Review: Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 peripheral

With sales of flat-screen television sets climbing, more people are realising that it is simple to connect a PC to a large television – most include a standard VGA port.

The Windows Media Center software, free with Vista Home Premium, really takes advantage of this, but some people are put off because their wired keyboard won't stretch to the sofa and there's no surface on which to use the mouse.

The Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 is designed to bridge that gap with a wireless keyboard that incorporates a mouse and provides simple access to important media functions.

The keyboard uses Bluetooth to connect to the PC and enables the user to control the mouse pointer from a touchpad. This is by the position of the right thumb (if the device is on your lap), while two buttons operated by your left thumb control the corresponding mouse buttons. There is also a button on the right of the keyboard that moves back one web page when browsing online, a variety of controls for media players and a dedicated key to launch the Media Center application.

The speed at which the mouse pointer moves can be controlled using the supplied software, and although we found it quite an effective means of controlling the PC, we wouldn't recommend it for extended use. That's not what it's designed for, though, and a wireless mouse is included in the set for desktop operation.

To save space, the keyboard has no numeric keypad, and the function keys have been replaced by small touch-sensitive bars. Some keys have been moved away from the main working area, with the Windows key now sitting centrally beneath the space bar. We soon got used to these changes, though. Our big criticism is that there was no way to tilt the keyboard other than moving your knees, and its action is comparable only to a good notebook PC keyboard, which could become uncomfortable during lengthy typing sessions.

This desktop set is aimed at people who have bought one of the DVD-style Media Center PCs now available, such as the Shuttle XPC. As such, they are not designed for lots of intensive text input and editing. On that basis the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 is a competent product, but if you're replacing a desk-bound keyboard, we advise you to try before you buy or consider an adjustable model.

Vista compatible: Yes