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[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The dog may be man’s best friend, but a mouse is a gamer’s best pal. The market is flooded with mice that promise high resolutions and dead-on precision in the digital battlegrounds. Every company offers something extra to attract a potential buyer, be it the adjustable weight cartridge from Logitech’s G5 line, or the “triple threat button” from OCZ Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse, that allows the user to shoot a virtual weapon three times faster then normal. We tested the latter and its impressive range of sensitivity – from 400 dpi to 2500 dpi – that can turn any lousy shot into a digital marksman.
Figure 1: the OCZ Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse.
The Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse from OCZ is USB dual engine laser mouse that is suited for both right and left-handed users. It features six dpi levels: 600, 800, 1,200, 1,600, 2,000 and 2,500 dpi. It has a beautiful metallic blue sheen that didn’t carry any fingerprints after three weeks of testing. It’s always shining new. The mouse is light and comfortable, and there’s a rubber grip for the right thumb area. The 6-feet (1.8 meters) long cord is very, very thin – which can be good for intense moving around, but still screams fragility.
Figure 2: OCZ Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse top view.
The scroll wheel is a bit tiny but lights up in a series of colors to indicate the current dpi level (white: 600; green: 800; yellow: 1,200; red: 1,600; blinking red/yellow: 2,000; blinking green/yellow: 2,500). To change the sensitivity just click on the button bellow the scroll wheel. Above the right thumb position there are two buttons for forwards and backwards commands when web surfing. All those buttons can be reconfigured using the Equalware application (more on that later). Beside the scroll wheel there’s the orange “triple threat button” that does double duty: when gaming it allows the user to fire three shots with a single click; when running Windows applications it turns the double-click into just one click to open files and programs.
Figure 3: OCZ Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse bottom view.
[nextpage title=”Installing the mouse”]
The Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse is a true out-of-the-box piece of equipment. Just open the package, plug in on a vacant USB port and run a FPS game of your choosing (ours was Battlefield 2) to begin having fun. No installation disk required. As soon as the digital bullets started flying we were already giving three shots per click just as the box promises and changing mouse sensitivity according to our strategy.
When we got tired of gaming (ok, actually when we realized there was work to be done), we proceeded testing button configuration using the Equalware application. We assigned the forwards/backwards buttons above the thumb rest to “copy+paste” while running Word, and “prone position” when playing Battlefield, so we could try to dodge incoming fire hitting the ground fast. It’s also possible to change the vertical and horizontal sensitivity if you are into extreme customizing.
Figure 5: Equalware application.
Figure 6: Advanced button configuration.
[nextpage title=”Playing with the Equalizer”]
Now to the good stuff: playtesting (emphasis on play). Right on we selected the pistol while playing Battlefield 2 and pressed the triple threat button – down went an unsuspecting enemy passing by. The pistol, which is only good for close range shots to the head, turned into a lethal weapon as you can spend a whole clip on an enemy with a few clicks. Heavier weapons such as the assault rifle can deliver quick bursts of fire that can put down an armored adversary with a few carefully aimed clicks. Nice.
The great range of sensitivity increased our performance and precision. We used the lower settings (400 and 800 dpi) for careful aiming; and the higher settings (1200 dpi and above) to gain a faster response from heavy weaponry such as anti-aircraft artillery. No fighter escaped our sights when firing at 2500 dpi – our cannons moved otherworldly fast. You have to pay attention to the blinking scroll wheel to know the current sensitivity.
We tested the Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse on a variety of surfaces, including a wooden table, leather couch arm (when connected to a laptop), wall, glass window and even a T-shirt. It didn’t work on the glass window, but even on the T-shit it performed flawlessly thanks to its dual laser engine. The table and wall were treated with the same respect by the mouse.
In final analysis, the OCZ Equalizer Laser Gaming Mouse stands at the top with other great gaming mice such as Logitech’s G5. It’s a step ahead with its triple threat button and great precision due to the dual laser engine. The blue metallic sheen gives a modern/futuristic feel that will catch the eye of both gamer and casemoder alike. Our only gripe is the thin cord that doesn’t feel that much resistant.
[nextpage title=”Specifications”]
- PC USB laser corded mouse
- Tracking Resolution: 2,500/2,000/1,600/1,200/800/600 dpi (user selectable)
- Image Processing: 6.4 megapixels/second
- Maximum Acceleration: 20g
- Maximum Speed: 45 inches/second (115 cm/s) (depending on surface)
- Assignable buttons: 4
- Right and left-hand usage
- Connection: 6-feet (1.8 meters) long USB cable
- Weight: 3.7 oz (104 g)
- More information: https://www.ocztechnology.com
- Average price in the US*: USD 40
* Researched at https://www.shopping.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
Strong Points
- Beautiful metallic sheen with a rubber grip for the right thumb.
- Enhanced gaming experience on FPS games like Battlefield, Medal of Honor, and Counterstrike.
- Easy button configuration.
- Useful to other applications other than gaming.
- Real out-of-the-box experience.
Weak Points
- Tiny scroll wheel
- Very thin USB cord.