Product Details

• Color: Metallic Gray
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: 69K-00001
• Platform: Windows
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 3.50" h x 9.60" w x 9.40" l, 1.47 pounds

Features

• High-definition laser technology offers precision 4-way scrolling
• Click the scroll wheel button to activate the handy, built-in Instant Viewer
• The Magnifier enlarges text and digital imagery to fine-tune detailed tasks
• Battery life indicator glows red when the mouse battery is running low
• Mouse offers unmatched ergonomic design that conforms to your hand

Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description When you place your hand on the Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 for the first time, you'll wonder how you've ever managed without it. Offering an unmatched package of ergonomic design, accuracy, style, and advanced features, this mouse is designed to conform to your hand in its most relaxed position. This breakthrough design with a tilted, elevated hand position is designed to reduce pressure the carpal tunnel and wrist, and it will give you the comfort and performance that you deserve.

The Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is ergonomically designed to conform to your hand in its most relaxed position and is loaded with advanced features.

The battery-life indicator warns you when the battery is running low.

Smooth 4-Way Scrolling
Featuring high-definition laser technology, the Microsoft 69K-00001 offers laser precision as you scroll through your files. Smoother tracking means less strain on your hands and wrists, and higher responsiveness means you'll quickly notice an increase in your productivity. The mouse also offers four-way scrolling, adding even greater efficiency and comfort to your work. The entire scroll wheel tilts from side-to-side and reacts to how quickly you roll the wheel for smooth, accurate maneuverability. For example, imagine yourself working with a super-wide spreadsheet loaded with data. With the Laser Mouse 6000 you can tilt the wheel from side-to-side to scroll right and left without having to click-and-drag the application's tiny scroll bar or arrows. And if your desktop is cluttered with too many items to find what you're looking for, don't fret. This mouse has a built-in Instant Viewer -- just click the scroll wheel button to display your open windows, then point and click to select.

The Magnifier
If you work with loads of digital imagery, you'll love the mouse's magnification feature. With this feature, it appears that you have a magnifying glass pressed against the screen. With a simple press-and-hold motion, the Magnifier enlarges the area of your screen that fits inside the lens. You can easily adjust both the size of the lens and the level of magnification. So when it's time to touch-up photos or fine-tune detailed tasks, the Magnifier will quickly become your best friend. (The magnifier works with most programs, but it is not compatible with Direct 3D API in full-screen mode, media players, OpenGL, or Layered Windows. Also, if you're using Mac OS X, the Magnifier enlarges text and images on the entire screen.)

Battery Life
This mouse also features advanced Microsoft technologies that help prolong the life of your batteries, which means that you can spend more time working and less time running back and forth to the store. The 69K-00001 automatically enters standby mode when it's inactive for a set length of time, which minimizes unnecessary battery drain. In addition, the light in the mouse's optical sensor illuminates only as brightly as necessary to provide optimal tracking power. And although it is inevitable that your mouse will eventually run out of juice, the Laser Mouse 6000 comes equipped with a battery life indicator that warns you when the battery is running low.

As the name implies, this mouse is completely wireless, which means you'll never have to hassle with cords again. Loaded with five customizable buttons, you'll have quick access to the media, programs, and files you use most often right at your fingertips. The mouse's ergonomic design features soft rubber material and a shape that feels as natural as a handshake. With a sophisticated form, the Laser Mouse 6000 has a cutting-edge look that will complement today's latest technology. So if you work with a computer that runs Windows XP/2000, has an available USB port, and 45 MB of free hard disk space, the Microsoft 69K-00001 could be the mouse you've always wanted.

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer

Overview:

The Most Comfortable Mouse from Microsoft The Microsoft® Natural® Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 combines unprecedented comfort with the performance of High Definition Laser Technology. The innovative, ergonomic design uses soft-touch materials and maintains the hand in its relaxed and natural position, delivering hours of productive, strain-free computing — even promoting better posture! This stylish, 5-button wireless mouse also offers a Tilt Wheel for smooth 4-way scrolling, Instant Viewer to display all open windows at the touch of a button, and a Magnifier that makes it easy to enlarge and edit screen details.

