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Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 (Light Silver)
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2 new or used available from $198.99
Average customer review:
Product Description
The Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is the ultimate rechargeable keyboard and mouse for Windows Vista and PC entertainment. Designed to make it easier than ever to control PC media from your desk, your lap - or even from the comfort of your couch.
Product Details
- Color: Light Silver
- Brand: Microsoft
- Model: 69Y-00001
- Platform: Windows
- Format: CD
- Dimensions: 5.90 pounds
Features
- 2.4 GHz Bluetooth Technology - Connect wirelessly right out of the box with First Connect Technology for up to 30 feet with virtually no interference
- Battery Status Indicator - Know when power is low and battery life is running out
- 4 USB Ports - Flexibility to download images from your digital camera or plug in your thumb drive or other USB device, right from your desktop
- Rechargeable Mouse - A battery status indicator flashes when batteries need recharging
- 4-Way Scrolling - Scroll four ways for greater efficiency and comfort with Tilt Wheel Technology
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description The ultimate rechargeable keyboard and mouse for Windows Vista and PC entertainment, the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is designed to make it easier than ever to control PC media from your desk, your lap--or even from the comfort of your couch.
Desktop Features
The Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is the first ever rechargeable mouse and backlit keyboard solution. Microsoft's exclusive charging hub allows you to recharge both the mouse and keyboard in one easy-to-use place.
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 A charging hub attaches to the keyboard when needed and allows you to recharge both the keyboard and mouse. |
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Integrated USB ports in the charging station give you the flexibility to download images from your digital camera or plug in your thumb drive or other USB device--right from your desktop. You'll also appreciate intelligent backlighting on the keyboard, which comes on automatically when you approach the keyboard and turns off when you're away. Backlit keys only glow when the lights are low, saving valuable battery life.
Mouse Features
The sleek, symmetrical design of the mouse features an authentic brushed aluminum that feels as good as it looks. Meanwhile, 4-way scrolling lets you scroll four ways for greater efficiency and comfort with tilt wheel technology. You'll also enjoy high definition laser technology; Microsoft high definition laser mouse products are more precise, more responsive, and deliver smoother tracking.
Too many open items on your desktop? Click the scroll wheel button to instantly display your open windows, then point and click to select. You can also point and click to enlarge and edit detail using the Magnifier.
Keyboard Features
In addition to intelligent backlighting, the keyboard features a navigation pad that lets you command your PC from your lap or the comfort of your sofa with integrated cursor control. The keyboard lets you place your hands naturally and work comfortably using a distinctive and ergonomist-approved "Comfort Curve" design with quiet touch keys. The sleek design of the keyboard reduces clutter on your desk, fits on your lap, and complements your flat screen monitor
There's also a Windows Start button; press it to launch your Start menu and search your PC or the Web if you have Windows Vista installed. Meanwhile, you can use the Windows Live call button to access your Windows Live Messenger buddy list; then select an Online Contact and start a video conversation. Use the Windows Gadgets button to gain one-touch access to gadgets such as weather information, news updates, traffic maps and slide shows of online photo albums.
Media Controls allow you to easily navigate to your next track, previous track, play, pause and volume control, while the Windows Media Center start button gives you instant access to your digital media. Lastly, you can access the folders, files, and Web pages you use most with one-touch "My Favorites" Keys.
