Product Description

Built for comfort, designed for style. This stylish, ergonomic set looks as good as it feels, with a Comfort Curve Design keyboard and innovative zoom slider. Customizable "My Favorites" Keys provide one-touch access, and the Wireless Optical Mouse with Tilt Wheel allows you to scroll from side to side. Designed by ergonomic experts for enhanced comfort and style, the Comfort Curve Design keyboard helps your hands rest in a more natural position. Scroll every which way. Now you can scroll horizontally as well as vertically through documents and Web pages. The entire wheel tilts, acts as a button, and reacts smoothly to your speed. Finally, a solution to the top wireless hassle - now you can work longer without interruption. Many users experience a half year of battery life! Work wirelessly without intrusion. Take advantage of smart technology that automatically detects interference, so you don't have to worry about interruptions.

Product Details

• Color: N/A
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: BX2-00004
• Released on: 2004-07-22
• Platforms: Mac, Windows
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 3.00" h x 9.00" w x 18.00" l, 5.00 pounds

Features

• Tilt Wheel Technology
• Smart technology reduces the likelihood of interruption by notifying you when it detects interference or low battery
• Many users experience a half year of battery life
• Designed by Microsoft ergonomics experts, the arched shape provides support for your hand in a natural, comfortable position
• Compatible with Windows XP Professional Edition, XP Home Edition, or 2000 Professional

From the Manufacturer
Experience the comfort of ergonomic design and the convenience of Tilt Wheel Technology, and work without interruption with longer battery life.

Tilt Wheel Technology
Experience unrivaled accuracy, speed, and control as you scroll through documents and Web pages.

Smart receiver
Go wireless with confidence. Smart technology reduces the likelihood of interruption by notifying you when it detects interference or low battery.

Three times the battery life
Finally, a solution to the top wireless hassle: Now you can work longer without interruption. Many users experience a half year of battery life!

Ergonomic design
Work in style and comfort. Designed by Microsoft ergonomics experts, the arched shape provides support for your hand in a natural, comfortable position.

Customer Reviews

Mixed bag
I read some of the excellent reviews before my purchase, so there were not many surprises. The name of the set is different on Amazon than in other stores, which was a bit confusing. Microsoft itself calls it the wireless optical desktop - comfort edition. My impressions after a few weeks of use:

Pros:
- The radio signal appears to be strong and is resistant to interference. I've got a Gyration Ultra cordless mouse, a WiFi router, and speakers near the base receiver, but both the keyboard and mouse work without a hitch.
- The keyboard is relatively comfortable to use with good tactile feedback, and the faux leather wristpad is nice. Microsoft has a knack for well-built keyboards.
- Love all the extra buttons! They are reprogrammable with the Intellitype program, which is included.
- The zoom function is pretty nice when the type on the screen is too small to read. I don't have to always have my reading glasses on.
- The mouse is ambidextrous (one of the few wireless mice that isn't ergonomically designed only for righties).

Cons:
- The mouse has only 2 buttons plus the scroll wheel. Most of the newer high-end optical mice have more programmable buttons.
- The keyboard is not a true ergonomic keyboard (despite the "comfort" label). Although the layout is slightly curved, there is not much wrist angle reduction when typing.
- As others have noted, the F Lock key and the new and improved function keys are a serious step backwards to all of us used to working with the old function keys. For example, I am used to hitting F12 in some programs. Now, by default this is set as a "print" function. I've printed out more than a few pages accidentally.

Overall I am reasonably satisfied with the keyboard and mouse, but as with most Microsoft products, I think it will take a few iterations to get things really right.

Really good, if maybe not ergonomic enough
This is probably Microsoft's best-made Keyboard yet. It feels solid and steady, much more so than previous ones, and well-made. The Keys have great feedback and it looks and feels like a high-end peripheral. The 'faux leather' palm-rest works very well. The mouse unfortunately is not MS' high-end explorer, but the more simple optical mouse. It works well, but will leave some longing for the better contoured, button-rich explorer 3.0. The keyboard shape itself is a bit of a mixed bag, it feel like Microsoft tried to do everyone right, and missed it slightly either way: If you want a truly ergonomic board, don't get this; you can beat MS' own Optical Keyboard Pro (true ergo, and split). This is more akin to a more comfortable standard keyboard than something truly ergonomically styled. But, if that doesn't bother you, this is a good buy at a good price. Wireless works absolutely flawlessly, though the reach could be a tad bit farther.

Money Well Spent
I am a Mac guy. Full disclosure right up front. I dislike Microsoft for their less-than-honorable business practices. Still, my Logitech set-up mysteriously crapped out on me, and when you need a keyboard you tend to grab what is at hand. For me, that was this Microsoft Keyboard/ Mouse combo, the "Comfort" edition. Yeah, the fake leather wrist-rest cushion is a gimmick, but wow... it really does feel like leather. Soft as a baby's butt doesn't begin to cover it. It is really soft and really comfortable.

Ok, big deal - we have the comfort nailed, but what about function? So much in this world is style over substance, but Microsoft just flat-out has the function nailed, too. I can't speak to the Winders software, but if it is half as good as the software controlling the mouse and keyboard on the Mac, it will be almost perfect. Set up is a breeze for the half-way tech savvy, though if you read and follow the directions, I fail to see how anything can go wrong.

The mouse is smooooooooooooth. Like a fine single-malt scotch or satin sheets, there really isn't a way to adequately describe this mouse; you just have to experience it for yourself. This mouse just exudes quality. Buckets of it. It's as if this mouse is crafted from a solid piece of metal. You know it's not - your eyes tell you that. Your sense of touch tells you that. Yet... it glides on the desktop almost like it is floating on a cushion of air. The scroll wheel doesn't click as it spins, it is just home-made vanilla ice cream smoooooooth. And the side scrolling feature that lets you scroll right and left is very cool, and very useful when surfing the web.

The "Killer App" here is the software. The smart scrolling and intellipoint software are just so blamed... intuitive. It doesn't get in your way, it works almost as an extension of your brain. It speeds the mouse and the scrolling at just the right speeds, all the time, every time. It is spooky, it is that good. When you flick the mouse to send the pointer across the screen, the pointer takes off like a bat out of hell, and then slows and stops precisely where you tell it to go. It is like it can read your mind.

BOTTOM LINE TIME : As a Mac guy, I have no love of anything Microsoft. Still, credit is due, and this is the best wireless combo mouse/keyboard I have ever owned. Logitech had better pay attention, because Microsoft is going to eat their lunch if Logitech isn't careful. Buying this combo is money very well spent, and in my opinon this is the best wireless combo I have ever owned, bar none.