Features:

Natural Grip Maintains hand in relaxed position that is tilted and elevated.		Innovative Ergonomic Design Pressure zone stays clear of carpal tunnel and wrist.		4-Way Scrolling Use the Tilt Wheel to easily and efficiently scroll side to side as well as up and down in worksheets, Web pages, photos, and more.
Magnifier Just point and press the Magnifier button to enlarge and edit details.*		Battery Status Indicator Flashes when batteries need replacement.**		Microsoft High Definition Laser Technology Two generations ahead of standard optical and laser mouse products.***

Additional Features: 5 Customizable Buttons - Reassign any button to get quick access to the media, programs, and files you use most often. Instant Viewer - Press down on the Tilt Wheel to instantly display all open windows on your screen, then point and click to select the one you want, or compare two of the windows. Wireless Freedom - Give yourself room to move—wireless mouse and keyboard products let you work without worrying about tangled wires.

* If you are using Mac OS X, the Magnifier enlarges text and images on the entire screen.
** Many users average more than six months of battery life.
*** Standard optical technology = mouse products with 0.35 microns or older CMOS technology.

System Requirements: Windows Vista®/Windows XP or Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 (SP4) 45MB free or Mac OS X v10.2–10.4X 15 MB free Powered USB port CD drive 2 AA alkaline batteries (included)

Customer Reviews

So far so good, mostly
Interestingly, I am in a very similar position to the earlier reviewer, but I have had somewhat different results, after my first day of owning this mouse. I too am something of a gadget guy, and I also have the Wireless Desktop 6000 from Microsoft (the first lighter gray color version however). While I like the keyboard from this desktop set just fine, over time I began to dislike the mouse that came with it for the following reasons:
- I used to use a Mouserug mouse pad and I found, strangely, that the laser mouse didn't track at all smoothly on this surface.
- The finish on the sides of the mouse began to look dirty and develop a very rough surface where my skin touched it after a short while.
- It wasn't ideal from a hand position perspective; I would somtimes develop pain at the base of my thumb after using it for a long time.

So, I had hopes that this mouse would solve these problems. Here's what I've found so far:
- The tracking seems identical to the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, that is, very good indeed on any surface except the Mouserug, where it still stinks. So, no change there.
- The side surfaces of the mouse are very different. The original 6000 laser mouse had a surface with a sort of "grippy" paint. This new mouse has thick rubbery plastic (clear on the left over the MS logo and black on the right) on the sides where you touch it that seems much more rugged than the old mouse. I suppose only time will tell how it stands up under repeated use but I'm guessing it will be much better.
- The hand position seems much better. It does take getting used to for sure. But I find that when I just let my hand relax and use the mouse as intended that it is extremely comfortable. Just be sure to follow the diagram included in the box and don't try to force your hand into a position you'd use with a "regular" mouse because then you'll have hand pain guaranteed.

The areas where my experience was different than the other reviewer are:
- My Wireless Desktop 6000 came with version 3.0A of the receiver and I found that it works just fine with this mouse. I did not need to use the receiver included with the mouse. (I'm using Windows XP, for the record.)
- The base of this mouse is indeed smaller than others but I haven't experienced the tipping and scraping at all. It seems to me you'd have to push like heck on the side of the mouse for that to happen.
- The scroll wheel does indeed feel set a little farther back, but I haven't found this to be a problem.

I have pretty big hands and I find that this mouse fits me well. But my wife has small hands and she was totally unable to use this mouse. So, if you've got medium to large hands you're probably OK, but if you have small hands I wouldn't recommend this at all.


****

Here's an update after a few months of use: I still like the mouse very much -- it's the most comfortable mouse I've ever used and I never get any hand pain anymore. So that's a huge plus. But the clear plastic surface on the left side of the mouse started to turn yellowish after a few weeks of use and now the surface is starting to disintegrate. (Why can't Microsoft come up with a comfortable surface that's durable too?) But to tell you the truth, the ergonomics of this mouse are so good that I plan to buy another one.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
* Positives:

This mouse helps prevent a pain in my wrist that I get when I use a standard mouse for an extended period of time. You grip this mouse at about a 45 degree angle, which is a much more normal angle for the wrist. It definitely helps me. This doesn't necessarily mean it will help you the same way, everyone's different, but it is certainly a much more natural angle for the wrist to be in for longer periods of time.

The mouse wheel of this mouse is the best I've ever used. It's effectively perfect for scrolling through web pages. Just the right speed and feel. There are no 'clicks' when you use it, but it still is precise enough to not need them, which surprised me, as my last mouse had the clicks and I was quite used to them. Scrolling is fantastic.

