Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)For those people complaining about range - I have tested my unit with fresh batteries and clear line of sight to about 30 feet.When the batteries go low, this range falls away, but the biggest difference is if there is an obstacle between the receiver and the peripherals, it will reduce the range dramatically - this is pretty common with these types of devices if you read up on other similar wireless units.
Pros:
1) RF rather than IR, so the range is omni-directional rather than just line of sight.This is great if you want to "hide" the transceiver on a shelf under your desk or something like that.(Older infrared units require line of sight).
2) Great ergonomics on the mouse, and good tracking precision
3) Great price/performance - you won't find a better deal on an RF-based wireless keyboard/mouse combo.These units sell for something like $60 at the Microsoft store (where employees shop!)
4) Easy hookup and operation with Windows XP (have not tried it on others)
5) PS/2 AND USB connector so you can use either the two PS/2 connectors or a single USB connector for hooking up the transceiver.
The Cons:
1) Everyone is absolutely right about the F key assignments - it is the dumbest design flaw you can imagine.
2) The delete key - Grrr! Why does Microsoft seem bent on "redesigning" the traditional keyboard layout? I'll bet they must have a patent on the design... As others have written, the delete key is over-sized and you are likely to accidently use it if you are not careful
3) Difficult to tell when the unit is running low on batteries.I use rechargeable NiMH batteries, and since their fully-charged voltage is slightly lower than regular alkaline batteries, the unit starts acting funky when they are not fully discharged.Checking the software battery indicator will tell me that they are 80% charged, but swapping them out will cure the problems. I believe the red mouse light (the optical tracking light) flashes when the batteries are low, but I can't confirm this in the documentation.
Summary
This is a great wireless combo for the "normal" home user that still looks at the keyboard while they type and does not make extensive use of the "F" keys. I bought one for my wife and my Mom, and both of them love the way it looks and the way it cleared up the clutter on their desks. When I have to do "real" work at either of their computers, I'll confess that this keyboard drives me crazy with its idiosyncracies.The mouse is very good, however, and in my opinion might even be worth the price of the combo.
If you are a "regular" home user that uses your PC for web browsing and emails, then this is a great combo that you will be happy with at a great price.If you are more of a "power user" then I'd recommend you look elsewhere - the Logitech MX Duo has received really good reviews, but is more expensive. For me, I'm waiting for the prices to drop on Bluetooth units, and will probably jump on the Logitech MX Duo Bluetooth when the price point drops down into teh $50 range....
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Product Description:
A wireless optical desktop with advanced features built in. Discover a complete desktop solution with a full range of features. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop offers amazing Tilt Wheel Technology, Microsoft Optical Technology, longer battery life, and more. You get wireless freedom and Microsoft reliability, all in a single package.
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