Microsoft launches Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 and 7000

The march of mouse progress apparently never stops, and Microsoft just announce a pair of new ones to drive that point home. The Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 (after the break) is the more portable one of the bunch, with a snap-in 2.4GHz USB receiver packed inside a desktop-sized laser mouse. The Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 (pictured) sacrifices a bit of portability for a rechargeable batteries -- with a horizontal charging dock to host the mouse when times are rough and juice is scarce. Both mice include Microsoft's HD Lasers and a few Vista-friendly buttons. You can pick them up in March fo $50 and $70, respectively.

[nebulus @ Feb 5th 2008 9:37AM]

meh

Logitech MX Bluetooth FTW!

[Gremlin @ Feb 5th 2008 11:03AM]

Indeed!

[Eh @ Feb 5th 2008 6:55PM]

Youre so silly. Take it from someone who has a logitech bluetooth mouse, you dont want anything to do with it. RF is better. Not just regular better, but insanely better. Logitech proprietary bluetooth is the worst wireless technology ever made.

[nebulus @ Feb 5th 2008 7:31PM]

No you're silly, bluetooth is fine especially if your like the majority of people and aren't trying to frag everyone else. I have an MX and the dongle is a real pain, great mouse but nightmare dongle, especially as I use it on my commute an need to plug/unplug 4 times a day the risk of loosing it is ever present.
And I often travel with a Sony UX only 1 usb port which I'd really rather not use, if an apple bt keyboard works perfectly I can't see a bt mouse being a problem..

So no a bluetooth MX would be perfect for me... (and I imaging a good few others here too)

[Eh @ Feb 5th 2008 8:34PM]

You need the dongle for a logitech bluetooth mouse as well. It will solve none of your problems, it will only add them them because the bluetooth signal is greatly inferior to the RF signal. The mouse drivers will not function with real bluetooth chips. Its very difficult to get the mouse to connect and when it does its questionable at best. It randomly has severe cursor lag where its almost impossible to get the cursor where you want it to go. You can forget about trying to make the signal travel through objects since it just isnt going to do that. Due to the proprietary bluetooth dongle there are no mac drivers either since it conflicts with the onboard bluetooth. RF has none of these problems. Other bluetooth devices cant be compared with logitech, since those arent proprietary and are made to follow bluetooth standards.

[Kasona @ Feb 5th 2008 11:12PM]

I have a Logitech bluetooth travel mouse, and it works perfectly with my Tablet PC's internal bluetooth -- no dongle needed at all!
I'm never going back to dongle-required rf mice again!

[Tony C @ Feb 5th 2008 9:37AM]

They look pretty damn sharp for Microsoft mice... But no Bluetooth...?

[Chris @ Feb 5th 2008 12:44PM]

I haven't really liked my experience with bluetooth in comparison to Microsoft's proprietary wireless tech. I have owned a Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite, and a Logitech MX 5000 desktop, as well as a generic bluetooth mouse. Both the bluetooth products have been kinda sucky in 3 areas: connection stability, battery life, and functionality.

in terms of connection stability, my ms mouse and keyboard never disconnected. in the year and a half that I had them, I never once had them disconnect on me. at all. Ever. The logitech and the generic, both disconnected daily, be it from 3 minutes inactivity, or even a lot of times *while I was typing*. I would end up getting liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
ke a disconnection mid word. Regardless of how my batteries were doing. It didn't matter where the dongle was placed either. They just randomly disconnect.

Another major gripe of mine comes in the functionality of my bluetooth desktop. I cannot use the keyboard until windows has booted. Meaning, I cannot press f11 to go into a boot menu when the computer is starting. It seems to me that bluetooth is software based, so until the bluetooth software had loaded, it was as if I did not have a keyboard plugged in. This was not the case with ms's wireless, which was 100% plug and play hardware based.

Battery life was also FAR superior on the MS product. The logitech mouse gets 3 days of battery life per charge. The Microsoft got a solid six months of daily use before I needed to change it's batteries. Same goes for my Logitech keyboard. It gets 3 months of battery life, the ms got 8.

