The Klipsch ProMedias are good speakers, don't get me wrong. It's just that at the time I got them (ten or eleven years ago), they were pretty much the best thing available in powered computer speakers, and that's not really the case any more. These days there are more heavy-hitting audiophile-grade speaker makers in the game, and in the current market I'd classify the Klipsch ProMedia as good, mid-range speakers. A big step up from the low-end stuff that you find at the big box stores, but no longer a "best in class" sort of product.
I'm still using a set of Razer Mako speakers, which are no longer made. They sound pretty damned good and nestle neatly underneath my three 30-inch monitors. I just installed a *GASP* Creative Labs ZX, replacing an Axus Xonar sound card. The ZX have the output amplifiers from hell (I mean that in a good way.) I get noticeably louder and cleaner SPL out of the Makos at the same volume setting on both speakers and Windows. And the little beam microphone is pretty cool.
Of course the best powered pc-speakers I have used are these: But they are ridiculously expensive and I had to give them back.
This is the mouse I use on my desktop, and I like it too. And I also got it initially for its resemblance to the Intellimouse Explorer, which I relied on for many many years. Mine has silly lights, though.
I think they only added the lights-free version to their lineup fairly recently. It's nice--matte black plastic with rubberized sides and a subtle, black-on-black logo. I also use their "Kabuto" mouse pad, which is super-thin and floppy with a soft, rubbery back. I find that the soft rubber plus lack of rigidity keeps it from moving around on my desktop. Their product names, though, sound like something a teenaged boy might scrawl on the cover of his textbook during a particularly dull math class. "Razer Deathadder"... lol.
Elyscape -- I mentioned in the OP, but I'm quite happy with both my Roccat Kave 5.1 headset and the Kone XTD mouse. The mouse in particular is pretty much perfectly shaped for my hand. <3
I had one, it broke after a month, but had some fun messing with people with the voice modulator thingie..
For those who have the Deathadder, do you have a problem with opening hyperlinks to new tabs by clicking on them with the scroll wheel? I'm thinking of selling my Sensei and getting a Deathadder. I have a Mamba that is pretty broken, which is basically the Deathadder in wireless form with a (poorer) laser sensor, and I just miss the form factor tremendously. It is far more comfortable than anything else I have tried. When I use the Mamba to open an hyperlink in a new tab this way, it tends to open two tabs at the same time. This flaw would make the mouse unusable to me.
I never open new tabs in that manner, but I'll try it next time I'm at the computer, and report back.
Just tried it in Chrome with my Deathadder. Clicking a link with the middle (scroll wheel) button opens one new tab.
Thanks, I'll chalk it up to a default with my Mamba. I'm going to get one Deathadder since it's on sale in a store five minutes from my apartment. I prefer the Black edition since it doesn't have the ridiculous blue glow of the plain model.
My nerdly collection of peripherals currently: Mouse: Logitech G9 (support page link). This isn't showing up on Logitech's site so I assume it's finally been discontinued. It took me awhile to get used to it because it's a stubbier mouse that requires a different grip. I find it quite comfy now and easy to move around. I kind of miss having a reliably clicky scroll wheel. It can be clicked but the tension of the wheel is too tight to make it something you can do easily. My partner is using my DeathAdder on the other PC in the house and it's still my favorite full-sized mouse. Maybe I'll switch back. Keyboard: Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 2000. This was an emergency replacement when my previous keyboard abruptly died and I had no handy backup available. There's nothing spectacular about it. It's not mechanical so it doesn't thunder like the gods when I type but the wireless is nice (one less cord) and I actually use the dedicated media controls and even the calculator key. Headset: I made a thread for this but didn't get many responses (I should have offered free beer). I ended up getting the Razer Carcharias based on a recommendation from SqueakyFoo and they're all-around decent both in terms of the audio and mic. No better or worse than the Sennheisers they replaced, really. My one complaint is that the cups are a bit too big for my apparently smaller-than-average head. When I need to replace these I will be looking for a headset with smaller cups. Tablet: Bamboo Fun (mine is the previous generation but spec-wise it's the same as the newer ones at the link). This is pretty much a tablet for dummies design. Cheap and low-res but a good match to my mediocre art skills. If I won the lottery I'd buy an Intuos or one of those Cintiq thingers. Gamepad: Logitech F310. This is the non-rumble wired version of Logitech's Xbox controller clone, although the dual sticks don't follow Microsoft's placement. I bought this when I was poor because it was cheap and Xbox controller-compatible. It works well enough but if I played more gamepad games I'd probably just get an actual Xbox controller now. Speakers: None! I gave up having dedicated speakers a few years ago. I like having fewer items on the desk and don't miss them.
