Purchasing Mouse + Keyboard

[Limited]

Alrighty so my new screen is looking real slick on my desk, my keyboard and mouse however are huge eye sores...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cRy26NRmyDk/TEQ2Ve_en3I/AAAAAAAAAKs/XDBoLNAOsj4/s1600/microsoft-optical-mouse.jpg

http://4msu.com/tc862/catalog/images/keyboard.jpg


So I'm thinking about purchasing a new set that suits my black Samsung screen. I'm thinking of getting a Microsoft Sidewinder X8 mouse. Looks real crisp has a decent amount of buttons (but not too much), wireless and rechargeable all that stuff. Its definitely a stepup from my current mouse.

Microsoft Sidewinder X8 (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160244)
http://www.gamingcentral.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sidewinder-x8.jpg

About the keyboard, I like the looks of the Logitech G19, I love the fact you can change the key colour (I'd probably have red then swap to blue when I get bored of it). I'm not a fan of the screen on it though, I much prefer the G15 style screen where its 'build-in' and has that command prompt style.

Logitech G19 (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158917)
http://brain.pan.e-merchant.com/4/9/04136994/l_04136994_002.jpg

So if any of you has any of them, what are your thoughts or f you have any other nice equipment you'd recommend.

[Bodzilla]

I've got the saitek eclipse II as a keyboard and it's beautiful.
it's a keyboard thats not to far from a regular keyboard, it's just built really well with really good backlit keys, you cna change colour, dimm them if they're too bright at night and control your songs in media with a few buttons on the keyboard as well.

arguably unless your going to be programming your buttons on the G19..... then your just paying more for stuff you dont use.

And i'd stay away from microsoft mouse's.... never EVER had any luck with ANY MS mouse i've ever had.

[Amit]

I agree with Bod about the Keyboard since I have the Eclipse II as well. I generally agree with the mouse statement as well. I have used the Sidewinder x8 extensively and it's a great mouse, but there's nothing special about it for the price you would pay. My friend bought his for $50 CAD last August. If you're gonna put out the big bucks for a mouse, get a Saitek R.A.T. series mouse.

The R.A.T. 5 (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-035-SK) is around the same price point, but has twice the DPI and features. You WILL get a better mouse from Saitek than Microsoft. I've never had any issues with Microsoft mice AT ALL, so I'm not sure what sort of problems Bod had.

[Limited]

Cheers for the advice.

I'm not a fan of the R.A.T mice really, I'm used to a really bog standard mouse thats really light so I don't feel I'll need to weight one down alot, and I really do like that Sidewinder X8, my friend got one recently (which is why its come to my attention). I'd buy it on Amazon for £41 + whatever postage that doesn't seem too bad for a mouse.

I agree with you about the keyboard saying I won't use all the G19's functionality, I will never really use the screen I have my pc's performance meters on my second display so theres really no point. I do quite like the Saitek keyboard you spoke about, though I have spotted a Logitech G110 (http://gamingweapons.com/colourful-new-logitech-g110-keyboard/) which seems to be a cut down version of the G19 and it also has functionality for headphones which would be useful to me. I wish the Saitek Cyborg (http://gamingweapons.com/saitek-cyborg-keyboard-review/) had a colour option of blue because I think I'd go for that if it did.

Oh god theres a Saitek Eclipse 3 (http://gamingweapons.com/saitek-eclipse-3-review/) that I also like....I'm the worst at making decisions.

Edit: I'm really shying towards the G110, the G keys can be assigned macros but also LUA scripts (so I can make them load certain programs, i.e. notepad, chrome or code a small script to hold a keypress etc).

[Warsaw]

I prefer a more minimalist look, so I went with a Logitech Slim Illuminated keyboard after I got tired of my original Saitek Eclipse I. It's also why I usually look at RAZER mice first and every body else second; their mice don't look busy. Officially, Saitek's Eclipse line actually doesn't refer to the gaming keyboards any more (including all the ones we just mentioned), it refers to these (http://eclipsetouch.com/).

[Amit]

I hate the way Saitek has gone with their products these past few years. Where the hell are all the new and innovative joystick? Mice are cool and all, but give me the damn joysticks. I guess they reached a point where they can't do better than what they already have. I hate all keyboards from saitek that came after the eclipse II. The cyborg looks like a piece of large junk. The eclipse 3 looks to be almost the same thing with less Christmas colours.

[Warsaw]

I do like the Eclipse Touch keyboards, though. As for joysticks, I own the AV8R, and it works beautifully. I don't honestly know what else you need apart from force feedback. The X-52 Pro is still a great system, too. Saitek also makes a fantastic throttle quadrant.

[Amit]

It's too bad it costs so damn much just for a panel with a small amount of buttons on it. You can easily spend $2000US on just supplementary peripherals to the flight yoke.

