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Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000
Introduction
And we're down to the last one. The final laser mouse I have for review is Microsoft's Laser Mouse 6000. This is the little brother to their Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, yet the two look nothing alike. And, also unlike its big brother, the non-wireless model is directly targeted at the gaming market. This lighter and svelter model takes on the look of a gaming device with a smooth graphite-like color scheme and no frills button layout. Come to think of it, perhaps this is more like a first cousin to the wireless version. The sculpted contours and ergo-friendly designs are less dramatic in the wireless model yielding a simple, and ambidextrous, mouse. I will admit, I do harbor a bias towards gaming mice over desktop mice. Apart from writing articles, the bulk of my computer time is spent gaming with my friends online. However, I promise to treat a desktop mouse like a desktop mouse and a gaming mouse as a gaming mouse. So basically that means for this device, which is aimed at gamers, I will have to spend a lot of time fragging in order to properly test it. Poor me. First Looks Microsoft again opted for the mouse-in-a-box packaging used on the wireless version, a good move in my opinion. Similar product shots and descriptive text highlight the handsome exterior. However, unlike the wireless version, the Laser Mouse 6000 has a bit more flair in the color department. A light glittery charcoal backbone is paired with darker black sides and underbelly. Primary buttons are smooth and look like one single composite piece. Small silvery thumb and ring finger buttons line the edges on either side of the symmetrically balanced mouse. And because of this symmetry, both lefties and righties will get to enjoy this offering. A clear rubbery middle mouse button bisects the front of the mouse, and this time it clicks! More on that later!        The laser underbelly is nothing special. The laser eye looks like your run-of-the-mill optical sensor with only a "Microsoft Laser Techology" label revealing its secret. Four black friction-reducing patches decorate the underside corners of the mouse. The USB cable is described on the product packaging as a "Thin, Flexible Cable" with "The responsiveness of wired, the feel of wireless." The cable is noticeably thinner than other mice I have owned. We'll find out during testing whether it makes a difference.   As with the wireless model, Mac users may also take advantage of this hardware, provided that they are running OSX ver. 10.2-10.4. Those Microsoft OS users out there who are still running anything older than Windows 2000 are out of luck. This mouse works with Win2k OS and newer. Isn't it about time you upgraded anyway? Rounding out the rest of the box of goodies are a driver installation CD and user manual.  
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5 User Comments 1 - Posted by
Pyxelle
on February 23, 2006 - 2:41 pm I just wanted to add a comment about the size of this mouse...the writer is correct regarding the fact that it is slimmer than other gaming mice. But that can also be advantage...I'm a gal gamer, and very small (Five feet exactly) Thus, I have little hands. A lot of gaming mice and other peripherals often are uncomfortable for me to use. That said, the side buttons are actually both very easy for me to reach, while the logitech laser mouse was more difficult - I felt that I was "stretching" to reach the buttons. True, it would be nice to be able to set the precision booster to whatever I wanted, but hopefully that will be corrected with a software update, and I honestly haven't had any problems with it. So, if you're a gal gamer or just have smaller hands, you might want to give this one a try. It's the first gamer-specific mouse I've bought simply because it's the first one that actually fit my little hand. Pyxelle 2 - Posted by
handrail
on February 23, 2006 - 3:10 pm thanks for your comment! my hands are obviously too large for this mouse, but smaller-handed fraggers will definitely find it to be a better fit. but as i stated, serious fraggers usually test fit mice before they purchase them. in my opinion, regardless of the mouse size, i found the fit and finish of this mouse of lesser quality in comparison to the logitech models. thanks for checking out the review! brad. 3 - Posted by
syllabus
on December 27, 2008 - 8:12 pm . I can't seem to turn off the magnifier once it's on without shutting my computer down, what the f*ck gives here?
4 - Posted by
Kurtis
on December 28, 2008 - 1:51 am Try re-installing the mouse drivers/software?
5 - Posted by
mack1764
on December 30, 2008 - 6:19 pm The answer is maddeningly simple -- the trick is to click the button very quickly; this prevents the popup that shows how to enlarge the magnifier screen and/or font.
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