| Roccat KONE[+] Gaming Mouse |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Input Devices | ||||||||
| Written by Steve Hearst | ||||||||
| Monday, 24 October 2011 | ||||||||
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Roccat KONE[+] Final ThoughtsThe KONE[+] is a great gaming mouse and only has a few minor niggles. My first problem was its light weight, but this was solved simply by loading in the four supplied 5g weights. I'm sure there are those of you out there that could really use a lightweight mouse to your advantage, so its weight would actually be seen as a benefit but that's not me. My second problem was with the waiting period between making changes in the software and them being applied to the mouse. As I stated earlier it takes approximately 28 seconds between clicking apply for the settings to be active on the mouse. In an age where my computer can boot up in less time I expect such relatively small changes to be more instantaneous. Once you are happy with your load out this will of course become a non issue, but if like me you have only just got the mouse and you want to experiment with settings these 28 second periods feel like they are taking an age and will soon mount up. My last niggle is with the scroll wheel. I haven't mentioned this until now because it really is just a minor thing. Occasionally when I scroll down (during web browsing etc.) I have observed that the page scrolls up ever so slightly before scrolling down. It doesn't happen all the time and can't be reproduced on demand but the problem is there all the same. There are however some really great features exclusive to the KONE[+] that easily counter these minor niggles. They are EasyShift[+], EasyAim and Roccat Talk. Used in conjunction these features really will take your game to another level. As with all gaming peripherals you won't get immediate improvements, to think such a thing is silly. Over time, as you learn to use the KONE[+] properly, you will really start to appreciate what it can do. Pair the KONE[+] mouse with the ISKU keyboard and you can enjoy the benefits inherent to Roccat Talk, both of these devices have EasyShift[+] buttons and you can assign these buttons to either device and they will communicate seamlessly. EasyAim can also be assigned to a button on the keyboard so you will have more precise control with your mouse hand.
Roccat KONE[+] ConclusionIn this section I am going to write a brief five point summary on the following categories; Performance, Appearance, Construction, Functionality and Value. These views are my own and help me to give the Roccat KONE[+] gaming mouse a rating out of 10, a high score does not necessarily mean that it is better than a similar mouse which has been reviewed by another writer here at Benchmark Reviews, which may have received a lower score. It is however a good indicator of whether the KONE[+] mouse is good or not. I would strongly urge you to read the entire review, if you have not already, so that you can make an educated decision for yourself. The Roccat KONE[+] performs very well in all tasks, the 6000dpi laser really takes it to another level in FPS games, it's also quite amusing to watch a noobie family member trying to use my PC at 6000dpi when they are used to the basic 800dpi of a normal mouse. The mouse wheel has a little bit of a bug when scrolling (noted in my final thoughts) but it really is only a minor niggle. Appearance is normally a touchy subject but with the level of customization available with the KONE[+] (1,048,576 color combinations, 243 effect combinations) I'm sure there is a look that could suit you personally. The construction of the KONE[+] is of exceptional quality. There is no doubt in my head that this mouse will last a long time and it can take a bit of a beating along the way and remain in good order. The materials used are of high quality which is expected in a gaming mouse of this level. Functionality is top notch, EasyShift, EasyAim and Roccat Talk really set this mouse out from the rest, the issue of the waiting time when changing settings is almost moot next to these. It used to be the case that DPI was the only highlight of a gaming mouse, it does play a massive part but it is not a deal breaker. The KONE[+] does not disapoint with its 6000dpi laser sensor, it takes some time to get used to but when you have got to grips with it you will love every minute of gameplay. The Roccat KONE[+] will set you back $99.99 (Amazon, NewEgg). This is what I would call the high end price range, reserved for the most elite of pointing devices and the KONE[+] fits in just nicely. Not everyone can afford to throw $100 at a gaming mouse and I understand that but the KONE[+] has features that no other mouse has. For that reason Roccat could have easily charged more (like razer does) but they played it just right I think. The Roccat KONE[+] is a great all around mouse. If you are an FPS gamer then you will really appreciate the 6000dpi laser sensor and the EasyAim function, but all the extra buttons may well be wasted on you. MMO and RTS gamers will really appreciate the EasyShift[+] and Roccat talk capabilities that will surely increase your APM to all new levels. Pros:
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Comments
That was before I had heard rumors of breaking mouse wheel constructions.
After a year the mousewheel indeed broke.
I loved that mouse. It handled superbly and the customization options with LEDS were unique. The software was very good too. Never saw anything like it.
Because of the weak mousewheel construction of the first Roccat Kone I will not take the risk to buy this one. It is too expensive to have give up on me after a year.
Now I own a Logitech G700 gaming mouse. Less fancy, customization wise, but very sturdy because of the superior build quality. Gaming mice need to be strong and to be able to take punishment. Logitech never has disappointed me. I have never had to throw away a logitech (or a microsoft mouse) because it fell apart.
But I would buy this mouse if it had a more reliable construction than the first Kone.
A lot of these laser sensors are still worse than the optical ones found in mice like the deathadder. doesn't make as much sense to buy a complicated mouse if it's fundamentally worse.