Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Elite 

Regular readers will know that in September I reviewed a Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse and very successful it was too. I even installed and used it on a brand new PC and true to the blurb on the box it even worked before the extensive software was installed.

However when I removed that mouse and a standard corded keyboard and attached the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Elite which is a keyboard and mouse set things did not work out as well.

One problem I did not face was the old ‘Keyboard Error press F2 to continue’ however neither the mouse or keyboard were useable. Returning to the documentation it says you may need to change channels on the keyboard and mouse. Eventually I got a response out of the keyboard. At this point I decided to reboot as the instructions clearly say only one item can be set up at one time. After shutting down using the keyboard - how many remember their ALT key sequences? I then restarted and after a few more problems got the mouse to respond.

I have to say since then - nearly a month ago - both the mouse and keyboard have worked flawlessly.

I have set up wireless mouse and keyboard combinations before and do not remember any previous memorable problems.

Installing the software was rather easier than I expected, the mouse used the same software as the previous rodent and the installer was intelligent enough to know it was there and only allowed me to install the software for the keyboard. Total hard disc space required 65MB for both mouse and keyboard.

The mouse works in exactly the same way as the Wireless Optical offering previously reviewed, the new feature allowing side to side scrolling is also available and I am beginning to remember it is there.

The keyboard has a total of 128 keys and there is also a function key lock given you another 14 extra functions. So some may say it has 142 keys but that would count the function keys twice.

Perhaps if you stopped before performing any non 102 key keyboard tasks you could save some time but if like me you use several different keyboards this advantage would – sods law - always be only available on a different keyboard.

There is a very nice leather effect padded wrist rest in front of the keyboard and it should certainly help to negate the effects of RSI. Above the function keys are a row of 19 keys with the five leftmost easily setup for your own choices. Perhaps the one item that will get most used by ambidextrous or left handed people is a scroll wheel on the left side of the keyboard this works exactly the same as the scroll wheel on the mouse and it even has the side to side movement available in the mouse.

I think to be convinced I would have to use the keyboard and mouse for a long period – several months – and perhaps through a KVM switch so that both computers have the same setup. I am left handed but have the advantage that I am quite happy to use a mouse with either hand as my normal set up has the right hand computer with the mouse on the right and left hand computer has the mouse on the left. I therefore soon got used to the keyboard scroll wheel but I not so sure a right handed person would use it.

The price is not so funny at a penny short of £100 so it would certainly have to be a buy for a gadget enthusiast. However I find that DABS have it available at a far more reasonable £69, so perhaps – assuming my installation problems were a one off – it is a Christmas present for a gadget person.

Link http://www.microsoft.com/uk/keyboard