I’ve been thinking of buying a Bluetooth mouse for my MacBook for a while now to let my MacBook be dongle-less when using a wireless mouse (I use a regular RF Microsoft wireless mouse right now). So, I decided to buy the relatively new Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 that is a Bluetooth mouse that also has PowerPoint controls on the bottom of the mouse as well as a laser pointer at the front off it. It seemed like a good combination of features for me. The box did not indicate Mac compatibility but its product web site mentioned something about how its magnifier works under Mac OS X. This seemed somewhat promising.
I’m using the Presenter Mouse 8000 with the MacBook now. But, all is not as you might expect. Here’s what I did…
The documentation does not talk about setting up the mouse for either Windows or Mac OS X. So, it was no help. The CD that came with the mouse included a Mac OS X DMG file to install. That was a good sign. I installed it and rebooted as directed. Then, I brought up Systems Preferences, went into Bluetooth settings and tried to detect and pair it with the mouse. I tried this several times (including going to the Bluetooth settings menu through the Keyboard and Mouse settings area). Unfortunately, it did not seem to find the mouse no matter what I did (and, yes, the mouse power switch was on). Finally, I turned off the MacBook’s integrated Bluetooth radio and plugged in the Bluetooth USB dongle that came with the mouse. The mouse started to work immediately without any configuration. So, much for the dongle-less Mouse idea (yes, it would have been safer to buy an Apple bluetooth mouse).
I brought up Microsoft Office 2004’s PowerPoint next to test it with the mouse. Unfortunately, it PowerPoint controls on the bottom of the mouse do not work with PowerPoint for the Mac. Surprisingly, the volume control buttons do work.
The product’s one saving grace is that its USB dongle is not in the same odd wide shape as the regular Microsoft notebook mouse that partially blocks other USB devices from being plugged into the MacBook’s other USB port. So, I may end up using it as my primary MacBook mouse. But, it does not get me the dongle-less state I was searching for and the PowerPoint features aren’t any use on my Mac.
I drive PowerPoint and Keynote with the Apple Remote, through the Mira application (http://twistedmelon.com/); it provides full customization of what you can do with your remote, much more than just using FrontRow...
Yeah, just use the apple remote. It just works.
Is there a Make/Break Connection button on the mouse? Was it held while pairing?
I assume that the mouse has links to the Windows software to run shell scripts or something for those PowerPoint buttons, so they probably wouldn't work on a Mac anyway. Don't forget that Bluetooth 1.2 update from a while back < http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/bluetoothfirmwareupdater12.html > that made those Dlink BT adapters unable to be used by Windows. That could be part of this issue, if the buttons are not tied to software scripts and are sending actual commands.
The same thing frustrated me when i first got the MS Presenter mouse 8000. I tried searching forums on how to get bluetooth to work, and continued to try it out until it dawned on me that it might be possible to get them to communicate with each other similar to the way a phone and a bluetooth earpiece connected to each other
hold down the reset-looking button on the mouse until it begins to flash, then try to pair and search for it normally through your bluetooth settings on the mac.
It took me a few tries and finally got it to work, even had to restart the mac a few times (darn windows restart!). But once you pair it with the mac, you'd have to re-pair it with the dongle if need be. Just hold down the buttons on both the dongle and the mouse then move the mouse and click on the buttons a few times until they recognize each other
Hope this helps
I have running the Presenter Mouse on my MacBook Pro with the internal Bluetooth adapter. It's working fine, except the PowerPoint controls which do not work. Here you can find a step by step installation guide:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=249841&page=2
Joachim: There's a small white button on the bottom to the right and slightly below the on-off switch with a Bluetooth logo next to it. And, yes, I tried pressing it during the pairing process. Good suggestion though.
Ben: Yep, I tend to (against my better judgement sometimes :-) to install all updates from Apple when I see the notification. So, I have the BT 1.2 update installed.
You could just take it back to where you bought it, and tell them it doesn't work and that you would like a refund. Keep looking until you find something that does what YOU want it to do. If enoguh people do this, maybe the manufacturers will begin to get a clue.
Chris: Thanks for the pointer to the MacRumors Forum item about getting the Presenter Mouse to run with a Mac. Will read through it and take a whack at getting my new mouse working after I get back home (back to packing up now).
Isn't the included apple remote control a much easier solution?
