Even though I have come to rely on my notebook as my primary computer, I still use it in a desktop-like configuration when I’m working out of my home office. It’s connected to an external monitor mounted on desktop stand and I use it in tandem with a wireless keyboard and mouse. If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear I had a real desktop somewhere.
Wireless desktops have drastically reduced in price in recent years, so unless you really need to the reduced latency of a wired setup, it’s so much more convenient to go wireless. The latest set that I’ve had the chance to try is the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000. It may have a budget-oriented price, but the features are far from coming up short.
An Affordable Wireless Desktop with More
The MSRP on the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 is listed at $69.95, but I’ve been able to find it on sale online for as little as thirty bucks. That’s a steal of a deal, considering that you’re getting a trusted brand and plenty of nice features.
Going through the spec sheet, you’ll discover the following:
- Reliable 2.4GHz wireless with up to 30-foot range
- Battery status indicators
- BlueTrack technology combines optical power with laser precision
- Snap-in mini-transceiver
- Windows Flip for mouse
- Spill-resistant, quiet touch keys
- Media Center controls on keyboard
- Taskbar Favorites and enhanced F keys on keyboard
- Compact keyboard fits your notebook PC style
You get all this and to top it off, even the AA batteries required for operation are included. Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology is also the same technology that comes on their more elite SideWinder X8 Gaming Mouse which costs as much as this whole desktop set.
Looking Inside the Box
Cracking open the box to the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000, we don’t find much in terms of surprises. The wireless desktop kit is comprised of the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0 and the Wireless Mouse 5000 with BlueTrack technology.
Accompanying the keyboard and mouse are the compact USB mini-transceiver, four Energizer AA alkaline batteries, installation CD, and supporting documentation.
Even though the instructions call for alkaline batteries, I had no trouble using this set with rechargeable Ni-MH batteries instead. This is one way that gadget geeks can go green and minimize their footprint at the landfills.
One Mighty Small USB Transceiver
I’m coming from the perspective of the Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 (v2.0). The USB transceiver for that desktop setup comes on a rather long USB cord and the transceiver itself is about the same size as a small mouse. This has some advantages, I suppose, but it can also be quite cumbersome.
Thankfully, that’s not what you get with the Wireless Desktop 3000. Instead, the transceiver here is even smaller than the SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive; it’s about the same size as what you get with the Logitech MX Revolution. The transceiver isn’t much bigger than a single AA battery. That’s great for notebook users and, despite its smaller size, I did not experience any reduction in signal fidelity.
Starting with the Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0
One half of the wireless desktop solution comes from the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0. This multimedia-oriented keyboard comes largely with a slightly glossy black plastic surface, accented with a few blue highlights that indicate some of its added functionality.
This is a full keyboard, so along with the usual set of letters, there is the numeric keypad to the right. There are also a series of specialized media keys and other buttons located along the left edge and top edge, both of which I’ll describe further in just a moment.
As a relatively lightweight and “plastic-feeling” keyboard, the Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0 does give off a certain sense of being cheap, but it doesn’t feel like a totally budget-oriented solution. It’s no premium keyboard, but I’m still reasonably pleased with the build quality and design.
Interestingly, despite the overwhelmingly black color scheme on the top side, this keyboard is completely matte white (almost eggshell) on the underside and along the sides. I guess this is meant to give a dash to style to an otherwise standard keyboard, but I would have preferred if the black continue through to the back as well.
A Slightly More Compact Solution
Compared to the other Microsoft keyboard that I use on a daily basis, the Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0 is little bit more compact. Each of the individual keys is noticeably smaller and they are laid out in a completely linear fashion, unlike the Wireless Laser Keyboard 6000 v2.0 that I have pictured here.
It took a few minutes to get used to the slightly smaller size, but I was typing away as normal after that transition period. The keyboard is still a little bigger than what I get with my Dell 640m notebook, so it could be a good transitional piece for people coming from a laptop-only environment.
In terms of typing comfort, I did find that there was more key travel here than with the Laser Keyboard 6000. This is largely a matter of personal preference, but I found that my typing speed was lowered just slightly as a result. Aside from that, I appreciated the relatively soft feel of the key travel and the comfortable surface of each individual key.
Hot Keys, Media Keys, Quick Access Keys
Having just the usual set of QWERTY and function keys isn’t enough for most consumers these days. We want to have quick access to a myriad of functions without having to dive through a series of menus and clicking on a series of icons.
While not as robust as some of the more hardcore options out there, this Microsoft offering does not disappoint. Along the left edge of the keyboard are four buttons: My Documents, My Pictures, Zoom In and Zoom Out.
