Latest news with #peripherals
Digital Trends
31-07-2025
- Digital Trends
I bought a $180 mouse to play one PC game, and I'd do it all over again
Playing games isn't just about getting your hands on the best gaming PC — it's also about the peripherals. That's a lesson I had to learn the hard way over years of gaming and spending all of my budget (and then some) on my PC, and my PC alone. When I finally bought myself a proper gaming mouse, I went all out by spending $180 on a Razer Naga V2 Pro. I only ended up using it for one game, but I have absolutely zero regrets. I'd actually do it all over again. I've neglected my peripherals for years I'm a PC builder with nearly 20 years of experience. I've built many PCs over the years, and more often than not, I've gone over budget. What can I say, self-control is not one of my biggest virtues. Recommended Videos Overspending on the PC itself meant that peripherals were often an afterthought. I didn't have the money to spend on fancy mice and keyboards, all because all my money went toward getting one of the best graphics cards or a better processor. For years, I didn't mind — after all, having high frames per second (fps) is more important than having a killer mouse or a fancy headset. I got by with cheap peripherals for a long time, but eventually, I decided to stop spending money on cheap mice that performed poorly and broke all too quickly. I decided to start scaling up on my peripherals. I accumulated several mice through my initial testing. It took me four until I found one I was completely happy with, and that was the $180 Razer Naga V2 Pro. I bought it with a very specific game in mind, but I thought that over time, I'd end up loving it for other titles, too. That never happened, and I have zero regrets. The Razer Naga V2 Pro blew me away — eventually I've had this mouse for around a year now, and I love everything about it. But when I first got it, I came close to sending it back and asking for a refund. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with the Razer Naga V2 Pro. Rather, it was my own lack of familiarity with MMO mice that made me hesitant to start using the Naga. Having a total of 12 buttons on the side plate was intimidating, but I knew I liked the idea of it, so I've committed myself to giving it a proper try. My game of choice was World of Warcraft Classic. I no longer play the retail version of WoW, which would've justified the expense a little bit more, but as WoW Classic evolves, more and more keybindings are needed to keep up with the robust toolkit each class receives. For a game such as this, the extra keybinds provided by the Razer Naga can make a big difference in gameplay. Instead of using Shift or Control modifiers to support each new bind, I could just click different buttons right underneath my thumb. I was excited to try the mouse for myself, but when it first arrived, setting it up was a chore. I had to re-think each and every keybind, and then somehow get used to the new way to use each spell and ability. But the real chore was still ahead of me. I play multiple characters, so for each class, I had to redo the whole keybinding process in an unexpected way — I had to reorganize my keybinds in a way that I'd remember across many different characters. This resulted in a major cleanup across the board, where I tried to bind each mouse button to something that'd do roughly the same thing for each class. Spoiler alert: It wasn't completely possible, but I tried my best. Many months later, I'm more than happy with the result, but it took a lot of getting used to. I could never go back, but … After a year with the Razer Naga V2 Pro, I have to say that there's no way I could go back to not having this mouse now. My WoW gameplay is built around relying on this mouse, and giving it up would be a nightmare. With that said, I also can't imagine going through all the key-binding trouble for any other game. It takes time to set up and even more time to get used to, and as I don't play any other MMOs, I simply don't own games that would truly benefit from such an obscene amount of programmable mouse buttons. In fact, I do most of my gaming on an Xbox controller, bar WoW. If I do use a mouse, I still use the Naga (and I don't even bother swapping to a different side plate), but I don't assign all the keys to the mouse. As a result, I've essentially spent $180 to play one game. As I said before, I have absolutely zero regrets. None whatsoever. I just wouldn't do it in any other game. I consistently go back and make tweaks in my keybinds for WoW Classic: Mists of Pandaria, but I'm not going through that hassle for any game I love any less than a whole lot. It's just not worth it. With that said, if you have more time or patience than I do, you could very well make the most of the Naga in other titles. If you can see yourself needing a mouse with that many buttons, you absolutely can't go wrong with this one, so I heartily recommend checking it out on Amazon. It's $175 right now, and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat if my current one broke.
