Introduction

There are many mice in the computer world today that are built for casual users, and then to the other extreme-the gamer market. Getting a mouse design right is harder than it looks as one has to anticipate a myriad of differing people. For example not everyone has the same length fingers or even the width of the hand. Combine these facts together and then include the knowledge that some people grip the mouse in different ways due to the application that it is used for. When we add in all these factors then the equation can become very complex indeed.

There are many pretenders to the throne, and in all honesty, the search for the ‘perfect mouse’ has been an epic undertaking. From the first models used in the 8086 range of PC’s to the new 2011 pin Sandybridge-E machines, we have seen everything from a block-like object to something that appears to have been drawn right out of a science fiction film.

One such company that aims to be the king of mice manufacturers is CoolerMaster.

Company Background

 While staying true to its original mission, Cooler Master is responding to transformations in the global industry and adapting to its own rapid growth. It will continue to devote resources to developing more advanced technologies, retaining a spirit of innovation. It will also continue to refine its operations, enhancing efficiency and making the company even more responsive to customer needs and market changes as they arise, efficient, and providing even better service to customers.

Specifications

• Sensor  2000 DPI Optical Sensor
• DPI Display  500, 1000, and 2000 DPI Presets
• Maximum Tracking Speed  160 IPS (inches per second)
• Maximum Acceleration 23G
• Speed Measurement     6700FPS (frames per second)
• Polling Rate        1000 Hz USB Transfer Rate
• Response Time 1ms
• Cable Length  2 Meters

The Xornet comes in a standard box, which has a Velcro flap on the front that opens much like a book. Once opened, the the consumer can view the mouse up close and get an idea of size of the mouse. The packaging design is typical of the CoolerMaster Storm products with the black and red theme and an additional image of the product itself.

All in all it does what it says on the tin as any good packaging should really.

Let us now move onto the product photos and the testing procedure

 Product Photos

What is most apparent is that the CM Storm Xornet mouse looks to be similar to that of the ‘Spawn ‘model, albeit with lesser features and at a reduced price range.

The mouse itself sports a rather handy resting place for the ‘pinky’ finger and a comfortable rubber (non-slip) grip on the right hand side. Obviously this is designed to be used with the right hand, so lefties are left out in the cold, something with CoolerMaster could do with considering for the future.

The above shows the  left and right hand mouse buttons with the addition to the sensitivity (DPI) switches. In the middle of this lies the usual scroll wheel which seems to be large enough for a finger to get a grip on. Attached to the mouse is a rather long USB cable of two meters of length.

Underneath there is the 2000 DPI optical sensor, as well as the two Teflon feet. We have tested the CM Storm Xornet on a variety of mouse pads with the addition of the bare surface of the desk and the results are quite surprising.

 Testing

As in the last review, namely The CoolerMaster Spawn, we find that a claw-type mouse is quite uncomfortable in a variety of situations. In order to make this fair it was decided to change the tester of this product. Our mouse tester originally comes from the Philippines and as such not only has smaller hands but with the spacings between the fingers that will differ also. The CM Storm Xornet Mouse was tested under the exact same circumstances as we did the Spawn version and her general opinion of the product was given.

Obviously judging by the tests above we can assume that the CoolerMaster Storm Xornet mouse is designed for gaming and general use only. When used with specialist applications then hand strain may occur with some people.

 Conclusion

Although the CM Storm comes with lesser features than the ‘Spawn’ model it is good to see that the quality remains high. The scroll wheel feels robust and should take a great deal of frantic abuse during a high gaming session. Its use in a gaming environment is an essential tool and offers a great deal of control. However whilst the mouse scores high in gaming and general desktop use it falls to only an average level during specialist applications use. The reason for this could be the mouse may be optimised (given its shape) for quick movements as used in a game, however applications such as 3D  Studio need a slower, more precise movement. Let’s face is this mouse is designed for a ‘gamer’ in mind.

The area where the ‘pinky’ finger rests is very comfortable and there is no strain on this section and the mouse works great on a variety of surfaces, including bare wood. All the buttons feel easy to get at when in a tight spot during gaming, but on balance we feel that though it could be seen as a feature that though the cable is of two meters in length, there is a downside that that the aforementioned could be snagged during a gaming session and performance loss may result. A possible fix to this would be a Velcro strap in order to tie the extra long cable down, when being used with a ‘Lap-Top’ for example.

All in all the CoolerMaster Storm Xornet does what it says on the tin and with finesse too, with the added bonus of a price around £25 sterling then it makes an attractive offer for any avid gamer.

Pros.

• High Quality
• Sturdy Construction
• Good Price-Point
• Good for Gamers
• Long Cable (but See Cons)
• Works  well. on a variety of surfaces

Author:

Gilgamesh (Christopher Cressey)

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