| Roccat Kova[+] Optical USB Gaming Mouse |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Input Devices | |
| Written by Joey Peng | |
| Tuesday, 29 November 2011 | |
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Closer Look: Roccat KOVA[+]The Roccat Kova[+] packs a lot of functionality into a tiny form factor. At a mere 90 grams, the Kova[+] is easy to maneuver and offers very little resistance. Its compatibility with both Windows and Mac make it an outstanding choice in a market where Macs are often overlooked. The Kova[+] builds on top of its ancestor, mainly enhancing usability. Whereas the previous generation used button combinations to carry out commands, the Kova[+] delivers a solid mouse with extensive drivers that allows personalization in every way.
The Kova[+] package includes the Roccat Kova[+] optical gaming mouse, Inari Case Mission Book with ID Card, Quick Install Guide, and a driver CD. This package gets you started right off the bat without needing to search for installation files online. The mouse works even without drivers installed if the default behavior is all that's needed.
The Roccat Kova[+] is designed for fingertip or claw grip (using finger tips only, or with palm). People that enjoy gripping and resting their palm on the mouse will find the Kova[+] both too small and too light. The fine design of the Kova[+] seems to be inspired Lamborghini. The official website has a picture of the Lamborghini Reventon as one of the pictures under gallery, and if you look closely and squint, there is actually some resemblance.
The Roccat Kova[+] is ergonomically designed for both left and right-handed users. It's perfectly symmetrical, with 2 sets of lights (2 front 2 back) and 2 auxiliary buttons on each side. It has a length of 12cm and width of 6.5cm. This is considered to be one of the smaller gaming mice, about 1-2cm shorter and it would fit in the category of mobile mice.
Everywhere that contact is expected between mouse and hand, Roccat has taken the time to add rubber coating. While comfortable, the type of coating they chose to use attract a lot of finger smudges from hand oils, and is only marginally better than plastic for enhancing grip. The rubber coating on the scroll wheel on the other hand is the type of rubber that generates a lot of friction and resistance, giving the scroll wheel an incredibly solid feel.
The auxiliary buttons are positioned and designed to be non-intrusive, so if you're not a common user for these buttons, it's almost like they don't exist. However for power users, the Kova[+] allows a large number of actions (including custom macros) to be defined and ran based on a mouse click. However trying to reach for the programmable buttons with a pinky or ring finger is extremely awkward, so those 2 buttons should be reserved for on-the-fly mouse adjustments (such as DPI, sensitivity, and toggling profiles) that won't be accidently used in game.
One of the other problems for the Roccat Kova[+] is how much the Teflon feet attract dust and how difficult it is to remove it. Typically most gaming mice have this problem, it's a trade off between less friction and cleanliness. The optical sensor for the Kova[+] is not located in the middle, so for those that prefer a centered sensor that ignores rotation must look elsewhere.
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Comments
I have found that the death knell for any mouse I have used, especially light easy to move mice, is hard to press buttons. Often when a fine movement is required just pressing the button can cause the mouse to move slightly, enough to make the system not register a double-click for instance. I really like the look, and the optical sensor is interesting (almost enough for me to buy it just to try it). I really like the software and the timer function too. I prefer a fairly heavy mouse myself, but I can get used to a really good light mouse too. Pity about the buttons.
Because three feet will never wiggle, thats statics. A huge single feet could differ in attrition and start getting round or by glueing it on the plastic surface its not plane, or its just more expensive.
Well and an adjustable weight system for front and rear, who really needs that? I would say nobody.
But Roccat really needs to fix their quality. I bought the kova[+] half year ago. But already at start it was totally inaccurate, the arrow was jumping.... And that on all surfaces I tried (mousepad,wood,plast ic).
After that I bought Deathadder....
I just say that changing the weight balance between front/rear is more or less senseless. In the car the optimum is 50/50, same like in mouses, they just should put the weight in the center of your hand on the mouse. Regularly thats, like you described the tail (well not the side where the cable is, maybe a bit confusing where the tail is^^).
In a car other weight constellations can make sense, because you need more grip at the drive.
Other reasons are, that for more easy handling a understeer is prefferred, or for fun cars oversteer. But these are all effects you don't have in a mouse xD.
Well and don't forget the cable of your mouse. If I look at mine, the cable stiffness is a much bigger force, than the inertia of the front.
Well, but thats just my opinion, if someone thinks, he needs such a variable mouse I don't complain^^,. I think for companys it wouldn't be attractive. It's a small marked and cost-perfomance ratio is bad.
Where the center of gravity should be depends on how you pick the mouse up, not on inertia. If you never picked the mouse up then it wouldn't make any difference where the centre of gravity is.
When I'm in the midst of a game and I pick my mouse up to move it over and put it back down without the pointer (or whatever) moving then I don't want the front or back weighing more, but again that depends on where you grip the mouse.
Saying the balance weight system doesn't make sense is just not true.
Weightbalance in cars is like I already said something completely different, there are pros and cons in breaking, steering and safety (e.g. mid-engine car is hard to controle but fastest).
Mouse jumping is so bad that even the $10 mouse you grab from a bookstore can perform better.
Read more for more evidence: ##overclock.net/t/1022422/roccat-kova-good-mouse/10