Product: Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000
Manufacturer: Microsoft
MSRP: $49.95     Find Lowest Price @ PriceGrabber
Author: Nick
Date: June 17, 2009

Several months after Logitech launched several mobile mice featuring nano transceivers, Microsoft is finally fighting back by introducing the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 with a nano transceiver, which are ideal for use with laptops and netbooks due to the small size of the transceivers.

Specifications/Features

• BlueTrack Technology
• Plug-And-Go Nano Transceiver
• 10 Month Battery Life
• 2.4 GHz Reliable Wireless
• Works on Virtually Any Surface
• On/Off switch

Packaging and Contents

Upon first appearance, the  packaging of the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 looks a lot like a hard to open blister pack.  However, I was able to open the packaging with ease as the sides of the packaging remove easily after cutting a few pieces of tape.  Included with the mouse is a battery, the transceiver, the standard paperwork, and a CD containing Microsoft’s IntelliPoint software.

First Impressions/Usage

The thing that differentiates the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 from Microsoft’s numerous other mobile mice is the introduction of the nano transceiver. Instead of the standard transceiver, which sticks out of the USB port about 2 inches, a nano transceiver only sticks out a ¼ of an inch. This makes nano transceivers ideal for use with a laptop or netbook were the potential to damage the transceiver is high due to the computer being moved around.

When not in use, the transceiver can either be left in the laptop or netbook as previously mentioned or stored in the bottom of the mouse. Unlike other Microsoft mice, storing the transceiver in the mouse does not turn it off. To turn the mouse on and off, the user must flip a little switch on the bottom of the mouse. Several times I forgot to turn off the mouse while traveling. However, I have yet to change the battery after a month of using the mouse for about 4 hours a day.

Like many newer mice, the Mobile Mouse 6000 features an ambidextrous design, which means it can be used by both right and left handed people. A single button is placed on each side of the mouse instead of the standard placement on both buttons on one side. I found this button placement to be much easier to use since I did not have to shift my hand around to be able to reach any of the buttons as I would with the standard two buttons on one side layout.

Since the Mobile Mouse 6000 was designed to compact and thus taking up less space in a laptop case, I found the mouse to be a little too small to be comfortably used for extended periods of time. However, while traveling, I found the small size of the mouse made it easier to use on some more conventional mousing surfaces that one might find in an airport, etc.

I found the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 to be just as responsive as any other wireless mice I have recently tested and as previously stated in reviews of Microsoft’s other BlueTrack mouse, BlueTrack technology works a lot better than a laser mouse but only holds a slight advantage over optical mice.

Conclusion

While the small size of Microsoft’s Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 makes it less than desirable when used for long periods of time, the compact design makes it ideal for the road warrior who often times has very limited space and may have to use the mouse on conventional surfaces like the curved seat of a chair at the airport. I had some difficulty using a full sized mouse on a surface like that but the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 tackled it with ease. I really do not have any complaints about this mouse and with an MSRP of $10 lower than similar mice with a nano transceiver from Logitech, I can easily recommend the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 to anyone looking for an excellent mouse to use on the road with a laptop or netbook.

Pros

+ Can leave transceiver in laptop/netbook USB port while traveling
+ Nano transceiver less prone to damage than standard transceiver
+ Ambidextrous design
+ Works on unconventional surfaces one might find while traveling

Cons

- Small size makes it uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time
- Easy to forget to turn off mouse

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Tags: 6000, BlueTrack, Microsoft, Mobile, mouse, nano, wireless