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A baker's dozen of mice, all still in possession of their tails

Subject: General Tech | May 14, 2012 - 03:43 PM |
Tagged: input, gaming mouse, logitech, saitek, razer, roccat, corsair, epicgear

A sampler of gaming mice from a wide variety of companies is now available at Hardware.Info, which can be a handy tool for those looking for a new mouse.  No longer is it  choice between Logitech and Microsoft, the list of companies supplying the mice includes A4 Tech, Corsair, Epicgear, Razer, Saitek and more.  If you want a large heavy mouse, one designed for macro button programming or a mouse you can adjust into a variety of shapes to ensure the most comfortable fit for your hand then this roundup has you covered.  There is no winner, as everyone wants a little something different from their own mouse but if you'd like an idea of what is out there then they have you covered.

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"To many computer users the mouse is just a necessary little tool for operating their computer. As long as it has two buttons and a wheel and the cursor goes where it's supposed to, most people are satisfied. Gamers are more demanding, however, in terms of comfort, performance, and features. We reviewed 13 gaming mice to find out what's currently out there.

A decent mouse is crucial for the serious gamer, that is why we are in the habit of regularly doing a round-up of the latest gaming mice. The 13 mice in this comparison test vary quite a bit in price, from £45 to £69. It’s a pretty big difference, which should mean that the performance and features should differ significantly as well. The only way of finding this out for sure is by a thorough test. And that’s exactly what we did."

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Source: Hardware.Info

How many mechanical switches before a mouse starts becoming a keybaord?

Subject: General Tech | April 23, 2012 - 04:20 PM |
Tagged: input, mouse, gaming mouse, razer, Naga Hex Expert, mechanical keyboard

Not content with simply having 11 programmable buttons, the 6 removable thumb buttons on the Razer Naga Hex Expert gaming mouse use mechanical switches.  That is not just a marketing ploy however, this will allow very quick response from the buttons as well as giving them a longer life than less rugged choices.  Also included with this mouse is support for Synapse 2.0, the updated Razer mouse driver which Mad Shrimps found quite easy to use. 

If you prefer your mechanical keys on a keyboard then check out what Scott has been up to.

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"The new mouse from the Naga family is Hex and Razer has built it for MOBA and Action RPGs; it comes with 6 extra buttons on the thumb side and 3 different rubber thumb rests are also provided, to suit our needs. The customization of the mouse functions can be realized by using the powerful Razer Synapse 2.0 software, which can be downloaded freely from the manufacturers’ website."

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Source: Mad Shrimps

We are going to need a word describing people obsessed with mechanical keyboards and switches

Subject: General Tech | April 12, 2012 - 01:00 PM |
Tagged: corsair, Vengeance K60, Vengeance K90, mechanical keyboard, cherry mx red, input

If you haven't mastered the ability to identify the difference between mechanical keyboard switches then you should check out Scott's primer on the four main flavours of Cherry.  Then you can cheek out a review of Corsair's Vengeance K60 and K90 keyboards at The Tech Report which both utilize the Cherry MX Red variety and are considered a great choice for gamers.  The big difference between the two models is the array of programmable macro keys which exist on the left hand side of the K90 as well as the rubber dampers which are added.  The Tech Report were not impressed with the dampers, they felt it muddied the keystroke and made it feel more like a membrane type keyboard.  Check them both out in the full review.

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"Join us as we rattle away on the lovely mechanical keyswitches of Corsair's aluminum-clad Vengeance K60 and K90 keyboards."

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Source: The Tech Report

Optical or laser, EpicGear's Meduza can do one or both at once

Subject: General Tech | April 2, 2012 - 02:31 PM |
Tagged: meduza, input, gaming mouse, epicgear

If you can't decide if you prefer an optical sensor or a laser sensor better then EpicGear's new mouse is a great find.  It sports laser, optical and the blended HDST mode which combines them both and offers better sensitivity than the optical sensor though not quite as much as in laser only mode.  They also offer a hybrid mouse pad designed to be used with the mouse, which OC3D also tried out.  The software for programming macros is also worth a mention, not only does it properly record pauses between button presses but is easily editable after you've recorded them, just in case you didn't time it perfectly.

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"Epic Gear are willing to throw their hat into the gaming mouse ring with the innovative Meduza mouse."

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Source: Overclock3D

Can't wait for Diablo III? You can get a D3 mouse to tide you over.

Subject: General Tech | March 23, 2012 - 03:37 PM |
Tagged: input, diablo iii, steelseries, gaming mouse

SteelSeries has released a Diablo III branded mouse for those who are anticipating the upcoming launch of the third instalment of the most popular click-fest on the planet.  That explains the Omron switches under the buttons which are rated for a 10 million click lifespan.  You do have to pay a little more, but if you really want to get into the spirit of Diablo III then check out the review at XSReviews.

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"Diablo III is one of the most hotly anticipated titles of 2012, so it’s no surprise that bigger peripheral makers are jumping on board with their branded products. Today I’m taking a look at the Diablo III gaming mouse. It’s sleek, has a massive sensitivity and should mean I get to spend a few days “testing” it by playing a load of games."