What's in the Box
From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer
Overview:
| The Ultimate Rechargeable Keyboard and Mouse for Windows Vista™ and PC Entertainment This sleek desktop set delivers 2.4-GHz Bluetooth® wireless performance, High Definition Laser Technology, on and off disk navigation, a USB hub — and much more. Designed to make it easier than ever to control PC media from your desk, your lap–or even from the comfort of your couch. |  |
Features:
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| Rechargeable Keyboard and Mouse The exclusive charging hub conveniently recharges the keyboard and mouse - and even provides an additional 4 USB ports. | Ultra-Thin Comfort Curve Design Place your hands naturally and work comfortably using the distinctive and ergonomist-approved comfort curve design with quiet touch keys. | Backlit Keyboard with Ambient Light Sensing Backlighting automatically adjusts depending upon the level of light in the room. | |||
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| 2.4-GHz Bluetooth Wireless With First Connect Technology, connect wirelessly right out of the box at a range of up to 30 feet with virtually no interference. Includes a mini Bluetooth transceiver. | Navigation Pad You’re in command with cursor control. Command your PC from your lap - or the comfort of your sofa. | High Definition Laser Mouse Technology More responsive at 1000dpi, more precise at 6000 FPS and 85 MOPS, and smoother tracking. |
Additional Keyboard Features:
Additional Mouse Features:
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System Requirements:
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Customer Reviews
4.5 Stars
After using this keyboard, I can say that it's almost perfect.
The nicest feature on this keyboard is the backlit keys. Every key and button is evenly lit in a soft white light. The backlight activates as soon as your hands get within about an inch of the keyboard. It dims, brightens, or shuts off depending on the light level of the room. You can also set it to never come on, or to go straight to maximum brightness once you begin using it, regardless of the light level. Plus it looks great.
The touch pad on the keyboard is more functional than you would think given its size, but it's no replacement for a mouse or even a normal laptop touchpad. It's more useful in the directional pad mode for controlling Media Center.
The included software (which had to be updated) caused my computer to hang a few times while I was installing it, and also forced me to install that annoying "Validation Tool" before I could download another update for the Bluetooth driver. You can probably skip this and just download the software update if you want, because it has no noticeable impact on performance.
The function keys on the top of the keyboard are touch-strips and not actual buttons. It definitely looks nice, but it's pretty easy to accidentally touch one and trigger it while you're trying to hit a number key, before you get used to the layout. That being said, you'll get used to the layout pretty fast coming from a normal keyboard. It's ergonomic and comfortable without being too much of a shock. The biggest changes are that there is no number pad, and the Windows key is now in the bottom center of the keyboard with a "function" key is in its place.
The mouse that comes with the keyboard is the Wireless Laser Mouse 8000. It works well enough and is very accurate. The scroll wheel is the smooth scrolling type, so there's no real tactile feedback when you scroll. At first I didn't like it, but now I actually like it better than a normal scroll wheel. It has an "accelerated scrolling" feature that allows you to scroll rapidly or very slowly depending on how fast you spin the wheel. The side buttons are in strange (uncomfortable) locations though.
As far as wireless performance goes, there is no lag from either the mouse or the keyboard. The mouse takes about half a second to wake up if you haven't used it for a few minutes, but the keyboard has a proximity sensor so it will normally wake up before you even touch it. Neither the mouse nor the keyboard have dropped their connections once.
If there's one thing I really didn't like, it's that the documentation that came with the keyboard is pretty sparse. It comes with a quick start guide, and a "manual" that reads more like an advertisement. The manual also gives you a link to go to in order to "learn more" about the keyboard, but the link just sends you to a flash version of the same advertisement-like manual you just read.
Aside from a few minor flaws, this keyboard and mouse set is excellent. I would definitely recommend it, especially to anyone who uses Media Center on a HTPC, because this is where it's features really shine.
Just what I was looking for
I've had mine for 10 days and it's just what I was looking for. It's not a gaming keyboard and there's no numeric keypad, but this should be clear from all the information readily available.
To understand why I waited all year for this to be released, I need to say something about my room setup. First, there's no ceiling light; there are 2 lamps and they are situated on the opposite wall. The room is large and light from those lamps barely illuminates the computer desk. For a long time I've resorted to a Kensington USB FlyLight to view the keys on my keyboard.
For this reason alone backlighting was the Number One priority on my keyboard shopping list. Early this year I read about the 8000 on Gizmodo and to my surprise Microsoft had not only added backlighting, but everything else:
1) Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
2) Proximity sensor to preserve battery life particularly with backlighting turned on.
3) Ambient light sensor.
