The Razer Sphex is massive, providing plenty of space for your mouse to roam.

More than a mousepad, the Razer Sphex changes the way you game.

If you have an optical mouse and are using a standard mousepad or just a desk, you may see some performance hits.  I’ve had the cursor jump across the screen while surfing the web, and my a surefire headshot has turned into a wild miss because the mouse jumped.

That’s what prompted me to get a gaming-grade mouse pad some years ago.  The Razer Sphex is a fairly new concept to me, not so much an actual mouse pad as a desktop skin.  Razer claims that the Sphex is the “thinnest mousing surface ever.” I see no reason to doubt them.

But does it deliver performance?  (more…)

The Razer Mamba, free from wires, ready to strike (image courtesy Razer)

I’ve been wanting to test out the Razer Mamba since I first saw reports of it at CES.  I love my Razer Lachesis, but the Razer Mamba outpaces it at every step.  The Mamba sets a new standard for wireless gaming-grade mice, in my opinion its better than its direct competitor, the Sidewinder X8.  I glowed about the X8 when I wrote the review in May, and I still like it, but I like the Mamba more.

You may remember I recently had some questions answered about the Mamba from Razer President Robert Krakoff.  I asked him why the Mamba was going to be better than the X8.  His response “That question can be best answered by a side-by-side independent comparison of these two mice. Response times, precision and accuracy, comfort over long hours of competition, battery life and recharging functions will all vary. IMO these two mice are night and day based on personal usage and experience.”

Now there one thing I prefer on the X8 that I wish was on the Mamba and I’ll get to that in a moment, but in terms of gameplay and speed one thing is certain: The Mamba stands alone because it’s faster than fast. (more…)

The Sidewinder X3, a 2000 DPI mid-range gaming mouse. (image courtesy: Microsoft) Click to enlarge.

Microsoft is Sidewinder series has a nice compliment of mice and keyboards, now it’s getting another.  The X5 is a wired gaming mouse; the X8 is a wireless gaming mouse and the X6 is a gaming keyboard.  Those products carry a higher price tag than what some gameres may be interested in paying.

Enter the Sidewinder X3, a wired gaming mouse that retails at $39.95.  The X3 will have a 2000 DPI laser, half the X8’s 4000 rating.

The X3 will have five programmable buttons and will be ambidextrous.  Lefties will cheer its design, while righties will wish that they still had two thumb buttons.  That fifth button is now on the opposite side of the mouse.

The mouse will have macro recording just like the X8, and will also have the added function of doing a ‘quick turn.’  Microsoft’s release says the ‘quick turn’ is “built into the software and lets gamers check their perimeter from wherever they are in the game with the click of a button.”  It should be an interesting feature for FPS gamers.

The Microsoft release makes no mention of having BlueTrack technology, that could be in an effort to keep its MSRP down.

You should be able to pick one up starting in May.

Razer Mamba glows on the charging dock. (image courtesy: Razer) Click To Enlarge

The Razer Mamba is one of the products I’ve been most looking forward to: a wireless mouse from a company whose mice I love.

Every mouse I’ve gotten my hands on from Razer, I’ve liked.   I still use the Lachesis that I reviewed in January, and the DeathAdder that I reviewed is possibly the most comfortable mouse I’ve ever gamed with.

The Mamba is now available at some retail outlets, and I had the chance to ask Robert Krakoff, Razer President, some questions about the development of their flagship mouse.

Matt Schuler: How long has the Mamba been in development?

Robert Krakoff: We actually began on the Mamba 8 years ago. Over time we started and stopped often, as both external and internal wireless technologies advanced. Finally in 2009 these all came together. (more…)

The Explorer Mini Mouse has a distinctive look and is capable almost all situations. (click to enlarge)

After reviewing the gaming-oriented Microsoft Sidewinder X8 and being so pleased with its BlueTrack Technology, I knew that the Explorer Mini Mouse had potential to become my favorite ’small mouse.’

Microsoft was kind enough to send me one to try out, and in almost every situation it’s been superb.

There are obvious places where a mouse like this would work, paired with a laptop that you take on the go, as a compliment to your home theater PC (HTPC), or even as a normal desktop mouse.  But I would definitely caution, you’re not going to get amazing gaming performance out of this mouse, because it’s just not designed for that.   There are other mice in the same price range that would be much better suited for gaming performance.

That doesn’t make the Explorer Mini Mouse a bad choice, but you have to know what you’re going to use it for in advance. (more…)

Log on to a FPS server and say you’re using a wireless mouse.  Then disconnect out of shame from the thumping you just took from the people online.  The internet can be a cruel place, especially for gamers who don’t want a cord running from their mouse to the back of their PC case.

The Microsoft Sidewinder X8 is a gaming mouse that’s attempting to change the way gamers think about wireless mice.  It combines all of the key gaming features into a wireless package, that I feel succeeds in a big meaningful way.  This mouse dishes out a ton of awesome (and yes I know that’s not really a noun).

(more…)

There are two types of Adder snakes.  One, is your common European viper, or “any of various other venomous or harmless snakes resembling the viper.”  The other will kill you–that’s why they call it the death adder.

Count Razer’s mouse in the latter category.  Much like my very own recently reviewed Razer Lachesis, there is a lot to like about the Razer DeathAdder.  In fact, I actually find it a little bit more comfortable than the to move around the pad because of its shape and size.

The DeathAdder will help you wage endless war on your opponents.

Read on for the rest of the review.

(more…)

When you’re gaming on a PC or a Mac sometimes a good peripheral can make all the difference. When you point your cursor somewhere, you want to make sure you hit your target and not your teammate.

I’ve almost exclusively purchased Logitech mice in recent years, but now I can say I may not go back.

Read on for my review of the Razer Lachesis.

The Razer Lachesis provides precise movements.

(more…)