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Keyboards and Mice and...something else oh my
Alecthar
Alan ShoreWe're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
Alan ShoreWe're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
So I recently pulled the trigger on by far my most expensive PC build ever, and I'm pretty excited. The problem is that my current computer is a 4 year old laptop paired with a 4 year old Logitech G5 (only 1 thumb button! It's like I'm from the 1800s or some shit!).
What I'm getting at is that it's high time I had a new mouse (despite the fact that the G5 I have still works perfectly, because apparently the things are rock-like in their longevity and resistance to abuse) and an actual keyboard. Unfortunately, I haven't really kept track of who's building the nicer mice/keyboards these days. I'm familiar with perennial favorites like Logitech and Razer, and I've heard good things about Steelseries, but I'm given to understand that Gigabyte and OCZ are making stuff now? It's a wild world.
So basically I'm calling in the help of the Tavern: recommend me some stuff, yo. In mice I prefer a heavier feel, I'm a righty and having a mouse that's not ambidextrous is fine. In keyboards I'm willing to go with what people think is great, I'm extremely trusting of the will of the masses. I'm unwilling to spend more than $200 between the mice and keyboard, but other than that go (recommend like) crazy.
What I'm getting at is that it's high time I had a new mouse (despite the fact that the G5 I have still works perfectly, because apparently the things are rock-like in their longevity and resistance to abuse) and an actual keyboard. Unfortunately, I haven't really kept track of who's building the nicer mice/keyboards these days. I'm familiar with perennial favorites like Logitech and Razer, and I've heard good things about Steelseries, but I'm given to understand that Gigabyte and OCZ are making stuff now? It's a wild world.
So basically I'm calling in the help of the Tavern: recommend me some stuff, yo. In mice I prefer a heavier feel, I'm a righty and having a mouse that's not ambidextrous is fine. In keyboards I'm willing to go with what people think is great, I'm extremely trusting of the will of the masses. I'm unwilling to spend more than $200 between the mice and keyboard, but other than that go (recommend like) crazy.
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I absolutely adore mine.
I do approve of things which are fancy...
You and your mustache have intrigued me, Jones.
Battle.net
As for a keyboard, I'm one of those suckers that bought a Z-Board. I have to say, it's served me well over the past two and a half years, but some of the keys are starting to die. The only real difference with keyboards is simultaneous keystrokes and multimedia keys or whatever. I tried to use an old IBM Model-T I had sitting in my basement, and while I loved it, not being able to press more than two keys at a time totally ruined the way I've adapted my computing. Also, surprise, the lack of the Windows key was a huge deal breaker.
Peer into my mustache of truth.
I use it on a black computer desk with no mouse pad or texture, and it tracks flawlessly. I'm also a sucker for the red LEDs. :P
A Unicomp Customizer.
No multimedia keys, and unlike its ancestor (the IBM Model M) it uses USB.
It's actually pretty cool, because my mother is the least computer-literate working adult I know, but she recognized the similar design of the G5 and the G500 and bought it as a present.
So, keyboards. That's an interesting thing there, Barraketh. I'm not desperately in love with the aesthetics, it looks like something I'd sit down in front of in an underfunded elementary school's woefully outdated computer lab, but there's a certain charm in that I suppose.
Battle.net
You know how I said that its ancestor is the IBM Model M? Those keyboards were common on those [now] old computers in computer labs (the IBM PS/2 was at my elementary school). The design was eventually sold to Lexmark, then to Unicomp (the company that made my keyboard).
It's basically a new Model M with some minor differences. That also means it's a clicky keyboard (buckling spring) like the old Model M, and you could bludgeon someone to death with it and have it still work afterwards
But yeah, it has an antiquated look because of where (and when) the design came from. But clicky keyboards feel one hell of a lot better to me, and the noise isn't an issue. It was also cheaper than more aesthetically pleasing keyboards like the Das Keyboard, though still pretty pricey ($81 including shipping). Then again, it should last for years like the original ;-)
Before I sold it, along with every other piece of my desktop, for moving money, I had a G15 and loved it.
The G15 is quite good, but keep in mind, it takes up a lot of desk space. A lot. At least the older model, however, comes with two USB ports for the one it takes.
PSN: TheScrublet
Indeed. The first edition I have is huge. Isn't the new one smaller, though? They removed a good portion of the assignable keys, from 18 keys to about six. Either way, I am impressed with the keyboard and will probably buy the latest version when I have the chance.
Either that or the G19. I had forgotten about that one until now.
I've read about some people having issues making out the key lettering in lit rooms, do you find that to be true? I'm a touch typist, but not necessarily a great one, and I like to be able to see for passwords and such.
Battle.net
Battle.net
I also have one and no, that's not an issue. It IS easy to accidentally turn off the key lights, which might be their problem. Me, the only issue I've had is I've worn off the top of the D key such that it doesn't show "d", but instead a glowing blue blob.
Apparently I dodge right too much. :P
Keep in mind the USB ports on the G15 aren't powered (that would require the keyboard itself to be plugged into the wall) so you are limited in what you can use them for. For example I can't daisy chain my G13 into the G15 and save a usb port on the computer.
Odd choice? ODD CHOICE??? I desperately want one of those. Useless crap aside (LCDs, back lighting, etc), that's probably the best keyboard around (for those who doesn't care about clicky keys).
There's also a quick ini hack out there to turn the zoom function between the key sections into a scroll function. I hardly use it, but I'd prefer to scroll as I never zoom.
