Hardware

Cracking open Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000

By · June 21, 2007, 1:07 PM PST · erikeckel

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  • The Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse

    Ever wonder how one of the most common wireless notebook mice is put together? Check out this Cracking Open image gallery to learn just what's inside Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000.

    Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 is one of the most popular wireless laptop mice.

    The device is approximately three-and-a-half inches long, measures just over two inches wide, and is an inch-and-a-third high. Meanwhile, the device weighs almost eleven ounces.

  • The Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse

    Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 is designed for comfort, features a snap-in receiver, boasts extended battery life, and works with Windows Vista and Mac OS X.

  • In the box

    In addition to instruction manuals, the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 includes the wireless mouse (of course) and a USB receiver (that snaps inside the bottom of the mouse itself to simplify travel).

  • The Microsoft notebook receiver

    The USB receiver, which receives wireless radio transmissions from the mouse, is a little larger than some competing models (such as Logitech's Laser series), but it's still portable and compact.

  • Inside the receiver

    Splitting open Microsoft's Notebook Receiver reveals the Connect button (the circular button at the top right) and the unit's circuit board.

  • Inside The Receiver - Multiple parts

    The entire assembly of Microsoft's Notebook Receiver version 2.0 includes the front and back casing, the receiver itself featuring the USB port (complete with circuit board), and the Connect button (shown on the bottom).

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Top View

    Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 boasts an ergonomic design and comfortable scroll button.

    Note that the silver button at the bottom is depressed to release the battery cover on this model.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Side view

    Rubberized grip panels make Microsoft's wireless notebook mouse comfortable to use. This model's familiar design, however, is slightly smaller than desktop models to accommodate portability demands.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Bottom view

    Microsoft's wireless notebook mouse features the common holographic sticker that confirms the mouse is genuine Microsoft hardware, as well as four rubberized feet (which hide screws that hold the base and top plate assemblies securely together), a port for the mouse's optical eye and manufacturer, part and serial number information.

  • The scroll wheel

    If there's a better invention since the scroll wheel was added to computer mice, many technology professionals would be hard pressed to tell you what it is.

    Microsoft's invested heavily in its research and design efforts. This mouse, while manufactured in China, was designed in Redmond by Microsoft staff.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Battery cover removed

    Depressing the silver recessed button at the mouse's base enables users to remove the unit's battery cover. A single AA battery is required to power Microsoft's wireless radio and optical eye. The unit's receiver (not shown in this picture), meanwhile, is powered by the laptop or desktop PC into which it is plugged.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Buttons removed

    Careful use of jeweler's screwdriver enables removal of the unit's right and left click buttons.

  • The right and left click button plate

    On Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000, the right and left click buttons are actually part of the same assembly. Here you can see the bottom side of the single piece of plastic that serves as the mouse's right and left click buttons.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Top view without covers

    When the wireless notebook mouse's battery compartment and right and left click buttons are removed, you can see glimpses of the circuit board within.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: The circuit board

    Removing the four rubberized feet from the mouse's bottom cover reveals four Phillips-headed screws. When those screws are removed, the mouse slides apart, essentially in two sections.

    Here you can see the bottom half that boasts the circuit board, scroll wheel, antenna and other apparatus.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: The antenna

    Here's a closeup of the antenna used to broadcast the mouse's movements and clicks to the notebook receiver.

    This Microsoft mouse model broadcasts at 27 MHz and features a reliable range of approximately six feet. The device's optical sensor, meanwhile, reads up to 6,000 frames per second.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Circuit Board Removed

    The wireless notebook mouse's circuit board is easily removed (once the four screws that hold the device together are released). Here you can see the optical LED eye used to track the mouse's movements.

    Microsoft claims this model optical LED eye reads an X-Y resolution of 1,000 points per inch and tracks at a speed up to 15 inches per second.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Top cover

    The mouse's top cover, shown here, serves as the top half of the two plates, or assemblies, that form the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Bottom plate

    The bottom plate, shown here, serves as the bottom half of the two assemblies that compose the Microsoft wireless notebook mouse.

  • Notebook Mouse 3000: Top cover bottom view

    Here's a view inside the bottom of the mouse's top cover. You can see the barrel plastic designed to hold the AA battery to the bottom right. At the top center is the cutout to accomodate the mouse's scroll wheel.

    Also at the top are two somewhat square cutouts. Those accept the plastic tabs from the left and right click buttons and enable clicks to be transmitted as electrical signals to the device's circuit board.

  • The scroll wheel removed

    The scroll wheel itself is smaller than a pawn from a regulation Stanton chess set. This little rubberized wheel, though, likely plays as great a role in daily computing as the pawn does in tournament chess!

  • The Wireless Notebook Mouse: Disassembled

    Following deconstruction, these are all the components that constitute the wireless notebook mouse.

The Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse

Ever wonder how one of the most common wireless notebook mice is put together? Check out this Cracking Open image gallery to learn just what's inside Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000.

Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 is one of the most popular wireless laptop mice.

The device is approximately three-and-a-half inches long, measures just over two inches wide, and is an inch-and-a-third high. Meanwhile, the device weighs almost eleven ounces.
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By Erik Eckel

Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president o...

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