Thursday, December 29, 2016

Acer Iconia One 8 (B1-850)

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Whether you're looking for an Android, Apple, or Windows tablet, here's what to consider, along with our top-rated 

Design

Don't expect faux-metal finishes like on the Posh Equal Max S900. The B1-850$99.99 at Acer Store is white plastic, at 8.27 by 4.96 by 0.37 inches (HWD) and 12 ounces, with a textured back that makes it a bit grippy. The screen has a big bezel around it, and the headphone jack, microSD slot, and micro USB port are all on the top edge.
The 8-inch, 1,280-by-800 screen is decent and not too dim, unlike many cheaper Android tablets from less reliable manufacturers. It's also higher resolution than the 1,024-by-600 screens you may see at this price point. But it's covered in a cheap plastic that can be unpleasant to touch when it's smeared with smudges and detritus, which happens very quickly. Somehow, the coating on Amazon's tablets is better able to resist the smudging of daily use. Reflectivity also makes it hard to use outdoors. Unlike the Lenovo Tab 3 Essential, the B1-850 is not water resistant.

Android and Performance

The B1-850 uses the same 1.3GHz MediaTek 8163 processor as in Amazon's Fire HD 8, and benchmarks pretty much the same. There's one big exception that worries us, though: Several of our benchmark ran out of memory during testing. The tablet's 1GB of RAM just isn't enough to handle graphics-heavy games and multitasking. Even relatively simple, but fast-moving, games like Temple Run 2 stuttered while loading and showed lag in controls. Application load times were also sluggish.
The tablet runs Android 5.1 with a heavy load of Acer bloatware. About 11GB of the 16GB of internal storage comes free; you can tuck up to a 256GB microSD card into a slot in the top, and you can move apps to the card. As it's been a year since this tablet came out and it hasn't received an Android 6.0 update (let alone Android 7.0), it's probably safe to say it never will.
The major advantage here is full access to the Google Play store. You get access to all the Google services missing from Amazon tablets, such as Google Maps and Google Docs, as well as a much broader array of games. And remember, you can install Amazon's app store here, too. Acer adds its own cloud music and photos apps, but you can safely ignore them.
Dual-band Wi-Fi is another plus over Amazon's tablet, if you have a dual-band router. Here at PCMag, we have a relatively slow 2.4GHz network and a faster 5GHz network. While Amazon's tablet performed a bit better than Acer's at 2.4GHz, the 5GHz option on the Iconia 8 meant better results overall in testing.
Battery life is deeply disappointing, however. We only got 4 hours, 20 minutes of video streaming at maximum brightness—half the life of Amazon's tablet. That probably speaks to Amazon's smart management of background applications. In our two days of testing the Acer tablet, we'd occasionally get messages about things like Acer's abPhoto cloud photo storage application running in the background.

Multimedia


The 5-megapixel main camera and 2-megapixel front camera produce photos that are both blurry and noisy. Indoor shots are soft at best, and outdoor shots are riddled with compression artifacts. Honestly, in very low light the cameras are not worth using. There's an HDR mode, but it's painfully slow.
Video recording isn't great, either. The front-facing camera delivered VGA video at 17 frames per second, dropping to 10fps in indoor lighting. The main camera managed 720p video at 30 frames per second outdoors, dropping to 20 in low light.
The single, rear-ported speaker is much louder than the one on the Amazon Fire HD 8. But it's also very tinny. On a complex track like M83's "Midnight City," the drums basically vanish under over-emphasized, keening synthesizers. On more vocal-heavy tracks, the voices punch far ahead of any instruments, with the Amazon tablet delivering a much richer, more balanced mix. That difference carries on in headphones, too, where Amazon's tablet pushes a lot more bass than the Iconia One 8 does.

