Razer Diamondback Mouse

The bar has been raised when it comes to the mouse. It is no longer a question of whether a mouse has enough features, but actually whether the instrument is responsive, comfortable, and has the options the user will need.

Razer has been a brand name that ensures great quality mice. The company recently released the Razer Diamondback Mouse, a sleek and comfortable PC peripheral. The mouse comes with software that installs a console for refining the control experience. There are three tabs, on the console, that deal with sensitivity (you can set the mouse up to enable you to change the sensitivity setting on the fly), the scroll wheel (speed of the wheel) and buttons (you can assign the mouse for right- or left-handed use, as well as reconfigure the mouse’s nine buttons from a preselected list of nine commands).

There is also an easy tab for updating the mouse software.

In addition to the scroll wheel/button and two flanking buttons on the top, the Diamondback has two clickable buttons on both the right and left sides of the mouse. Unfortunately, they are a little sensitive and because the mouse is thin, measuring only approximately 1.5 inches in height, a strong grip on the mouse can end up triggering the buttons by accident. On the plus side, though, because the buttons are programmable, you can easily manage functions for the buttons.

The bottom of the mouse is made from sleek, high-impact plastic with Teflon ‘feet’ that glides easily over a variety of surfaces.

Other features of the mouse include:

• 1800dpi infrared sensor

• 6400 frames per second (5.8 megapixels per second)

• 16-bit ultra-wide data path

• Up to 40 inches per second and 15g of acceleration

• Seven-foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord

• Approximate size: 129mm (length) x 63mm (width) x 38.5mm (height)

The elongated nature of the mouse is comfortable on mid-sized hands and even younger users thought it “felt nice” in their grip.

But, as with any mouse, the proof is in the performance and in that regard, the Diamondback shines. This is a fast and responsive mouse. It was used in a variety of games, from shooters (Call of Duty) to space (EVE Online) MMOs and fantasy MMOs (EQ II) as well as Guild Wars (arena combat). In every instance, commands were immediately realized with on-screen action – something that was not always the case with the Diamondback’s wireless predecessor (made by another company).

A mouse is one of those peripherals that is often taken for granted. When you run into one that fails to respond quickly, you know it. Conversely when you find one that is comfortable and fast, you may realize how responsive it is, but you tend to ignore it and settle more firmly into the game – which is the response that the Diamondback elicits. After a while, you forget you are using it and focus on the game. That is a hallmark of a truly fine peripheral.

Pros:
Slim, sleek and comfortable in the hands, the Diamondback has a nice set of options and is very responsive.

Cons:
The buttons on the side of the mouse are too close to the griping area, sometimes resulting in unwanted hot-button triggers.

Overall: 9.2
While the side buttons did cause an occasional problem, the mouse’s shape is comfortable in the hand and the features, while not overly deep in terms of onboard memory storage and macro’ing, are still solid. But more importantly, this mouse is fast. The on-board sensitivity setting (for adjusting it on the fly) is a boon. The Diamondback, much like its serpentine counterpart, is a fast attacker and a delight to use.