Stormwatcher, keep an eye on a few different online retailers, I got mine from Directron for almost 50% of retail when it was on sale. It was an OEM box so there was no pretty packaging, just a brown box, but I don't care because I just wanted the keyboard.
Dude, good choice. Favorite keyboard.
Not a bad choice, I think. I had to replace my G15 with a wireless keyboard after I made a setup to connect my PC to my HDTV, and I went with the Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000. The keyboard is a similar shape, though it doesn't have the total break in the middle.
My main problem is that I like Brazilian Portuguese keyboards (ABNT 2), it makes my job a lot easier when you have the ç ^~´`keys easily at hand. I don't know if MS brought that model here. And, anyway, my MS Internet Pro is still pretty good after 10 years.
Instead of a mouse tho, I brought in an unused Wacom Intuos3 I had at home for my desk, using the stylus instead of a mouse relieved more strain for me than using an ergo keyboard.
At home I have a deck legend-105 gold (linear cherry switches) that I frakin love. My favorite keyboard ever. My mouse is a logitech G9, tho the G500 is really tempting... the more thumb buttons I can get the better.
I always have to recommend either getting a daskeyboard or a deck legend to people asking about what keyboard to get. Down with membrane keyboards!
Thanks for the heads up on these Deck keyboards. The Deck 82 looks like exactly what I wanted to go with my laptop.
It's fantastic for big fisted idiots like me, no more of that tiny Logitech crap.
BTW, I'm thinking of replacing it, for something with more DPIs and watsits and thingamajigs.
I was set on the latest G500, but a few conflicting reviews confused me. Anyone here has one? How awesome is it?
I checked the Razer site, and I fancied the Imperator... what do you guys think of it?
Second post in thread!
Seriously though, unless you're one of those guys that plays exclusively competitive games and feels it necessary to drop in excess of $100+ on a gaming mouse, the G500 is about as awesome as you can get. It's got the standard Logitech G-series feel, with a laser and some buttons.
My experience with Razer mice indicated a light weight feel I'm not fond of. I'm someone who put the heaviest possible weights into my G5 about half an hour after I started using it.
Obviously your mileage may vary, though. Some people like that feel.
Battle.net
Hum, silly me. So, the apparently dumb reviewer complained about the 3 button cluster at the side and that the wheel is too sensitive even when clicking. Did you have problems with those, or were the dude being a silly goose (I tend to believe the second option, but doesn't hurt to ask).
I have an MX500 (the original awesome Logitech mouse) and I love it.
As for the scroll wheel, I've seen two complaints - the first is that it takes too much force (IMO it doesn't, though it is slightly stiffer than the MX510 I was using before), the second is that you can press the scroll wheel sideways while trying to press M3. While I suppose the latter can happen, in my experience it isn't an issue unless you're not accustomed to those being buttons and press the wheel left or right as you start to middle-click, and in games that aren't using the left/right scroll for anything (none of them by default) it isn't an issue since the middle-click still registers.
After binding the mouse buttons in TF2 (had to use the mouse software to emulate key presses since TF2 wouldn't recognize all of them) it didn't take but one long session for me to stop making any unintentional left/right scroll presses.
Shogun Streams Vidya
What problems are you having with it? I am using one at the moment, and after a week or two of use it seems to have settled quite well for me. It's not without its faults but I would still recommend it to people who want a nice keyboard.
The touch pad is a complete disaster. Mine lasted several months before my touch-pad went batshit insane. I hope you have better luck. Also sometimes a random key will stop working. Only solution is to replug the keyboard. I would not recommend this keyboard to my worst enemy. I've loved all my razer mice but I hate this keyboard minus the backlight.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Razer's laser mice are a bit problematic. The sensor used in them (even in the overly expensive Mamba) has numerous issues...the Mamba couldn't even track properly on some of Razer's own pads at release. I think there was a two-year period of Lachesis firmware updates to try and fix the Z-axis tracking issue (both incorrectly detecting lift-off and always moving in the same direction when you do so), and they even told users to remove that sticker that's around the sensor (there's a PDF with directions somewhere on Razer's site).
Their optical mice are fine other than some of the issues with the buttons messing up (most commonly its the mouse registering more than one press even though it was only pressed once), but they're good about repairing/replacing the mice if that happens.
Though I suppose I should actually be asking if anyone really wants to talk that much about this stuff.
Battle.net
I've been selling people on the Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 as the best cheap ergo keyboard for typing.
I also have a few original IBM Model-M and even one of the rare Dell Model-M keyboards. If I could buy an Ergo model-M let alone back lit I'd be in heaven.
For a mouse I use a simple MS optical-oem mouse, it gets the job done well. I am tempted to get a track man, I had an original serial model back in the day and it was great. I'll probably get one when I get a laptop.
Thanks for the heads up. My backlight turns itself off randomly on reboots, but other than that I haven't really noticed any issues with it. On that note, I think I'll take back my recomendation of it until I've used it for a while. If you are still using it they just released 3.00 drivers, it might help with some of your problems.
The Razer Mice made me a fan of most of their stuff. I have a whole bunch of Razer stuff. Overall their build quality seems to improve over generations. The Megaladon build quality is far and above the Barracuda headset that I used to own. And the Mamba feels more solid and has the nice fibre-ish cables. My biggest complaint with the Mamba is the pathetic battery life. Thank god you can use the cable to use/charge the mouse.