November 2006 Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 6

Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser Mouse

Current Cost: $50
Consecutive Guides: 2
Price Change: -$5

With its incredibly fine 2000 dpi laser sensor, low-friction PFTE mouse feet, on-the-fly sensitivity switching, and adjustable weights, the G5 Laser Mouse was an easy pick 12 months ago. Logitech has since released newer cordless MX/VX Revolution models, but the G5 Laser remains the company's top corded model and our top gaming choice.

Just as important to mousing is the surface, as the laser sensor depends on surface irregularities. This is again a matter of preference: While most gamers will want to choose from several high quality metal, glass, or plastic pads, I'm lucky enough to have a desk surface covered in ultra-fine textured Formica laminate of an appropriate pattern and color.

Keyboard: Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard

We were looking for an excuse to update our keyboard pick, and Logitech is happy to oblige. The G15 features a flip-up LCD panel capable of displaying a variety of things, from system statistics to player status in games, depending on the applet employed.

Other features include backlit keys for playing in dark rooms, 18 added programmable keys, media player and volume controls, and a built-in USB hub for convenient connection of a mouse and game controller. Now if we could just get the office guys to give up their split-style keyboards.

Game Controller: Saitek P3000 Wireless Pad & Docking Station

Current Cost: $35
Consecutive Guides: 11
Price Change: +$4

It may come as a shock to hardcore gamers that there's more to life than shooting things from a keyboard/mouse combo. Racing and sports games are often ported to the PC after initial consideration for game consoles, and are thus designed for and much easier to play with a controller. But as PC gaming has become mostly an FPS/RPG affair, the state of game controllers has languished into near oblivion (not that Oblivion).

The game controller market has dwindled so much that Saitek's top model P3000 is no longer found on the company's current product list, yet enough of these remain on the market to make finding them easy. Wireless freedom and the inclusion of two rechargeable batteries with charging base differentiate this "obsolete" part from the older and cheaper models Saitek chose to keep.

If you ever play games that work best with a controller, or even think you might in the future, now is the time to buy one, before quality products completely vanish.