Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
by Microsoft
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
Customer Review: Simply the best bluetooth mobile mouse
Summary: 5 Stars
I gave away my Logitech VX Nano to my father who needed a mobile mouse so I needed to replace it. I was just going to get another Nano but thought why not try a bluetooth mouse since I paid extra to have built-in bluetooth support on my Dell laptop? I am extremely glad I did. I have had it for exactly 1 year now and am ready to share my experience.
PROS:
- No transceiver necessary, freeing up a USB port
- Ergonomic design for either hand
- Back button
- Comfortable, responsive scroll wheel
- On/Off button
- Low battery indicator
- Reliable connection
- Nice solid feel
- Looks nice
- No driver or software install required (or offered)
- Compatible with Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7/Mac OS X
- Supported by Microsoft's great hardware warranty for 3 years
CONS:
- Somewhat short battery life
- Doesn't automatically turn off to save battery
- AAA batteries difficult to remove when replacing
- Connection doesn't always reconnect when resuming from sleep mode
Next to the scroll wheel, a back button is a mouse feature I cannot live without. Many mobile mice do not include a back button so it was easy to narrow down my choices. Guess how many mobile bluetooth mice have a back button? Try 1. The Microsoft Notebook Mouse 5000 was the only one I could find. That made my choice even easier. I love not having to fuss with a transceiver. Even though the VX Nano uses a micro-USB receiver, it still took up 1 of only 3 USB ports on my laptop.
I like the way the mouse feels and looks. It also comes with a nice padded case with a velcro enclosure. The scroll wheel is nice and comfortable to use and doesn't feel flimsy like some tend to do. Battery life is just okay. It's rated at 3+ months but I have seen real-world results of closer to 2 months. I use it for probably 2-3 hours/day 7 days a week and I never turn it off. When I'm connected, I stay connected without any drops.
I view the lack of driver or software for required on the 5000 as a welcome feature. I never install Microsoft's driver software or Logitech's SetPoint software for my mice and keyboards. Sometimes I lose some functionality, mostly in programmable buttons and keys, but I've had enough driver-related issues on my system to cause me to avoid installing them.
I have only a few very minor complaints. Instead of only offering an on/off button, adding an automatic sleep/off feature would greatly improve battery life. When you do have to replace the batteries, you'll struggle with removing the batteries a bit because the little pulls that help you remove the batteries are undersized. I don't have long enough fingernails to easily grab the pulls. Lastly, whenever my laptop goes to sleep, I have to cross my fingers that the bluetooth connection gets reestablished. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. I have used the 5000 on my laptop with both Windows XP and Windows 7.
I thought that after a year, surely a new Microsoft, Logitech, or even Kensington bluetooth mouse would've been released that would take praise away from the 5000. Nope. This is still the best notebook bluetooth mouse on the market. The 3 year warranty isn't as long as I would like, but Microsoft's hardware warranty is easier to deal with than any other company's I've experienced. Logitech's support is great, but Microsoft's is excellent. Confidently purchase this wonderful mouse and you will be satisfied with the outcome.
Customer Review: Great option for netbooks and Windows 7
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are like me and own a netbook, you bought one for the portability. I'm a college student and do a lot of studying at coffee shops. For some reason, the designers of these places feel that the tables can be no larger than 18 inches in diameter (or so it seems!). Once the text books are out, there is usually little space for the computer let alone accessories.
I was using a Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks (Scarlet Red) with my Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Blue Netbook - Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life. It's a great mouse with phenomenal battery life, accurate tracking, and a comfy grip. But I've always hated the inch-plus USB dongle sticking out of it. I've had a few close calls of almost breaking it off or knocking the whole computer off a table. There are newer mice out there with the Nano receiver, which is also great. Unfortunately the carry case I use is too snug to allow me to stow the netbook with even that tiny little receiver in it.
So I arrived at the Bluetooth option.
My netbook is running Windows 7 Home Premium, and associating this mouse was a cake walk. I was up and running within a couple minutes! The instructions included are brief but clear, but Microsoft's website has a more in depth trouble shooting section if the need arises.
