Editorial Product Review:Item Description:Microsoft's most portable wireless notebook mouse connects directly to a Bluetooth PC without a transceiver, freeing up USB ports for other devices. Save time and effort with the scroll wheel?navigate documents and Web pages without using the on-screen scroll bar Work with less interruption with longer battery life Turn your 3-in-1 device off to extend battery life even longer Use the Back button to easily navigate between folders and Web pages, or press the wheel for auto-scroll Compact and comfortable, Microsoft's handy notebook and laptop products are designed for convenience and mobility System Requirements - Windows Vista, Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Mac OS X v.10.2.6 - 10.4.X
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Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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Easy to use
The mouse is easy to hold which is impressive with my large hands. The connection is responsive and the on/off switch is a battery saver. I am very pleased with the product and use it under both XP and Linux.
Customer Rating: -
Bluetooth laser notebook mouse
With the click of a thumb it moves back when browsing! It's small and the movements are precise and proportionate to the space available to a notebook - and yes, you can "run" it on your leg if space demands. And, no wire to get in the way. What's not to like?
Customer Rating: -
Flawless Execution. No connectivity issues. Bluetooth works!!
Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
OS Environments evaluated: XP Home, MCE, and Pro. Vista Home Premium.
Bluetooth Radios used: Dell Wireless 350, Dell Wireless 370, Broadcom (all 2.0 + EDR or 2.1 + EDR)
I never looked at Bluetooth devices or technology until I learned that a Bluetooth mouse does not need an external transceiver like other RF wireless mice. I read plenty of horror stories about Bluetooth being a failure, etc... I bought two of the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mice and used them on a variety of Dell laptops. They go to sleep after 10-15 minutes and take 1-2 seconds to wake up. If it takes longer, you need to change your Bluetooth driver stack and application. I had trouble with my Toshiba Bluetooth (Dell Inspiron E1505/6400) stack sucking up CPU cycles in XP (30%-80% constant) and I experimented for awhile only to end up removing it and using the default Microsoft BT enumerator (which uses up no additional memory and works flawlessly). The BT mice stay on and the IR laser does not appear to use up a lot of power. I make it a habit to use NiMH rechargeable cells for my wireless devices to save on battery costs. The range with BT is astounding. At 30 feet or more, the mouse was working smoothly. I lost my line of sight with the laptop so I have not tested the extreme range of the mouse. I have yet to have the mice drop their connections so it appears to stay connected with the BT network.
The laser tracking is very precise and smooth. Although the IR laser is not visible to the naked eye, do not stare at it even though its power rating is neither declared nor powerful enough to hurt your eyes. The back button works right out of the box without additional software or drivers. I did not install the Intellipoint software nor did I have to download any drivers. I am a minimalist when it comes to PC peripherals, so I hook it up first and see what happens. If it works out of the box, what point is there to install potential bloatware? I turned the mouse on, held the connect button until the battery LED alternated between green and red, then told my laptop to look for a new BT device. Bingo presto, it works. I have heard some complaints about BT technology but I have used this mouse for over a week and have not run into any issues with BT or the mouse. I have my doubts about wireless mice and keyboards for gaming because any delay or random errors are unacceptable, but for an office computer or laptop, Bluetooth wireless is the only way to get in order to get rid of a funky external transceiver.
The left and right mouse buttons are 1 piece and have a soft tactile response. The back button is easy to reach but I always use the "claw grip" for my mice. The scroll wheel has a lot of play and is rather noisy. The wheel button has the same feedback as the primary buttons.
Pros: Sleek, lightweight, laser tracking, all buttons function out of the box, no software/drivers needed. Interfaced with three different Bluetooth radios/cards installed in Dell laptops. Plug and Play! 30 feet or longer range.
Cons: Might be more expensive in the end since you need a Bluetooth card to use this mouse. If you want the cheapest way to get a wireless mouse, the RF wireless style with external USB transceivers are your best bets. Alternatively, if you already have a Bluetooth card for your other Bluetooth devices, the cost is a non-issue since the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook 5000 is a quality mouse and worth the premium.
Overall: Microsoft's reputation for hardware precedes them. I have used many of their mice, keyboards, and joysticks in the past and would not hesitate to buy more Microsoft hardware. This Bluetooth Notebook mouse is no exception and the only thing that has yet to be seen is battery lifespan. I never shut off the mice since I use rechargeable batteries. There is a LED indicator to provide data on battery life but I would recommend changing or charging the batteries at least once a month.
Customer Rating: 
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My family hates it
My family hates this mouse. We bought it to replace an Apple Supermouse. I was looking for bluetooth connectivity and out-of-the-box operation. It has that. But it's also small, too jumpy and worse of all has a tendency to just simply quit working. In the middle of surfing or working on a word doc, it will just simply go dead. You have to manually turn it back on for it to work. As I said, my family hates it. I'll be looking for something else.
