Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 Review

What the reviewers like:
Reviewers say movement is smooth and the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 is comfortable, with a soft hand rest. They like features including a magnifier, tilt-wheel zoom slider and five configurable buttons. At its current pricing, it is inexpensive for a wireless mouse.

What the reviewers don't like:
The Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 lags when it comes to gaming. Some reviewers don't like the way the middle-click function works. The receiver is big, and the Microsoft 5000 lacks advanced features like Bluetooth and a recharging dock. Some features don't work on Mac systems.

Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 review highlights

Reviews identify the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 as a solid, general-purpose mouse. It is not marketed for gaming, and is topped by other models for that purpose. No reviewer makes a relevant comparison with a Logitech mouse, and that company's mice are rated higher by some of the same sources. The Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse is an older product, and Microsoft has released several higher-end mice over the past year.

HardwareCentral.com and Active Network have good reviews of the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000. Techtree.com and CNet.com primarily address features and usage. The HardwareCentral.com review favorably compares the 5000 with Microsoft's higher-end Wireless Optical Mouse 6000 (*est. $50).

Also see full report: Computer Mice and Trackballs

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. HardwareCentral.com
Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 Review
Eric Grevstad
July 26, 2006

HardwareCentral.com regularly reviews mice and rates them in three unweighted categories to produce an overall score. This review is not up to HardwareCentral's usual standards, and it appears that not much testing is done. The comparison with Microsoft's Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is brief but revealing, but we can't figure out why the 5000 isn't compared with a Logitech mouse.

2. Active Network
Wireless Optical Desktop 5000 Review
Robert Stein

This review is of Microsoft's Wireless Optical Desktop 5000, which includes the Wireless Optical Mouse 5000. Testing is undocumented and comparisons are generic. However, ratings and subcategory ratings provide a basis for comparison, and lists of pros and cons are also helpful.

3. Techtree.com
Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 Review
Milind Bandekar
Jan. 16, 2006

This middling review is not as productive as most on this site and is not written by one of the regular reviewers. Milind Bandekar thinks the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 is good, but a poor value (at least at the price it retails for in India, where Techtree.com is based). Comparisons are brief, but reader comments add to the discussion.

4. CNet.com
Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 Review
Justin Jaffe
Sept. 16, 2005

This short review makes a single, marginal reference to an alternative product. The product rating doesn't seem to be in line with the review. CNet.com's strength is reviewing lots of mice, but without relevant comparisons, the reviews contribute nothing that isn't better documented in more comprehensive reviews.

5. Red & Blackness Mods
Microsoft Wireless Optical 5000 Review
Niko Lupala
Nov. 10, 2005

Red&BlacknessMods.com is a Swedish computer-hardware review site. The Microsoft Wireless Optical 5000 is the only mouse reviewed on the site, and it is reviewed as part of a desktop set. Although the review is well balanced and helpfully illustrated, the only comparison is a general reference to older Microsoft mice.

Also see full report: Computer Mice and Trackballs