DESIGN & LOOK:
As usual with Roccat, is the mouse from the first (and also to the last) moment an eye-catcher. At the very first time you connect it illuminates colorful and it would be like a child. The Breathing effect is quite nice, but as already written some reviewers, not quite rounded. The rise and fall of brightness does not look quite linear and soft, but the transition between 'off' and 'strongly dimmed' passes very abruptly. Here you would, in my opinion can still rectify something, but this is (as so often) complain at a high level.
En Another small flaw is (at least in my mouse) that "left behind", at a place where three components abut one another, to opens a tiny gap at a certain point of view, but by the LEDs, so they are at, well becomes visible. Since this is, as I said, only left is the case, it is likely to be an exception - even otherwise, processing acts namely quite good and solid. Dropping I would nevertheless not - but because it is wired, which is not probable.
Despite these two little compromising the look is of course terrific, even though he is a little at the expense of ergonomics. But more on that later.
SENSOR:
I have read before buying that the mouse "freezes" and partially "jumps". The first I could only once observed short with me when the PC was busy, so I do not think it was because of the mouse. The "jump" but I do not actually increased unpleasantly noticeable when I tested the mouse on my old (hard plastic, no-name product) Mousepad. In particular, when the sensor was above the center of the pad, which is quite badly worn and therefore reflects something of the handling of the mouse was an ordeal. On my bare desk but the mouse works since then without reproach, both in normal office use and surfing as well as in games (MW1, MW2, Black Ops tested). I assume that it will remain on the Roccat Taito so ordered.
HANDLING & ERGONOMICS:
In my opinion, Roccat has made a mistake with the decision to establish a mouse ambidextrous simultaneously. Even if, as has been said, the symmetry of the mouse (which is limited only by the impressed Roccat logo on the right mouse button) of the optics is very beneficial, but is at least as much again lost during handling. If one uses the mouse as your any 08/15 model, wants to say without additional keys, is still all right. Most standard mice are indeed also symmetrical. But when one tries (as right-handed), to press the right rear button must either dislocate the little finger in a strange way or slip with the whole hand on the mouse backwards to achieve it. In FPS games this key is therefore usable for most rarely used functions. Not quite so difficult to achieve is the left rear button, here you can still come, depending on hand position, usually with the thumb ran.
In Office mode, the whole thing is a little less problematic, here you have just the time, with his hand to slip back slightly (honestly, you get used to it), to reach the keys. With practice, the (optional) Easy Shift key combinations are not an insurmountable problem more. More on that later.
One last small drawback is the pivot of the modifier keys: it is more or less under the keys themselves - is to say: if you try to press the keys at an angle from above, you will fail in most cases. Rather, they need to be pushed from below obliquely upwards, about direction middle finger. My "instincts" corresponds to the not at all, but for others I can not speak. Best to try just once on the hypothetical own mouse.
But it is well known, used to everything, so also because, even though itself were speaking the form of buttons in my opinion rather a pressure downward direction - then the printing surface would indeed be much larger.
EASYSHIFT [+]:
Buyer mouse I held EasyShift unnecessary and cumbersome and had shut down before it (which, incidentally, goes smoothly in order to avoid any confusion). However, when I mouse held in hand and went to the driver, I changed my mind. The temptation of an almost doubling of functions is simply too great. It should be the beginning, for example 'Easy Shift button + mouse wheel' associated with the Windows volume. If you press the mouse wheel, the sound will be deactivated or activated. So leave out the driver a lot of really useful features spread over the keys, what a really saves in many cases much Rumgehackte on the keyboard or fidgeting with the mouse.
When playing but I have disabled this function on my part. Too big is the danger that one, in an attempt to press any EasyShift combination, accidentally pushes any wrong keys or distracted for too long. In addition, of course, is playing too large a number of modifier keys, and functions -kominationen anyway confusing, so the attention is reduced and the reaction time increases. But that's not a problem of the mouse.
Amazed me that you can only use the right or left rear modifier key as Easy Shift button. Seis drum - I have the function as set from the outset, leaving on the left rear button.
Another plus for me is the fact that the mouse immediately changes to blue lighting, when you press the Easy Shift button.
DRIVER:
The drivers were for me the main reason in choosing Roccat, and they have become my expectations in almost every way. I'll take it right away: What disappointed me a little, was the control of the colors. Kone owners are there certainly accustomed Other. One can:
- Lights generally single, off
- Breathing Effect Activate, deactivate
- Adjust color, there are seven choices. Small drawback: The colors in the driver not quite corresponds in some cases the reality, then (in the extreme case) a bright orange in the driver actually a lighter green
- ... Or instead activate paint circulation. Another drawback: If the Breathing effect is off, the color change takes place suddenly, without the slightest recognition of a soft transition
- In the event of Farzirkulation the time interval between changes (1 x Breathing / 5 sec or 2 x Breathing / 10sec or 3 x Breathing / 15sec)
Whether this is sufficient functionality, is a matter of taste, I would have anyway, for example have liked the option to adjust the color in each of the four "color slots" independently.
Otherwise, the driver stopped what Roccat promised, including macro editor and Game Profiles, with the latter first, more slots I (here are five) and secondly with any profile more "trigger-applications" would have wished, ie: you can for a profile define a maximum of three applications (.exe), the current profile is changed when executed in the foreground (!). If the application ends or changes in the background, is the "Windows Profile" to change back. For Windows profile, you can appoint one of its five saved profiles.
The page for the key assignment is clear and self-explanatory. It can be switched by pressing a button between right and left handed mode with all additional functions are retained and are taken over a mirror image.
In addition, you can find in the driver of course all the basic settings such as DPI, sensitivity and mouse speed, scrolling distance and even double-click speed.
CONCLUSION:
All in all I think this mouse although for a successful hybrid product ambidextrous, at the same time I am of the opinion that in the gaming sector from the manufacturers as little compromise as possible should be made, which is why Roccat done better would have to make the mouse more ergonomic and either produce only for right or in another model also for left-handers. Too bad that one of Roccat possibly because drivers and Design staunch non-hardcore gamers who want to spend not too much for a mouse (ie no Kone), like me, here sacrificing handling must accept.
Nevertheless, she does her job (with me) excellent work accurately and reliably, is robust and looks stunning, so I'll (of course!) To keep, and they fully recommend it to anyone, who read my review and has decided that he, how can I live with the little weaknesses of this product is. What stands out in addition to everything positive said, is that the mouse (at least for me) has no major problems. In my search for a gaming mouse mid-priced I'm not (!) Product encountered that is not at least one such has (in Kone as the mouse wheel). Sad but true.
All the more gratifying that I have met with the Kova [+] is the right choice.
Thanks for your patience to read my review!
--- EDIT: 9. 2, 2012 ---
For over a week now, the mouse now works in the meanwhile arrived Roccat Taito, as it had been to be expected, unopposed.