Gizmodo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
HP's Clutter-Killing 11-in-1 Docking Station Is Less Than Half Price, Even Cheaper Than Prime Day
If you spent Prime Day loading up on fun and useful tech peripherals, you might be looking down right now and wondering where the heck your desk went. More peripherals and more devices means more wires, and more wires means more chaos — unless you make one more trip to Amazon to score their 55% off deal on the HP USB-C G5 11-in-1 Docking Station. This deal transforms the HP G5 Docking Station from a $230 luxury item to a $104 must-have device that will take all of your peripheral connections, your charging needs, networking connections, and more, and combine them all into one sleek unit that reduces the wires running to your laptop or desktop to just one USB-C connection, and it works for both PCs and Macs. See at Amazon Even the ultra-connective laptops and desktops being sold now have a finite number of ports, and when you use them all, your computer suddenly starts looking like an octopus. Even then, you may not have enough connections, and that's when the extenders and dongles and other paraphernalia come into the picture — more clutter and more confusion about which wire goes where and connects to what. The HP USB-C G5 Docking Station will take them all — four USB-C 3.0 Gen 1 charging ports, two DisplayPort ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, an audio jack, and a lock slot for security. There's no separate power adapter or need for an AC connection — the USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 connection between the computer and the docking station also powers the docking station along with anything that's connected to it. At just 4.8 square inches, the HP USB-C G5 Docking Station is a little bigger than a hockey puck, and sort of resembles a squarish puck with its matte black exterior that blends in with any desktop setup. The USB-C cord that extends to your laptop or desktop us 3.3 feet long, giving you the freedom to locate the dock wherever is most convenient for you. Any USB-C or Thunderbolt-enabled laptop or desktop is instantly compatible with the HP USB-C G5 Docking Station, without the need for separate software or drivers to install. It's plug and play, or more accurately, it's plug and plug and plug and … you get the picture. It's also a phenomenal deal thanks to Amazon's 55% off sale that's live right now. The final price of $104 is a small one to pay for defeating the cable octopus and restoring order to your workstation. See at Amazon
Geek Culture
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
Where some traditions die out over time, others have shaped the core identity of a product iteration since the beginning, and in the case of gaming peripheral giant Razer, its offerings are always categorised into different nomenclature, with its series of mice taking after various snake species and offering a specific expertise. The modular side panels of the Naga lineup, for instance, keep MMO – short for multiplayer massive online (games) – players in mind, while its Basilisk counterpart is rooted in customisation and ergonomic comfort. For fans of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre or esports enthusiasts, there's no more familiar presence than the DeathAdder. Like its reptilian namesake, the mouse is built to be fast, precise, and deadly, having cemented its reputation as an esports darling over the years. The latest addition to the family, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro, continues to do what it does best, making an already competent powerhouse even better with incremental yet effective upgrades. It can be difficult to tell it apart from the previous generations, though, as unlike the industry norm of adorning gaming paraphernalia with RGB lighting, the rodent takes after its predecessor's no-frills design, which its Viper V3 Pro cousin also adopts. The body is entirely black, featuring a ridged scroll wheel sitting between the two clickers, with two more flanking the left side. The lack of side buttons on the other end makes the DeathAdder V4 Pro strictly for right-handed use, but that's no different from previous versions. Similarly, the power-button-cum-DPI-switch retains its placement at the base, alongside the Focus Pro 45K second-generation optical sensor that marks an upgrade from the Focus Pro 30K. At 56 grams (and 57 grams for the white iteration, attributed to the paint job ), it's the lightest member in the lineup to date. To put things into perspective, 56 grams comes up to around the mass of a tennis ball, as listed by the International Tennis Federation, or a little under three alkaline AA batteries. In comparison, its predecessor tipped the scales at 63 grams, and the featherlight body certainly translates when held – just the slightest of effort is enough to lift the mouse off a surface. Part of that is attributed to the removal of bells and whistles like RGB, as mentioned earlier, which can add heft to extra weight and drain battery life. A product of the fat-trimming process, the plastic chassis gives off a less-than-premium impression and is highly susceptible to oil residue, especially for users who favour a palm grip. The solid build serves as compensation, with the gentle slope making for a comfortable fit in the hand and accommodating different grip preferences, particularly the palm and claw styles. As someone who switches between the claw and fingertip grip, it was observed that the latter worked well on the DeathAdder V4 Pro, too. These minute refinements may seem excessive, but those of the competitive spirit will know that every detail matters. Like before, the polling rate tops out at an impressive 8,000Hz, reducing the delay from data transmission per second from one millisecond at 1,000 Hz