| Nice desktop set, but mouse charging is questionable! |
| I've owned quite a few Microsoft and Logitech keyboards and mice. This desktop set is definitely one of the better experiences I've had right out of the box. The keys are quiet (except the space bar) and the overall look is an improvement for Microsoft. The mouse is also comfortable and very accurate.
What I'm not thrilled about:
1) chrome banding is peeling off the keyboard. (Replacement did not exhibit this issue).
2) mouse has slightly sharp edges on the lower right edge along the chrome banding. (replacement did not exhibit this issue).
3) Mouse back button is set too far back (something Microsoft has been doing with most of their newer mice).
4) No caps lock, num lock, F key lock lights on mouse charger base. I would have preferred the mouse charge base to connect via USB and support these lights.
5) 2.4Ghz wireless security is questionable. Microsoft has been dinged recently for their poor and easily cracked 27Mhz wireless security. It remains to be seen how secure the 2.4Ghz wireless is, but I suspect its not very secure since Microsoft makes no mention of its security.
**New issue as of 10/13/2008**
Mouse does not reliably charge. After about 2-3 minutes of charging, very often, the mouse LED will change from slow blinking green to fast blinking red, indicating a charging problem. I have tried swapping the entire Desktop set for a newer production build (July, 2008) and the new unit had the exact same issue right out of the box. I had to keep removing and replacing the mouse on the charge stand about 10 times before it would charge fully.
I even tried a Duracell NiMH battery and had the exact same result. IMO, there is a hardware design issue with the charging circuit. The chip seems to be hyper sensitive and throws itself into "alarm" mode too easily.
Microsoft is clueless to this issue and is in denial mode. Others on various forums complain about this same issue.
Stay tuned for another update**
| | Very Stylish, Form Fitting, Awesome feel |
| I have always used Microsoft peripherals and this one does not disappoint. The keys have a nice feel to them. They don't click loudly and the curve adds to the overall comfort. The keyboard has removable feet that can be moved to the front of the board to raise the front instead of the rear or removed completely for a low-profile thin keyboard.
The mouse is spectacular. It has a little LED in the middle of the mouse indicating if the power is low. It runs on a single AAA battery, but it is rechargeable and comes with its own convenient charging base. The form of the mouse is unlike I have ever felt. In my opinion, it is the best one yet.
My only complaints regarding this board is that it didn't come shipped with any protective film on the board. I had a couple of stray scratches, fingerprints, and some stray glue on the beautiful finish of the board. It has a very cool looking smokey/clear border which may be hard to keep clean and may scratch easily. Regardless this is a great piece for the style conscious who also want function.
*EDIT: In response to a review about the missing "sleep button" and log off button compared to other models, yes it can be an issue. The good news is that shortcut keys can be reassigned with the keyboard software. For instance: I don't plan on using the internet call button, so I assigned it to be a log off button instead. I use iTunes more than WM Player, so the media button launches iTunes. Definitely an inconvenience for the power users. For the average user, this keyboard has tons of extra buttons.
| | I agree with all the other reviews. This is a very nice product. However, for me, there are a couple of minor negatives that I think bear mentioning. First, the escape key and function keys are "chicklet-style" keys, not full size keys. Second, the function keys are not arranged into groups (either 4 groups of 3 or 3 groups of 4 like on most other keyboards I have used in the past 5 years). They are all mooshed together in one long horizontal row. My job involves using applications that have a LOT of function key use and this change is causing me major grief. I might be able to get used to it after a while, but this, combined with the small chicklet keys has made every attempt to press a certain function key an exercise in uncertainty. Finally, there is no "sleep" key on this keyboard. I always put my PC's into sleep mode when I am not using them and not having the sleep key that I had on my previous two keyboards is a minor annoyance. I've looked at some of MS's other keyboard offerings and the Wireless Laser Desktop 3000's keyboard does not have the function key issues this one does. I may pick up one of those too and move this 7000 to another PC that I don't use for work.
| | I have a long history with keyboards (Logitec and Microsoft). Mavis Beacon rates me at 175wpm so keyboards don't usually last too long with me. My last keyboard was the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment 7000 keyboard (still working after 1+ years). I was debating getting the Wireless Entertainment 8000 but this keyboard was over $100 cheaper. Yes, I am using this keyboard (Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000) to write this review right now (I bought 2, one for work and one for home).
Upon opening the package I put the batteries in and plugged in the USB bluetooth toggle and hit the connect buttons. There were no flashing lights that I could see on the mouse/keyboard but 5 seconds later everything connected without installing any software. Talk about getting that perfect, being able to connect on the very first try!
This keyboard is beautiful... I love the keys as they are not easily scratched. The windows key is in the right place and it has a numberkey pad! The mouse is incredibly light (with one battery) and feels great in the hand, almost 100% natural. There is no keypress lag on the keyboard however the mouse is not as sharp as my Microsoft Habu gaming mouse (to be expected). I've gotten 175+wpm on Mavis Beacon so lag annoys the heck out of me. None here!
The Aero design is really cool, just like Windows Vista. However it is EASILY scratched. One thing I like is that the keys are not glossy and easily scratched like they are on the Entertainment 7000 desktop. This keyboard has the same ergonomic curve as the Entertainment 7000 so if you are coming from that keyboard like I am you'll be right at home. I did put on the keyboard risers in back and it feels great (the Entertainment 7000 was a too little flat for me).
For the price, I definitely recommend this keyboard over the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment 8000 ($243!!) and definitely over the Microsoft WE 7000 as this keyboard has a nicer mouse and a numberkey pad AND the Windows Key is in the right place (between Ctrl and Alt).
I definitely recommend this keyboard to anyone looking for a perfect keyboard for work/home. I rate this higher than the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment 7000. Very nice Microsoft!
| | How to fix the blinking red light problem on the mouse! |
| Overall, I like this keyboard and mouse combo so far. I initially had the same problem as many reviewers. Whenever I would attempt to charge the mouse, I'd get the slow green blinking light for about 1 minute, then it would revert to a fast red blinking light (and would subsequently not charge). I found a reliable solution online that I wanted to share.
There is a sensor behind the NiMH battery (to let the charger know a battery is present). However, with my mouse (and many others, apparently), the battery that comes with the mouse may be slightly too skinny to trigger the sensor. Thus, when you attempt to charge, the red blinking light is trying to tell you, "hey, there's no battery here for me to charge." To fix this, take a piece of paper about 1" wide and 3" long (or, even better, a 3" square post-it, trimmed at the bottom to be about 1" wide while retaining the full 3" of sticky part intact). Open the battery compartment on the bottom of the mouse, pop out the battery, and wrap the post-it (or paper) around the battery a couple of times to make it thicker. Put the battery back in the compartment, close it up and voila, it will charge without giving you the evil blinking red light.
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