At a Glance
The Good: BlueTrack, Encryption
The Bad: Not so comfy, full-sized receiver, disappointing battery life
What is AES 128-Bit Encryption?
Simply put, when people type on wireless keyboards, the information is transmitted to the computer by a receiver (in this case, a USB receiver). There is a chance that the info could be intercepted by keystroke spies during its travels, so AES technology encrypts the data so that this can't happen. A spokeswoman for Microsoft Hardware also said that the transceiver and keyboard are paired together at the factory, only allowing communication between them and no other devices.
There is another way to prevent this kind of data interception, and that's using a wired keyboard.
The Keyboard
The keyboard for the Wireless Desktop 2000 has glossy-black edging and a matte-black textured wrist rest. Microsoft calls it a “pillow texture palm rest” on its website, which kind of implies that it’s soft. It’s not soft -- it’s just as plastic-hard as the rest of the keyboard, although the texturing does add a bit of attractive styling to the device. There are no ergonomic curves on the keyboard other than optional feet.
The 2000 builds a little on the typical standard keyboard by adding media keys and Windows 7 shortcut keys. It’s fairly lightweight for a full-sized model, and it comes with a handy battery-status indicator.
The Mouse
This is a full-sized wireless mouse, which may or may not be a good thing for you. I personally prefer reduced-sized mice, but the size of your hands will obviously dictate this. I always suggest trying out a few different-sized mice before committing to one, whenever possible.
As with the keyboard, the details provided by Microsoft are a tad misleading. The box claims that the mouse has rubber side grips. While this is technically true, the rubber is so thin that it’s virtually indistinguishable from the plastic portion. There are three buttons (left, right and scroll wheel), so side-button customizers should look elsewhere.
And just like the keyboard, there’s nothing ergonomic to this mouse. It’s an ambidextrous mouse, so it can be used with either the left or right hand. If you’re concerned with ergonomics (but not so much that you want a true ergonomic mouse), you can try regularly mousing with your non-dominant hand.
What the mouse does have is Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology, which lets you use it on almost any surface (not mirrors or glass surfaces).
The Receiver
While most mice and keyboards these days are going the way of the nano or pico receiver, Microsoft has stuck with a full-sized USB receiver for the Wireless Desktop 2000. Fortunately, the mouse does come with a receiver placeholder, so it can still be thought of as a travel device; just don’t sit in an aisle seat when the beverage cart comes rumbling down the plane.
The Battery Life
Unfortunately, the battery life for the mouse was disappointing. The mouse died within two weeks of use. There is an on/off switch to preserve its life, and I’ll be the first to admit that I rarely took advantage of it. However, less than two weeks of use is still problematic and a serious flaw.
The Bottom Line
With a $49.99 MSRP, the Wireless Desktop 2000 is fairly priced for a mouse/keyboard combo with BlueTrack. Considering the cheapest wireless Microsoft mouse with BlueTrack is currently $29.99 (the Wireless Mouse 2000), and the cheapest wireless keyboard is the 800 for $25.99, you’re paying just a little extra for security encryption, Windows 7 keys, and the convenience of using a single (albeit large) receiver. However, it does lose points for its poor battery life.
