Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth
Try saying that after a few 'lemonades'.
Everyone seems to have gone crazy over the latest of IT buzzwords – wireless. Wireless networks are springing up and being used on street corners and coffee bars giving anyone with a laptop or handheld device pretty much constant internet access.
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Back at a desk however, where most people use a computer, there is a much different situation. Short wires annoyingly restrict where I can use my keyboard, mouse, speakers, and modem and create a cable jungle at the back of the desk.
The solution is a protocol called ‘Bluetooth’. A collaboration of the large tech companies, this organisation has created a system for small devices (such as keyboard, headsets, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.) to ‘talk’ to each other when they are close. So, for example, I could dial a phone number from my PDA’s contact list via my phone and talk on a headset… all without any wires.
So where does the desktop come in? Well, Microsoft have put this protocol to good use creating a package of Bluetooth products called the “Wireless Optical Desktop”. Consisting of a Bluetooth base station, keyboard and mouse it contains everything you need to eradicate annoying in-game cable snags. No longer are you tied to typing on the table or using the mouse on the pad. The range of the Bluetooth transmitters is more than sufficient – I had to walk out of my living room, down the hall, out of my flat and down the corridor (looking a bit of a wally – it has to be said) to get it to stop responding. This is obviously completely impractical – you couldn't see the monitor (unless you have your PC hooked up in a cinema). In fact, I had to get my girlfriend to yell "Its stopped!". The point is that this system offers some serious flexibility.
The hardware itself is in a tasty dark blue colour, with semi-transparent keys and silver highlights. A black rubber feel on the side of the mouse holds the hand well and a bright blue light on the base station indicates it has power.
The build quality on the keyboard is slightly suspect, although it feels quite heavy (no doubt partly due to the two AAs crammed in the underside) the plastic appears quite thin making it slightly creaky and flexible. That said the keys do have a nice touch to them and the travel distance is similar to the MS Natural Keyboard I previously enjoyed. Proprietary buttons litter the top of the keyboard, pointlessly taking up the space by urging you to use Microsoft software like MSN Messenger and Media Player. No doubt these were included for the desktops use with Windows XP Media Centre Edition.
The mouse is completely the opposite and is as solid as they come. Again with a couple of AAs up the rearend, its cumbersomely heavy and looks like its eaten the contents of a pie shop – not good for an FPS game. However it does feel excellent around the desktop for non-gaming purposes. The optical sensor is as reliable as the previous incarnations Microsoft have produced and gamers have come to love – it very rarely falters. The wheel is, again, solid; perhaps a little too solid for my liking, making it hard to spin on those longer webpages, but the rubbery textured third and fourth buttons (usually used in a web browser for back and forward) are just perfect. The killer for this mouse is, of course, its lack of tail. No more running out of cable when trying to turn in an FPS – it just glides on and on.
The base station comes in three parts. The main section is the transmitter and this can be plugged into either the base station or the laptop adapter depending on your preference. These then connect to the PC via USB. The base station works a treat and looks great atop a monitor, but the laptop adapter is annoyingly big sticking out about 10cm making it vulnerable to knocks as well as not looking very aesthetically pleasing.
Overall it’s a great system, the quality of peripheral we have come to expect from Microsoft’s hardware division. A sure purchase for gadget freaks with a score of…
75%
Comments
Do they just sell the bluetooth keyboard seprately?
How long do batteries last?
Will the keyboard and mouse work
with existing/other brand
bluetooth adapters e.g.
Compaq/HP multiport?
Ages - I used the test unit for about a week for a few hours a day. The battery meter didn't budge from the top notch.
Yes - Bluetooth is an open standard protocol. As long as it has the logo on it - it will talk to another device
Well, yes, I know that, but I don't trust Microsoft...
And also, doesn't the MS BT keyboard and mouse rely on the HID profile, which is quite new?
So I won't believe it until somebody tries it and confirms it.
