Microsoft recently sent us the Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 combo package. There are settings for switching the Windows Control and Alt button positions to match the Mac OS Command and Option keys, but they are not working under El Capitan.The Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000, with revolutionary BlueTrack Technology, works more places than ever before, including on granite countertops, carpets - even on a wood table or a rough, unfinished park bench. I've been using a Wireless Comfort Keyboard 5000 for a few years with my MacBook Pro setup, and I just migrated to a newer MacBook Pro with OS X El Capitan running.There are also media controls to play, pause, and navigate tracks. The entire top row is dedicated to some special features: there’s a key to launch the default web browser, email client, and media player. Unlike most keyboards, Microsoft’s keyboard has plenty of extra functionality that you wouldn’t normally see.I also had a major issue with the layout of the Function Keys row. Plus, due to the soft-click, it’s hard to tell if you’ve pressed them hard enough. These keys are large and easy to press, but are slightly unresponsive at times. An additional favorite key can be customized to launch any application. The Keyboard also sports 5 keys that launch the first 5 respective items in the Windows 7 taskbar. A Documents and Pictures folder launcher and Zoom -/+ controls are thrown in too.Even the Escape Key (Esc) fell into the same mess. They are tiny nudges that are difficult to reach since they are recessed. Microsoft made the regrettable decision to make these keys smaller than the standard keys found on the keyboard.
Microsoft Wireless Comfort Keyboard 5000 Mac OS CommandOverall, there are plenty of features that you probably didn’t have on your old keyboard. Other than that, there’s a fairly standard numeric keypad on the side along with a button to launch the Calculator application above it. But the Windows key is mapped to the Command key, so its in the wrong place for a Mac.I was also glad to see the inclusion of hot-key labels such as WIN+D for showing the desktop and WIN+L for locking the desktop. Free image editor for osxThe main keys are comfortable to type with: they are quiet and have a soft click. They looks great when they first come out of the box, but soon begin to attract fingerprints, grease, and dust. The edges and specialty keys are all glossy. It’s sleek, well designed, and looks professional. The biggest quirk was the size of the Function Keys row which will hopefully get resolved in a future iteration.My initial impression from removing it from the packaging was how good it looked. There are extra wedges included that attach to the rear of the keyboard for elevation. The large palm rest offers an excellent grip as well. It even has a slight inward depth to cater to the curvature of your hands. This keyboard is curved 6 degrees and has stretched keys. Unlike regular keyboards that have flat horizontal keys, Microsoft has taken a ergonomic approach. No extra configuration was required. Once plugged in, all the keys work right out of the box. It sports a standard left/right click, back/forward buttons, and a four-way scroll wheel which doubles as a middle click. Asides from that, this keyboard simply looks great and is comfortable.This 5-button mouse has all the goods. They are too small and difficult to use. The size of the Function Keys once again add a drawback to comfort. It works on most surfaces unlike the average mouse, but still isn’t as great as the Logitech VX Anywhere which uses the Darkfield technology to work even on glass. The new BlueTrack technology on the other hand is quite accurate, precise, and responsive. The side-scroll was the only part of the entire scroll wheel I liked. When middle-clicking, you end up accidentally scrolling up or down and missing the target. It’s a bit of a messy design since it doesn’t work too well for either precision scrolling or for fast movements. It has a constant slow friction. Other than that, this has all the essential features needed to make a great mouse.While the features might be there, there are other issues this mouse faces. It rather sticks out making it bulky, especially since it won’t sit stable on a flat surface. But I was once again disappointed to find that the USB receiver didn’t attach into the device flush. As mentioned before, the middle click is quite difficult to use due to causing accidental scrolling. They are responsive and offer a great tactile feedback. Fortunately, the most important buttons, left and right click, feel great to use. The dirt makes the surface of the mouse feel textured and it feels like it always needs constantly needs cleaning. The entire unit begins to look rather disgusting as it gets covered with fingerprints and dust. This a horrible idea for a mouse. Since they are sensitive, accidental bump can result in jumping back a page, which isn’t a good thing if you’re filling out a form or writing a comment on a web page. Plus, they are a bit too soft and don’t offer nearly enough of a physical click. While they are in a good location, the keys are too narrow. For the average person looking for a wireless mouse and keyboard combo, you can’t go wrong with this. While I feel that Logitech’s competing products might offer more features, they also cost nearly twice as much. Considering that this entire package is available for $67, it’s actually a fairly good deal. Most of it was comfort issues with sizes of keys and material used in the design. While I was a bit rough on this product, I’ve got to say that there wasn’t anything per say that didn’t work. The device worked from up to 30 feet away, which is great if for home theater setups.
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