to one-eighth of a millisecond, leading to theoretically faster speeds. Even if the casual player likely won't reap the full benefits, it's still nice to have the option to toggle between six default settings: 125Hz, 500Hz, 1,000Hz (standard), 2,000Hz, 4,000Hz, and 8,000Hz. Credit goes to a redesigned dongle for the lightning-fast response, now sporting a hemisphere-shaped form factor instead of the traditional trapezium look. Marking the most significant revamp in Razer's ecosystem in over a decade, the HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 dongle offers added stability with a wider base, integrated LED indicators for connectivity and battery status, and stronger, more reliable signal transmission – or so the company claims. While it isn't quite possible to verify the last point, the lighted-up indicators are a welcome addition that reveals the connection status, battery life, and polling rate at a glance, denoted by a corresponding colour (red means poor connectivity or low battery, blue means a 500Hz polling rate, and the like). On the flip side, the same issue of inconvenience continues to persist, as the dongle makes the DeathAdder V4 Pro cumbersome to lug around in specific scenarios, such as travelling, especially with its bigger footprint. More useful to both the general crowd and enthusiasts are the deep customisation choices, including DPI Sensitivity Matcher, 1 DPI Adjustment, Smart Tracking, and Dynamic Sensitivity. None of these are new to Razer veterans, but for the uninitiated, here's what to expect: the first auto-calibrates the mouse to match the performance and sensitivity of other mice via Razer's Synapse app, an intuitive, speedy process that eliminates the manual effort needed to replicate the feel of an existing setup. As for 1 DPI Adjustment, the feature allows DPI – or dots per inch, in which a higher number denotes a higher mouse sensitivity – increments of one, bringing even more surgical precision and versatility than the previous intervals of 50. Smart Tracking, meanwhile, maintains a consistent lift-off distance across different surfaces for greater accuracy, and the max DPI count has been raised to 45,000, although there's barely any use for it. Dynamic Sensitivity continues to be a gem, allowing users to customise how their DPI responds with three preset curves or create their own for extended individual control. Fans of the FPS genre or fast-paced titles will appreciate the Jump profile that instantly shifts to high sensitivity during quick flicks, enabling 180-degree turns in one motion instead of the usual two full swipes when the mouse sensitivity is set to a DPI of 800 or less – ideal for more precise aim to land headshots. The improvement isn't the most noticeable, but Dynamic Sensitivity does work its magic, with wrist and cursor movement proving smooth, sharp, and less laborious. The other two available presets are Classic, which increases sensitivity ratio continuously with faster movement speed, and Natural, which goes from low to high sensitivity naturally over a shorter period. All of these are customisable in the company's Synapse software, extending even to a dedicated Mouse Rotation feature that adjusts the mouse orientation of unique-angled setups to an optimal horizontal swiping angle. In play, expect nothing but a smooth, snappy performance, complete with accurate tracking, clean flicks, and crisp clicks. Those unused to ultralight mice may be thrown off by the increased twitchiness, but once that's down to a pat, the difference between basic movements like gliding, jumping, or shooting while strafing feels sharper and more natural. Putting the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro through its paces in Apex Legends and Overwatch 2 proved enjoyable (a feat in itself, considering how frustrating Overwatch 2 matches can be), with the side buttons delivering firm, responsive feedback. Left and right-clicking, albeit louder than preferred, saw no signs of latency, bringing a satisfying touch to aiming down sights (ADS), sniping, and rapid, consecutive clicking. An optical scroll wheel – the company's first for an esports mouse – further adds to the experience with a consistent, tactile feel, alongside anti-ghosting technology tailored for weapon switching, inventory management, and zooming in various games. Packing up to 150 hours of battery at a standard 1,000Hz polling rate, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro is the master of power efficiency. Not once over a full week-and-a-half of use was charging needed, with a 39 percent dip after around 80 hours coming in as a fairly accurate estimation of its projected lifespan on a single charge. It's a significant step-up from the 90 hours of before, now capped at a still-impressive 22 hours when bumped up to 8,000Hz, versus 17 hours on its predecessor. At S$259, the investment can be a little steep for casual gamers who are content with run-of-the-mill functionality. Those seeking the paragon of competitive or esports experiences, however, will find plenty of reasons to commit to the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro, from razor-sharp (hah) performance and detailed customisation to a beefy battery life. It's as they say, go hard or go home. Summary Living up to its reptilian namesake, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro strikes fast and hard at the competition with a complementary blend of tailor-made features and no major flaws. Aesthetics - 7/10 Build Quality - 9/10 Performance - 9.5/10 Value - 8.5/10 Geek Satisfaction - 9.5/10 Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Esports gaming mouse Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro Review
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Could The Threat Of RSI Be A Shot In The Arm For Ergonomic Mouse Maker Contour?