Conclusions

The reality is that you're not going to get a really good tablet for less than $100 without a subsidy, and if you go with a carrier, you're going to pay monthly fees for cellular connectivity. Along with the Acer Iconia 8, there are the Amazon Fire$49.99 at Amazonand the Fire HD 8, the Lenovo Tab3 Essential, the Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite, and a host of off-brand alternatives.
On features, the Acer Iconia One 8 beats the Lenovo and Samsung tablets by offering 16GB of storage, which you really need on an Android tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 8 is better for multimedia enjoyment and playback thanks to its screen coating and far better speakers, but if you want the rich array of third-party apps available in Google's store, the Iconia 8 gets you there. Our Editors' Choice for budget tablets, meanwhile, remains the Amazon Fire. The 7-inch Fire delivers most of the performance you get from these $99 tablets for half the price, it's just a bit smaller.
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The Best Tablets of 2016

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Whether you're looking for an Android, Apple, or Windows tablet, here's what to consider, along with our top-rated slates.
There are countless tablets on the market, but which one is right for you? Whether you're eyeing an iPad, one of the many Android tablets available, or a Windows slate for productivity, here are the key factors you need to consider when shopping, along with some of the top-rated models we've tested.
We'd like to make one note for the fall: Apple's iPad lineup is starting to look a bit old. It's been almost two full years since the company updated its midrange iPad Air series. It's still a fine tablet, but we'd suggest holding off, if you can, to see if Apple announces a late October update, if you're looking for an iOS tablet that's not an iPad Pro.
Choose Your Operating SystemJust like with a full-fledged computer, if you're getting a tablet, you need to pick a camp. And just like with a computer, your decision will likely come down to your gut feeling. Right now, the top contenders are Apple with its iPads and Android with its many hardware choices from the likes of Acer, Amazon, Asus, Samsung, and others. And we're seeing affordable Windows 10 tablets built around Intel's Atom processor from various manufacturers like Acer and Asus.
Generally speaking, the greatest strength of Apple's iOS, the operating system on the iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro tablet lines, is twofold: It's very clean and intuitive, and the wide selection of iPad apps that you can buy right on your tablet—more than one million iPad-specific titles at the time of this writing—work uniformly well with very few exceptions. For more, check out our iOS 10 review.
Google's Android mobile OS gives you a choice of hardware from several different manufacturers and offers maximum configurability, a top-notch notification system, fast and smooth Web browsing, and seamless integration with Google applications like Gmail, Google Maps, and Hangouts for video chat. Android also includes support for multiple user logins so you can share your tablet with a friend or family member, a useful feature that's missing in Apple tablets (despite Apple's Family Sharing, which isn't the same thing). See our Android 7.0 Nougatreview for more.
Windows 10 comes the closest to offering a traditional computing experience with full x86 support for all of your Windows software. And you can run the full version of Microsoft Office when you buy a Win 10 tablet. Also, connectivity options and hardware add-ons for Windows models are typically more plentiful than with other tablet types. Check out our Windows 10 review for more.
What About Apps?What's a tablet without quality apps? If you want third-party apps specifically designed for a touch-screen interface, nothing out there beats the iPad with its huge library of programs and games designed specifically for Apple tablets. The App Store is well-curated and monitored, offers a deep selection, and includes every popular app you can think of. If a wide range of compelling apps that look good and work well your tablet is your main priority, Apple is your best bet. For more, see The 100 Best iPad Apps.
Android has made great strides on app selection, courting more developers and offering more high-quality tablet apps, but it's still not as many as Apple offers. It's tough to say exactly how many tablet-optimized Android apps are available, but it's likely in the thousands, rather than the hundreds of thousands. There are also Android phone apps, which look decent on a 7-inch tablet, but less so on a 9- or 10-inch one, so you're likely to have more problems getting high-quality apps for larger Android tablets. That said, check out The 100 Best Android Apps for our top picks.
Windows 10, meanwhile, offers an impressive array of more than 100,000 touch-screen-friendly tablet apps, but its real strength is in running the millions of existing Windows desktop apps. Many of those aren't designed for touch screens, though, and may be better handled with an add-on keyboard and mouse.
Screen Size and Storage
This consideration is a bit obvious, but size—both screen real estate and storage capacity—is important to consider. First things first: When you hear the term "7-inch or 10-inch tablet," this refers to the size of the screen, measured diagonally, and not the size of the tablet itself. 7-inch tablets are considered small-screen, while 8.9-inch tablets and above are considered large-screen. Apple's iPads, Amazon's Fire, and Samsung's Note- and Tab-branded tablets all come in small- and large-screen iterations. And more than ever, phones are blurring the lines with tablets. Big smartphones (or phablets) like the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus$769.99 at T-Mobile and the Galaxy S7 Edge$789.99 at T-Mobile are challenging the need to even carry a separate tablet.
Screen resolution is important too, especially for ebook reading and Web surfing. A sharp, bright display is key. Right now, the highest resolution you'll find is 2,732 by 2,048 pixels, on Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro$770.00 at Amazon. If you're in the market for a 10-inch Android tablet, look for a display with at least a 1,280-by-800 resolution.
The weight of a tablet is one definite advantage it has over a laptop—but with large-screen tablets typically weighing around a pound, they're not cell phone-light. After you hold one with a single hand on a subway ride for 20 minutes, your hand will get tired. Setting one flat in your lap, rather than propped up on a stand, can also be a little awkward. And few tablets will fit in your pocket, unless you're wearing a very large jacket. If you want pocketabiity, you might want to consider one of the aforementioned phablets.
Cloud (off-device) storage is an option for many tablets (iCloud for iPads, Amazon Cloud Storage for Fire tablets, and OneDrive for Windows), but when it comes to onboard storage, more is always better. All those apps, when combined with typical music, video, and photo libraries, can take up a lot of space. Many non-Apple tablets have microSD memory card slots that let you expand storage.
Wi-Fi-Only vs. Cellular ModelsSome tablets come in a Wi-Fi-only model or with the option of always-on cellular service from a wireless provider. If you want to use your tablet to get online anywhere, you should opt for a model that offers a cellular version, like the aforementioned iPads. Of course, this adds to the device's price, and then you need to pay for cellular service. Generally, though, with a tablet, you can purchase data on a month-to-month basis without signing a contract.
Another way to get your tablet online: Use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. This won't work with every phone/tablet combo, so you should check with your carrier before you seal a deal. You can also buy a dedicated mobile hotspot, which won't kill your phone's battery life. Some even double as backup batteries to charge your tablet.
The Top Tablets (Right Now)The tablets chosen here represent the best we've tested across a wide range of operating systems and price levels. Because we test so many and the market is constantly evolving, we update this story monthly to include the latest products. That said, there are plenty of great tablets out there there that just missed the cut for this list, and one may be right for you. For the latest lab-tested tablet reviews, check out our Tablet Product Guide.
Finally, before you buy, if you can, head to your local electronics store to get hands-on time with some different tablets, so you can see which feels best.
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Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 review

