Blazing Mice and Blasting Sound
Plenty of people upgrade their computers- they get a new video card, new hard drives, maybe even a fancy LCD monitor. But they forget to update a few components that really matter- the mouse and the speakers. Too often, people use their computers for gaming machines and have an OEM mouse suitable only for occasional use. Or they listen to music and watch movies on speakers that destroy any recorded nuance, bass, or treble.
We say- don’t forget these items when looking at what to get for your machine. Great speakers, and a comfortable mouse, can make as much difference as a nice monitor or a decent chair.
For gaming mice, precision is the key. Most important are smooth rolling, a high DPI (dots per inch, a measurement of how often the mouse checks it’s position), and an ergonomic design (of the buttons as well as the body itself). Logitech’s MX518 laser mouse is their latest in a series of peripherals aimed at gamers.
With a DPI of 1600 (equal to that of the much more expensive Razer Diamondback), and seamless buttons (no edge for your dust or grit to get into) we found it an excellent device for both work and play. Reasonably priced at $50, this mouse features some interesting features like adjustable sensitivity so that you can press a button and change from a really quick movement to a “sniper’s” slow and precise mode. The black and crushed dark silver design wasn’t all that attractive, but the solid construction make it one of our favorite mice on the market. Perhaps too pricy for non-gamers, it’s definitely worth considering against other, more expensive gaming mice out there.
Another recent Logitech offering is the Z4 speakers- a 2.1 set, which means you are getting a subwoofer along with your left and right channels. We found them to be suitable for a wide variety of applications, and both easy to setup and good-looking (apparently silver and black are the colors of the year). The included remote is nice, offering an accessible bass and volume control, and easy to reach headphone and auxiliary input jack (for use with, say, an iPod). The sound is clear, balanced, and distortion-free, even at the highest volume levels. The subwoofer is a little large, considering that it isn’t as powerful as some may want, but we give high marks to the quality design (metal bases instead of plastic, for instance, add points).
You may want to consider stepping up to 5.1 speakers if you plan on watching movies or playing the latest games (many of which support, and play better in, surround sound). But 5.1 systems in the same price range as the Z4 are typically underpowered or underperforming and you often need a new soundcard to make them useful- if you have a limited budget, stick to 2.1 and wait until the larger systems come down in price.
