all operating system type. The PDA with the Windows Mobile 5 only takes on the 67 keys (65 key basics, with some F-keys that preprogrammed with the Close/Open/New/Help/Save/Spell/Undo/Redo function. Oddly enough, the Back/Forward keys above the roller to the left of the keyboard actually works for the PDA web browsers.
The mouse WILL NOT connect to the PDA. The PDA query the mouse for the security code input. Unless the mouse knows now to enter number via morse codes, forget it!
Bluetooth v2 Sync rate:
This is nothing short of a great achievement. Whether you're 1 foot, or 60 feet from the bluetooth receivers/dongles (with interference such as walls), whether the dongle is from Microsoft, or the generic v2 BT dongles, the sync rate is incredible for both mouse and keyboard. My workstation is in my office, and I'm typing up my paper in my bedroom about 60 feet away, on the 2nd floor. Whether I'm punching in one key, or barrage the Word program with my 128 words a minute typing, all the key presses got communicated and recorded without fail. Incredible! Now, I can type up my papers just using the keyboard and mouse in my spa, and have the reflection of the LCD forwards the reflector set up next to my pool. Nice...In a straight line of sight, the connection and sync can go up to 110 feet. Very impressive! Anything beyond this, nope...
As for re-synching and paring, it's not even a problem in anyway. On restart, or bluetooth initialization, the keyboard and mouse connect to the laptop/PC without fail instantly (5 seconds or less). Keyboard is the same for the PDA. Superb BT connection.
Battery/Power usage time:
Don't believe all the hype about an ultra long lasting connection every battery change. I use from industrial Duracel batteries, to the Lithium Ion type. On a continual usage, you're lucky if you can squeeze 10 hours of the batteries. On and off, you can achieve up to 15 hours. Since the mouse is constantly recharging via the USB port, that's not a problem. If you take it off, and forget to recharge it, you have about 6 hours of continuous usages, and 10 hours with the on-off basis.
Issues:
- Ergo Design: When it states that the keyboard is ergonomically designed, it's better be ergo on all level, and not just a wrist rest.
- Removable wrist rest: If you put something on there that doesn't have an exchangeable part, don't put it on there in the first place. The materials may seem to be durable, but a sharp nail or a sharp object, such as a sharpen pencil, will rip the polyvinyl cover apart.
- Why not build in a rechargeable battery, which can be removed, like the mouse? How about 4 LiMH, which can be replaced with other rechargeable batteries such as NiMH on the go?
Overall, I'm still quite impress with the bluetooth stacking for the v2, and the universal support for the bluetooth HID support for the newer Windows Mobile OS. Not quite sure about the Palm/BlackBerry OSes, nor the SmartPhones. That would be for the future updates.
