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Input Devices for the Gamer and the WorkerReviewed By: Kirk Hiner Posting Date: November 29, 2000
Reviewed:
Sad as it makes me, I can't spend all my waking hours playing computer games. In fact, the ratio of gaming/work time spent on the computer leans sorely towards the more boring, albeit more lucrative option. Whether I'm composing another "never to be published" novel, updating the internet's most popular party planning website, or writing one of these reviews, I'm working. Granted, I enjoy partaking in any of these activities, but I have more fun solving the latest DreamCatcher adventure or testing a game from the newly resurrected MacPlay. For this reason, I've always tread lightly into the world of Mac compatible input devices. As much as I'd like to get the super kewl, as the kids say, gaming mouse, I have to consider how it'll feel when creating precise clipping paths in Photoshop. And as much as I'd like to pick up Apple's latest venture into the keyboard arts, I have to remember that I'll be hurtling pits and dodging boulders with it. Hence this guide--not review, mind you--to various input devices available to Mac users. This is not a comprehensive guide, as it only encompasses the best of the devices I've used. I'll look at three devices in the mouse, keyboard and game pad categories, and let you know how each fares for gaming and for casual/professional work. First up... The MouseThe Contenders:
Okay, so if you've recently purchased your Macintosh (or attended the keynote speech at Macworld NY 2000), you have the Apple Pro Mouse. If not so recently, you have the now defunct "hockey puck" mouse. If that's the case, you obviously aren't a gamer and shouldn't even be reading this. I'll cut right to the chase and point out the obvious...one button. If the mouse has one button, it's useless to the gamer (and more and more to the casual user as well). Sure, the Apple Pro Mouse is sleek and stylish, but the contour still gets uncomfortable after a while to both gamers and casual/professional users alike. The hot dog shape provides some wrist support, but it doesn't fit the natural contour of the hand. And whereas the optical technology provides the "wow" factor and relieves the user of cleaning duties, it's not as responsive as the traditional ball mouse. Addressing most of these issues is Logitech's MouseMan Wheel. I actually have two versions of this mouse; one optical, one not. Both feature three buttons (two on top and one on the side for the thumb) and a scrolling wheel. All of these can be assigned different functions with the included software, although many users have complained that Logitech's drivers and software often do more harm than good. The highlight to the MouseMan Wheel, however, is it's design. It perfectly matches the contour of the palm (the older traditional mouse moreso than the newer optical), each digit resting in a naturally comfortable place. The sides are even rubberized to provide a better grip...perfect for those late night Unreal Tournament sessions. And for digital artists and designers, both the optical and traditional versions provide pinpoint accuracy. Hard core gamers may prefer the responsiveness of the traditional ball version, but anyone else should be go ahead and grab the newer optical model (you gotta love that blue light!) Well, everyone except for left handers, that is. Ergonomics are great for right handers, but many companies ignore the market of left handed users. Not so with Contour Design's Perfit Mouse. Not only does it come in left and right handed models, but in sizes as well. Left handers can chose from three sizes, while righties get their choice of five. I recently completed a full review of the Perfit Mouse, so you can check it out for more details. Here, I'll simply point out that the mouse has three buttons, all on top. Rather than release their own drivers for customization, Contour Design packages the mouse with a pre-registered version of the popular shareware program USB Overdrive. The Perfit Mouse is also wonderfully comfortable, providing a thumb rest and excellent support for the back of the palm. However, it's unusually wide, which may prove cumbersome for general users. Perhaps more damaging is it's price tag; the Perfit Mouse costs about twice as much as the MouseMan Wheel. Gamers may be willing to pay the extra cost for the three easily programmable buttons and the responsive action, but general users will miss the scroll wheel and lament its girth. The Winner: Logitech MouseMan Wheel The KeyboardThe Contenders:
At the same time Apple did away with the hockey puck mouse, they also did away with the...uh...hockey stick keyboard. In its place is the Apple Pro Keyboard, which is about as solid as your basic keyboard can be. As with all Apple products, to look at it makes one wonder why keyboards were ever designed any other way. The Apple Pro Keyboard offers the full range of keys, all at full size, thank heavens. Without full size arrow and function keys, the previous Apple keyboard model was about as useful to gamers as a bucket of burnt toast. The Pro model even sports volume controls and such above the number pad. In their ongoing quest to never quite get it right, however, Apple chose to leave off a power button. Macally's iMediaKey does Apple one better. Actually, it does them more over fifteen better. The iMediaKey not only kept the power button, but also provides nineteen special keys above the F-keys that can be assigned to perform any manner of functions. Volume and all CD Audio controls are pre-covered, and many others can be programmed (with heavy leanings towards internet programs). Sadly, I was unable to figure a way to get the CD controls off of Apple's CD Audio player and onto SoundJam which I use with much more frequency. However, the