One of the latest hardware combinations coming out of Redmond is all about style while being on the cutting edge of technology by including new features to the desktop. Microsoft has released the newest version of the Microsoft Optical Desktop (called the Wireless Laser Desktop 6000) with some new twists in this variation in its attempt to jazz up some of the hardware on your desktop. This product follows a long line of stylish devices Microsoft has released this season (and actually includes variations of some of these devices). Using new patented High Definition Laser Technology and sporting a silver hip design, Microsoft is trying to set a groove with people who want something sleek and stylish, yet functional, on their desktop. Does the mouse and keyboard combo live up to its promises? Read on to find out.

Setup & Installation 

Mouse & Keyboard Setup: The installation is quite simple. First, just insert the CD which comes with the keyboard and mouse. You will install the IntelliType 5.4 and IntelliPoint 5.4 software, neither of which are required (though needed for the advanced button functionality). Nothing really has changed since last year's versions. The wireless receiver is almost 5 inches long and three inches high, and works with either PS/2 or USB ports. Of course, Microsoft has included four sealed Energizer AA batteries for the keyboard and mouse. When the receiver is plugged in you just push the button then press the corresponding connect buttons on both the mouse and keyboard to establish a connecting frequency. With that done you should be all set to go!

Microsoft IntelliType Pro Software

If you would like to adjust your keyboard settings, i.e. reprogram its hotkeys, then you’ll want to install Microsoft IntelliType Pro 5.4 software. Installation of the IntelliType Pro 5.4 software (although not needed) is a breeze. Just pop in the CD included or download the software (about 8 MB). To customize your keys, select either “Keyboard” from the Control Panel or “Microsoft Keyboard” from the Program menu. On the Key Settings tab, you’ll see a list of thirty hot key defaults, which you can reprogram if you like. Another nice feature is you can print out a list of the key assignments, which is good for those who like to reprogram a significant amount of keys. From here you can edit your key assignments from a list of fifty-five available commands. Options include disabling, programming to open a webpage or file, and reprogramming to fit Microsoft’s available commands. Some keys, however, such as the Caps Lock, you can only disable the key, not reprogram it.

To customize your keys, select either “Keyboard” from the Control Panel or “Microsoft Keyboard” from the Program menu. On the Key Settings tab, you’ll see a list of thirty hot key defaults, which you can reprogram if you like. Another nice feature is you can print out a list of the key assignments, which is good for those who like to reprogram a significant amount of keys. From here you can edit your key assignments from a list of fifty-five available commands. Options include disabling, programming to open a webpage or file, and reprogramming to fit Microsoft’s available commands. Some keys, however, such as the Caps Lock, you can only disable the key, not reprogram it.

Microsoft IntelliPoint Software

If you want to customize your mouse, you will have to install IntelliPoint 5.4 (about 60 MB), which requires a restart. To customize your mouse keys, select either "Mouse" for the Control Panel or "Microsoft Mouse" from the program menu. On the buttons tab you can click on the different buttons and reassign the keys to a variety of functions. In this software you can also change your pointers, other pointer options, view which hardware is connected, change scrolling options, and view wireless features. The software is easy to use and is required for advanced functionality of the mouse.

Mouse Design

The Wireless Laser Mouse sizes up at 4.5 inches long, 3 inches wide and an 1.5 inches high. The mouse has a gloss, silver finish on all sides. The gloss silver has a very "tech" feel, it is very cool and appeasing to look at. As you can see in the image below, there is a nice silver Microsoft "Laser Technology" logo on the front of the mouse.