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Source: XSReviews

Cooler Master slims down the mechanical keyboard; check out the Quickfire

Subject: General Tech | March 5, 2012 - 02:57 PM |
Tagged: input, mechanical keyboard, cherry mx blue

The recent move to mechanical keys has really opened up the keyboard market and choosing one is now about more than just a few backlights or media buttons.  Scott has done a great job in showing what is meant by a mechanical keyboard as well as the differences between the main types in a recent article.  One drawback to the mechanical keyboards is their size, they tend to be on the large side and are not the most easy portable of keyboards.  Benchmark Reviews found a keyboard that might offer the best of both worlds, Cherry MX Blue switches on a trimmed down shell.

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"Although mechanical keyboards have been making a comeback in recent years many of the design are quite bulky in comparison to their rubber dome counter parts. Looking to fill this area of the market Cooler Master designed the Storm QuickFire Rapid mechanical keyboard using the venerable Cherry MX Blue switches, fit into a comfortable 14" x 5" design. This makes the QuickFire Rapid perfect for LAN parties or mobile workers who may want a better typing experience than their laptops are able to offer. Benchmark Reviews will evaluate if the Cooler Master QuickFire Rapid is the perfect pint size keyboard or if corners were cut in order to meet size and price goals."

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Source: Benchmark Reviews

Show off your mousing skills in the boardroom with the Genius Ring Mouse

Subject: General Tech | February 28, 2012 - 01:49 PM |
Tagged: Genius Ring Mouse, input, wireless mouse

The Genius Ring Mouse will not win you any CounterStrike tournaments but it will get you noticed in the conference room.  It is not quite the size of a ring but certainly fits well into your hand and the 2.4GHz wireless signal should not run in to any interference.  It operates in two special modes, Presentation Mode and Media Center Mode as well as functioning as a regular mouse.  Techware Labs like the easy control over PowerPoint slides as well as playing and pausing video in Media Center Mode but they did not do so well when they tried StarCraft.

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"Ever wanted a reliable wireless mouse for presentations? The Ring Mouse brought to you by Genius does that and more. The Ring Mouse is an award-winning device for its ingenious design and works as well for the business person as it does someone who simply wants an easy way to thumb through multimedia on their home machine."

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Source: Techware Labs

You can't always write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say ...

Subject: General Tech | February 20, 2012 - 02:15 PM |
Tagged: DIY, model m, input, frank zappa, blue alps sliders

Sometimes hacks and mods are done to save you time and money or possibly both but other times you find yourself stuck in the position of Frak Zappa and cannot find a giraffe filled with whipped cream and have to make it yourself.  Such is the case with this completely made custom keyboard described at Hack a Day, in which every part was either custom ordered or made by the designer themselves.  None of the keys seem to be in their accustomed places and your thumbs will get a workout from all of those keys mounted in the centre of the board but for a programmer this could be the perfect design.  It has taken over a year to build and likely cost more than a mass produced designed keyboard but if you want something done right ...

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"[dmw] posted a pseudo-build log over at the geekhack keyboard forums. Every single part of this keyboard is custom-made. The key caps were made by Signature Plastics, the case was made by Shapeways, and the custom PCB for the key switches came directly from Express PCB. The key switches are blue Alps sliders (one of the best key switches available) with a few white Alps switches taken from an old Apple keyboard."

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Source: Hack a Day

Cooler Master's expanding Storm now features the Xornet gaming mouse

Subject: General Tech | February 6, 2012 - 02:35 PM |
Tagged: input, gaming mouse, cooler master, CMStorm, xornet

The CMStorm Xornet attempts to give you the performance of a full sized gaming mouse in a form small enough to be easily portable.  It still features the 2000 DPI Storm Tactical Optical Sensor that its bigger relatives sport as well as programmable buttons.  Red & Blackness Mods had some trouble getting used to the shape of the mouse, it is smaller lengthwise but much taller than other mice in the CMStorm lineup.  If you find yourself on the road and in need of a gaming mouse, for $30 CoolerMaster might have the perfect solution.

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"Corsair has recently entered the mouse/keyboard gaming peripherals market and decided to make a good impression. The M90 mouse features multiple programmable buttons for RTS/MMO gamers, contains an aluminum chassis for increased durability and comes with the Avago Technologies ADNS-9500 LaserStream Gaming Sensor."

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Source: Red & Blackness Mods

There is an elegance in simplicity; Cooler Master's QuickFire Keyboard

Subject: General Tech | January 26, 2012 - 01:31 PM |
Tagged: quickfire rapid, mechanical keyboard, input, gaming, cooler master

If you prefer keyboards with built in fans, sirens, LEDs and a key count somewhere north of 200 then you might as well skip this review.  Cooler Master not only eschews extra function keys on the QuickFire Rapid gaming keyboard, they've also dropped the numpad.  The keyboard features CHERRY MX blue switches which are intended more for typists, with the red and black varieties more for usage by gamers.  Sporting a quick response time in USB mode and true n-key rollover in PS/2 mode, you won't find yourself dying because the game didn't register a keystroke.  If you are interested in a mechanical gaming keyboard and don't mind paying $80 then check out the review at Techgage.  If you want to shop around then check Scott's reivews on out front page.

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"CM's QuickFire Rapid gaming keyboard is unlike any other. It's not flashy, it doesn't have a bunch of bright LEDs, it has no macro support and... it has no numpad. So what is it that sets it apart? Its sturdy design and use of CHERRY MX blue mechanical key switches. Let's see if those features make up for what's lacking."

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Source: Techgage