Idunno, are my experiences unique to me? do other people run into any of these problems with bluetooth?

[rockintom @ Feb 5th 2008 2:01PM]

Ah, but the thing is, wireless keyboards, to me, just seem stupid in most cases. You don't often need to move your keyboard around: it sits still on your desk. It seems fine to use a cord for it, to me anyway.

I *do* love wireless mice (mouses?), however. I have a Logitech VX Revolution, and a I love it to death.

[Billy Gun @ Feb 5th 2008 9:41AM]

Looks nice... And any new remote control for media center? Since 2003 it is the same.

[RichardBronosky @ Feb 5th 2008 12:58PM]

These look sweet. I love microsoft mice. My circa 2001 Trackball Explorer is awesome. Clearly, microsoft should quit its failed software efforts and focus on hardware.

[Billy Gun @ Feb 5th 2008 9:43AM]

Looks nice... And any new remote control for media center? Since 2003 it is the same.

[Harkonian @ Feb 5th 2008 12:56PM]

It does look nice, but I am completely confused by MS's numbering scheme. I am using a Microsoft Laser Mouse 8000, which in any sane world would mean it was more recent than the 6000 or the 7000. Yet, I have had it about a year...

[Dralion76 @ Feb 5th 2008 9:45AM]

That's a BIG photo...

[paragraph @ Feb 5th 2008 9:50AM]

*YAWN*

oh, i'm sorry, were you trying to impress me?

---

:\

What kind of DPI? 1600? 800? Less?

:\

Sorry, i'll stick with my plain old WIRED 2000dpi Lenovo with no extra features other than it dosn't feel like ass in my hand...

[Chebwa @ Feb 5th 2008 9:56AM]

Sometimes it seems to me that wired is the superior technology anyway.

No batteries! Who knew!?

[mike @ Feb 5th 2008 10:02AM]

i cant live without my wireless mouse. dpi? mine is 800 and im just fine with that. I can play all games perfectly fine, and thats without spending $30 on a mousepad lol. Some people just want the best techinal piece of technology when theres no point to it.

Im looking for a new mouse cause my old one is semi broken. Im more concerned about buttons tho. How many does this MS one have, cause it only looks like a basic mouse with scroll wheel from that picture.

[SDreamer @ Feb 5th 2008 9:00PM]

Yeah, I'm with wired as well. I also need the two buttons on the left side of the mouse for instant "back" and "forward" on webpages and explorer. So I use my cheap GE mouse. However, I wish some wired mice look as sleek as that.

[paragraph @ Feb 5th 2008 10:17AM]

@mike

Looks like there *might* be a pair on the left side where your thumb would go...

Also: Buttons are for Keyboards...

[Tony C @ Feb 5th 2008 10:20AM]

Micro$oft says their old Notebook Wireless Laser 7000 gets 1000 dpi and 6000 frames per second. Not sure if these are any improvement since they still market it as "High Definition Laser Technology".

[Chebwa @ Feb 5th 2008 2:26PM]

"Micro$oft"

Well look at you sneakin' that dollar sign into Microsoft's name. Aren't you just the craftiest son of a bitch around!

[Tiptup300 @ Feb 5th 2008 3:53PM]

Hey! I agree, I like my mice to be totally buttonless! Thats what the other hand is for!

[xkevin @ Feb 5th 2008 9:58AM]

Say what you want about their software but Microsoft produces some of the best quality mice in my opinion. Logitech mice are good when they are new, but after a few months, they start to get flimsy.

[Jon @ Feb 5th 2008 11:24AM]

Don't forget about Microsoft's trackballs too. I have a Trackball Explorer, and wouldn't trade it for anything. Now if I could only find another one or two somewhere other than on eBay for $100+ each, I'd be a happy man.

