Microsoft Optical Desktop with Fingerprint Reader

Reviews: Peripherals

Accessories | Gaming Devices | Keyboards / Mice | Printers

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Bradford Day
Kurtis
Microsoft
Nov. 7, 2005

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Testing: Keyboard

What better way to test this keyboard/mouse combo than to write the review using the hardware in question? As I type this, I've already fiddled a bit with the various custom buttons and programmable settings and I will discuss those a bit later. And as I'm already typing, I think I'll start with the keyboard testing.

Before you can fully utilize this keyboard's features, you'll need to install the drivers. The instruction manual directs you to install the fingerprint reading software first, but, in an attempt to minimize confusion, I'm going to treat the fingerprint reader portion of the keyboard as a separate entity. Therefore, let's pretend we've done that and jump straight to the keyboard software installation. Like most driver installs, you can click your way through with little trouble. The installed programming software will help to unleash the fully programmable power of this button-laden keyboard. Unfortunately, you won't be unleashing anything unless you are using a Windows XP based operating system (Windows XP Home, Professional, Tablet PC, or Media Center Edition). The Optical Desktop is not compatible with any other operating systems, Microsoft or otherwise.

Right away I settled comfortably onto the keys. Key action is resilient but not cumbersome, requiring moderate to light pressure to actuate as I click quietly away. Although it isn't an ergonomic keyboard by design, I personally favor the standard key over the split key ergo-design. The space bar is large and accommodating and thankfully there is a full-sized backspace key for those of us who prefer to actively edit (i.e. can't type worth a damn). The wrist rest is comfortable, snapped easily into place and offers needed support. Overall, I immediately liked the feel of this keyboard and would be content to clack away until old age or carpal tunnel set in.

But, many a kind word has been lavished upon comfortable keyboards throughout history. The true measure of any piece of hardware lies in its features!and this one is loaded. I'll begin first with the multi-media and programmable Windows keys. Four pre-programmed media buttons are located in the upper left corner of the keyboard. The play/pause, stop, fast-forward and rewind buttons can be used with various music and video players, not just MediaPlayer. Volume up, volume down, and mute buttons are also found right above the fingerprint reader and act directly on the system volume. Five "My Favorites" programmable buttons are located top and center and can be set to open webpage favorites as well as run programs. Using the simple keyboard utility, one can easily associate functions to each of the "My Favorites" buttons.

Moving along to the right side of the board, we come to the common Windows icons for "My Documents," "My Pictures," and "My Music". As you've probably already guessed, each of these brings up the like-named folder. Similarly, three more system shortcut buttons can be used to open e-mail programs, your web browser and instant messenger client (labeled as "Mail," "Web/Home," and "Messenger" respectively). And, to my surprise, these shortcut buttons actually work with non-Microsoft programs. The web/home button brought up my default web browser which was!*Gasp!*!Mozilla Firefox - with no reprogramming or anything. The messenger key can also be pointed towards any IM client you choose!or any other program for that matter.

Finally, perched above the number pad are three small buttons. Two dome-topped buttons, one a hotlink to the Windows calculator the other set to log off. The third is a concave button that will put your machine into sleep mode. Why they saw it fit to slightly recess the sleep button when the log off key is raised I can't quite figure out. But, fear not, concaved or convex they both perform their assigned tasks dutifully.

Perhaps the most useful set of keys on this keyboard are the pre-set function keys. The normal F1-F12 keys play dual roles with the simple depressing of the F-lock key. When engaged, the F keys function as normal. Disengage the F-lock and they become shortcuts to useful software functions. For example, the F2 and F3 keys double as undo and redo keys in Microsoft Office applications as well as within Outlook and other programs. I found the save and spell check buttons quite useful while writing this review. Of course these keys, like all the specialty buttons, can be reprogrammed from within the Microsoft Keyboard software to perform about any function you like.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Looks
Page 2: Testing: Keyboard
Page 3: Testing: Fingerprint Reader
Page 4: Testing: Mouse
Page 5: Conclusion

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Add Comment

10 User Comments

1 - Posted by Dyrewolph on November 7, 2005 - 8:58 pm

teehehee nice review "bradford"!!!

;-) I didn't read it at all... I just felt like commenting :-D

2 - Posted by Kurtis on November 8, 2005 - 12:07 am

*cough*

/waves the ban stick in a circular motion and then pokes you with it.

:poke:

3 - Posted by blackjet on November 8, 2005 - 3:38 am

Nice review! The little scanner is cool!

What happens if your finger print changes though, say you cut your finger? Can you over ride the fingerprint log in and enter a password instead to reset it to a different finger?

4 - Posted by Kurtis on November 8, 2005 - 11:25 am

The way it works I believe is that you just need to know the actual PASSWORD to be able to set the fingerprint or change the fingerprint

5 - Posted by handrail on November 9, 2005 - 6:48 am

actually, you can register all ten of your fingerprints at the start. plus, you can always log in the old fashioned way with the keyboard if you need to.

once you are logged in as a user with a registered fingerprint, you can adjust your fingerprint scanner settings at any time. it just requires that you use an actual XP log on PW to keep your settings safe...not just set the PW to blank or something easy.

brad.

6 - Posted by blackjet on November 9, 2005 - 7:48 am

makes sense, its a nifty wee piece of kit. Not exactly essential, but fun none the less! :-)

7 - Posted by IronSight on November 9, 2005 - 5:51 pm

It's a neat little thing, but I would think in someway it would eventually impair you from your computer :P Somehow...

8 - Posted by Load on February 16, 2006 - 1:28 pm

There is no support for non-IE browsers, right?

9 - Posted by handrail on February 16, 2006 - 2:38 pm

well, it will work with non-IE browsers just fine. you can set the various pre-programmed buttons to work with mozilla at least. when i tested it i got it to work with mozilla just fine.

pretty much all of the buttons are programmable.

hope that helps

brad.

10 - Posted by Rich on March 7, 2006 - 10:00 am

http://www.pcworld.com/resource/article/0,aid,1249...

This is their standalone model. But it speaks volumes about Microsoft though.

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