[Limited]

Cheers for the advice guys, I've decided to order the Sidewinder X8 mouse and the Logitech G110 keyboard, the keyboard is half the price of the G19 I was originally going to get so thanks :)

Mouse should be here tomorrow and the keyboard Tues or Wednesday.

[Rook]

You didn't consider a Logitech g500? ;v

[t3h m00kz]

Sidewinder mouse's design is pretty decent.. though the one I had broke. They sent me a new one, not exactly as fancy, all the buttons are plastic, but it's held up pretty well, and I'm still using it to this day. Honestly I barely ever touch the dpi settings.

I've seen that keyboard around. I'd like one, but it seems way out of my price range. All I really want out of a keyboard is a small size (due to my limited desk space) and media keys. Recently got the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 3000 V2, because it had just that. Pretty nice, though it doesn't light up when caps lock is on, it gives you an on-screen prompt.

[ThePlague]

I'm with those people talking about the RAT 5. I just got one a few weeks back, and this thing is great. Once you get the settings right on it (weight, palm rest, DPI, etc.) this thing is a beast. I downloaded a bunch of game profiles for it, and it makes games like Bad Company 2 way easier to handle. It was a little bit pricey, but imo it was worth it.

e: didn't realize you already purchased something.

[Bastinka]

Imo, flat-key keyboards are much nicer. I can't stand the old, standard, 'tall' keys for some reason. For a mouse I sport some crazy Logitech mouse similar to this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104390&cm_re=logitech_mouse-_-26-104-390-_-Product), and for keyboard I got a Razer Lycosa (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823114004&cm_re=razer_lycos-_-23-114-004-_-Product).

The mouse is really nice and the one I got has adjustable DPI and scroll wheel toggle between smooth scroll like a wheel or the old 'click' gear wheel. I'm in love with this keyboard and am so glad I bought it. First keyboard I ever got with flashing lights, the only downside to it is that the lights are not too bright and it has 3 settings: No Lights, WASD-Light (Cyan) and All Lights (Blue). The biggest downside is that I can't get the beautiful Cyan seen on the WASD key-lighting option to appear on all the keys, however I was able to mod it and bridge the 2 resistors to make the lights brighter, but unable to change color. The greatest turn on about this keyboard, other than the lights, is the feel of the keys. I have no idea what material they used but it's like a soft plastic which feels great to the touch.

For your choices, the Sidewinder Mouse looks nice but no idea how it will feel in your hand - which is honestly all that counts in my book for mice. The Logitech G19, but for the price I would recommend a Logitech G510 (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-920-002530-Gaming-Keyboard-G510/dp/B003VAK16O) - much better and I think you can program the color of the light itself, although it is a non-flat key keyboard like the G19.


My dream Keyboard and Mouse is the Tron ones, if I had the money I would most definitely get these:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-CFOaNtN64


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulg5sG8NHjE


EDIT: Oops, you already purchased. Oh well.

EDIT 2: Holy hell, just saw the R.A.T. 5 (or the 9). That thing looks beastly, almost like a hand-held car or some sort of monster that fits into the palm of your hand.

[Cortexian]

The TRON keyboard and mouse aren't THAT expensive... I was debating getting the keyboard awhile ago but my Eclipse 1 still works well.

[Warsaw]

If the TRON keyboard and mouse had customizable colour lighting or came in orange, I would get one. But no, they had to go with blue. >:|

[Cortexian]

Buy an Optimus Maximus and setup your own TRON theme in whatever colors you want D:

[Warsaw]

I don't have $2000 laying around. I don't even have my computer anymore, since it literally blew up two nights ago. Right after I dropped all my money on a recurve...

[Cortexian]

Next time don't practice with your new bow in the house!!! :ohdear:

[Warsaw]

Don't have it. On order. Certain plugs on motherboards aren't labeled at all (not even in the manual) and also aren't keyed, so I ended up putting 5V at 32A down into my motherboard's grounding layer. Design fail.

[Cortexian]

Ouch.

I'd say use a volt-meter for everything in cases like that, but it's kinda excessive and not everyone has them lol

[Limited]

I'm awful at taking in-door photos :O though its a crappy camera too anyways heres some pictures! (Click for slightly bigger view)

http://limited-development.net/images/setup1.jpg

http://limited-development.net/images/setup2.jpg

http://limited-development.net/images/setup3.jpg

[Cortexian]

Looks great man :)

[Patrickssj6]

Visual Studio looks nice on widescreen :P

[Limited]

Visual Studio looks nice on widescreen :P
Uh Visual Studio isn't open.

[Patrickssj6]

o rly...I am just telling you it's awesome on widescreen