May 2002 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 8

Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical

Current Cost: $15
Months on list: 7
Price Change: -$6

For a value gaming system, the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical is an exceptional choice for a primary controller. Perhaps the most prominent feature of this mouse is its excellent Windows XP support, which is logical given that both are Microsoft products. The optical eye means no more cleaning the mouse roller ball, which might be bothersome in the midst of a hectic frag match. This feature also makes the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical are very hardy mouse and we've used similar models for a few years with no problems at all.

The MS Intellimouse Optical is the little brother to the incredibly popular IntelliMouse Explorer. It does have many of the same features and ergonomics of the more expensive IntelliMouse Explorer, but is just a bit smaller and doesn't quite look as cool. A nice benefit is that its shape is also totally symmetrical and can easily be used by either right or left-handed gamers. The Intellimouse Optical also includes four control buttons and a mouse wheel, each of which can be customized to your individual gaming needs. The type of mousing surface is the only real thing to keep in mind, as some surfaces (such as clear glass) may cause the mouse's optical eye to "jump" if moved quickly.

Keyboard: MS Internet Keyboard

Current Cost: $15
Months on list: 7
Price Change: $0

A keyboard is a very personal item, and we can only offer a very basic recommendation. It is best to try and test a few out at the local PC shop, and then decide which one is exactly the right fit for you. As a general rule, Microsoft makes excellent keyboards and their budget Internet Keyboard is probably the most fully featured $15 keyboard you'll ever lay your fingers on. Plus, like with the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical mouse, Microsoft keyboards functions perfectly in Windows XP and the nifty extra multimedia keys work right out of the box.

Operating System: Windows XP Home

Since there is no use going backwards in terms of game or hardware functionality, we are recommending Windows XP Home as the operating system of choice. A few months back, driver issues were a problem but today it is quite the opposite. Many new products ship with XP-only drivers, or users find their hardware actually works much better under Windows XP. As driver, game and hardware development will continue to focus on the newest Microsoft OS, jumping on now would seem to be the safest long-term choice.

The $78 price tag represents the cost of an OEM Windows XP Home CD, so be sure and buy one along with a new system or through one of your individual hardware purchases. If you forget, remember that the retail version of Windows XP Home will cost significantly more, so don't blame us when you have to pay your local Best Buy double the OEM CD cost. Getting an actual Windows XP CD is also important no matter where you buy, and many prominent computer vendors are pulling a bit of a scam by including only basic restore files on the hard drive itself. This may have been alright for Win 98SE, but with the more detailed copy protection schemes found in XP, making sure you get an actual Microsoft Windows XP Home CD should be a basic requirement for any new PC.

Name Brand Floppy

Current Cost: $8

Although the floppy drive is rapidly approaching obsolescence, you still need something to boot with and flash your system BIOS safely. Just buy a basic name brand (Panasonic, Sony, TEAC, etc.) for around 8 bucks and be done with it.