Need some recommendations

[stevo1210]

My brother needs to get a decent set of PC speakers, a multimedia keyboard and I think a gaming mouse or some gadget like that. I'm oblivious when it comes to keyboards and mice because I just use whatever practical, good quality and cheap.

Now originally he wanted to get a Logitech G15 gaming keyboard and I went to have a look today and I was stunned at how expensive it was. $110 for a keyboard is overkill in my opinion, though it does however have an LCD and illuminated keys and some other nonsense that I'd never use. Funnily enough I ended up buying myself a Logitech EX100 wireless desktop combo, but that's another story.

Anyway, now he wants a wired multimedia keyboard instead. Well just something that will allow him to change music tracks while playing games. I don't really know what's good out there in terms of keyboard, but I'd guess something from Logitech or Microsoft would be ok.

Now for those speakers. I've always been a fan of Logitech speakers, in fact all my PC speakers are Logitech. My main PC has a set of Logitech X-530 speakers. My brother also wants a set of X-530, but I think they are a bit old now, so there's this new X-540 model out now. I'll try to find a store with those X-540. But I've also seen Altec Lansing 5.1ch stuff on sale for $99 at the electronics boutique games store down the road. And I've heard Creative stuff is good as well. But any recommendations would be good.
In particular bass is the importance to what makes a good set of speakers for me. Decent high pitched treble is also another thing I like to consider, but deep bass and high pitched treble never go together so I guess that ideology won't work.

Now for the mouse. I'm totally oblivious to computer mice. According to my brother, there are two types of mice, palm grip and claw grip mice?
I don't know what the hell I use, but apparently it's a claw grip one and it's what gamers use. Beats me as I use my mice for Internet access and that's about it. My brother was looking at the Logitech G9 or something like that today and that was like $50 or so for a mouse itself which I think is total overkill. Something that costs $5 is good enough for me, but apparently it isn't efficient for gaming.

And there's also this new "laser" mouse technology out... I dunno how that works, but it sounds lethal and I think i'm going to end up making holes in my desk. I use the old fashioned ball mouse and sometimes the newer optical stuff, but never a laser mouse.

Anyway, any recommendations on the three products would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[pentium]

Re: Need some recommendations

a G15 is pretty good but if he wants to be really classy you should get an IBM model M.

[zandrax]

Re: Need some recommendations

I agree with Pentium: a Model M is a near indestructable keyboard which will last for the next 4 computers you'll buy Old keyboards, even membrane ones from late '80s - early '90s, have a loud and distinct tactile feedback (typewriter one?): modern membrane ones feel "rubberish" to me but most people like them because are less noisy and have a lot of multimedia keys. Tell me how many multimedia keys except + / - audio volume buttons do you usually press ...
If you like something more modern, then look for corded, ergonomic (curved) Logitech or Microsoft ones: tap on their keys before buying.

Mouse: I suggest reading the whole ESR Mouse benchmark: the tester checked about 20 optical and laser mice on a variable speed, tunrtable-like plate for speed handling and tracking precision (electronic and sensitivity), discovering there are some good cheap mices around (old MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0, quite rare to find, and some entry level Logitech ones). Laser rodents are expensive and with subpar performance compared to good optical ones, so avoid them

Just an note: the reviewer often cites three categories of mouse user, highsensers, midsensers and lowsensers. The difference is about mouse handling in games.
Lowsensers require a large space to move the mouse, such as 4 ordinary mousepads put together or even more, because they move the arm with the mouse; they usually focus on mice with high speed handling (3+ m/s).
Highsensers move only the mouse in an area smaller than a mouse pad, usually a circle with a 3-4 cm diameter, so they often reverse the mousepad (short side as the base, long as the height) and rest the palm on the unused part of the pad; they look for high precison mice (so 800+ DPI sensitivity).
Midsensers are the majority of people between the high and lowsenser categories: they're the one enjoying standard sized mousepads and 400 dpi cheap mice, even ball ones

Zandrax

[Wizard]

Re: Need some recommendations

Seconded! M all the way. And, will "survive" the upgrades. My keyboard had gone through 6 machines (over 15 years). And will for long time as long as I can get a USB to PS/2 converter that works well.

Cheers, Wizard