It can be sublime…
When looking for a high performance mouse,
most people particularly gamers tend to see just how many buttons they will
have to play with. While there is practicality in this approach, what with
taking some controls away from the keyboard and assigning them to the pointing
device, the idea that more working parts mean more can go wrong is accurate
quite often. And, when it comes to a mouse, buttons are working parts…
SteelsSeries
Kinzu Pro Edition Mouse
SteelSeries take a different approach,
pretty much across their whole range of products. They don’t try to squeeze
every possible thing onto a mouse unit. Rather, they produce items that work
well, thanks to their simplicity.
The Kinzu V2 Pro Edition is such a mouse.
When reading on the packaging that the device is developed in close
co-operation with leading gamers, one would assume that it has all kinds of
bits added to it to make it appear extremely impressive. But, when you get down
to it, this is a simply shaped device that sports three buttons… one of them
being the scroll wheel.
So, what makes the Kinzu so special, then?
Well, instead of concentrating on added extras, SteelSeries put their efforts
into what really counts: performance. The sensor in this cabled mouse performs
3200 counts per second, with an acceleration of 30G. The speed works out to 65
inches per second, which is really fast. The device also allows for two preset
sensitivities, which are changes by a fourth button situated behind the scroll
wheel.
Two presets may seem a little light, but it
really is more than enough you either want fast speeds, or slow speeds,
realistically, and setting between the two is quicker than flicking through
numerous preset options.
Using this lightweight mouse is great –
it’s comfortable, ambidextrous design means that it not only allows for
extended playing without fatigue, but anyone can use it. Left handed folks
often battle to find an effective mouse, thanks to some extremely fancy
ergonomic designs, but this one works for anyone. In addition, the high
performance Teflon feet mean that it almost literally glides over any surface,
meaning even less work and strain in gaming or day to day use.
The biggest challenge that faces the Kinzu
is the fact that it doesn’t necessarily look the part. Quite honestly, the
appearance of this mouse belies its abilities, and people have a habit of
judging books by their covers. Seeing is believing with the Kinzu, which goes a
long way to prove that complexity doesn’t always equate to quality. It may be
really simple, but it provides exactly what the gamer (and any other user)
needs: performance and accuracy. And that’s what really counts in the end.
At a
glance:
Summary
It might not look the part, because it is very simple. But the
Kinzu is a great high performance mouse.
Tech Specs:
- 4 buttons
- 2m cable
- 3200 CPI
- 30G acceleration
- 2 CPI presets
Manufacturer: SteelSeries
RRP: $45.8
Pros: Sensitive, Comfortable,
Ambidextrous
Cons: Perhaps too simple for some?
Score: 89
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