Danny: Is the the Apple Remote easier to use as a wireless mouse? No, it isn't :-) Easier as a presentation controller? Possibly. Couple of things to consider though. It is also much easier to lose/misplace. I've already done that a time or two. It may, however, also be harder to use for some people (particularly as we grow older) because of its small size for a variety of reasons. And, I really wish Apple had provided some simple out-of-the-box way to store it right in or on the MacBook itself.
Well, I can get my MBP to "see" the mouse, but the pairing fails... How did you manage to get it to actually pair?
Suggestion works. There's a small white button on the bottom to the right and slightly below the on-off switch with a Bluetooth logo next to it. And, yes, I tried pressing it during the pairing process. Good suggestion though.
Thanks for the review, I was really thinking about purchasing this mouse for the exact same reasons you had, but got antsy when it didn't say anything about OSX compatibility.
Hopefully Microsoft will actually fix this problem and get it working out of the box with OSX, instead of forcing all these hacks.
There is a new version of intellipoint software (intellipoint 6.2) that supports the presenter buttons on the bottom, but so far it only seems to work with powerpoint presentations. I would like to use keynote. Anybody done any sleuthing to get it working with keynote?
It pairs just fine, but only if you hold in the pair button for several seconds. The light on the top will start to flash different colors, and it is then trying to pair.
I just bought one of these in a rush (i showed up at client and had no mouse, which means 50% slower performance for me - i grabbed the MS 8000 simple because it was the only Btooth mouse Staples had on the shelf)
Similar problems to you: Didnt work dongle-free, and when the dongle popped out, it was near impossible to re-pair with the thing. At least I havent figured it out yet.
However, I will say that when it WAS working, I tested out the Powerpoint features, and they worked right out the box. You just have to fiddle with the 'presenter mode' switch on top. I got it working once, tried all the features, then tried it again, and couldnt get it to do the same. Its annoyingly fiddly. Plus, it makes a ugly squeaking sound when you left click. Not cool.
Ahh. just got it working again. Thanks to the people here helping to get this thing run on the mac. next step = dongle free, then squeak fix (hopefully)
There is a hack on the web to get it to pair without the dongle. Just google "microsoft presenter 8000 mac os x" for some tips. I link into the main one on my blog.
Just browse device, add to favorite.
Then stop and restart bluetouth on Macbook ... everything will work.
Just browse device, add to favorite.
Then stop and restart bluetouth on Macbook ... everything will work.
I bought the same mouse for use with my laptop. Although the supplied instructions are brief the website explains that the dongle is pre-paired with the mouse so you just plug it in and go. However, if you want to use it with your laptop's builtin bluetooth you need to turn the mouse on and press and hold the "connect" button (grey circle under the power light on the mouse). When you have pressed it long enough it flashes red and can be detected by your laptop.
Try it and you'll be dongle free like me. Enjoy
I finally found a technique in a forum that worked for me:
Turn on the mouse
Press or hold down connect button until light flashes alternating red and green
Click Bluetooth tray icon; Browse Device...
If the device "Mouse" is not in the list click search, then click browse.
Next to search button it will say "Device does not have the necessary services."
Click Cancel; Quit Bluetooth File Exchange
Open System Preferences; Bluetooth; Devices section
Settings section; Click the device ID in the list of your mouse, Add to Favorites
Turn Bluetooth Off, Turn Bluetooth On
Light should stop blinking and the device will show up with status "Connected: Yes" in bluetooth device list.
(big thanks to macrumors user viper0440)
I also installed the latest IntelliPoint software for Mac OS X, which let me configure the pointer speed and reprogram the side buttons (one to open Dashboard and the other Expose).
Why did I repave my MacBook? I've been hearing great things about VMware Fusion. VMware Fusion lets you run Windows in a virtual machine on Mac OS X. It is the VMware equivalent of Parallels. I've been anxious to try it. It is supposed to boot a BootCamp partition but I kept getting a "Raw Disk Creation Failed" error message so I decided to start from scratch. It's working great with a virtual hard disk.
Any idea if this is working as of now? I'd really like to get it working on my MacBook Pro!
Just took the plunge and bought this device for my MacBook Pro. Connects without dongle very easily out of the box. Went and downloaded Intellipoint 6.21. Presenter functions work with powerpoint 2004 very nicely. Seems to work with iTunes as well. Dunno about configuring other programs though - there does not appear to be an interface in the driver panel to customize the back presenter buttons for anything else. Oh well. Enough works for me not to return the device to Best Buy.