I have not had the 5000 mouse as long as the V220, but I have never dropped a connection, and the laser tracking is quite accurate on anything from hardwood coffee tables to sofa cushions to the fabric arm rests on a Lazy Boy. The mouse is not heavy and if anything it feels almost too light, but this is a plus for the computer user on the go. I cannot comment on battery life, but I expect a bit less from a Bluetooth mouse vs. wireless.
Ergonomics - I find the mouse to be extremely comfy, but if I were picking at nits, I'd like to see the scroll wheel stick up a bit more. The back button placement, for me, is awesome. I hate the back buttons where you have to drastically change grip to hit it Microsoft Arc Mouse (Black) but that's me. This mouse just requires a shift in the thumb and 'boom!'
Drivers - I was at first dubious when Microsoft's IntelliPoint software (that allows you to remap buttons, perform special tricks, etc.) did not support this mouse. In fact, Windows 7 automatically found the needed drivers, installed them, and allowed me to go on with life. For me, button remapping is not necessary, and out of the box most right handed users will be well served by this mouse. But south-paws may not like it.
Final thoughts - as a student I study in various locations so portability is a must. The Bluetooth mouse allows me to free up a USB port, and I have found the signal reception to be flawless. When the computer is put to sleep )lid closed) it does take a couple seconds to work again upon awakening, but no complaints here. The accuracy is spot on for 99% of the tasks required of it (maybe a person working with minute details won't be happy, but for Office tasks, web surfing, etc., it works a charm).
I really recommend this product to mobile users, and if the ItelliPoint is updated in the future to support customizing this mouse, then more's the better. But as is, I feel its a winner.
Cheers!
Customer Review: The Mouse That Roared
Summary: 5 Stars
The Mouse that Roared
I waited five months to write this review to give the Microsoft Bluetooth notebook mouse a complete workout. I am using it frequently with my Asus EEPC netbook on the road and at home and am very impressed.
The size is excellent considering this is a small mouse. I have medium-large sized hands and enjoy a mouse that is usually much larger. The Microsoft Bluetooth notebook mouse fits nicely under the hand and has excellent response. In fact, the mouse works on more surfaces and more obscure locations than of the other wireless mice I use on my home computer.
The reason I waited so long to do this review was because others complained about the on-off switches breaking. I had no problems with this switch and while I take good care of my equipment five months of constant use has proved that the switch is as sound today as when it arrived. The on-off switch is located on the bottom and is embedded into the unit. It does not stick out and it would seem difficult to break unless you are pushing it too hard.
As far as battery life, well I am still using the original batteries sent with the unit and five months of use is a lot of life from a single set of regular batteries. I have many times put it away without turning off the power switch yet the original shipped batteries are still working fine. Of course that leaves me unable to comment on the light that would appear if the batteries start to go.
The Bluetooth works perfectly and it is so nice to this feature built into the mouse and the EEPC, which leaves the netbook with no dongles or use of the USB ports. The most interesting thing for me is that the mouse operates on almost any surface. No need for a mouse pad or surface with color or patterns. I can use it on a white table, the couch, a piece of white paper or whatever and it is live and responsive. It also can be used at a greater distance and more obscure angles from the netbook than my other full size wireless (USB related) mice.
While the mouse has a page-back feature button it has no right hand page-forward button. A small drawback. There is a very responsive scroll wheel, which besides scrolling up and down, you can bend to the right or left to scroll pages in the direction you want. This is a great feature on the newer netbook 10-inch screens, which seem to never put the content in view without movement. It now becomes apparent why advertising takes up all the top of a page.
The Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse is a solid unit that is handsomely designed, well engineered, works without dongles, does not use one of the valuable USB ports, and energy efficient, which offers most, if not all, the features of a full sized mouse in a small compact netbook sized unit. All in all I am extremely pleased with the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook mouse and highly recommend it.