The market for ergonomic peripherals and other items like standing desks is on the rise. Last month, I looked at the Logitech MX Ergo S trackball, a device that can often be a good solution for anyone who is in danger of developing Repetitive Strain Injury or other postural problems from repeated use of a mouse. This month, I want to look at other ergonomic mouse options to see how they could help alleviate muscular strain from excessive mouse usage. Contour Design was founded in 1995 by Steve Wang who noticed the prevalence of wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome in some of the CAD designers he knew who were using their computer mouse all day, Wang decided there had to be a better way to design an input device that could reduce the risk of RSI-type injuries. The development of ergonomic mice and keyboards was also driven after the first generation of computer users began to develop injuries and ended up suing their employers for not ensuring they had a safe working environment. The threat of multi-million-dollar lawsuits also helped to fuel the demand for better mice. The Ubnimouse is another product from Contour Design and has an adjustable tilt as well as being ... More available in left and right-hand versions. Fast forward 30 years and Contour has morphed into one of the leading developers of ergonomic computer peripherals. The brand is known for its flagship RollerMouse. The company may be relatively small, but it is a global concern that focuses solely on developing products that re-engineer how people use their computers. Contour's goal is to save the hands, wrists, shoulders and livelihoods of workers around the world who spend long hours working in front of their computers using software like photo editors, CAD design, video editors and other mouse-intensive applications. While traditional mice are fine for pointing and clicking, they aren't designed to suit individual user's unique needs. A normal mouse may be relatively harmless when used in short bursts, but when pushed around for eight hours a day, five days a week, for most of the year, they become something else. Problems may not arise until after 30 years and that's when people can begin to see serious injuries developing. The Unimouse can be tilted to just the right angle so the user puts less pressure on their wrist. A standard computer mouse forces users to put their wrists flat on a desk surface. This can cut off the medial nerve that runs through the transverse carpal ligament that serves as a protective sheath for the nerves. It functions a little like a garden hose, where the nerve running through it is like water running through a hose. Now imagine how manipulating a mouse by moving it from side to side can cause the wrist to pivot. That's a bit like pinching and kinking our analogous garden hose, which can obstruct or stop the flow of water. Over time, those kinks create a weakness in the hose, which becomes even more prone to kinking. That is how carpal tunnel syndrome develops. The problem of excessive mouse use is also exacerbated by the user constantly having to reach for the mouse, which can cause shoulder strain. To counter this, some people prefer to keep their elbow on their chair armrest and pivot the mouse that way. This action can cause painful conditions like tennis elbow.