Introduction:

With the influx of low-cost, readily available wireless mice out there, one might think that the wired mouse is destined for the graveyard. While wireless mice are certainly good enough for most desktop users, this blanket statement certainly doesn't cover the entire gaming crowd. Indeed, in the past year or so, we've seen an increasing number of wired gaming mice from companies such as Razer, Logitech, and even Microsoft. (Though the Microsoft offering is made by Razer)

OCZ has finally decided to enter this market with their own laser gaming mouse, dubbed the "Equalizer". With laser tracking being the defacto tracking technology in all high-end mice nowadays, manufacturers have had to add additional features to their mice to attract those with the cash to afford these offerings. OCZ's Equalizer distinguishes itself by including hardware-adjustable DPI settings up to 2500 DPI - more than most competitors. It also includes a rapid-fire button that performs a triple-click with one press - ideal in FPS games. Do these features make the OCZ Equalizer a worthwhile purchase?

Specifications:

At this point, it would be worthwhile to mention that the OCZ Equalizer appears to be a rebranded A4Tech mouse, with a different exterior. This isn't uncommon, as Microsoft is also selling a gaming mouse of their own that is made by Razer. And, of course, a lot of the laser engines in many mice nowadays come from the same manufacturer. Regardless, this shouldn't have any bearing on the quality of the mouse, but it's still good to know.

• Full Specifications

The Equalizer has eschewed the freedom of being cordless in favour of a traditional wired design, in order to eliminate any possibility of interference. This is in line with the gaming mice offerings of most other companies. Additionally, the Equalizer offers six DPI settings (in hardware) from 400-2500 DPI. (The box said from 600-2500 DPI) This is both the highest number of settings and highest DPI on a mouse that I've seen. Besides the triple click button, there are also two thumb buttons and a button for switching DPI settings. The presence of the thumb buttons also means that this only for right-handed usage.

The Equalizer comes packaged in the typical packaging intended to attract the hardcore gamer crowd. Opening it up, you'll find not only the mouse, but also an install CD, guide, and surprisingly, two sets of extra mouse feet. This ensures that you won't have to use any home-made solutions to replace worn out mouse feet, and was a nice extra to include for a high-end gaming mouse.

The OCZ Equalizer.

Back of package.

What's included.

The gold-plated USB connector feeds into a thinner than normal cord that doesn't drag down the mouse as much. It's much more lightweight, but this may come at the expense of durability. The cord length is 1.8 m, which should be sufficient for most system setups. The body is a dark metallic purple colour, which looks nice without being too flashy.

The extra "Triple-Threat" is orange and stands out quite easily when you look at the mouse. It's on the left side button, just towards the center. During normal usage, it's hard to press accidentally, but still easy to find in the heat of battle. The DPI switcher button lies just below the mouse wheel.

USB connector.

Top view.

Triple-threat button.

The entire sides of the mouse are covered in a black material that provides a good grip. Additionally, the there is a thumb-grip area that has a rubberized and ridged area for even greater traction. Just above this are the two thumb buttons. The software/drivers aren't necessary for them to work, as by default they will function as forward/backward buttons in Windows. However, the actions are reversed from what I'm used to, as the button to the front is mapped to "backwards", while the button to the back is "forwards".

Side grip and thumb buttons.

Front view.

Side view.

The mouse wheel is pretty much standard; it can be clicked as a middle button and offers good tactile feedback when scrolling, without being loud. Besides this, it also serves to indicate what DPI setting is currently active by lighting up with different colours. Since there are six DPI settings, the combination of colours displayed is a bit difficult to explain, I've uploaded a video to show exactly what happens.

Initially, the LED behind the wheel is off, and that means that the mouse is at its lowest DPI setting of 600. Pressing the DPI switcher ups it to 800, and changes the colour to green. After that, the combinations are Yellow-1200, Red-1600, Red/Green-2000, and Green/Yellow-2500. The last two are very sensitive, and also feature alternating LED colours, which could be a bit distracting if the wheel's in view. Lastly, it should be noted that these settings are cycled, so after you press the switcher at the highest setting (2500 DPI), it'll go back down to 600 DPI and continue again.

Despite the fact that the LED in the wheel provides feedback as to what the current DPI setting is (a feature missing on the Logitech G3), it can still be tedious to switch between the settings because there is only one button for this. This is complicated by the fact that there are so many settings - if you miss the setting you want, you'll have to click all the way through again to reach it. However, being able to switch DPI settings on-the-fly in hardware is a nice feature, and is useful not only in games but also when doing tasks like image editing.

Back view.

Buttons.

Bottom.

There is no tilt functionality on the wheel, so those of you who've grown accustomed to it from Logitech and Microsoft mice will be out of luck. While the added functionality may not be used by all, I would've liked to see it available on a high-end mouse like this.

While the back profile view makes it seem that this mouse is ambidextrous, it is not, due to the location of the thumb buttons that make this a right-handed mouse only. Looking at the bottom of the mouse, you can see the four feet. A sticker on the bottom also explains the DPI settings. OCZ also included two sets of replacement feet, which is the first time I've seen this.

Comparison.

Compared with MX1000.

Compared with G3.

The OCZ Laser Gaming Mouse comes in two sizes, a desktop version and a mobile-sized version. The unit being reviewed here is the mobile-sized version, and in my opinion, it is a little too small, even when compared to some other mobile/notebook mice. Compared with desktop mice, the difference is quite noticeable, and personally, I prefer a larger-sized mouse. The extra height and bulk provides more support to the curvature of your hand, making a mouse more comfortable to use. I would definitely opt for the full-sized desktop version, as that would likely be more comfortable and easier to use. The desktop-sized version would also be more comparable to the Logitech G3.

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