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The Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 mouse-and-keyboard combo promises PC first-person shooter fans a chance to dominate their PS3 brethren.

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SPECIFICATIONS

  • Wired PC-style keyboard and mouse
  • Switched between Normal mode, Snipe Mode, Assault Mode
  • 6 programmable buttons
  • 1 x set of button labels (for re-mapping keys) and instructions Suitable for right handed users only Officially licensed and supported by Sony

  • PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

    £79 inc VAT

    Back in the good old days, first-person shooters were for PC gamers only, and the titles were designed around the holy grail of gaming controllers: the keyboard and mouse. We didn't need any of those flimsy analogue sticks or autoaim - and darn it, we liked it that way. Just give us a trusty ball mouse and a standard 104-key Windows keyboard, and we could take over the world.

    Nowadays, if you want to blow up your friends in some good old-fashioned virtual gunplay, you likely have to do it on a game console, which means you're stuck with a woefully inferior gamepad that has clumsy thumbsticks and awful button placement. Enter the Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 for the PlayStation 3, a USB mouse and minikeyboard combo designed specifically for PC gamers looking to level the playing field. In theory, it's a great idea - but in practice, it doesn't work as well as it should.
    Visit: GamePro UK
    The Hori TAC3 controller consists of a normal optical USB mouse connected to a minikeyboard designed to mimic the standard WASD keyboard layout that most PC first-person shooter games use by default. You rest your hand on the arrow keys, and from that position you have ready access to L3 and X buttons (which PS3 games often use for running and jumping) and triangle/circle/square buttons (for reloading, swapping weapons, and so on). 