[bbb3108 @ Feb 5th 2008 1:17PM]

I love my Wireless Laser Mouse 5000. One thing in particular always strikes me - it has a little bit of heft, which translates to better tactile feedback and control when moving it around. Also the "spinnable" scroll wheel - doesn't click, you can give it a whirl and it will keep on spinning for a second or two. Love that! Even with that, it took me 5 spins to get from top to bottom of this page.

[Tarnation @ Feb 5th 2008 10:00AM]

dpi specs please? They look pretty sexy, but lets face it Logitech is still teh winnar when it comes to mice. It seems that Mouse manufacturers don't read engadget or they don't give a hoot about Bluetooth.

[mike @ Feb 5th 2008 10:04AM]

thats another thing, why does everyone rave about bluetooth? Im still not seeing all motherboards with integrated bluetooth. Until that happens, I still want my products non bluetooth, as I would be forced to spend another $20 or whatever on a BT reciever.

[purezerg @ Feb 5th 2008 10:13AM]

after buying so many microsoft keyboard and mouse, my Habu and reclusa is still the best

[Keats @ Feb 5th 2008 10:30AM]

Yet more mice for right-handed people. I'm right-handed, but I have my mouse on the left side of the keyboard. I work across the keyboard, or when I'm multitasking, I use my left hand to point and click. It's really not difficult to learn and it solve alot of problems. RSI, for example. Too bad that 90% of the mice are for right-hand only. Completely unworkable for people like me. Wake up, Logitech!! (Microsoft will follow).

[insertAlias @ Feb 5th 2008 11:48AM]

The left-handed demographic isn't large enough to worry about losing. Many lefties even get used to using mouses on their right side.

Basically, if there was enough demand for it, they would make it. The fact that they make right-hand-only mice indicates the lack of said demand.

[michael @ Feb 5th 2008 9:40PM]

I agree with insertAlias. I'm left-handed myself (and proud of it!) but I don't mind using my right hand for the mouse. I'm used to it by now.

And I like that my left hand is free to do other things, like jot down a note, popping some food into my mouth, other little things.

[Dok Tari @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:45AM]

ah...the good old days when they just killed left handed people...sigh.

[nd @ Feb 5th 2008 10:30AM]

"...drive that point home." get it? drive the point? mouse? point? oh nevermind...

[thesawzall @ Feb 5th 2008 10:35AM]

And what feature exactly does the little light, right where your hand goes, add?

[Josh L @ Feb 5th 2008 10:46AM]

I imagine it will tell you when the mouse is turned on and connected, and when the battery is low. It's not like it matters where they put the light; you'd have to take your hand off the mouse to see it anyway, no matter where they put it.

Or at least I would, with my giant bear hands.

[kadajawi @ Feb 5th 2008 10:39AM]

Uh... wait a second. I've got a Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000... and it looks very different. Weird.

Looks good though, though a bit Logitech'ish.

[kadajawi @ Feb 5th 2008 10:39AM]

Uh... wait a second. I've got a Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000... and it looks very different. Weird.

Looks good though, though a bit Logitech'ish.

[Paul @ Feb 5th 2008 10:51AM]

Won't somebody please think of the lefties!

[Danial @ Feb 5th 2008 11:00AM]

Wow, Microsoft amazes me every time! I mean, just look at that thing... then look at the Logitech MX series that came out years ago. Yeah, good job Microsoft.

[Mike @ Feb 5th 2008 11:26AM]

DPI doesn't matter at all. A 200dpi MS mouse (ie the Optical Blue) gets way better response and feedback than a 1200dpi mouse of any other brand.

Don't believe me? Go buy an MS Optical Blue for 7$ from the big egg and save 63$ towards another 2gigs of ram, nubcakes.

[Bakari @ Feb 5th 2008 11:26AM]

Why is everyone on Logitech's dick? Microsoft has made great mice ever since the optical intellimouse. Why do you need a bluetooth mouse? Really, give me 3 reasons why it's actually useful rather than just a new gimmick to keep techies hooked. Give me an example of why you would need a mouse that gets greater than 1200dpi. I'm a graphic designer who spends the majority of his computer time in Photoshop. Honestly, I just switched from an optical mouse to a laser one (both by microsoft) and hardly noticed a difference. It was only SLIGHTLY more precise, not "holy crap, what an innovation precise."

