March 2004 Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 6

Mouse: Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse

Cost: $49
Months on list: 3
Price Change: -$6

We have been recommending the Logitech MX700 for the past few months in both the Extreme and High-end Buyer Guides, and with good reason. The MX700 is one of the best mice we have ever used, and features an 800dpi resolution and a 4.7 Megapixel per second sensor for maximum accuracy. The MX700 also has a built in rechargeable battery, and the unit can be left it the included docking bay when not in use. Most importantly, the Logitech MX700 is extremely comfortable to use, even during extended gaming sessions.

Make sure you choose an appropriate mousing surface when using any optical mouse, as these work best on dark non-solid color surfaces. Some of the best mouse pads currently on the market are those from fUnc, Ratpadz, and Everglide, and any serious gamer will want to take a look at those pads for one that might fit your tastes.

Keyboard: Microsoft Multimedia Natural Keyboard OEM

Cost: $20
Months on list: 3
Price Change: $0

There are a few items that we like to carry over from guide to guide, and the Microsoft Multimedia Natural Keyboard is one of them. We're huge fans of the split keyboard design here at SE and after years of using them, it's almost uncomfortable to go back to the standard style. Split design keyboards are much less conducive to fatigue or typing-related strain, making them ideal for people who spend lots of time typing things (such as these guides).

The Multimedia version of the Microsoft Natural Keyboard offers a number of additional, and sometimes useful, multimedia function keys. These are used for accessing and controlling tasks such as windows media player and audio volume, along with launching mail, web and instant messaging programs.

For those of you who would rather use a standard keyboard, we recommend the basic Microsoft Multimedia keyboard. It has all the same functions and features as the Natural keyboard and offers the same durability that we love about the Microsoft keyboards.

Gamepad: Saitek P3000 Wireless Pad & Docking Station

Cost: $39
Months on list: 3
Price Change: $0

A basic game controller is a required purchase these days, especially for racing and sports games. In a market where most of the PC controllers look like Playstation controllers, Saitek went the extra mile and created a very innovative wireless controller. The Saitek P3000 allows the freedom and performance that we'd expect from a good wireless pad, is very comfortable to hold, and has a wide array of options and buttons. The pad comes with two power packs and has a convenient docking station that doubles as a recharging station - much like the Logitech MX700 mouse we included in this guide.