other programmable keys have served me quite well. In fact, I prefer them over the regular function keys because they're further out of the way...I'm less likely to accidentally launch Illustrator while reaching for the asterisk key. As with the Apple Pro Keyboard, the iMediaKey is comfortable to use without taking up too much retail space. The NU-Form from Adesso, on the other hand, takes up more retail space than a strip mall. This is because of its ergonomic design that splits the left and right hand, providing more natural access to the keys. This is a godsend to those who spend most of their time typing, but not to those who spend their days playing games. Splitting the keys makes them harder to find without looking, and when you have to drop chaff to avoid a missile, that split second it takes to find the proper key could be the deciding factor between life and shrapnel. This problem carries over somewhat to the casual and professional user. Once I had my hands on home row, the split design of the NU-Form was easy to adapt to and greatly increased my typing speed and accuracy, not to mention comfort level. However, hunting for keyboard shortcuts when doing predominately mouse work proved a hassle because none of the keys were where they used to be. This took a while to adjust to, as did going back to the traditional design when I had to use someone else's keyboard. Maybe If I could just carry a NU-Form with me at all times... The Winner: Macally iMediaKey The Game PadThe Contenders:
Okay, okay, I know. Game Pads are pretty much for gamers only. Although it would be cool to create forms in GoLive by blasting them in the screen with a fire button, such actions are relegated solely to games. However, as MacSoft would tell you, many professional and casual users also become casual gamers. So in which game pad should they invest? Read on. Macally's iShock is the first USB device in which I invested. When the G4 arrived, so did the iShock. It's set up almost entirely like your standard Playstation controller with the addition of a couple extra buttons near the D-pad. It also features four action buttons under the right thumb, four buttons in the back and two digital D-pads on top. This provides a lot of functionality and almost guaranteed compatibility, but at the expense of ease of use. Even worse, Macally's drivers don't seem to want to cooperate with Mac OS 9.0.4. Having them installed can randomly crash programs even when the devices aren't in use. Luckily, they're not needed. I disabled the iShock driver but am still able to customize the controls in most games thanks to Apple's input sprockets. The iShock worked fine with each game I played, including Connectix's Virtual Game Station. Not all games will need iShock's functionality, but it's good to have for those that do. Gravis' Destroyer Tilt game pad is simpler to use than the iShock, and more comfortable as well. The handles are more smoothly contoured, and the fewer buttons help the hands hold the game pad in a more natural position. There are only two buttons in the back, four buttons under the right thumb and the d-pad under the left. It also has a tilt feature that may or may not be useful, depending upon the game and the person playing it. With tilt on, simply tilting the game pad sends commands to the game. Want to turn your car, tilt the Destroyer Tilt in the direction you want to turn. Want to accelerate, tilt it forward. This can then free up the D-pad to be used for other functions. However, the tilt feature is a bear to use. Response is a bit sluggish, which often leads to overcompensation. This can be addressed when calibrating the game pad within games that allow you to do so, but it still takes some getting used to; you'll have to use the feature many times before finding a calibration that works well. Ultimately, although the tilt feature is fun to show off, most gamers--whether hard core or casual--will want to rely on the trusty thumb instead of body language. Going the other direction from the iShock is Gravis' Xterminator game pad. This thing has more buttons and pads than the mixing board at a Yes concert; proportional and eight-way digital D-pads, four triggers in the back, nine buttons and an eight-way hat switch. The buttons were placed too close together for my tastes, and I often accidentally hit the wrong one. The Xterminator was easy to hold, though, especially for a big handed fellow such as myself. Hard core and casual gamers alike will be miffed to learn that many Xterminator's shipped with PC only CDs, making driver installation all but impossible. Inside Mac Games has come to the rescue, making the driver available at ftp://ftp.insidemacgames.com/updates/gravisusb.sit.bin. Will they want to bother with the download though? Probably not. And will casual users want to bother with the complexity of a game pad this advanced? Again, probably not. The Winner: Tie - Macally iShock and Gravis Destroyer Tilt Fact of the matter is that all of these products have their positives and negatives (save for perhaps the Apple Pro Mouse); some swaying towards hard core gamers, others towards more casual or professional use. If there was such a thing as the perfect input device, then everyone in the business could just pack up and go home. Designing a comfortable, functional device is difficult as is, and designing one that perfectly matches the needs of the gamer and the professional user is an even more daunting task. My "winners" are simply the products that, after trying them all out, remained plugged into my USB port. And now if you'll excuse me, my work is done, I have some playing to do.
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Cool Mac Gear• iPod 1G-2G • iPod 3G • iPod 4G • iPod Mini • PowerBook-iBook • Keyboard Skins • Garageband
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