Razer Diamondback Precision Gaming Mouse Review

Installation and Software

In Windows XP the mouse works immediately without the need of software. It tracks very fast and smoothly and is pleasant as just a standard system mouse. To take full advantage of the Diamondbacks special features the software must be installed. The version in the box is v5.09 and allows the user to customize many features of mouse, giving them the ability to tweak it exactly the way they need it to run to maximize their gaming experience.

Every facet of the Diamondback is covered within 3 tabs in the software. A user can make the mouse their own using the very detailed controls found within.

The first tab controls the sensitivity of the mouse, which includes tracking sensitivity, double click speed and the ability to do on the-fly sensitivity changes through the use of button 4 on the mouse. The sensitivity scale goes from 10 to 1 and is set by default at 10. Beneath this, the user can enter Advanced which opens up even more customized choices. One can separately set the sensitivity for x and y-axis, as well as change the windows pointer speed. The pointer acceleration speed can be changed as well from 1 to 10, and finally, the mouse can be set manually to 1600 or 400 DPI. The on-the-fly control is very nice for a user in the middle of game. By simply pressing button 4 on the left side and scrolling up or down the user can change the sensitivity of mouse to fit the particular situation in game, without having to tab-enter out of the game and enter the configuration program. The last option on the tab is ability to set double click speed, and it includes a handy pane of glass that breaks when the user tests the double click on it.

The second tab deals with the scroll wheel and allows the user to change the scroll rate of the mouse. It will allow everything from one line to one page at a time depending on the speed selected. It also includes a handy testing area so the user can preview the effect of a slider change.

The final tab allows full programming of the Diamondbacks multitude of buttons as well as chooses whether the user is holding the mouse with their left or right hand. By default buttons 5,6 and 7 are unassigned and await the users customizations.

The software also includes a handy update button which brings the user to Razers website; http://www.razerzone.com/, where the user can look for updated software. As of November 30th the software in the box was current.