Good idea BAD design - Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

I’ve been a very long time user of Microsoft mice since the late ‘80’s.  And, I’m always willing to try the latest, greatest model they may come up with.  So, when my Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 (Model 1052) was showing a lot of wear and tear and wasn’t working as it should… I decided to see what new wonders in the world of ergonomic designs Microsoft has come up with lately.  I rushed out to purchase the Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000.  After all, they say that it “offers unmatched ergonomic design that conforms to your hand”. 

I have some problems with carpal tunnel and I’ve found the Natural products to be well thought out and they generally do what they are supposed to do.  That is, to put your hands and wrists in a neutral position in order to alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. 

This new mouse design is so radical that it even comes with two picture type non-worded instruction sheets showing the proper method of mounting your hand to the mouse.  You are supposed to place the side of palm of your right hand (hypothenar eminence to you medical type readers) on the surface of the desk and then rotate the hand to the left until it is in the proper position to hold the mouse.  That’s where I noticed how un-natural a “natural” mouse can feel.  It’s sort of like holding on to a Red Pontiac potato!  The hand is rotated much too far to the right to be comfortable.  The mouse physically has a huge feel to it.  I’m a big guy with big hands that should easily wrap around such a monstrosity.  But, it just didn’t feel right from the beginning.

I figured that I would give it a good try because Microsoft mice and I go way back as I’d mentioned earlier in this review. 

I noticed how the mouse would abruptly stop working.  It was then that I noticed how easily the mouse can be rocked over to the left so that the flat base would raise up the right side so the laser port was no longer in contact with the desk top.  This would cause the mouse to stop moving the pointer as it should.

I played around with it for a few minutes and found how the design is flawed.  The base of the mouse is too small so it allows this rocking action to take place.  If I attempted to rock the mouse to the right, it was stable.  But, to the left… it always will lift up on the right side of the base.  I think it’s because of the radiused edge surrounding the flat base of the mouse.  If it were made with a much smaller radius and made somewhat wider on the left side the mouse would be stable.

Needless to say, I had to return the mouse as it is indeed “defective”.

I most certainly do not recommend that anyone purchase this particular design of Microsoft mouse.