    In addition, the keyboard holds the directional pad and Start/Select/PlayStation buttons, though they're comfortably tucked out of the way so that you don't hit them accidentally. Also available is a walk button that lets you toggle your walk speed to something slower (for sneaking up on the enemy), since you're not using an analogue stick that changes your walk speed based on how far you tilt it. Meanwhile, the mouse feels like a fairly generic PC mouse - the left and right mouse buttons act as L1 and R1, the middle mouse button (where a scrollwheel would normally go) is bound to R3, and the left-side thumb buttons are bound to L2 and R2.

    Unlike other specialized console controllers (the MadCatz FightStick TE, for example), the TAC3 allows you to remap the controls to your liking by flipping a switch on the far end of the keyboard to enter the remapping mode. Another switch lets you change the mouse sensitivity to any of three different levels, and a third switch permits you to tweak the walk button's speed.

    Although the keys aren't nearly as satisfying as those on our favorite mechanical keyboards, the TAC3 doesn't feel significantly different from a normal keyboard or mouse at first. However, the mouse doesn't feel smooth or precise enough when you're trying to use it in-game. That's because in order to get the mouse working on the PS3, Hori had to design the mouse to emulate the PS3 controller's right analogue stick, and it simply can't translate the movement from the mouse into analogue-stick inputs accurately enough. On the other hand, the keyboard half of the controller is mostly usable, though the buttons aren't quite as responsive as I would have liked.

    I tested the TAC3 with Battlefield 3, which I've played a good amount of on my PC, and it was disappointing. The TAC3 felt better than the PS3 gamepad to me, but I'm not sure that I'd say the same if I were willing to spend a few weeks getting used to playing FPS titles with the PS3 pad. Aiming on the TAC3 was a chore - even for relatively simple close- to medium-range shots - because the mouse simply couldn't track as smoothly as a PC mouse can.

    The TAC3's one redeeming factor: It looks pretty cool. The set comes in a matte black/gray color scheme as well as a Best Buy-exclusive urban-camouflage color scheme, and it features a bright blue backlit border around the edge of the keyboard. It also comes with a small mouse pad and a detachable wrist rest for the keyboard, both of which make the controller much more usable on a coffee table or on other typical console-gaming surfaces.
    Back in the good old days, first-person shooters were for PC gamers only, and the titles were designed around the holy grail of gaming controllers: the keyboard and mouse. We didn't need any of those flimsy analogue sticks or autoaim - and darn it, we liked it that way. Just give us a trusty ball mouse and a standard 104-key Windows keyboard, and we could take over the world.

    Nowadays, if you want to blow up your friends in some good old-fashioned virtual gunplay, you likely have to do it on a game console, which means you're stuck with a woefully inferior gamepad that has clumsy thumbsticks and awful button placement. Enter the Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 for the PlayStation 3, a USB mouse and minikeyboard combo designed specifically for PC gamers looking to level the playing field. In theory, it's a great idea - but in practice, it doesn't work as well as it should.

    The Hori TAC3 controller consists of a normal optical USB mouse connected to a minikeyboard designed to mimic the standard WASD keyboard layout that most PC first-person shooter games use by default. You rest your hand on the arrow keys, and from that position you have ready access to L3 and X buttons (which PS3 games often use for running and jumping) and triangle/circle/square buttons (for reloading, swapping weapons, and so on).

    In addition, the keyboard holds the directional pad and Start/Select/PlayStation buttons, though they're comfortably tucked out of the way so that you don't hit them accidentally. Also available is a walk button that lets you toggle your walk speed to something slower (for sneaking up on the enemy), since you're not using an analogue stick that changes your walk speed based on how far you tilt it. Meanwhile, the mouse feels like a fairly generic PC mouse - the left and right mouse buttons act as L1 and R1, the middle mouse button (where a scrollwheel would normally go) is bound to R3, and the left-side thumb buttons are bound to L2 and R2.