\ To combat these problems, Contour makes something called the Unimouse. It's a vertical style mouse that places the hand into a handshake-like posture, forcing the wrist to be placed flat on the desk to remove contact stress and greatly reducing pivoting. Thes changes in posture can help reduce the factors that cause carpal tunnel syndrome. The Contour Unimouse is available in both left and right-hand versions with a range of connections. The Contour Unimouse has an adjustable body angle and thumb support for a 'natural posture' with the mouse. The ideal setup would be a combination of thumb support position and body angle where the user has full control over the mouse but without the need to actively grip it. This helps reduce the fatigue that using a mouse all day can cause. The Unimouse is also designed to boost productivity thanks to six programmable buttons that enable users to create personal shortcuts and streamline tasks across various applications. Additionally, the Unimouse has a long-lasting rechargeable battery that runs for weeks on a single charge. The Contour Design Unimouse has a rechargeable battery that runs for weeks on a single charge. With its smooth and precision scrolling, the Unimouse is suitable for use by anyone who needs detailed control, such as CAD designers, graphic artists and power users. Using a combination of ergonomic design, customizable features and reliable battery life, the Contour Unimouse is all about comfort and efficiency and has controls like left and right buttons, scroll wheel, plus backwards and forwards buttons for web browsing. Contour's other main ergonomic input product is the RollerMouse Red. Claimed to be the closest thing to a 'cure all' for RSI-type problem, the device has a centralized design and rollerbar control that encourages users to vary their posture when working at a computer. The device allows for finger and thumb control and can be used ambidextrously. The variety of usage styles helps eliminate the regular cursor control and repetitiveness that be the root cause of RSIs. The RollerMouse Red from Contour is not cheap but it does offer some advanced solutions for people ... More with or in danger of contracting serious injury from repetitive use of input devices. The RollerMouse Red also includes a built-in palm support and rollerbar that can relieve contact stress on the wrist as well as encouraging movement with the whole arm instead of just pivoting at the wrist. The centralized placement also helps to keep shoulders relaxed and elbows in. With adaptations for all the functions people are likely to use on a computer, the roller bar ensures minimal stretching while its central working position protects against back, neck and shoulder pain. The narrow wrist rest is made from vegan leather and memory foam. There is also an antibacterial surface which is high resistant to infection. The RollerMouse Red's narrow wrist rest is suitable for smaller hands and compact workstations. With built-in copy and paste buttons, it's also easy to quickly transfer text or images between programs. For other frequently used shortcuts, some of the device's buttons can be customized for those functions. The Roller Mouse Red forces the user to adopt safer mousing posture. For anyone who has ever suffered from some form of repetitive strain injury knows the long-term pain and disability these conditions can cause. With more of us working longer hours at home, often in less-than-ideal seating and working conditions, ergonomics has never been more important. However, there's less chance of employers sending ergonomic specialists to the homes of workers for a workspace assessment. With that in mind, it's reasonable to speculate that the market for ergonomic input devices could see significant growth, especially if legal action increases from employees injured by working long hours at home with poorly designed devices. The Contour RollerMouse Red is available now from Contour and with prices start at £349 / €403 and the Contour Unimouse is priced from £82 / €94 depending on type of connectivity.
