Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth

[mjkovis]

I have just installed my new Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite keyboard and mouse for Bluetooth and so far it is amazing!!! This set is a little pricey and does run for around $150.00 US anywhere but it is money worth spending for anyone!!! My main reason for purchasing this was to be able to use the Bluetooth capability and have a wireless connection with my mouse and keyboard so that I am able to move around my room freely without being held back by wires. Although, after playing around with the options on the keyboard for a little bit longer I foudn out there is SO much more.

For those of you unfamiliar with Bluetooth it is a small USB adapter that you plug into a USB port and it then transmits and receives information from devices. It is very easy to install the hardware and the software. I believe you can install up to five different devices I believe. This definately cuts back on those annoying wires hanging all over the back of your tower and hinding behind your desk. I have not tried it yet, but the manual does state you may use the devices up to 30 feet away from the Bluetooth!

The keyboard offers a few new options that the old multimedia keyboards did not. One of which is a few extra buttons to store your favorite places to go on your desktop, in your computer or on the internet. Granted, there are only five extra buttons, but for people, like me for example, it makes going to certain folders and programs only one button away instead of hunting through your computer, double clicking, or even searching into the start menu. I suppose I may be lazy, but all the extra clicking on the mouse can shorten its life span. Another option I found quite handy was having a scroll on the keyboard as well as on the mouse. You can move it up, down, left or right and there is also two buttons above to scroll that you can use to move forward or backward within folders or on your internet browser. It gives the user the option of solely using the keyboard to surf the net or work within your computer. Although, within your computer, such as Windows, you would still need to move your mouse to move your pointer.

The mouse is very nice as well. It is VERY accurate while moving it to point to files and folders as well as being super smooth. The scroll has the ability to move left, right, up, and down, like the keyboard and does act as the third mouse button still. There are two extra buttons next to where the thumb rests that allow you to use one for going forward and the other to go backward in windows or your internet browser.

Overall I am very impressed with this set and give it 9.5 out of 10. After all, nothing is perfect, but this comes very close in my book and has tickled me pink! As far as the use of this it looks great as well. If you would like to take a look at one it is located here at NewEgg.com. I am not trying to sell this to anyone, but I did want to express my opinion for those who are interested.

[Mac Medic]

I'm not sure about the MS bluetooth dongle, but the bluetooth built into my Powerbook and Powermac allows me to connect up to 255 devices concurrently. I have a KB/Mouse, HP Printer, ipaq PPC, cell phone and headphones connected so far, althouth the printer is extremely slow via bluetooth and would not recommend it to my worst enemy.