Logitech G500s
Evolutionary, not revolutionary
Price: $80
The G500s is Logitech’s latest version of
its highly successful mid-range gaming mouse, the G500. The button placement is
basically identical, with four thumb buttons, a couple under your pointer and a
single dpi swapper/scroll wheel lock. As expected, Logitech’s excellent scroll
wheel is present and accounted for; not only does it scroll left and right, but
it can also be unlocked into a free-spinning mode for web page scrolling.
Logitech
G500s
The major upgrade is invisible, with the
use of a new Avago S9808, sensor. Rated up to 8200 DPI, it’s the equal of the
best in the market, an impressive accomplishment at this price point. Other
than this it’s business as usual, including the once-innovative weight tray.
At the same price as our beloved
SteelSeries Sensei, unfortunately the G500s doesn’t do anything exciting enough
to get our nod. It might have more features on paper, but in the all-important
feel-test, comes second best to the Sensei.
Logitech G500s specs
·
Logitech Scroll Wheel
·
8200 DPI sensor
·
Weight tray
·
Almost identical to G500
Verdict: 7/10
We wish Logitech had done a full refresh,
rather than just stick a new sensor inside each of its gaming mice.
Logitech G700s
Here comes another one…
Price: $120
Unlike the G500s, the G700 remains one of
the top mice on the market, so we’re happier to see this refresh even though it
suffers from the same lack of change of its little bro.
Logitech promises a 1ms response time for
this wireless mouse, but we still highly recommend sticking with the USB cable
for the ultimate in smooth panning. 13 programmable buttons are close to the
maximum that builders can squeeze into a mouse. Setting these up via Logitech’s
new config software is a breeze, and there are incredibly deep macro options
for those who want to cheat – oops, gain an advantage.
Logitech
G700s
So far, so identical to the G700, but in
the crucial sensor area the G700s steps up to the plate. The same Avago S9808
sensor found in the G500s is featured here. It might not be cheap, but with
plenty of buttons, the option of wireless play and an industry leading sensor,
the G700s remains one of the market’s most desirable mice, even if it is nearly
identical to its predecessor.
Logitech G700s specs
·
8200 DPI sensor
·
Wireless
·
Rechargeable battery included
·
Wireless
·
Rather heavy
·
Button placement isn’t perfect
Verdict: 9/10
Same killer features, shiny new sensor. The
G700s remains one of the most feature-rich mice.
Razer Orbweaver
The gaming keyboard redefined
Price: $120
Considering keyboards are designed for
inputting characters into a computer, and not moving virtual bodies around
virtual spaces, it’s surprising there aren’t more devices like the Orbweaver.
It sits under your left hand, totally replacing the keyboard. Some users will
probably use the 16 keys that sit at your fingertips to simply replicate WASD
keys, but they’d be missing the true potential of the Orbweaver.
Razer
Orbweaver
There’s a thumb-stick that can do the job
equally as well, yet requires the use of just a single digit. This in turn
frees up all four of your left hand fingers to operate the keyboard while
you’re moving, turning you into an upwardly mobile killing machine. It takes
several days to get accustomed to, but you’ll soon be throwing frags while
dolphin diving over fences.
Unfortunately, the lack of a keyboard means
you can’t really type messages, but with VOIP commonplace in most PC games,
that’s an issue that is easy to ignore.
Razer Orbweaver specs
·
Frees up four fingers
·
Super comfortable
·
No trolling text chat
·
More expensive than a keyboard
·
Right handers only
Verdict: 9/10
Finally, there’s a viable alternative to
the keyboard, custom-built to deliver even more control.
Razer Ouroboros
The transformer of mice
Price: $125
This has got to be the first mouse we’ve
ever used that necessitated the reading of the manual first. With more sliding
panels and folding sections that an Autobot, it’s built to be stretched and
shaped into the perfect receptacle for your mouse hand. That includes lefties,
as it’s ambidextrous, a rarity among premium mice.
Tucked away inside is a single rechargeable
AA battery, as the Ouroboros can be run in wireless mode. Once again we hear
grand claims about zero latency, and once again we recommend you ignore them
entirely – cabled is the only way to guarantee totally smooth panning with your
mouse.
Razer
Ouroboros
At heart of this rodent is a potent 8200
DPI sensor, and a nice touch is the ability to calibrate it to your given mouse
surface. If you’re looking for a mouse that fits like a glove no matter what
kind of stance you prefer, and has a high performance sensor within, the
Ouroboros does the job, albeit at the highest end of the pricing scale.
Razer Ouroboros specs
·
Excellent sensor
·
Highly customizable ergonomics smooth glide pads
·
Very angular design
·
Expensive
Verdict: 9/10
Perfect for even the most deformed hands,
mice don’t get any more customizable than this.
Roccat Isku
Bigger is not always better
Price: $72
You’re going need a desk the size of a
football filed to fit this behemoth. The giant wrist-rest isn’t detachable, so
there’s no way to slim it down.
Roccat
Isku
We’re not surprised by the use of a
membrane behind the keys based on the low price, but that doesn’t make it any
more disappointing. Having said that, there might be PC gamers out there who
prefer these mediocre input mechanisms. A nice touch we’d like to see mirrored
on other keyboards are the three extra buttons under the space bar, within easy
reach of your thumb. These can be used to talk with a Roccat mouse, lowering
the DPI while a button is depressed. Thirteen additional buttons can be used to
record macros or control your media player, but the top rows are way out of
reach of your normal hand position.
The price is right, and it’s not an
abomination, but with so many other excellent keyboards on the market, we can’t
see why you’d decide to let your fingers call the Isku home.
Roccat Isku specs
·
Affordable
·
Three thumb buttons
·
Comfy wrist-rest
·
Absolutely massive
·
Membrane keyboard
·
All plastic construction
Verdict: 7/10
Only recommended if you prefer membrane
over mechanical, and have the desk space to spare