    Unlike other specialized console controllers (the MadCatz FightStick TE, for example), the TAC3 allows you to remap the controls to your liking by flipping a switch on the far end of the keyboard to enter the remapping mode. Another switch lets you change the mouse sensitivity to any of three different levels, and a third switch permits you to tweak the walk button's speed.

    Although the keys aren't nearly as satisfying as those on our favorite mechanical keyboards, the TAC3 doesn't feel significantly different from a normal keyboard or mouse at first. However, the mouse doesn't feel smooth or precise enough when you're trying to use it in-game. That's because in order to get the mouse working on the PS3, Hori had to design the mouse to emulate the PS3 controller's right analogue stick, and it simply can't translate the movement from the mouse into analogue-stick inputs accurately enough. On the other hand, the keyboard half of the controller is mostly usable, though the buttons aren't quite as responsive as I would have liked.

    I tested the TAC3 with Battlefield 3, which I've played a good amount of on my PC, and it was disappointing. The TAC3 felt better than the PS3 gamepad to me, but I'm not sure that I'd say the same if I were willing to spend a few weeks getting used to playing FPS titles with the PS3 pad. Aiming on the TAC3 was a chore - even for relatively simple close- to medium-range shots - because the mouse simply couldn't track as smoothly as a PC mouse can.

    The TAC3's one redeeming factor: It looks pretty cool. The set comes in a matte black/gray color scheme as well as a Best Buy-exclusive urban-camouflage color scheme, and it features a bright blue backlit border around the edge of the keyboard. It also comes with a small mouse pad and a detachable wrist rest for the keyboard, both of which make the controller much more usable on a coffee table or on other typical console-gaming surfaces.

    SPECS

    OUR VERDICT

    All in all, the Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 has a few things going for it - a nice design, easy configuration, and some neat extras - but it's a £79 controller that simply doesn't work well enough to be worthwhile. Anyone who is willing to spend that much money on a gaming peripheral is going to demand excellent performance, and the TAC3 doesn't deliver. Looks like we'll just have to stay with the trusty gaming PC until consoles natively support a keyboard-and-mouse controller.

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Trust Stylus Pen review

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Shorter than your average pen, the Trust Stylus Pen has a rubberised tip that interacts with your device without the need for too much pressure.

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PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

£14.99 inc VAT

The 17741 from Trust – also known as simply “Stylus Pen” – does a fair job of meeting varied touchscreen needs. See also How to make a stylus.
Shorter than your average pen, the stylus has a rubberised tip that interacts with your device without the need for too much pressure. Round and spongy, it produces good results from a range of typical iOS activities, including note taking, gaming and sketching. Visit all tablet PC accessories.
Slim and lightweight, the Trust is compact and robust enough to travel just about anywhere. The Trust stylus is also available in special football-themed editions to tie in with Euro 2012 this summer, including a red-and-white option for England fans. Go to Best Draw Something Stylus.
Like many Trust products, the stylus can be found cheaper if you shop around, adding to its potential appeal. Our only quibble is a lack of originality. Several manufacturers are producing similar-looking and -feeling styluses, and this isn’t a particularly innovative offering. See Draw Something review.
Trust Stylus Pen review
Buying Advice
The Trust Stylus Pen is a solid if unspectacular choice, and does a fair job as long as your needs aren’t too demanding. Its solid design, backed by a three-year warranty, is good value and won’t disappoint if you’re new to using a stylus.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

The Trust Stylus Pen is a solid if unspectacular choice, and does a fair job as long as your needs aren’t too demanding. Its solid design, backed by a three-year warranty, is good value and won’t disappoint if you’re new to using a stylus.
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Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard for Windows 8 review

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The Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard is an ergonomic PC keyboard designed for Windows 8. Here's our Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard review.

