X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 review: Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

Unless you desperately need a full-sized keyboard covered in silver to match your decor, we'd suggest you pass on the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, and go for one of the cheaper options.

Craig Simms Special to CNET News
Craig was sucked into the endless vortex of tech at an early age, only to be spat back out babbling things like "phase-locked-loop crystal oscillators!". Mostly this receives a pat on the head from the listener, followed closely by a question about what laptop they should buy.
Craig Simms
4 min read

Design & Features
The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 is intended for use with media centre PCs, and looks a lot like its predecessor the 7000 — same curved boomerang-esque, flat keyboard; same mouse; even the same layout on the keyboard, including the tiny trackpad on the top right-hand corner that can be switched to a mode that emulates arrow keys.

7.0

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

The Good

High quality build. Backlit. Light, yet rugged. Rechargeable.

The Bad

Far, far too expensive. Some may have trouble finding somewhere to put the rechargeable dock, considering the over/under arrangement. Mouse heats up when charging.

The Bottom Line

Unless you desperately need a full-sized keyboard covered in silver to match your decor, we'd suggest you pass on the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, and go for one of the cheaper options.

It still has the left and right mouse buttons on the left-hand side, the Windows Start button at the bottom, and the Windows Media Center button at the right. The function, Esc, Print Screen, Break, Home and End keys are still touch buttons, and you don't want to grab these by mistake when picking the keyboard up, lest you accidentally open a million and one windows you never wanted to. All the functions have a shifted function, enabled by the Fn key, which opens up five shortcut keys, Insert, Scroll lock, and five customisable keys.

Finally on the left is a magnifier button, shortcut for gadgets, volume, channel and media controls, while on the right is a back button for your browsing ease.

A few things have changed: the 8000 now has large amounts of silver splashed around liberally, and the darker areas that were on the 7000 are now gunmetal grey. The rechargeable dock that used to be just for the mouse now charges the keyboard as well, and acts as a four-port USB hub, which generally puts you in mind of an aircraft carrier, with the mouse looking like a helicopter when docked on top. The keyboard slides underneath to charge, and while it's a nifty idea, it also makes the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 the first keyboard bundle we're aware of that also comes with a power brick; the USB connection apparently not enough to haul recharging duties. A USB Bluetooth dongle is included to connect to your computer, and can be neatly tucked under the charging station in the fourth, recessed USB port.

The 8000's ace in the hole though is backlighting, allowing you to see the keys in the dark, perfect for when watching a movie. This shouldn't drain too much unnecessary power either, as the keyboard knows when you're near, actively turning the lights off when you're no longer using it. It also adjusts the brightness on the fly, depending on the light level of the room. If you're power-frugal, you can simply turn the intensity all the way down through a keyboard shortcut.

Although it's light, the 8000 feels solid, and would certainly survive a bash in the lounge room, even if kids were involved.

Performance
After getting used to the curvature in the keyboard, we found that typing was pleasant, the key action being soft yet not impeding speed typing. The trackpad built into the keyboard wasn't amazing, but considering its minimal use in media centre PCs is passable — its arrow mode was much more useful.

Working in an area with minimal cross-talk the five button mouse performed fine, although never as smooth or accurate as a corded one. Things weren't so great in a busy office environment — while the press release claims "Virtually no interference" and that the frequency "hops" to find a clear one, we found our mouse tended to lag horribly on occasion, rendering it almost unusable. This is likely a worst-case scenario, as the particular testing environment was quite crowded indeed. Those who like dents in their scroll wheel should also steer clear, as this one is a smooth scroller.

Six NiMH AA batteries are used to power the keyboard and mouse in total, and are included in the pack. Which is nice, because this entire package retails for AU$449.95.

What? Back that truck up.

A four-hundred-and-fifty-dollar keyboard. Well we'll never. Fortunately this is only the RRP, and the 8000 can be found (with some judicious searching of staticICE) for between AU$250 and AU$350 — but it's still far, far too much for what is ostensibly a media centre keyboard, and you'd be much better pouring that extra cash into something like a BD-ROM. Its predecessor can be found easily for AU$200 these days, as can the Logitech DiNovo Edge. An even better solution though is the small and remote-like Logitech DiNovo Mini, which can be found for around AU$135 at the time of writing.

Unless you desperately need a full-sized keyboard covered in silver to match your decor, we'd suggest you pass on the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, and go for one of the cheaper options.