Why You Can Trust CNET Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth review: Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth
A wireless command center for your PC, this Bluetooth combo might be too much keyboard for the average user.
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Bluetooth keyboards and mice have long taken a backseat to their radio frequency-based (RF) cord-free brethren. Microsoft's $149 Optical Desktop Elite for Bluetooth, however, makes a solid case for ditching that big RF receiver on your desk once and for all. Connected to your computer wirelessly via an inch-long USB dongle, this keyboard and mouse combo is loaded with programmable features, tilt-wheel scrolling on both components, and consistent reception. All of this functionality may be too much for someone who's just looking to go wireless, though, and the keyboard's size doesn't lend itself to cramped work areas.
Installation can be a bit tricky, so following the included Getting Started booklet is a must. Adding Bluetooth to your PC is as simple as inserting the bundled USB transceiver dongle into a vacant port, but unlike with RF wireless devices, pairing the keyboard and mouse with your system calls for a little more effort. You'll need to navigate the multistep setup software and maintain your calm if it takes a couple of tries to recognize all of the devices. And before you get started, you'll need to download Windows XP with Service Pack 2 if you haven't already; SP2 is required for this keyboard and mouse set.
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The keyboard is quite massive, measuring about 20 by 10.5 by 1.5 inches (HWD). Powered by three AA batteries, the keyboard also has an extensive set of quick-launch keys that you can easily customize through the software. Reassign them at will to open programs, files, Web pages, or shortcuts. The translucent-blue keys are well spaced with a nice spring to them--and little clacking. On the left edge, a tilt scrollwheel helps you navigate pages both horizontally and vertically, though its spongy feel might turn you off. Above the wheel, there are useful Back and Forward buttons. A comfortable, padded wrist rest is built into the keyboard, providing a much better cushion than the plastic ones you'll find on other keyboards.
The optical IntelliMouse Explorer is perfectly shaped for right-handed users and features the same tilt wheel as the keyboard. Back and Forward buttons are located by the thumb, but with no space between them, accidentally hitting the wrong one isn't hard. We found the mouse to be precise and responsive during testing. Microsoft claims six months of battery life on two AA batteries or three months on one.
Going with Bluetooth over a standard RF desktop set also gives you the benefit of the former's improved range. While RF devices lose their connection within a few feet of the receiver, Bluetooth stays connected up to 30 feet away. Also, the transceiver allows you to connect up to five more Bluetooth-enabled devices--a Pocket PC, a cell phone, a printer, or other PCs--wirelessly to your computer.