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PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

£59 inc VAT

No-one could accuse Microsoft's hardware department of failing to support Windows 8. As well as the much-vaunted Microsoft Surface Windows 8 tablet, Microsoft has launched a plethora of peripherals dedicated to the new OS. We've already reviews the Wedge Touch Mouse and Wedge Mobile Keyboard, as well as Microsoft's Touch Mouse. And now along comes the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard, and its partner the Sculpt Touch Mouse.
The Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard costs £59, which makes it cheaper than the Wedge Mobile Keyboard, but it is not a mobile device, being designed principally for desktop PCs. It is compatible with Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

MICROSOFT SCULPT COMFORT KEYBOARD: BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN

The Sculpt Comfort Keyboard is noticeably different from your run-of-the-mill PC keyboard. Gone are the straight lines of the average, rectangular keyboard, replaced by sweeping curves that give the front of the Sculpt Comfort the look of a shallow S-bend. Meanwhile the middle of the Sculpt Comfort rises up to meet your fingers, and your wrists sit on a padded rest that can be raised and lowered at will.
We are in the realm of ergonomics, then, and the Sculpt Comfort is indisputably comfortable to use. The keys are responsive but have a bit of pushback in them - there's none of the clicking and clacking you get with some plastic keyboards. The keys are very close together, a factor that is somewhat magnified by the curvaceous nature of the keyboard, but we found we quickly got on with the layout, and typing this review any mistakes we made were down to brain rather than keyboard issues.
You can also adjust the height of the front of the keyboard, so there is no excuse for not having straight wrists and a healthy back and eyeline. (Now sit up straight.)
The padded palm rest definitely adds to the comfort factor, but it is also detachable should you wish to let your wrists run free. This does add to the Sculpt Comfort's style - without the palm rest it is a much slicker and less bulky beast.
We don't know if anyone truly cares about the way their desktop keyboard looks, but I'm sure there are som Apple users who do, at least. Such people will probably turn up their perfectly tanned noses at the Sculpt Keyboard. It is uniform black, with matt black keys that feel plasticky to the touch, and a shiny thin black bezel. The palm rest is topped with a leathery black foam-filled cushion (one that is almost certainly not leather).
Let me be clear: Microsoft knows how to put together a solid keyboard and mouse, and the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard feels well built. It should last you a good while. But it isn't anything clever to look at. There is, for instance, no backlighting. Keys are marked with simple white or blue letter and symbols.
Sculpt Comfort Keyboard

MICROSOFT SCULPT COMFORT KEYBOARD: WINDOWS 8 AND SPECIAL FEATURES

So what makes the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard a 'Windows 8' keyboard? For one thing it has Windows 8 Hot Keys, letting you quickly seach, access device settings, and share pages with a single click. You have to flick a switch on the top righthand of the keyboard, but once enabled your function keys become Windows 8 hotkeys.
In essence, these replicate the Charms that are always available to the right of any screen within Windows 8, as well as adding in more typical functions such as volume controls and print screen. Being able to search or access settings with a single keystroke is a bonus for anyone running Windows 8 without a touchscreen. Although Windows 8 is perfectly functional with any normal keyboard - certainly as easy to navigate as Windows 7 - these hotkeys do add a certain zip to your actions.
There's also a split space bar. If you hold down both sides for 3 seconds the functions change, and the lefthand spacebar becomes backspace. This is, according to Microsoft, to stop people having to reach to hit backspace. It's possible that this is because I am a lefthander, but I couldn't get on board with this at all, and soon toggled back to using both space bars to, well, add spaces. You may have a different experience, of course.
One thing that seems to be missing is the ability to scroll through Windows 8 tiles using the direction arrow keys. When in the Modern UI on the Start screen, the arrow keys simply jump from tile to tile - this seems a little bit of a shame in a keyboard built for Windows 8.
Sculpt Comfort Keyboard

MICROSOFT SCULPT COMFORT KEYBOARD: GETTING STARTED

The Sculpt Comfort Keyboard comes with a USB dongle. Pairing it couldn't be simpler, you simply pop in the dongle, ensure the keyboard is fitted with batteries, and away you go. The Sculpt comes with two AAA batteries in the box, but unfortunately they are not rechargeable. When the battery light comes on you'll have to shell out for some new cells.
For more on the changes in Windows 8 and how to use them visit Windows 8 Advisor. For detailed advice on installing Windows 8, read our article: How to install Windows 8.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

At £59 the Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard is a good keyboard for any user of a Windows 8 desktop PC. It's not outstanding, or beautiful to look at, but it is comfortable to use, well put together and the Windows 8 hotkeys add value to Windows 8.
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Logitech G600 review

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Logitech G600 is an excellent MMO gaming mouse that provides an affordable high-end gaming peripheral that PC enthusiasts will love. Read our Logitech G600 to find out more.