Every Logitech mouse and keyboard has like 9,000 extra buttons and all these crazy features that you end up accidentally pressing and wasting your time undoing. Plus they're remarkably over-sculpted and just plain uncomfortable. Let's not forget that it's just a mouse and you only need 3 things done very well: One right mouse button, one left mouse button, and one scrolling wheel or button. Everything else is just glitter for idiots.

[firerock @ Feb 5th 2008 11:58AM]

I'm with you, Bakari!

[rallyprox @ Feb 5th 2008 12:14PM]

Well, I for one want bluetooth in a wireless mouse. I see no reason that I should have to plug in a usb dongle into my laptop, or desktop to use a wireless mouse. Especially when wireless mice always have the slightest lag. Don't think I am imagining this, I have used the logitech MX series for years: MX 500, 510 and 518. All three were amazing mice. Now I use a MX 518 and a MX 1000 laser. The extra buttons on them are always useful. back, fwd and programmable buttons. It would be ignorant to say that extra buttons are glitter for idiots.

[Bakari @ Feb 5th 2008 12:39PM]

Perhaps, but almost anything you can bind to those extra buttons is already a keyboard shortcut, especially if you're talking about in internet browsers. The key to computing efficiency is most often through keyboard shortcuts, provided you take the effort to remember them. Mice change, keyboards don't.

Again, it's just a mouse. Sorry if I subscribe to the "keep it simple, stupid" model, but it just works, especially when it comes to input devices.

[Sciamachy Moran @ Feb 5th 2008 11:28AM]

Might be nice if Microsoft did some drivers for their Bluetooth wireless notebook mouse 5000 which I got thinking it'd work with XP. No joy - it's not in their driver list for download, and it doesn't work when you try to trick it by using a different driver for any similar mice. I'm not buying another M$ mouse, nice as they are, till they fix their existing ones.

[J. Evans Turner @ Feb 6th 2008 12:29PM]

Are there detents on the scroll wheel for tactile feedback?

[sitruc @ Feb 5th 2008 12:50PM]

I understand the desire for a Bluetooth mouse, but I've had a list of problems with the Bluetooth mice that I have used(all Logitech). My largest problem has been with responsiveness. Bluetooth also isn't built in to all environments, so I've had a paper weight next to my computer a few times as I try to navigate with keyboard shortcuts and arrow keys. I haven't had those problems with the standard 2.4GHz USB wireless mice. Microsoft makes solid, good mice. I doubt this is an exception. Honest question, have those who want Bluetooth used Bluetooth mice?

[Brent Hollingsworth @ Feb 5th 2008 1:00PM]

Look, all you have to do is flip it upside down and use your palm to click. It's Microsoft's official solution.

[Grifty @ Feb 5th 2008 1:04PM]

Bah, I'm a lefty and much prefer a right-handed mouse.

I tend to keep my left hand on the "WASD" area of the keyboard for the simple reason that Ctrl, alt, shift, "Super" and TAB all live there.

If I switched mousing hands, I'd have to very uncomfortably re-map all the keys on the numpad or get a backwards keyboard or something.

If I want to hit START+R "firefox" (Or just "f", as the shortcut in my "." folder reflects), I don't want to have to take my hand off the mouse.

And it's a helluva lot quicker than moving the mouse, finding an icon, clicking the icon, etc, etc.

In short: Right-handed mice work because everything else is designed for right-handed people.
It's easier for the smaller group (lefties) to adapt than it is to create an alternate design for every interface product.

[techieguru16 @ Feb 5th 2008 1:56PM]

hmmm...............now i havta choose between this and the habu.

what about the rechargable batteries? are they really any good? idk. i know with my wireless logitech mouse (wich takes two AA batteries) i have to replace teh batteries every 3-4 weeks. so is it better to have rechargable batteries or not? that is the question.