WHEN working in a desk-bound environment, it is important that you work in the best condition possible. Having ergonomically designed products help to increase your comfort level, especially over the long haul.

The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 is a keyboard and mouse combo designed to match your computing system as well as provide comfort to your wrist.

The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 is a plug-and-play combo of keyboard and mouse, both designed to match your computing system as well as provide comfort to your hand and wrist. By incorporating 2.4-gigahertz wireless technology, you can interact with your PC even if the keyboard and mouse are up to 30 feet away from the universal serial bus transceiver unit.

The dark and sleek Aero Edition keyboard is enhanced with translucent border, soft touch or floating My Favourite keys and an ultra-thin Comfort Curve layout. The curved design of the keyboard requires a slightly bigger footprint than regular keyboards.

For users who have been working with the regular Qwerty keyboard, it might feel a bit awkward working with the curved design. But once you have gained familiarity, your wrist will benefit from the more natural positioning. As you type, you will notice that the keys do not make much tapping noise. The floating My Favourite keys can be set to quickly access your frequently used files, folders or sites. Other customisable buttons are the Hot Keys, which quickly launch programs such as Messenger, Mail and Internet browser. The F Keys also help you execute commands like Open, Close, and New easily while working with tools like Word or Excel.

Powered by AA-sized alkaline batteries, the keyboard has a battery indicator, which turns red when power is running low. Unfortunately, the keyboard’s provided batteries are not rechargeable.

On the other hand, the wireless mouse operates on a single rechargeable AAA NiMH battery. It also has a power indicator. Once you run out of power, just perch the mouse on its compact charging station, which is very convenient.

At a glance, the mouse seems to fit only on the right hand, but lefties should not find it too hard to get used to it either. The mouse has right and left buttons, as well as a wheel for vertical scrolling and horizontal tilting. Its side buttons are programmable via the driver software.

Offering High-Definition Laser Technology, the mouse is ready to serve users who demand accuracy and precision in their work. It also comes with Flip 3D function, which works with Windows Aero. It allows users to flip through open windows in a stack and quickly switch between applications. The Flip 3D function is also accessible through the keyboard.

While the features and functions of the combo is tailored to increase productivity, the smooth tracking and fast responsiveness of the mouse also translates to decent gaming experience. Incorporated with Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System, the mouse also improves the usual photo-editing and other detail-oriented tasks. Able to support both Windows-based PCs and Macintosh systems, the combo works best with the driver software installed and configured to suit your work behaviour.

The software interface is comprehensive and simple, so it is easy to customise specific buttons on the keyboard as well as the mouse. All you need to do is click to select which command or program to launch and save the settings.

The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 may be a tad expensive for regular buyers in search of peripherals. But considering the level of comfort and style it provides, the combo is still worth it, especially if you are looking to modernise your home or workplace.


Product: Wireless Laser
Desktop 7000
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp
Enquiries: ECS Astar Sdn Bhd
(Tel: 03-78045808)
Price: RM579

Specifications
n Connectivity: 2.4GHz
Range: 30 feet
Mini transceiver: USB
Keyboard dimensions: 486mm by 227mm
Keyboard battery: AA alkaline
Mouse dimensions: 81.9mm
by 121mm
Mouse battery: One AA MiMH (charging station included)
Mouse features: 1,000dpi, 6,000 FPS, four-way scrolling, magnifier function, Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System

Requirements
Pentium 233MHz or higher with 128MB RAM
Windows-based PC: Vista/XP, 100MB hard drive space, USB port, CD drive
Macintosh: OS X v10.2x to 10.5x (excluding v10.0 to 10.1), 30MB hard disk space, USB port, CD drive

Our verdict:
Physical design: ****
Documentation: ****
User-friendliness: ****
Features: ****
Performance: ****
Value for money: ***