This mouse also has a sideways scrolling feature, if you need to scroll across wide spreadsheets or web pages. You can also reprogram this feature for other uses, if you don't need the horizontal scrolling. In fact, all the buttons are reprogrammable, not only globally, but per program.

* Neutrals:

The base of this mouse is notably narrower than the mouse itself, which while not a problem for me or my desk surface, might be for others. Something to consider.

The two thumb buttons on this mouse are way higher than any other mouse I've ever used or seen. You have to lift your thumb quite a bit to use them. I sometimes have to look at the mouse in order to find them.

Because the mouse takes 2 AA batteries, the mouse is quite heavy compared to a corded mouse. If your mouse surface is angled at all, this mouse may start to slide down it on its own.

Mouse click feel is average. It works. It's not great. Definitely not a gamer's mouse in terms of precision or feel. This may be a laser mouse, but it doesn't feel like it. I've tested it on various surfaces, from fabric to wood to glass to gaming mousepads, and the tracking is merely average - not better than my 4-year-old 'gaming' optical mouse. Nothing special here. In fact, probably slightly worse.

* Negatives:

The wireless receiver has almost no range. Like 2 feet max, with a direct line of sight. If you plan on putting the receiver where there might be stuff between it and the mouse - whether it be of wood, plastic, metal, or even a stack of paper - forget it, buy another mouse. The receiver practically has to be sitting on top of the mouse for it to work properly, and the receiver's USB cord is NOT long (maybe 4 ft) - so make sure after hooking up the receiver from your computer to your workdesk that it will still be within 2 feet direct-line-of-sight to the mouse.

A very odd aspect of this mouse is that it tracks slightly differently than any other mouse I've ever used. If you drag the mouse perfectly horizontally from left to right, the mouse will creep slightly lower as you move right. It's almost like the mouse needs a front-end alignment. So you will probably need to relearn how to drag this mouse in order to get the pointer to go where you want it to go. It's X / Y axis seem to be rotated about 15 degrees off from normal. Unfortunately, I've found no way to modify this in the software. Quite odd. Other people have mentioned it, and it is indeed true. It's unlikely this mouse will feel "familiar" to you as soon as you use it. The shape already takes some getting used to, but this additional tracking 'error' makes it quite a bizarre relearning experience.

* Final Verdict:

I'm keeping it because it helps with the wrist pain. I'm not loving it, though. If you really have serious wrist pain, this mouse might help you out. But that's about all it's going to do. Don't buy it for anything other than it's ergonomic features. If Logitech comes out with a mouse similar to this, I'll be buying that one quickly.

Disappointed
I had high hopes for this new natural mouse from Microsoft. I was using a Microsoft wireless laser 6000 mouse which frequently hurt my hand due to the uncomfortable angle forced on the wrist. Being an early adopter, I purchased this new "natural" mouse online before it was available in stores. Upon receiving, the first thing I was disapointed in was that it would not work with my existing wireless receiver from Microsoft. I have a very new wireless desktop 6000 v2.0 keyboard and mouse with a version 3.1 wireless receiver. This new natual mouse came with a version 1.0 receiver and seems to be required to communicate. I'm guessing they're shipping the older 1.0 receiver due to problems with the newer receiver and Windows Vista screen saver (a separate issue I won't go into here). After plugging in the 1.0 receiver (along with my 3.1 receiver required for my keyboard), the mouse came to life. I liked the angle of the mouse and the height - it's taller and puts your hand at a more comfortable angle. However, when using the mouse I noticed that it frequently wanted to tilt slightly to the left or right, causing the bottom edges to scrape slightly against my mouse pad. This scraping I'm sure is due to the increased height of the mouse and also the very small size of the base of the mouse. The mouse tapers down to a smaller size where it contacts the mouse pad. I also felt it wasn't quite long enough, putting the scroll wheel too far behind my finger tip (and I have fairly small hands). I think Microsoft's a step in the right direction with making a more ergonomic mouse, however I feel this mouse is just not right for me. I wish the base was larger so that it would remain flat during use and that it was a little longer. Better yet, it would be nice if they came in different sizes or maybe different interchangeable shells for different hand sizes. I would highly recommend that you try this mouse before purchasing.