First Impression
Well I have to say that seeing the RAT line of mice for the first time totally blew me away. I finally have found a mouse design that takes into consideration your 2 outside fingers that usually end up dragging on the mouse pad making aiming a very difficult thing to do. Not to mention all of the other great design features built into these mice.
The first thing you notice looking at the RAT 7 is the non solid look it has and I mean that in a good way. Each section of the mouse is adjustable or interchangeable with other parts and it kind of looks like a transformer mouse.
The Frame
The frame of this mouse is made from solid lightweight aluminum which creates a very stiff and rigid core. Inside of this core is where the five 6 gram weights are kept that allow you to add or subtract weight to give you a perfect feel. If you don't use all of the weights at once the extras can be stored in a supplied case.
Performance
The Cyborg RAT 7 is one of those high end gaming mice that comes with 5600 dpi sensitivity along with a new generation "twin Eye Laser" sensor that has the ability to read each axis separately and can track up to 5.4 meters per second. No matter where you set your sensitivity the RAT 7 will always track precisely.
Grip Position
Whether you grip your mouse by the palm or the claw method you will be able to find the perfect ergonomic fit for your hand. The RAT can be adjusted in its length by moving the palm piece in and out. Also, the thumb plate can adjusted in and out from the body and forwards and backwards to give you perfect positioning for your thumb. In addition to these adjustments you can choose between 3 pinky plates for want of a better word that keep your outer 2 fingers off of the mouse pad. One plate is far wider than the other so personal preference will play a role here.
A Weighty Issue
As mentioned earlier, this mouse comes with five 6 gram weights that can be accessed from the rear of the body. Simply unscrew the rear nut and install or remove the weights to the amount that you find comfortable. One of the neat things that this mouse has is a tool that sits in the rear and can be accessed by unscrewing it. With this tool you can adjust all the plates by turning adjustment screws in or out. When you are done just replace it so you never lose it.
The Buttons
This mouse gives you 6 programmable buttons along with the 2 left and right keys on top. The thumb scroll wheel can be configured to do whatever you want like change weapons, spells or whatever you want.
Smart Technology Software
This mouse has 4 dpi settings that max out at 5600 dpi, 3 savable profiles and 1 button on the thumb that I call the "sniper shot" button. When you see your target and are going to set your cross hairs on it press this button and it will automatically decrease your sensitivity by 50% so you’re not going back and forth trying to get the target lined up. A great Idea! The only drawback to this design is that the profiles are saved and if you unplug it and move to another computer you have to reload the software on that computer as well as nothing is saved in the mouse.
An Overview of What it does
Three types and sizes of palm grips to choose from.
Three Swappable pinky grips to use.
Thumb rest is able to be moved in and out also up and down.
The unit is weight able, this is most important in gaming.
Left and Right click
Center click
Center scroll wheel
Thumb scroll (two way "up/down")
Forward and back buttons
What I call the "sniper shot" button on the thumb.
Mouse profile button
Dpi up and down
This mouse when set up for your hand will most likely be the most comfortable mouse you have used to date. If you have a problem with your current mouse with your fingers dragging on the pad then this mouse will solve that. You also get a storage case that comes with the mouse to keep all the parts that you are not using in a safe place.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg Command Unit Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
Showing posts with label saitek cyborg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saitek cyborg. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Saitek Cyborg Command Unit Review
Keypad Controller
The Saitek Cyborg Command Unit game pad controller tops out at 8 inches tall, 5.5 inches wide and is about 1.5 inches off the surface. This unit comes with a total of 21 buttons of which 20 are programmable.
Game Pad Layout
This mini keyboard is designed for a right handed person, i.e. uses the mouse with the right hand and uses the keyboard with the left hand when gaming. The defining feature that makes this so is the thumb rest on the right side of the pad which can not be changed over to the other side. The thumb rest is very interesting in that there are 2 buttons that lie underneath your thumb and there is a thumb use joystick, albeit a mini one. There is a very healthy wrist rest that even the largest of hands should have no problem using this pad.
