MICROSOFT WIRELESS OPTICAL DESKTOP REVIEW

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Please post your questions here.

Review can be found here:

http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/microwire/

Pricing on this product can be found here:

http://tweaknews.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=948570/fd=1
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FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 2:42 pm Post subject:

very nice review but Logitech > Microsoft IMO :)

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject:

not side by side but i have used both, my friend has one and i used to use the Logitech MX Duo.

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

mojo1340 · UberTweaker Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 1022

I've always been impressed with the quality and value of MS input devices.

Josh · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:12 pm Post subject:

I have to aggree with nate and mojo on this one....many people go on about how much better logitech are than MS desktop products.

I have used both products many times...and apart from the fact logitech look alot nicer (and are overpriced), i still prefer the feel of the MS option. They operate alot easier and i havent had any problems with mine. I certainly wouldnt spend twice as much for a logitech.

Not putting anything bad on logitech...they make quality products, but when you put price to performance in the desktop range of products...i dont see anything wrong with MS. I have the previous version of the one reviewed (its a lighter colour) and for £30.....wow is all i can say, when my other option was a £80 logitech combo.

Good review too! ( i doubt you noticed it...as nor did i till it happened...but the feet on the keyboard are VERY flimsy...i broke one of mine by just flipping it out, it actually snapped in half

nothing a little glue can fix =P
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FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:47 pm Post subject:

well logitech mices are better quality and are better with DPI and response. i lvoe the elite keyboard yes its kinda flemsy but i like the key layout of the extra keys and i like the multimedia stuff.

Ham_fisT · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:50 pm Post subject:

I'm on the fence here..
I like MS keyboards, they have a very solid feel, but I have that same optical mouse 2.0, and I definately prefer Logitech mice in a side by side comparison.

Nice review, Jeff

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2old2care · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:45 pm Post subject:

I believe they both build good products....2y's MX510 mouse is superb...

BUT...in the wireless desktop end, MS is top's, I deal with both at work.
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

I actually have both, and I'm sortof on the fence as well. I definitely prefer the MX700 mouse, the "tilt wheel" seems to get in my way, so to speak. And I do find the Logitech keyboard to be more comfortable, for some reason. Dunno if it's just the angle, or what, but it just feels better.

Picking up the keyboard by one hand.........mine stays on my desk, so not a huge deal. My MS Natural keyboards creak and groan alot more.

Price-wise, the MX Duo is the same price as the MS deal, cheaper in some places, I only paid $75 for my Duo over a year ago.
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comdak · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:10 am Post subject:

As I wrote the review I was loving the desktop set provided by MS. Lemme put it this way, I hate Microsoft.. with a passion. To be compeltely honest if anyhting I am a Linux fanboy. That should prove my dislike for MS, but they make input devices extremely well.

I use a logitech wireless set on my main pc normally and the ONLY reason I chose not to switch to the MS one is because my girlfriend bought the logitech set for me. Thus I had to fork over the MS set to my mother who was in dire need of a new desktop set.. she was using one of the really old clunky "CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK" IBM PS2 Keyboards from like the 1800's.
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ultralightning · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

well m$ wireless keyboards are great.... but i've notice a wierd thing with them, which is when you type really fast, or playing games with it, it isn't able to hold key repeats too long. After you hold the key for a certain time, it just drops the signal, and the funny thing is it happens with fresh new batteries. Any suggestions?

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

ultralightning · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

nonono... when u play with this keyboard in half life 2 or need for speed it like loses the connection or something. For example i'm trying to drift in need for speed 2, and when the drift was good, and when i start to accelerate, and hold the key for acceleration, out of the blue the signal is lost, causing the car to deaccelerate, and this happens to both of my m$ wireless keyboards.. but not the wired editions.[/url]

comdak · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 11:50 am Post subject:

very odd indeed for that to be happening to you. I just happen to have a copy fo NFSU2 here and tested your theory.

After testing, I found no loss of signal at all.
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ultralightning · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

well are u running the latest intellitype/point drivers from m$. BTW this was tested on two types of systems, a Nforce 2 Ultra and a Intel 865 system, and both suffer the same problem. Although the mouse doesn't suffer from this problem whatsoever, which i find to be wierd. and the mouse/keyboard is basically the same distance apart, which is like bloody close. Any ideas into why something like this would occur? maybe defective units x2? or driver related issue?

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Do you have anything beween the reciever and the keyboard? I have problems with both the Logitech and the MS keyboards if I have a mic too close to the reciever. For example, if I have a B3 set up for voice-over recording on the desk, if it's within a foot of the reciever, the mouse will get squirrley, and the keyboard will do just what you described.

Any heavy magnetic interference or power interference will affect the signal.
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ultralightning · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

well the wierd thing is, it doesn't have anything obstructing the view of the signal, and there isn't anything blocking it. For normal typing, its pretty good, except once in awhile it loses a key. But for gaming it pretty much sucks.

comdak · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:

I was using the included Intellipoint and Intellitype software, version 5.0 (bout 3 or 4 months old) and didnt have the problem at all.
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ultralightning · TweakNOOB Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

at the moment i'm like wondering what could be causing this lost of signal or what.. maybe low keyboard buffer? defective unit?

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

It doesn't have to be in line to cause interference. Just putting it too near a monitor can cause key drops, putting a set of headphones next to it, etc. They're RF devices, so any electrical interference within 12" can cause a problem. Try putting the reciever under your desk, that might help. Get something solid in between it and your speakers/monitor/ power cords, etc.

For me, the only thing that's ever affected either wireless set was my studio condenser, when it was "turned on" (48v phantom power). The circuitry inside the mic has enough power to totally kill the mouse and screw with the keyboard. CRT's emit RF interference too, so if you have it too close to your monitor, that'll screw things up too. And, if you have a small radio on the desk, within a foot of the reciever, and turned on, you can almost guarantee that it'll mess things up.
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[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 10:54 am Post subject:

The only thing that has affected my set has been the power adapter for my laptop. If I set the adapter next to the receiver the mouse goes screwy but the keyboard still works fine (even though I have forgotten to install the MS software for the set)
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