Surprisingly Ergonomical

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 3000

My place of work have a nice little set up for their conference rooms. A small ultra-light notebook (for less heat) kept inside a wooden cabinet. Inside this cabinet is also home to many cables and connections - it's pretty messy in there. It is then hooked up to a projector at the back of the room.

We used a Logitech diNovo Keyboard and MX Laser, both of which connect via Bluetooth. However, every other day it seems that users would come up and ask for help getting the keyboard and mouse to work. Bluetooth is such a pain to connect computer input devices.

So one day, we purchased a set of radio-based wireless keyboard and mouse. The Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 3000 was the choice we made - a set that came with a USB wireless tranciever, erogonomical keyboard and mouse. The only thing that will blow our plans would be the usable distance.

The Microsoft wireless keyboard worked fine at a distance, but the mouse stoped working when it is about 3 feet away from the receiver. Even moving the reciever as close as I can, the mouse was too far from the seat where most presenters would sit. Bluetooth wins.

So instead, I repurposed it to use on my own desktop.

Installation
Both keyboard and mouse requires 2 AA batteries each. Thankfully, Microsoft included 4 Energizer Alkaline AA batteries and not the cheap no-name chemical ones that seem to leak easier. The tranciever is powered by USB.

Installing is pretty easy considering they are wireless devices. Once you plug in the tranciever (make sure your PC is on and already in Windows), hit the connect button on top. This will cause the LEDs to move back and forth. In this mode, it is looking for devices to connect to.

You can hit the recessed connect button on the keyboard or mouse (doesn't matter which one first). You'll then repeat for the other device. I find the recessed button on the mouse the most difficult part of the installation, as you'll need to find an instrument that would fit inside the small hole (such as a straighten paper clip). The keyboard's button is a rubber pad that I can push with my finger even though it is recessed. This is because they gave some space around the button, unlike the mouse.

The amazing thing is that changing batteries or unplugging the transciever, then plugging it back in (such as moving it to a different PC or laptop) doesn't require you to reconnect the devices. This is good because of that minor hassle I mentioned above.

For a wireless keyboard and mouse, I give installation a solid A.

Ergonomics
The key layout is a bit curved to allow for a more natural typing position. I actually like this since it isn't as radical as the early 2000's Microsoft Natural keyboards with the strange split design. I think I am one of a few people who uses my right hand for the "b" key, whcih made it harder to do when the "B" key is on the other side. Here, all the keys are still grouped together. It's just the overall layout was curved downards a bit (think of a smile).

There are control buttons on the keyboard that I find potentially useful. I personally do not use them, but they don't get in the way either. They're there if I need (or remember) them. I like how Microsoft group up the Play/Pause, volume up/down, and mute buttons in one area. It makes it look less cluttered. To the left of the media control buttons are simple back/forward buttons. To the right of the media control buttons are Web/Home (to invoke your default web browser, Search (to invoke your default search desktop search program - or the built-in Windows search if you don't have one installed), and Mail (to invoke your default email client such as Outlook or Thunderbird). There is also a Calculator button to invoke the built-in Windows Calculator, but it looks and feel like one of the keys on the keyboard instead of a button and is placed above the Num-Lock key, which is inline with where the Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break keys are.

The real dreaded part of the keyboard is the F Lock feature. I wouldn't mind it as much except that Microsoft (and it seems most other keyboard makers who uses the F Lock feature) is turned on by default! This mean that the F1 to F12 keys don't perform like we'd expect them. Instead, they are mapped to special commands such as Help, Undo, Redo, New, Open, Close, Reply, Fwd, Send, Spell, Save, and Print. They don't seem to work all the time, either (couldn't get Outlook to create a new email by just hitting the New key, for example).

The F Lock feature is a real pain when users come up to us with keyboard issues. We have an AS400 system that relies very much on those F1 to F12 keys.

The other negative thing about this keyboard is the key travel feels much shorter. It feels a bit like a laptop keyboard except that the keys are a bit stiffer, which requires a bit more force than say a tradition Dell laptop keyboard. The keys are full size, so it has a comfortable typing position. It's just that actual typing feels a bit strange compared to a traditional keyboard (such as the OEM Dell or HP keyboards that came with computers we purcahse).

With all that info about the keyboard, lets move on to the mouse. The mouse is optical, which is always a good thing (no ball to clean or clog up). It does have a bit of a heft to it thanks to the batteries. It gives the mouse a more solid feel. The curves are nice, giving a place for your thumb and palm to rest on. The design is symetric so that lefties are not left out (pun intended). The left and right click buttons give good audio and touch feedback as well. The wheel does tilt (though it requires the included software to function), as well as perform like the traditional scroll up/down and middle button.

The wheel does take some getting used to, however. It's much stiffer than most scroll wheels on other mice, but the good thing about that is that it doesn't run away from you (overshoot scrolling). It does take a bit of effort to move up and down, however, which I was able to get used to. The wheel is also smooth, unlike most mice which have notchy feedback. This gives the wheel on the Microsoft Desktop 3000 kit a bit more accuracy.

The only real negative I have to say about the mouse is a lack of back/forward buttons. I find myself missing this feature on many mices now-a-days. I like being able to flip back pages when navigating web pages without having to move the point to the back button.

I give the Keyboard a B-, while the mouse gets a solid B. The keyboard would have got a solid B if it the keys felt a bit better, while the F Lock function will hold it back from getting another full grade.

Battery Life
On just traditional AA alkaline batteries, the keyboard and mouse seem to go on forever! I basically lost track of the last time I changed batteries. I believe it was about a month or two ago. The frequency I use my keyboard and mouse is around 7-8 hours a day (full-time helpdesk tech here). Even then, they aren't in constant use during that period either (I do get up and fix computers ya know).

All I have to say about battery life is very impressive indeed. I give it an A+.

The Upshot
The fact that you can't go too far with the mouse means that you won't be looking at the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 3000 for use in a home theater setting (I'd advise against a traditional mouse anyways in a HTPC set up - you'll need a surface to use it). If you have a conference room that you want to set up with a PC, you'd also find some problems with this product. However, if you are using it on a traditional desktop, you may find that the 3-feet range gives you enough freedom to mouse around without the wire getting in the way.

The keyboard keys - well, I guess one would get used to it, but I cannot forgive Microsoft for making the F-Lock function turn on by default.

Overall, the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 3000 gets a B.