Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000

Today we take a look at an update to one of Microsoft’s most popular mice, the Wireless Optical 5000. The new revision has been updates with a swoopier shell, ambidextrous use and a fricken’ laser.

The 5000 comes in the obligatory display style box, the mouse is pleasingly displayed so you can ogle your purchase before you even hit the register. Personally I like to see exactly what I’m buying so to me these kinds of packages are great since you have an exact idea of what you’re dealing with.

Inside the box resides the mouse, software, batteries, quick start manual and receiver.

The mouse is molded from a very attractive black metalflake plastic. It’s accented with silver buttons, one to each side, and silver trim around the scroll wheel. Not to mention the rear chrome laser badge and Microsoft branding. The mouse features the same tiltable scroll wheel as the Laser 6000 that I reviewed with the Microsoft Laser Desktop a while back. Needless to say I was sort of disappointed because the scroll wheel was the single downfall of that mouse. It has no detents so in FPS games it makes it a ticklish operation to sort through your weapons.

Underneath the mouse we find the laser window, battery compartment and four large low friction feet. The laser is a 1000DPI unit. Nothing earth shattering but more than capable of swift movement during intense fragfests.