Avatar Gaming Mouse

Max Speed
40 Inches/Second

Max Acceleration
15g

Max Frame Rate
6469 Frames/Second

Resolution
650-2600 DPI

Image Processing
5.8 Mega Pixels/Second

USB Reports
Up to 1000 Reports/Second

Buttons
7 Buttons, 5 Million Clicks

Dimensions

36.8mm x 69.1mm x 128mm ( H x W x D )

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Avatar Gaming Mouse

from NZXT

For the more casual PC player, the standard mouse is probably good enough. It’s like driving a mini-van or a Reliant K. It’s just what everyone else drives and you get used to it. But you see those fools in their Ferraris or Mazdas or Mustangs and look on in envy even though they serve the same function as an Astrovan: they move you from place to place. Some will view mice the same way, though a

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gaming mouse is definitely cheaper than a sports car.

For approximately $60US, you’ll get a very good gaming mouse, with one flaw that really annoyed me.

On both sides of the mouse there is one button that is very easy to press accidentally. This isn’t a problem if you haven’t programmed the buttons to do anything, but since I play a lot of

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real-time strategy games and made much use of the programming functionality, it was often the case that I suddenly doing something I didn’t intend to do. During some matches I was distracted by having to be careful about how my hand was on the mouse, which is the last thing I want to be thinking about. With some practice, unintentional button pressing decreases, but it’s still the worst part about the mouse. (NOTE: Version 2 of the Avatar Gaming Mouse has addressed this problem by contouring the buttons to the body so they don't stick out.)

Everything else about the Avatar should meet the requirements of the hardcore crowd or at the very least the expectations of a casual gamer that wants that Ferrari experience, including on-the-fly DPI adjustment (how sensitive the mouse is) and being able to program the buttons using the simple software that comes with the unit.

Besides the side buttons, the Avatar is comfortable to use, though for my big hands if it was slightly bigger it might have been very comfortable to use. It’s light as well, which adds to the overall responsiveness for movement/reaction intensive games, like first-person shooters and real-time strategy games, which is exactly what any gaming mouse should deliver. The rubberized finish means even the sweatiest of gamer hands will still be able to grip the mouse.

For a first-time effort from a company known for mostly for case mods, the Avatar is an awesome first step into the mouse market.

- Aaron Simmer

(March 8, 2009)