The overall takeaway from the layout is total ergonomic comfort. The back of the unit has a couple of pad strips that are covered in rubber to keep the unit in place during fast and furious action. If you use this device on your desk on the opposite from where your computer is you might have to reconfigure your equipment positioning as the USB cable is a bit shorter than most peripheral cables.
In the upper left hand side on the controller is a mode switch that allows you to toggle between FPS, Role Playing and MMO. Each one of these settings creates a different color on the board and they are Green, Yellow and Red. The keys of this board are laser etched and the light shines through with good efficiency for easy viewing in low light conditions.
The 18 main buttons are arranged in a layout normally found on the left side of a normal keyboard. Above the 11 main keys are the F1-F4 keys. There are 3 more keys that sit to the left of the main body of keys and above those 3 is the mode button. The other 3 keys are the 2 keys that are on the thumb rest and a key on the right side of the wrist pad. The thumb control area has a 2 way tilt function and can be slid forward and back.
The keys are mostly black with the WASD keys being silver. All of the keys are numbered and this will correspond to the action given it. The wrist rest area has a red stripe that lights up in the center. The key that is on this rest is your shift key and it is palm activated. This will take some time to get used to no doubt. The good news is that when you do get comfortable using your palm that frees up a finger for other keystrokes. One thing to note is that when the mode switch is changed and the keyboard color changes the red stripe on the wrist rest does not.
While the thumb joystick is useful, I would think most people will still use their mouse as it is more responsive in this case and it will reduce the number of things that your left hand has to do.
Configuration
Probably the best feature of this device is the SST programming software that you use to configure your pad for gaming as it is extremely easy to use. Just install the drivers and it will prompt you to plug in the unit. After installing test all of the keys and then install the software. You can use as long a macro as you wish and use as many shift states and profiles as you want. With the 3 modes and 21 keys you can program 144 commands. The only annoyance with this software is that you have to re-load the profile after a reboot of your system.
Conclusion
As with all of Saitek's products you will get a 2 year guarantee on the Cyborg Command Unit. Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros:
Backlight Colors of Red, Green and Yellow
Easy to Configure with the SST software
Custom Macros, up to 144
Cons:
For Right-Hander’s only unless you want to forgo the thumb rest
Short USB Cable
Commands Reset after You Restart Your Computer
Soft Keys (Don't make a "click" sound when pushed)
I would recommend this to anyone who has a lousy keyboard and was thinking of an upgrade to a gaming board but can't afford to go over say $45. This would also be an upgrade for a laptop application as well. But if you already have a decent gaming board I would not recommend this device.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg v5 Review Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
The Saitek Cyborg Command Unit game pad controller tops out at 8 inches tall, 5.5 inches wide and is about 1.5 inches off the surface. This unit comes with a total of 21 buttons of which 20 are programmable.
Game Pad Layout
This mini keyboard is designed for a right handed person, i.e. uses the mouse with the right hand and uses the keyboard with the left hand when gaming. The defining feature that makes this so is the thumb rest on the right side of the pad which can not be changed over to the other side. The thumb rest is very interesting in that there are 2 buttons that lie underneath your thumb and there is a thumb use joystick, albeit a mini one. There is a very healthy wrist rest that even the largest of hands should have no problem using this pad.
The overall takeaway from the layout is total ergonomic comfort. The back of the unit has a couple of pad strips that are covered in rubber to keep the unit in place during fast and furious action. If you use this device on your desk on the opposite from where your computer is you might have to reconfigure your equipment positioning as the USB cable is a bit shorter than most peripheral cables.
In the upper left hand side on the controller is a mode switch that allows you to toggle between FPS, Role Playing and MMO. Each one of these settings creates a different color on the board and they are Green, Yellow and Red. The keys of this board are laser etched and the light shines through with good efficiency for easy viewing in low light conditions.