4) Slightly curved ergonomic design (better than the 'wave' in my opinion).
5) A well thought-out charging cradle into which both the keyboard and mouse can be stylighly plugged in at the same time.
6) A USB Bluetooth Dongle that plugs into a USB port on the charging cradle; the cradle plugs into your computer via USB 2.0.
7) They even threw in an extra USB port on the charging cradle!
The keyboard also has the usual gamut of multimedia and special function keys, and there's no issue with wake-from-sleep for me! The keyboard buffers your keystrokes and all of them appear on the computer after a second or two (again, this is for wake-from-sleep).
However, nothing is perfect and there are a few ways Microsoft can improve the product:
1. The plastic housing is lightweight and reasonably sturdy, but not as rigid as Apple's new aluminum keyboard. If build quality is important to you, I would rate this as 8.0 whereas Apple's would be a 9.5.
2. The Esc, Home, and End keys are not full keys, but thin horizontal lines. It takes a little time to acclimate one's fingering to these oft-used keys. They don't press down so there's no tactile feedback; you just have to watch the screen for assurance that the key was pressed.
3. The 4 arrow keys are narrower than usual and again require a little patience and practice.
4. I had a little trouble with the Bluetooth setup wizard. I consider myself a power user (with a lot of previous experience in pairing Bluetooth devices), but there were some initial pairing pains with the mouse. After a couple of reboots and reconnection attempts (holding down the 'connect' button on the cradle and keyboard/mouse) everything connected properly and since then has remained perfectly stable.
5. The documentation is entirely online in the form of the old non-browser-based Help dialog. There are various blinking lights on the mouse and keyboard, in both red and green. If you want to know what they mean (for example, to know when the battery is fully charged), you have no choice but to find the answer buried in the online Help.
Despite these shortcomings, I am extremely satisfied with this product despite its price. The backlighting is a godsend.
Great wireless keyboard, with very good range
I have this keyboard hooked up to a HP Pavailion HTPC to watch on a 61" Samsung DLP HDTV. My goal was to control the HTPC from anywhere in the home theater room (basement). As a bonus, I wanted to control the PC from my living room (directly above the home theater room), as the HTPC will eventually feed other TVs from the single HTPC via video distribution.
Range:
I was surprised at the range of the keyboard and mouse. They work flawlessly in the home theater room. I tested from 25'+ away from the PC, with the Bluetooth adapter plugged into the back of the PC. No delays or missed keystrokes. I tested the keyboard from other rooms (created a new doc and walked around the house typing sentences). It worked through multiple walls and through the basement ceiling into the main level living room. I finally lost signal about 25' back and 12' up (main level kitchen). The keyboard will work well beyond the range that you can actually see what you are doing on the screen.
Look/feel:
Beautiful keyboard. The back light is very well done. It wakes up when you approach. It has a very nice feel to it. I am getting used to the ergo keyboard, but that will come with time like any new keyboard. The touchpad mouse on the keyboard is fine for short term use, but I prefer the wireless mouse that came with the keyboard. The wireless mouse has a very nice heavy feel to it and has multiple buttons that can be configured.
The only problem I had was when my HTPC turned off the USB ports for power saving, which was set by default. I could not get the mouse or keyboard to work without a reboot or hooking up a hard wired keyboard to run the keyboard setup again. I initially blamed the MS keyboard/mouse, until I dug a little deeper. I found that the HP's standard power setting turns off the USB ports after a certain time of inactivity. I changed the power setting to 'high performance' and changed the USB power settings to never go to sleep. No issues sense.
As others have said, the lack of a separate keypad may be a deal killer for some. The keyboard has a keypad in the middle of the keyboard that can be accessed by clicking the function button. Not perfect, but for light use it works ok. The use of a keypad is not a big deal for a HTPC.
This is a expensive keyboard. Amazon has the best price on it. If you can get over paying $235 for a keyboard/mouse, you should be very pleased with it. I would buy it again, if I had to do it over again. It beat my expectations, which were very high to begin with.
