Razer DeathAdder
This is what a mouse should be
Tags: Hardware and Peripherals Categories: PC Reviews, Reviews, Tech Reviews
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Jan 29th, 2007
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware and Peripherals (title page) | |||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| Action | No | ||
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I have experimented with a lot of different mice over the years, and even taken a critical eye to several. It used to be that a basic “point and click” device was all that I needed, and as I progressed in my use of the computer form became a factor as I was using the computer in my daily life more and more. Yes, in this job, there is a lot of typing, but also a lot of pointing and clicking – so much so that being able to comfortably handle the mouse becomes very important.
As I began to use the computer to play a multitude of games (previously I had stuck with adventure games for the most part) I required a mouse that was not only comfortable, but also had good response. I have, over the year now, played a number of different games on the computer with a variety of mice. The Razer DeathAdder is by far and away the best one that I have come across.
Allow me to describe this mouse by way of comparison – with all respect, and apologies, to Douglas Adams. Every time I place my hand on this mouse, I am reminded of the Disaster Area stuntship as it appears in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Black on black, frictionless, and, “one mother of a mover.”
This is the first right handed specific mouse from Razer, where previously the company has done mice in a fashion so as to be ambidextrous. This is wonderful, with many great mice coming from the company. Since there are so many right-handed gamers (and people in general, really) it was decided to put out an ergonomic mouse specific to that wide audience.
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Razer has created a right-handed ergonomic gaming mouse that is perfect for general use as well as for high-intensity gaming. The design of the mouse is such that it fits as neatly in your hand as could be imagined. There are no buttons on the right side of the mouse, so there will be no accidental button pushing or discomfort for the pinky and ring fingers.
I could go on about the long USB cord connecting the mouse to the computer, but suffice to say that it works. The cord is nice and tough and the USB connector is made of gold. There are two buttons where the thumb rests, both easily accessible.
And then there is the performance. I have been using the Razer Mantis mousepad every day and notice a marked improvement when combined with this mouse. Maybe it’s the new Teflon feet because this thing moves like a dream. The response is terrific. The action is quick. To say that the DeathAdder is a gaming mouse would belittle it – this is more than that, it is a high performance tool.
The biggest downside is the price. At $60 it does seem steep for the “casual” gamer, or those looking to have a decent ordinary mouse for everyday use. For musicians it is the difference between a solid state Peavy amp and a vintage tube Mesa Boogie. For furniture makers it is the difference between pine and oak. It’s not just getting the job done, it’s getting the job done well.
One thing that strikes me as odd is the illuminated Razer insignia on the mouse. The mousewheel is illuminated in a type of soft electric blue, which is fine. The insignia, however, throbs in and out of existence. It’s a rather intimidating thing, actually but as soon as your hand is on the mouse, that visual feature is covered up.
The Razer DeathAdder is fantastic. It’s going to take a great deal of effort by the competition to surpass this. A great deal of effort…
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ Right handed ergonomic form fits wonderfully in the hand + Precision performance + Damn cool |
10 |
| What Doesn't | |
| - $60 (but you do get what you pay for) | |
| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| If I had a lifetime supply of these mice I would be happy. I defy you to find a better mouse at the price. | |
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Tags: Hardware and Peripherals
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Jan 29th, 2007 and is filed under PC Reviews, Reviews, Tech Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