The 18 main buttons are arranged in a layout normally found on the left side of a normal keyboard. Above the 11 main keys are the F1-F4 keys. There are 3 more keys that sit to the left of the main body of keys and above those 3 is the mode button. The other 3 keys are the 2 keys that are on the thumb rest and a key on the right side of the wrist pad. The thumb control area has a 2 way tilt function and can be slid forward and back.
The keys are mostly black with the WASD keys being silver. All of the keys are numbered and this will correspond to the action given it. The wrist rest area has a red stripe that lights up in the center. The key that is on this rest is your shift key and it is palm activated. This will take some time to get used to no doubt. The good news is that when you do get comfortable using your palm that frees up a finger for other keystrokes. One thing to note is that when the mode switch is changed and the keyboard color changes the red stripe on the wrist rest does not.
While the thumb joystick is useful, I would think most people will still use their mouse as it is more responsive in this case and it will reduce the number of things that your left hand has to do.
Configuration
Probably the best feature of this device is the SST programming software that you use to configure your pad for gaming as it is extremely easy to use. Just install the drivers and it will prompt you to plug in the unit. After installing test all of the keys and then install the software. You can use as long a macro as you wish and use as many shift states and profiles as you want. With the 3 modes and 21 keys you can program 144 commands. The only annoyance with this software is that you have to re-load the profile after a reboot of your system.
Conclusion
As with all of Saitek's products you will get a 2 year guarantee on the Cyborg Command Unit. Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros:
Backlight Colors of Red, Green and Yellow
Easy to Configure with the SST software
Custom Macros, up to 144
Cons:
For Right-Hander’s only unless you want to forgo the thumb rest
Short USB Cable
Commands Reset after You Restart Your Computer
Soft Keys (Don't make a "click" sound when pushed)
I would recommend this to anyone who has a lousy keyboard and was thinking of an upgrade to a gaming board but can't afford to go over say $45. This would also be an upgrade for a laptop application as well. But if you already have a decent gaming board I would not recommend this device.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg v5 Review Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Saitek Cyborg v.5 Review
Basic High Quality Design
The Saitek Cyborg v.5 keyboard will not wow you with gadgets and gizmos like some other higher end gaming keyboards but will satisfy the need for a good quality lower end gaming board.
It doesn't have an LCD screen like a Logitech or pass through USB and audio connections and the keys work on a membrane, not the noisy mechanical switches of higher end boards. This lack of features is offset by an abundance of ergonomic style that has made it a favorite among the gaming community helped along by its comparatively low price tag.
One of the features that this board has is its backlit keys. There are two illumination settings with which to chose from, a low to a higher red color. When this feature is turned on and you are in the dark, the light shines through the lettering symbols on top of the keys. This is great for playing at night and helping you to keep your bearings. Some of the illumination shines up from below around the keys as well and gives a very cool glow across the keypad. One drawback but hardly a concern for gaming is that the volume controls are not backlit. Usually once these are set you should not have to adjust your volume while in the game.
The keys on this board are great to use even though they are not especially responsive like mechanical keys, but compensate with a very smooth feel. If you are not used to using a keyboard that is this smooth it might take a bit of time but you will find it very comfortable to use. Another nice thing about this board is that there are no stand alone macro keys crammed onto the board so that you don't get a bunched up set of keys like some other higher end gaming boards. You will not have to readjust yourself to a new key pattern like some other gaming boards.
This keyboard is capable of recording 12 macros for the people in this world who use them and can be assigned to the function keys for added flexibility in games. It also has a polling rate of .5 KHz which is half of what most other gaming boards have but you will not notice the difference unless you are a hard core gamer. At my level it works just fine. Another good thing to have and this board does, is the anti-ghosting feature for the AWSD keys.