Customer Review: A wireless mouse that actually works
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a wired (thumb) trackball mouse that I have had for years. I started to have problems with either arthritis or carpal tunnel making it difficult to use that mouse, so I started shopping for a new mouse. I had a wireless (non-blue tooth) mouse in the past. I hated it. I would move the mouse and there would be an obvious delay before the cursor on the screen moved. I wound up throwing it away. This mouse has excellent, immediate response - just like my wired mouse. It is slightly smaller than a standard mouse so it will probably be popular for use with notebooks. I have a wired notebook mouse for my laptop that is several years old - this mouse is much bigger than that notebook mouse.
We have our TV hooked up to our computer as a second monitor. Our computer is the DVD player, plus we use the TV to watch Netflix streaming on the TV screen. We can move the mouse away from the computer onto the coffee table and use it on the coffee table - so we don't have to get off the couch to use the menu on DVDs or control the Netflix on the TV. This mouse may be useful with presentations (power point, etc...) - we get decent distance on this mouse - this room is about 15 feet wide and we can use it everywhere in this room. I am told that bluetooth usually gets about 30 feet, but I am unable to test that in this room.
Since my husband still prefers the trackball mouse, we actually keep the regular wired mouse plugged in all the time. When I use the computer, I just turn on the mouse. It has an automatic shut-off - which is a good thing since I usually forget to turn it off. I then have to move the switch to the off position and back to the on position to turn it on again. We can switch back and forth between the two mice without a problem - even with this mouse on and the wired mouse plugged in.
I use a rechargeable Enloop battery in it - I thought I would be going through batteries a lot with it and I did not want to keep on buying batteries for it. I got this mouse for Christmas. It is now Valentines day and I have not had to re-charge the battery once. I am on the computer every day for at least an hour or two daily. I think the paperwork that came with the mouse said it would last for three months. At this rate, I believe that.
Overall, I am very happy with this mouse, and my "mouse thumb" problem has improved drastically.
Review edited to add:
I have to change my enloop rechargeable batteries about every two months. I thought that the mouse had automatic shut-off, but it does not. Windows just forgets that it is there. I have to turn it off and back on again for Windows to realize it is there again periodically - the mouse does not shut itself off.
Customer Review: Not the best mouse, but the best Bluetooth mouse
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this mouse in February 2009. It lasted about 18 months. During that time I used it daily, traveled halfway around the world to a desert with it, and carried it on numerous trips in the United States. It finally died because I dropped it one too many times...and I dropped it a lot. Wanting to try a different mouse I replaced it with aLogitech V470 Bluetooth Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks. You can read my review of that mouse on its product page, but in short, this mouse is far superior.
This mouse is sturdy (lasting through travel and abuse by me) and while the battery door and batteries would come off when I dropped it, the mouse always went back together well. It's about as comfortable as a little mouse can be, which is not very, but it's certainly usable. The mouse connected fast enough when I started the computer and battery life was reasonable. I didn't keep a log of when I replaced the batteries in it but I went months between battery changes...3 or more I'd say.
Where this mouse really shines (and easily surpasses the Logitech V470) is in sensitivity and ability to operate on a variety of surfaces. I never had any trouble with tracking on any surface, including furniture, the carpet, my pants leg, and our granite countertop. I often use my laptop in the kitchen when cooking and it was nice to use the mouse on the countertop. With the Logictech mouse I had to put my lapdesk on the counter and use that as the mouse surface. The Logitech was horrible on fabric surfaces (furniture, my pants) as well.
I wish this mouse was bigger...I'd love a full-size Bluetooth mouse. The back button is nice but two buttons would be nicer (for forward and back). The Logitech V470 has no buttons but you can move the scroll wheel to the left and right and I mapped that action to backwards and forwards in my browser.
This isn't the best mouse around (I'm partial to my 3-year old discontinued Logitech G5 Laser Mouse) but it's the best Bluetooth mouse in my opinion. That's why I'm back here today...to buy one of these for my wife to use with her new laptop. And when my Logitech V470 dies (I need to drop it more) I'll get another one of these too.
As a side note, I uploaded a couple of pictures of the two mice side by side.