The Wireless Laser Mouse has 2 extra buttons on the left and a scroll wheel (which also serves as a button), so there is a total of five programmable buttons. One of the new features of the mouse is the magnifier button. This new magnifier allows you to bring an zoom box on the screen in all types of programs. One really cool thing about this feature is if say you use it in Excel, you can edit within the zoom box. This feature is a much improved version of the accessibility magnifier feature within Windows. The scroll wheel has the tilt technology feature, which helps scroll left and right. The scroll wheel is a transparent white. The mouse has a similar, but improved look as previous wireless desktops. The size makes this mouse easy to use for long periods of times, without irritating the wrist (something I particularly find important).  Unlike the Bluetooth IntelliMouse Explorer, this mouse will only work 6-10 feet away from the base at any given time. The upside, though, is the mouse will use less battery power overall, as Microsoft is now claiming a battery life over 6 months or longer.

Microsoft High Definition Laser Technology

Microsoft has provided a well deserved update to an already great optical technology. This product includes the new Microsoft Laser Technology which aims to improve performance at much higher levels than the previous optical technology, including the High Definition Optical Technology on other Microsoft mice. The technology is 6000 frames per second (FPS) - an improvement over the 2500 FPS of most of the previous optical mice. Other technology improvements that have been made include 1000 dots per inch (DPI) resolution (responsiveness), 85 million operations per second (MOPS), .18 CMOS technology (preciseness) and the Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System (smoother tracking). Unlike the Microsoft High Definition Optical mice, the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 has a 600 nm laser providing optical input. Microsoft optical technologies have been well tested for many years now and work smoothly on most surfaces. It has been broken-in well with previous mice, so you know you won’t have any problem. 
 

Keyboard Design

This keyboard is an update of one of Microsoft’s newer keyboard designs in 2004, and offers improvements in style and features over its’ predecessor. The keyboard has a standard length of 19 inches and width of 9.5. The keyboard is very slim at 1.5 inches high, although still very sturdy. The design has a gloss silver finish with translucent silver keys. The top of the keyboard, above the function keys, is also silver. The palm rest is attached with a very comfortable matte silver rubber material.

This keyboard is the exact same design as the one included in the Wireless Optical Desktop 5000. Starting from the left, there are the five designated function buttons on the curved part: Web/Home, Calendar, Mail, Messenger, and My Documents. These buttons are silver. Set in the curvature of the buttons is the Zoom Slider, a feature new this year to Microsoft's keyboards. The zoom function is 2 inches long and a half inch wide (we'll get to the functionality in a bit).  In the top bar, there are media (Play, Stop, pause, etc.)  keys, and in the center are the “favorite” keys. These keys, 1-5 can be assigned for any function. The center star key brings up the assign box where you can designate which keys have which functions. Next there are the remaining standard keys calculator, log off, and sleep, on the far right. All keys can be reassigned however by using IntelliType Pro software. There is also an F Lock key where you can switch between standard and enhanced functions.
 

The Zoom Slider

One of the new features of the comfort curve keyboard when it was released last year is the Zoom Slider, as we mentioned earlier. The Zoom Slider is perfect for those of you who want to zoom in on digital images, graphics, etc. (the best use we have found for the product), or to a lesser extent, text and web pages. You can control the zooming speed, have "accelerated zooming" and more all through the IntelliType software included. There are a variety of programs that work with the Zoom Slider: Word, Picture Viewer, AOL, PhotoShop, Office, Visio, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, PageMaker, even Netscape and many more. Strangely though, it does not work will all Microsoft products: Frontpage, MapPoint, Lotus, etc. Click to view the full list of non-compatible products or compatible products, respectively.

Final Comments

This product is perfect for those who want a "techish" style in their lives all while having the latest and cutting-edge technology features. This color scheme probably appeases most people and meshes well with the silver/black LCD monitors. The keyboard design has been refined over last year's models and provides an updated look over previous desktops, though still not of the "natural" form though with some new ergonomic features. The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 is good looking and indeed, fairly comfortable. The mouse has two buttons, not to mention the multi-function tilting scroll wheel, so I feel those who seek the most functionality will enjoy this product, especially since this premium desktop features Microsoft's best mouse. Also, Microsoft includes four Energizer batteries for the mouse and keyboard, which I feel is completely classy since the standard generics are not included. If you are not in the market for a keyboard, I recommend purchasing the Wireless Laser Mouse separately.