If you do not need the color changing controls like the Logitech G110 has or the LCD screen of some other boards or the pass through USB and audio, the mechanical key design or the separate macro keys, then for the price, this board is one that will serve you well. It's not flashy but it is very comfortable to use and is well built and robust. It is about as perfect a board as you will find for doing what most people need and still be a decent gaming board.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg Review Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
The Saitek Cyborg v.5 keyboard will not wow you with gadgets and gizmos like some other higher end gaming keyboards but will satisfy the need for a good quality lower end gaming board.
It doesn't have an LCD screen like a Logitech or pass through USB and audio connections and the keys work on a membrane, not the noisy mechanical switches of higher end boards. This lack of features is offset by an abundance of ergonomic style that has made it a favorite among the gaming community helped along by its comparatively low price tag.
One of the features that this board has is its backlit keys. There are two illumination settings with which to chose from, a low to a higher red color. When this feature is turned on and you are in the dark, the light shines through the lettering symbols on top of the keys. This is great for playing at night and helping you to keep your bearings. Some of the illumination shines up from below around the keys as well and gives a very cool glow across the keypad. One drawback but hardly a concern for gaming is that the volume controls are not backlit. Usually once these are set you should not have to adjust your volume while in the game.
The keys on this board are great to use even though they are not especially responsive like mechanical keys, but compensate with a very smooth feel. If you are not used to using a keyboard that is this smooth it might take a bit of time but you will find it very comfortable to use. Another nice thing about this board is that there are no stand alone macro keys crammed onto the board so that you don't get a bunched up set of keys like some other higher end gaming boards. You will not have to readjust yourself to a new key pattern like some other gaming boards.
This keyboard is capable of recording 12 macros for the people in this world who use them and can be assigned to the function keys for added flexibility in games. It also has a polling rate of .5 KHz which is half of what most other gaming boards have but you will not notice the difference unless you are a hard core gamer. At my level it works just fine. Another good thing to have and this board does, is the anti-ghosting feature for the AWSD keys.
If you do not need the color changing controls like the Logitech G110 has or the LCD screen of some other boards or the pass through USB and audio, the mechanical key design or the separate macro keys, then for the price, this board is one that will serve you well. It's not flashy but it is very comfortable to use and is well built and robust. It is about as perfect a board as you will find for doing what most people need and still be a decent gaming board.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg Review Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
Saitek Cyborg v.7 Review
Saitek makes It Real
When we set out to put together a gaming system a lot of thought goes into what components to use, and what peripherals to choose. Yet when it comes to the keyboard most people settle for the piece of junk that they had with their previous system thinking it will do. Yet it is the keyboard that is the main input connection to the computer and if you are a gamer this input becomes critical. So, why do people overlook this very important part of the system? Because they don't know any better and most people, even gamers don't realize that the keyboard can be a high performance piece of gear that will make a difference in performance and in ease of typing for non gamers.
Here Is What the Cyborg v.7 Can Do
First off, this keyboard features multicolor back lighting called Tru-Vu illuminations that allow you to create the mood you want by mixing shades from red through amber to green. There is also a touch sensitive control panel to configure your lighting scheme, volume and media controls. Certain keys such as the WASD, cursor and number pad keys can be independently lit from the rest of the keyboard so you can easily pick them out in an instant.
Some other features of this keyboard are 12 programmable keys for storing useful macros such as opening your e-mail or internet or for some game battle function. There is a pass through USB, audio and microphone sockets so you never have to crawl behind your computer again. There is also an adjustable wrist rest and a keyboard angle adjustment for the front and back of up to an inch. Finally, something no other keyboard has at least by my knowledge is that the main gaming keys that are used have metal top to help with the wear and tear that happens with extreme gaming.
The key design for this board is of the membrane type which results in a very positive and quiet usage but you should note that this board is designed for gaming. There are two modes for this keyboard, normal and Cyborg game mode. When you are in game the Windows keys are automatically disabled and you can also now adjust the lighting scheme to suit your tastes. When not in game mode you can't adjust the lighting.
