I bought this mouse to replace my old Logitech G9, below is my review:
Looks
I think the mouse itself looks really good. It has a smooth, matte black rubber coating all around it and an illuminated logo, as well as LEDs showing the current DPI level and an LED behind the scroll wheel (which unfortunately isn't diffused properly when looking at it from certain angles). All of this makes for a sober look, but not a dull one, courtesy of the multicolour LEDs. It has notches on the right side of the mouse, one for your pinkie and one for your ring finger. It might initially look like quite a big mouse, but it isn't really. It is as long as my old G9, a bit wider (mainly because of the finger rests) and with a lower hump.
Features
It has the new Avago 9800 sensor, which supports DPI settings up to 8200 and Omron switches. It features polling rates up to 1000hz, an adjustable lift distance (the distance between your mouse and the surface at which the sensor stops tracking movements), S.Q.A.T. (Surface Quality Analyser Tool, which is used to calibrate the mouse for use on a specific surface) and multicolour LEDs. It features two thumb buttons and two DPI buttons and that's it as far as extra buttons go. There is no weight-tuning present.
Software
The driver itself is not included in the packaging and you'll have to download it from the Mionix site. It is a small download (12.1MB) and doesn't have any impact on system performance. In the driver you can assign different functions and macros to the buttons. The only function I missed was a sniper button (a button that temporarily lowers the DPI). You can also change the double-click speed, scroll speed, pointer acceleration, polling rate (125/250/500/1000hz), and pointer speed. There is also an option select the lift-off distance and the Surface Quality Analyser Tool, but I personally didn't like the way the mouse behaved with it enabled.
And lastly there are the LED setting, which are quite expansive. Apart from picking the colour and turning them on and off, there are also some other options. You can for example choose different colours for the different LED areas on the mouse, on turn some of them off completely. There are also three different LED effects: blinking, pulsating and breathing, as well as a colour shift mode. All very fancy, but in the end just a fun gimmick.
The software is easy to use and can store up to 5 different profiles.
In use
I really looked forward to having a proper ergonomic mouse. Its ergonomic shape, however, proofed to be its only weakness. I have fairly big hands and this mouse was just too small for me. The curves in the finger rest just weren't in the right place for me, forcing me to stretch my pinkie in a very uncomfortable position, which caused my hand to cramp even after a short while.
During gaming I change from a palmgrip to a clawgrip, but unfortunately thing didn't improve. The place where my pinkie and ring finger rested just didn't feel natural. So I decided to let someone else who has smaller hands try the mouse and she said it was perfect for her. On other problem is that while the coating feels extremely pleasant, it is very smooth and therefore makes it a bit difficult to pick the mouse up. So this mouse might not be the best for low sensitivity gamers, who tend to pick up their mice often.
I decided to try it for a bit longer and found the sensor to be excellent. You can change the DPI settings in 200dpi increments, from a frankly ridiculous 8200 down to a measly 200dpi. I found myself playing at 2600dpi most of the time. I didn't notice any acceleration or delays. I used it on my CM Storm cloth mouse mat and the tracking was flawless. The lift-off distance was excellent as well. I set it at the low setting in the driver and the sensor pretty much stopped tracking to moment I lifted the mouse from the mouse mat.
I was also really pleased with the mouse buttons. The placing of the thumb buttons was good and the click they made very pleasant. Same goes for the two main buttons. They weren't too sensitive nor did they take a lot of force to press and click was very satisfying. Scrolling and clicking with the scroll wheel was just as good, but I did miss a sideways scrolling option.
Conclusion
Unfortunately I just couldn't get used to the shape of this mouse and decided to send it back. Which is unfortunate, since it has a lot going for it. The LED system is nice, if a bit gimmicky. The rubber coating has a very enjoyable texture, but it may be a bit too smooth. The sensor is excellent and the buttons are outstanding. The driver is easy to use and lightweight. It is just such a shame that it has such a specific shape. If you have big hand, you need not apply. If you use anything other than a palmgrip, buy another mouse. But if you have small to medium-sized hands and do use a palmgrip, than this mouse might just be the one for you.
| Brand | MIONIX |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 12.95 x 8.38 x 9.83 cm; 149.69 Grams |
| Item model number | NAOS-8200 |
| Manufacturer | MIONIX |
| Series | NAOS 8200 |
| Color | Black |
| Form Factor | gaming |
| Wireless Type | 802.11abg |
| Voltage | 1.5 Volts |
| Hardware Platform | Windows 7 |
| Are Batteries Included | No |
| Item Weight | 150 g |
