NbC: Microsoft Mobile Mouse 4000 Review
October 3, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Whilst touchpads do an acceptable job of navigating around a netbook/laptop, there’s no substitute for a mouse for pinpoint accuracy. There are a number of good mice to cater for those on the move, however there are not too many that use new mouse technology such as Microsoft BlueTrack or Logitech’s Darkfield laser tracking tech.
These new technologies have been developed to allow you to use on the mouse on pretty much any surface, whether that be an airport bench to your living-room carpet. This is quite an attractive feature for portable mice as you no longer need to carry a mouse mat with you whilst travelling. Even in limited spaces, your lap could work with these new mice. We give you an overview of one of the latest portable mice using Microsoft Bluetrack called the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000.
Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology can be used on almost any surface apart from glass. Logitech’s new Darkfield mice go one step further and allow it to be used on glass too. However, the portable Darkfield mouse, the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX costs around the £70 mark, which is nearly three times the cost of the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 that costs £25.
The Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 comes with a nano transceiver, claimed 10-month battery life and a 3-year warranty. The nano transceiver is small enough to leave attached to your netbook/laptop. It is compatible with Windows 7 along with the other major Windows operating systems along with the Mac too. The mouse itself weighs less than a 100g, including the single AA battery. We’ve found it to be a good performer for the price and it has lived up to the claims of working on pretty much any surface (bar glass). If you’re on the move on a lot, than the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 should be on your short-list. Check out a gallery of pictures below.
October 3rd, 2009 1:46 PM
This is my recommended netbook accessory as well and am getting myself one a.s.a.p. The timing of your review couldn’t be better since its just been couple of days since I got my netbook & dvd writer. I’ll see you in the forum once I use this. Ciao for now. Thnx !
October 9th, 2009 6:38 PM
It’s a mouse for traveling. After the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 and 6000, Redmond now we have the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000. Auque the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 6000 and was intended for use with laptops, the new model further reduces its size. As it it shown in this article – It’s a mouse for traveling. After the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 and 6000, Redmond now we have the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000. Auque the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 6000 and was intended for use with laptops, the new model further reduces its size.
October 27th, 2009 5:10 AM
Am in India. Its not available here as yet. I could see the 6000 but I think I’ll wait for this mouse to play with 🙂
November 1st, 2009 4:47 AM
I recently (today) purchased a 4000 in exchange for the older 3000. I can certainly appreciate the nano transceiver (main reason i got the 4000), however, there is no clicking when scrolling the wheel and I think you lose a lot when navigating websites. The addition of the “back” button and left and right buttons on the scroll wheel are welcome, the lack of feeling a click when scrolling the wheel is a let down. I use this mouse on my bed and don’t notice a difference between the 3000 and 4000 as far as accuracy. I actually think the 4000 skips more than the 3000 on the same bed.
I am tempted to get the 5000 just because it uses bluetooth but i prefer the ergonomics of the 4000 over the 3 and 5 thou. series.
November 2nd, 2009 5:41 AM
@ sean michaels :
Thnx for the points. From a user perspective, the ‘click’ is essential. Just curious to know if this in any way is a reason for not buying the 4000 series mouse. One of my main reasons to choose this is also the ‘nano’ receiver – suits the netbook a lot.
March 11th, 2010 5:40 PM
A bit of review reading renders one thought: Recall Toyota-Style. Why ?? Well it seems there is an inherent defect in this mouse w.r.t something called a CMOS Latch-Up which leads to the nano receiver heating up a lot in turn affecting the USB port. It’ll work well for a short while before you realise the flaw real soon. Save your bucks !! Strike Off !!
March 11th, 2010 5:47 PM
Interesting, where did you read that? I’ve still been using this mouse since the review without any issues so far (touch wood!)
March 11th, 2010 6:19 PM
Tej, Read the same @ Amazon site – review section : http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wireless-Mobile-Mouse-4000/product-reviews/B002DPUUKU/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 .
What do you make of it ? Some users compained about batteries being used up fast as well. Conflicting comments.
March 12th, 2010 7:02 AM
Tej, Does OS have anything to do with the issue ? There are just too many reviewers from USA mainly saying they got hassled cuz of heat issues !! I’d like to give ’em benefit of doubt as well – No smoke w/o fire but it’ll be worthwhile to get your views since you use it presumably with Win 7.
March 12th, 2010 8:10 AM
I’ve used it with both XP and Windows 7 without any issues whatsoever. I’m still using the same battery since I started using the mouse in September!
March 12th, 2010 9:00 AM
Noted. Its worthy afterall .. the price has fallen to $ 25 as well. Aah .. lemme just go for it !! At least the price tag will not burn my pockets all that much .. lol ! Thnx Tej !
April 13th, 2010 4:30 PM
***Warning. Do not buy this at all. You must read all the reviews on Amazon, Staples, etc. The price is not worth this piece of junk which malfunctions shortly after leaving it in your USB port.***
April 13th, 2010 5:38 PM
I recently came to know about an older version Microsoft Explorer Mouse and also brand new Targus Wireless Comfort Laser Mouse – AMW51AP. Both are bigger too which is fine by me. The only downside perhaps is the large USB transceiver for first one and high price tag for the latter … Anyway, Tej didn’t face any issues with the mouse in question but might as well wait for a newer version to come out that has less problems if one follows reviews on retail sites even if the price is falling further.
April 22nd, 2010 3:33 PM
Alas … Microsoft haven’t released this mouse in India despite advertising to do so but Genius Traveler 900 – the latest from Genius USA seems to be on its way .. Check this option out: http://www.gearlog.com/2010/04/travel_mouse_offers_super-long.php .. can we have a review from NbC for this travelling mouse ?
April 22nd, 2010 4:39 PM
I do have the heat problem too… The mouse (microsoft wireless mobile mouse 4000) worked two days, now it doesn’t get recognized by all my PCs anymore.
Also the transceiver gets very hot and an error messages tells me that the usb-device can’t get recognized.
This is very annoying and also I bought the same mouse for my girlfriend. As I read on the web there a lots of people who have the same problem. I really think about bringing both mice back and getting a different model instead.
Getting the same model again makes me afraid of that my usb-port might get broken…
Is this problem known to Microsoft by now? There are so many post on the web about this issue…
I am really unhappy about the situation (I am not even sure if I still have the receipt and also I bought the 2 mice in a city that is a two hour drive away from where I live). I wish I would have read on the web before I bought this type of Mouse! This way I would have noticed that there are quite a lot of people having problems with this type of mouse.
May 11th, 2010 3:10 PM
Now Dell will be selling special mouse for netbooks with concealed nano USB receiver as well. WM311 Models from the co. are already on their US site – US$29.99. It doesn’t say if this works on almost all surfaces.
January 19th, 2011 12:44 AM
I had the nano reciever burn up on me too. It just says “device unrecognized” and then when you try and take it out, it just hurts you! Its so hot! Such a large and influential company shouldnt have problems like this that ruin its reputation, because I wouldnt buy anymore microsoft products anymore.
March 28th, 2011 11:17 AM
After the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 and 6000, Redmond now we have the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000. it use in Asus a22-700.
February 4th, 2012 10:27 PM
I must say that I have been using this mouse for 3 months without any issues. Great response, has a real response and is very portable. Out of 10 this mouse gets a 9. Great price too!