Cyborg V7 Keyboard Main Features
12 programmable Macro keys
Multi-color backlighting 3 colors
Touch-sensitive, backlit media control panel
Independent keyset illumination
Game mode key
Enhanced multiple key presses in gaming areas for complex in-game commands.
Adjustable wrist rest and keyboard rake angle (front and back).
Powerful ST Profile programming software
Pass-through USB, audio and microphone sockets, gold plate connections
Cyborg Macro keys placed on both sides of the keyboard
Drawbacks Of The Cyborg V7
There have been some negative things noted with this keyboard, but all in all I would say they are a minor nuisance. One gripe is the user manual is not very instructive and does not offer any good usage advice. Also, the software tends to be weak in the user interface area and in the profile editor area. It has also been noted that some of the gaming keys are sub standard such as the gaming keys and the space bar. Another nuisance is that the profile editor has to be re-opened and re activated every time the computer is restarted.
In a nutshell this is a decent keyboard for gaming but could use some improvements in the software and the space bar feel.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg Review Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
When we set out to put together a gaming system a lot of thought goes into what components to use, and what peripherals to choose. Yet when it comes to the keyboard most people settle for the piece of junk that they had with their previous system thinking it will do. Yet it is the keyboard that is the main input connection to the computer and if you are a gamer this input becomes critical. So, why do people overlook this very important part of the system? Because they don't know any better and most people, even gamers don't realize that the keyboard can be a high performance piece of gear that will make a difference in performance and in ease of typing for non gamers.
Here Is What the Cyborg v.7 Can Do
First off, this keyboard features multicolor back lighting called Tru-Vu illuminations that allow you to create the mood you want by mixing shades from red through amber to green. There is also a touch sensitive control panel to configure your lighting scheme, volume and media controls. Certain keys such as the WASD, cursor and number pad keys can be independently lit from the rest of the keyboard so you can easily pick them out in an instant.
Some other features of this keyboard are 12 programmable keys for storing useful macros such as opening your e-mail or internet or for some game battle function. There is a pass through USB, audio and microphone sockets so you never have to crawl behind your computer again. There is also an adjustable wrist rest and a keyboard angle adjustment for the front and back of up to an inch. Finally, something no other keyboard has at least by my knowledge is that the main gaming keys that are used have metal top to help with the wear and tear that happens with extreme gaming.
The key design for this board is of the membrane type which results in a very positive and quiet usage but you should note that this board is designed for gaming. There are two modes for this keyboard, normal and Cyborg game mode. When you are in game the Windows keys are automatically disabled and you can also now adjust the lighting scheme to suit your tastes. When not in game mode you can't adjust the lighting.
Cyborg V7 Keyboard Main Features
12 programmable Macro keys
Multi-color backlighting 3 colors
Touch-sensitive, backlit media control panel
Independent keyset illumination
Game mode key
Enhanced multiple key presses in gaming areas for complex in-game commands.
Adjustable wrist rest and keyboard rake angle (front and back).
Powerful ST Profile programming software
Pass-through USB, audio and microphone sockets, gold plate connections
Cyborg Macro keys placed on both sides of the keyboard
Drawbacks Of The Cyborg V7
There have been some negative things noted with this keyboard, but all in all I would say they are a minor nuisance. One gripe is the user manual is not very instructive and does not offer any good usage advice. Also, the software tends to be weak in the user interface area and in the profile editor area. It has also been noted that some of the gaming keys are sub standard such as the gaming keys and the space bar. Another nuisance is that the profile editor has to be re-opened and re activated every time the computer is restarted.
In a nutshell this is a decent keyboard for gaming but could use some improvements in the software and the space bar feel.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets as well as product information. Want to learn more about Saitek products, go to: Saitek Cyborg Review Or visit my website at Saitek Cyborg for more information about Saitek products.
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