Along the top of the keyboard are another series of quick access keys and media keys, granting instant access to your email, music player, volume controls, and media playback controls. There are also five personalized quick launch keys. Each of the regular function keys (F1-F12) also carry secondary functions, like opening documents, sending emails, running the spellcheck, launching print jobs. Finally, there is a calculator button above the numpad too.
The best part is that most of these quick access keys can be customized using the provided software. If you want to launch Futurelooks with one button, you can.
Adding the Wireless Mouse 5000
Accompanying the wireless keyboard is a wireless mouse, of course. Without the mouse, you wouldn’t have much of a wireless desktop, right? Much like the keyboard that accompanies it, the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 takes on a similar glossy black color scheme on the top side, but it also has an eggshell-like white underside. At least they’re being consistent.
One of the bigger selling points for this particular mouse is the implementation of the BlueTrack technology. Up until now, most people have put laser mice at the top of the heap for their precision, but this BlueTrack stuff is supposed to be even better. I don’t know if it’s better than a laser for precision, but I did find it performed better on a variety of surfaces.
Naturally, the mouse worked just fine on my mouse pad and it was just fine on my wood desk, but it was quite surprising to see how well it was able to perform on my carpet. It was silky smooth and maintained the same kind of precision I had on my mouse pad. Well done. For aesthetics, the blue light is quite pretty as well.
Friendly with Lefties and Righties
Comfort is perhaps one of the most important things when it comes to deciding on your primary mouse. You don’t want one that is so small that it cramps your hands and you don’t want a gigantic beast that is too cumbersome to use.
The Wireless Mouse 5000 is definitely smaller than the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 (pictured) that I have been using, but it’s still big enough to be quite comfortable. The clicking of the buttons was also not nearly as loud and cheap-feeling as the Targus Ultra Mini Portable Mouse, but I don’t think anything is quite that small either.
You will note that the Wireless Mouse 5000 is symmetrical, so it will work just fine for left-handed and right-handed people. This means, however, that the added thumb contour on the side is not nearly as pronounced. That’s too bad, since the indentation makes for a much more comfortable experience overall.
Since it is trying to play friendly with lefties and righties, you’ll notice that there is only one extra button on either side, rather than having two buttons on the thumb side. The added button on the right side of the mouse is a little awkward to hit with your ring or pinky finger.
All in all, you get five buttons in all, including the click wheel in the center. The click wheel is pretty well par for the course, giving the ability to tilt it to either side for horizontal scroll. The vertical scroll does not have the “click” that you get with some other mice, so the experience is definitely smoother in that respect. This is a matter of personal preference and I like not having the click.
Saving Battery with a Quick Stowaway
Part of the trouble that you may have with some wireless desktop configurations is that the keyboard and mouse will always be in sending and receiving mode. They very rarely have any sort of official on/off switch, so you could find yourself burning through batteries even in standby mode. That’s not good for efficiency and that’s not good for convenience.
To overcome part of this concern, Microsoft has implemented something in this wireless desktop that you may have seen in some wireless mice in the marketplace. If you take the USB transceiver, you can slot it into the underside of the Wireless Mouse 5000. This helps for transport, naturally, but it comes with an added advantage too.
Do you see the small switch in the slot where the transceiver would fit? When pressed in, as would be the case when the transceiver is placed in there, the wireless functions of the mouse turn off, as does that blue tracking light. That saves some battery.
Unfortunately, Microsoft didn’t extend this functionality to the keyboard, as far as I can tell. I know that the batteries can last quite a long time in these wireless desktops, but having the ability to turn them off when not in use would still be appreciated.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned at the beginning of this review, the MSRP on the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 is $69.95, but I’ve been able to find it for half that price through online retailers. For that price, you’d expect to get a rather barebones approach to wireless desktops and you couldn’t be more wrong.
No, it won’t compete against the more premium options out there and it doesn’t come with too many flashy features, but this wireless desktop is more than adequate for the average consumer. The Wireless Mouse 5000 features the BlueTrack technology for terrific precision and accuracy on nearly any surface. It’s comfortable to use and is just the right size for comfort.
The Wireless Keyboard 3000 v2.0 tacks on several dedicated media controls and quick access keys for added functionality. The keys are relatively quiet and soft to the touch, making it a joy to use for extended typing sessions. It’s not as big as other keyboards, but it’s big enough.
If you’re in the market for a relatively inexpensive wireless desktop and don’t want to skip out on some of the cooler features, the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 is definitely a solid option at this price.
Pros
- BlueTrack mouse tracking technology
- Plenty of media controls and quick access keys
- Very comfortable experience overall
- A good value (when on sale)
Cons
- Not of a fan of the black-and-white color scheme
- Keyboard is a little bit too small
- Prefer two buttons on thumb side for mouse
- No flashy built-in display, other features
Overall Rating: 8.0 / 10.0
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Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Photo Gallery
