We used the Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 on our primary test system for two months before writing this review, just to make sure we had a good grasp of its real-world performance. In our case, the initial install went smoothly, the wireless mouse and keyboard worked perfectly upon boot, and allowed pre-Windows access to the BIOS and setup options. We had no real problems using the mouse for standard Windows and office tasks, and the response and precision were a definite improvement over prior optical models. We tested it in our rigorous pixel-level precision test, and it passed with flying colors.
In terms of overall gaming performance, the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is an excellent product, with the usual Microsoft caveat of a non-clicking mouse wheel, which does bother some people. The overall aesthetics, comfort and functionality ratings are quite high, and overall, it is the best Microsoft mouse we've used. While not at the performance level of the ultra high-end "gaming grade" Logitech products, the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is nonetheless a very impressive controller.
The keyboard was a bit tougher to configure, as initially, we had trouble achieving the proper signal, and the keyboard exhibited some missed keystrokes and locking from time to time. A quick troubleshoot proved this to be a transmission issue, and positioning the receiver in a few different spots resulted in much better keyboard performance. This is still a potential issue, as at one point, shifting the receiver hub a few inches improved the signal rate immensely. For office tasks, the Wireless Comfort Keyboard can be very easy to type on, and acclimation times are much lower than with the more radical Natural keyboard format. The lack of a "click" sound when hitting the keys is something many will need to get used to, and the keyboard itself lacks that tactile feel of higher-end models.
The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 sells in the $70-$80 range online, which puts it in the same range as the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3000, and significantly lower priced than the $110-$115 Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3100. In this price range, we prefer the Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 to the Logitech MX3000, but it does not compare against the higher-priced Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3100. There is also a $10 mail-in rebate on this model (from qualified retailers - good until March 25), that helps bring the price down a bit.
* Please note that these prices were taken at the time of review and are not meant to reflect long-term trends.
Microsoft has made some definite improvements to their wireless desktop line, and the inclusion of laser technology to their mouse controllers is a nice touch. The Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 shows off the capabilities of the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, including enhanced tracking, better responsiveness, and higher precision. The Wireless Comfort Keyboard is certainly an adequate match to a standard desktop, but it is still not at the same level as the mouse. Overall, this is nice wireless desktop for home entertainment and office buyers, while gamers will definitely get some mileage out of the laser mouse.