Hah! I completely forgot to list these in my post. I like them well enough, but I have the opposite problem as you, they're somewhat small for my Dumbo-sized ears.
I have two Deathadders, one original, and one 3.5G. Both behave well when clicking with the scroll wheel, though I have had some problems with the wheel scrolling just before the click. Keyboard: Corsair K90. I quite like this keyboard, though I wish all the keys were mechanical. The difference between the mechanical and non mechanical keys is quite noticeable. Monitor: Dell U2410. Works as intended. Speakers: Audioengine A5 (bamboo version). These speakers look and sound great. I feel they are comparable in quality to my Bowers & Wilkins 685 speakers.
I have finally received my Deathadder, and opening new tabs via scroll wheel clicking works perfectly, so thanks for the confirmations. Finally I find it back, what a comfortable mouse shape, I think it still hasn't been topped.
I'm getting along better with my HPX4000 mouse now. I've changed my grip to one with two fingers on the side, and one finger switching between left mouse button and scroll wheel, which is a bit more comfortable. I'd still prefer something with the wireless tech of this and the shape of the Deathadder.
I've always held a mouse like that. Do people seriously dedicate a finger to the scroll wheel? That seems...awful.
So I've found that yeah, I'm going to need to do this, but I can't find any information on how to do so. How did you do this?
I found it on their site, but looking now it doesn't seem to be there. Luckily I still have the program, so I threw it up on Dropbox for you. No guarantees if it's the same model you got, of course :(: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7164484/Razer_BlackWidow_FirmwareUpdater_v1.07.exe I also have this one, but as I recall it didn't work: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7164484/Razer_BlackWidow_FirmwareUpdater_v1.08.exe
Well, it's just the standard blackwidow, full keyboard, clicky keys, and not the ultimate or the new 2013 edition. Looks promising from the filename. [edit] Well, that was fun. At least I was able to unbrick it, but it seems something changed in one of the newer firmwares and you can't roll back without the keyboard just failing to work.
Gave up on the Matcatz R.A.T. 9. It was just too twitchy; it didn't seem to matter what DPI I'd set, the mouse would either lag or respond way too quickly. Now back using the Logitech G700. Much smoother experience.
That sucks. I really like my BlackWidow, but drivers and software seems to be a big fucking weakness for Razer in general, and I've stayed the hell away from them apart from my required downgrade (which might tell you a bit about how well their firmware works!). Buying a new keyboard is probably many years in the future, but I'm likely to stay away from Razer when I do due to those issues.
Razer is kinda funny. They do a great job of marketing their products, but I've seen several competitive LoL players streaming games that complained about their Razer mouses, even while the advertisement is stamped right there on their stream.
Yep. Thumb on the side (back / forward button) Index finger on Left Mouse button Middle finger on scroll wheel Ring finger on Right mouse button pinky on the side I use the scroll wheel way more than right button, so why not? On a smaller mouse, I'll tend to hold middle on the right button and let two slip to the outside.
I'd have a hard time with that, but then again I don't have great independent control of pinky/ring for a grip like that. Also:
Dunno if any of you fine folk are looking to get a new keyboard but newegg has the Logitech G510 on sale for $65 which ain't bad for a $120 keyboard.
How loud are Cherry Blue keys? Take it that there'd be someone sleeping in the room next door, with a wall of cavity blocks between us.