Digital Trends
25-05-2025
- Digital Trends
I used to ignore my peripherals, but these 3 things made me change my mind
It's been nearly 20 years since I built my first PC. Those first attempts were shaky, scary, and of course, very budget-oriented, but I was immediately hooked. But PC building is an expensive hobby, so in my chase for the best graphics cards and top-shelf processors, I always neglected my peripherals. Years later, I've learned my lesson, and I know now that finding some balance between loading up on components and ignoring them in favor of expensive peripherals is important. Here are the four upgrades I splurged on in the last couple of years, and why I think you should do the same. Recommended Videos High-quality gaming mouse Before I ever entertained the idea of building my own PC, I was already a gamer. I started gaming when I was just a few years old, and that was mostly on the SNES. Despite that fact, I never really played games that relied heavily on having a good mouse. My early PC gaming memories include titles like RollerCoaster Tycoon, Pharaoh, Civilization, The Sims, and Diablo 2. (I bet you can guess my age based on that information.) I later moved on to World of Warcraft and got hooked for, well, a very long time. A mouse was needed, sure, but it was never a make it or break it kind of situation. I never got into first-person shooters or MOBAs, so I didn't need a speedy mouse; I just needed something that worked. The result? I continuously bought $5 to $10 mice that lasted a mere few months before needing to be replaced. I thought that was good enough, but boy, was I wrong. The concept of the Razer Naga mouse was always intriguing to me. As I often play MMOs and games that require a bunch of keybinds, assigning different combinations of Shift or Control was getting annoying. I never had the budget to support getting a better mouse, though, so I ignored the hunch for years — until I finally decided to take the plunge and get myself the Razer Naga V2 Pro. Getting a proper mouse was an eye-opening experience. The feel, the speed, the accuracy, and the addition of so many extra buttons really transformed my gaming experience. This mouse wasn't cheap, and I tried out a few midrange mice before it, but ultimately, I got stuck on this one — and I love it. My only regret? I don't think I'll ever be able to use a super cheap mouse again without wishing I had something better. I might just stick to various iterations of the Naga as long as they're being produced. Mechanical keyboard I've always abused my keyboards — anyone who types as much as I do does the same thing. I don't just use my keyboard for games, I use it for work and for fun (I like to write in my spare time, too, who would've thought). As such, I went through keyboards the same way I went through mice: Very, very quickly. Being on a tight budget for many of my PC builds, I always just bought any sort of keyboard. The kind that's just called 'gaming keyboard' and barely even mentions the manufacturer. I eyed the big brands with some jealousy, but I always settled for those $10 to $20 no-name alternatives. Funnily enough, reading articles right here on Digital Trends convinced me to reconsider my stance on expensive keyboards. One of my colleagues covered a lot of mechanical keyboards and curated a list of the best gaming keyboards. Reading about them convinced me to give it a go, and wow, am I glad that I did. If you're a little skeptical like I was, let me tell you: Mechanical keyboards are not just an unnecessary expense. If you like a click-y type of keyboard that really responds to everything you type, as well as a keyboard you can fully customize, you really should just try one. Me? I owned my mechanical keyboard for all of five minutes before declaring that I'd never ever go back to membrane. It's just way too good. Decent monitors (that actually match) I'm one of those people who are still holding on to their dual monitor setups instead of switching to ultrawides. What can I say — my neck hates it, but I can't imagine scaling back to just one monitor. Both for gaming and for work, I use my second monitor nearly constantly, and sometimes, I almost wish I had three. (I'm talking myself out of it, I promise.) But, much like keyboards and mice, I always just prioritized my displays a lot lower than my actual PC. I'd spend more of my budget on components and then tell myself that I'd maybe get a better monitor one day. Then, once I saved up, I'd instead be tempted by something like more storage, RAM, or a better GPU. When I upgraded my PC last year, I chose to balance things out a bit more. The truth is that having a great PC and low-quality displays is a waste; a monitor needs to be good enough to keep up with your GPU, after all. As a result, I finally upgraded to 1440p monitors with 165Hz refresh rates. Those monitors are kind of the standard now, but I used 1080p 60Hz for years. It's like night and day. The refresh rates are almost a necessity with a decent PC, and more screen real estate, thanks to the higher resolution, is super welcome, too. Again, I ruined budget monitors for myself, and I can't imagine going back. Balance is important It's entirely possible to get by with low-quality peripherals. I did it for years, and I still had a blast using each and every PC I've ever built — no complaints. I knew that it wasn't optimal. Having a cheap monitor with a high-end PC doesn't make much sense, but then, I mostly had mainstream PCs that couldn't aim higher than 1080p anyway. When you're trying to stay within a certain budget, it's easy to focus on the one thing you know is going to be a huge upgrade, such as pushing for more RAM or a better processor. It's true that my pricier (although not super high-end) peripherals don't increase my frame rates in games, but they certainly boost the enjoyment I get from using my PC. I love every single keystroke on my mechanical keyboard; my mouse (kind of) makes me play better (sometimes); my monitors finally feel right and can keep up with my GPU. Gaming experience doesn't always need to equal frame rates. It took me too long to realize that, but from now on, I know I'll always balance it out. If you're in the same boat, treat yourself to a better keyboard or a new headset when you can — you'll love it in a whole new way.