Maybe take your adapter down the store and ask them to try it out. £100/$160 is a lot to shell out for this kit - I'm sure they will understand
Am interested in bluetooth mouse with laptop. I gather it will work with my existing Bluetooth adapter, but do I still have to have an annoying bulk coming out my USB port with no transmitters or will it just "work"? Also, I am not sure whether the intellipoint software severely interferes with synaptics touchpad software. Any comments much appreciated.
You can probably disable the touchpad in the BIOS. Try pressing Del or F1 or whatever right at the start of the boot process
How far away from the base unit can you get and still have the keyboard work?
A long way. It even works in another room.
I've got big troubles to get it working with Compaq/HP multiport on an Evo laptop.
Help!
maybe you sould put the price down £50 if you dont you lot can piss off me buying your stuff.
ali_g_in_da_house
do not mess
Did you ever get this working? I have not been able to. I cannot get the multiport to show up in the WIRELESS section of CONTROL PANEL. I did manager to pair the keyboard with the multiport bluetooth but it still did not function.
will it work up to 6-7 meters away and through a wall
hi jason
i have bought a new lap top with bluetooth already installed, but how does it work mobile laptop, i dont understnad any of this
pls help
the mouse is too heavy witht he batteries
anyone know where I can buy really light batteries
this mouse would be perfect if it wasnt so heavy...
ends up hurting your hands after hour of use.
Where could a get the instalation drivers?
These stuff worked wounderfull for a week. After that just stoped.
I did check everythink and looks thats all right, but don't work.
I need the drivers to try reinstall. Thanks!
Microsoft has only included three stpid profiles - one that actually allows the keyboard to work, and two others that are not used very often. I think it's misleading to sell a product that promises a bluetooth tranceiver and keyboard in one so that you'll never have to buy another bluetooth thingie, but it actually can't do anything. I wasnt my SPP profile for printing. HCRP sucks.
It's true! The BT Keyb and Mouse combo suxs bad. The mouse decided not to connect anymore and then I tried on another machine and neither can connect anymore. Don't buy it - get a Logitech.
I managed to modify Dell's bluetooth software to operate the dongle, its got more profiles. I now use it for networking and file transfer to another computer as my laptop has bluetooth built in and i use it for the mouse.
NOTE: whilst the mouse and keyboard are easy to install and work well, anyone hoping to use the Bluetooth transceiver for anything like file transfers to a laptop etc should be warned that IT'S NOT SUPPORTED. I was very disappointed to find this out after purchase.
Hoping Microsoft will update the drivers and software soon.
Microsoft Bluetooth mouse driver does seem to severly interfere with my Synapics Touchpad. The Touchpad graphics does not work after installing the mouse driver.
Anyone have a copy of the drivers disk. I lost mine and MS want to send me a replacement CD for %37.95. Please help. I'll Trade.
you wanna know where you can get the software still?
I have this system and I wonder if you could help me out. It stopped working and so I removed the program and drivers. Then when I tried to reinstall the program/drivers (Intellepro), it won't let me. Instead it pops up with the discription that there already exists a program, and I know I removed it, because it's not on my list of programs. Do you know how I can reinstall it without getting that message that stops the reinstallation?
Thanks
I use a Natural Keyboard, anything else causes pain. Is the bluetooth keyboard really like the natural or should I wait?
my microsoft wireless keyboard cancels direct x 9 test,(says i pressed a button) , without batteries in keyboard test runs fine. exasperated gamer P.S. why does game i use to play now crash my PC novalogic's task force dagger(and i got directway to play)
god tell me aout it I'm in the US lookinf for help on m$ bloting hardware of a KB/kouse kit I cant belive you HAVE to have XP SP1 just to run it and it only works in windows no safe mode suport forget trouble shotting windows with it cant even get into the biso >< and now the mouse is dead wont connect and m$ "NEW" drivers require SP2 I loath SP2 is cripples XP to death >< 60usa for a KB/mouse that bearly works joy ><
anyone gotsomeone elses drivers to work for this thing?
Blue tooth is a joke.....