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PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

£59.90

The Logitech G600 MMO gaming mouse is one of the finest gaming mice on the market. If you’re looking for a mouse with more programmable buttons than you’ve got fingers, the G600 is well worth the £60 price tag; it even gives accessories from specialized gaming accessory outfits like Razer a run for their money. See all Computer Mice and Keyboard reviews.
The G600 sports 20 programmable buttons and clearly falls into the “more is more” hardware niche occupied by Razer’s Naga MMO mouse. In fact, both MMO mice are competitively price at £60-70. If you've never heard of this niche hardware category, know that MMO gaming mice are distinguished by a set of 12 keys mapped to the number row on your keyboard by default, which makes the hotkey-heavy gameplay of most MMOs easier on your wrists (and your brain) by letting you use your mouse for most of your spell-casting. Take a look at Razer Naga Expert MMO Gaming Mouse Review.
The G600 has a few advantages over the competition, starting with an extra three buttons. In addition to 12 buttons on the right side of the mouse, the left and right mouse buttons, and two additional buttons up top, the G600 sports an extra button that sits below your pinky. The G600 registers pushing the mouse wheel to the left or right in addition to the standard button action when you push down the wheel itself. See also Group test: what's the best mice/keyboards?
While that may be confusing to read, in practice the extra buttons are very convenient once you spend some time with the device. On a mouse that’s trying to stuff extra buttons onto every available surface it’s tough to find places where the user can actually conveniently press them, but Logitech somehow pulls it off with this mouse. Visit our JSCO JNL-101K Noiseless Gaming Mouse review.
Logitech G600
The other big win for Logitech is the software customization for the G600. I’ve never been a huge fan of competitor Razer’s Synapse software; it’s not easy to use and requires you to sign up with Razer first, but it does provide a lot of customization options that vastly increases the utility of Razer peripherals. The G600’s software can't quite match the Razer Synapse software in terms of features, but it comes remarkably close and proves easier to use.
While it doesn’t have Synapse’s capacity for programming complex macros and assigning them to your mouse’s various extraneous keys, Logitech's driver software does let you remap every key on the G600 quickly and easily. It also sports a few tricks of it's own, including an auto-detection system that scans your hard drive for compatible games and then automatically switches the mouse’s layout to give you easy access to useful keys without having to remap the mouse yourself.
Logitech G600 review
While I wasn’t able to test this feature out with every compatible game on my drive (over a dozen popped up when I did the initial scan, with easily a hundred more optional packages available for download for games I didn’t currently have installed) the games I did test switched the G600 to intuitive default button layouts. Not only was this useful, it was also much quicker than the customization process for other mice.
While the software is a definite win for Logitech, the mouse hardware itself has a few problems. For starters, like almost every mouse with this many buttons a lot of them are simply too difficult to reach. The bottom two rows are difficult to reach and clicking the two buttons below the mouse wheel with your middle finger while keeping your index finger on the left mouse button requires positively inhuman dexterity.
The mouse is also not going to win any customers with its ergonomics. I have relatively large hands so the G600 wasn’t uncomfortable for me to use personally, but it’s not hard to imagine users finding the G600 difficult to use for long periods. Other mice at this price point let you adjust the ergonomics to make sure your hand can rest on the mouse comfortably, but the G600 has no such feature.
Despite these hardware issues the G600 one of the most pleasant and easily customized mice I’ve ever used. If functionality, not ergonomics is your primary concern and you’re looking for a quality MMO mouse, the G600 is a hard mouse to beat.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

Logitech delivers an affordable high-end gaming peripheral that PC enthusiasts will love.
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