Microsoft’s Wireless Optical Desktop Elite keyboard-and-mouse combo isn’t nearly as awe inspiring as Logitech’s DiNovo Media Desktop, but with tons of programmable options, a horizontal scroll wheel and significant improvements in battery life, it’s well suited for work and play. Plus, at £99.99 (inc. VAT), you could almost buy two Elite packages for every DiNovo.
Based on RF technology, the black-and-grey Desktop Elite is easy to set up: simply install the IntelliPoint software from the included disc, hook up the wireless receiver and connect the mouse and keyboard. The simple software allows you to customise the mouse buttons and reassign the keyboard’s multitude of specialty keys, which lie along the top of the keyboard. Alternatively, you can program these keys to open everything from programs to individual documents simply by holding the key down for several seconds over the page you want to assign them to. Other specialised keys include ones for controlling music playback, pulling up the Windows calculator, logging off the current user and putting your PC to sleep. On the keyboard’s far left, you’ll find a built-in scroll wheel and Back and Forward buttons for Internet surfing. Like the mouse’s scroll wheel, this one can navigate pages both horizontally and vertically -- an especially useful trick for ultra-wide Excel spreadsheets. The Elite’s keyboard is far less shallow than the DiNovo’s and offers an equally excellent (although very different) typing experience. In our tests, keys felt springy and made a satisfying clicking noise. The built-in wrist pad, covered with nice, fake-leather material, brings a bit of luxury to play. Our only complaint is that the keyboard seems to catch and reveal dust and grime more than competing models do. As for the IntelliMouse Explorer, the device is formed to fit perfectly under your right hand, and it has the five buttons we require from a higher-end mouse; however, it’s missing the DiNovo mouse’s button for cycling through open programs, as well as buttons for quickly moving up and down pages. The horizontal- and vertical-scrolling wheel worked well, although we didn’t appreciate its cushy, gelatinous feel. The Optical Desktop Elite’s biggest claim to fame is Microsoft’s recent innovations in battery life. The company claims that the mouse and keyboard can last a whopping six months on just two standard AA batteries and three months on just one battery. Although we haven’t tested the devices for a full six-month cycle yet, they’re still going strong after more than three months.Images
Member reviews
Firmly aimed at business users, the mouse wheel is a radical redesign. The side-to-side action seems like a good idea on paper but it's actually quite difficult to do, try wiggling your own index finger side to side.
The wake up time of the mouse is quite noticable, as opposed to Logitech wireless units. It will go to sleep and even the wheel wont work, until you wiggle the mouse. That combined with the soft click-less wheel makes the mouse virtually useless for games. Oh and the side to side buttons wont map to anything either.
Good looking and good quality desktop, marred by Microsoft's rapidly reversal from games. They seem almost to have given up and left that to Logitech, which is a shame since their keyboards are better than Logitech's in my view.
- 6.50 out of 10
6.50 out of 10Side-to-side scrolling is great, wireless, lots of programmable buttons, relatively inexpensive!
- 9.00 out of 10
9.00 out of 10Media key does not work with iTunes software. Windows XP locked up and function keys would not respond. Had to terminate two processes for windows XP to shut down. Ended up re-installing software.
- 7.00 out of 10
7.00 out of 10A very good keyboard. The scrolling especially feels very smooth and oozes with quality. However, I wish it was better value for money.
- 8.50 out of 10
8.50 out of 10I found this to be an extremely useful package, and at just over £60, very good value for money considering the technology involved.
Despite reports that the mouse is no good for gaming, I found that the mouse performed as well, if not better than a standard mouse. Top kit!
- 10.00 out of 10
10.00 out of 10This is my second set of Microsoft Wireless keyboards. I am going to get another Wireless Elite set for my other PC... For $99 this is one of Microsoft's best ideas :-)
- 10.00 out of 10
10.00 out of 10...and less than £59 on Amazon
- 9.50 out of 10
9.50 out of 10I got this as a Christmas present and I love it. The keys are quiet, the mouse clicks are quiet and the features are great. We'll see how the battery life goes though. The last time I had one, the battery life was terrible.
- 9.00 out of 10
9.00 out of 10- 10.00 out of 10
10.00 out of 10