March Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 7

Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical

Current Cost: $15
Months on list: 26
Price Change: $0

Microsoft and Logitech both offer a wide range of expensive optical and wireless mouse controllers, but while these may be standard fare for a higher-end system, these models are still a bit out of our budget. A lower-cost, rock-solid mouse like the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical is more in line with our requirements and other than a wired interface and fewer buttons, there are no real concessions. The Intellimouse Optical is similar to higher-priced Explorer mouse units, and shares the same high-quality construction, optical technology, and seamless Windows XP compatibility. The unit's optical eye will also outlast any mechanical roller mechanism and doesn't require cleaning, which can come in handy while gaming online, where pausing for even a second can spell defeat.

The Intellimouse Optical also shares a great deal in common with the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.X. It has many of the same features and ergonomics of the more expensive Explorer, but is just a bit smaller and doesn't share the exact same aesthetics. The Intellimouse Optical is totally symmetrical in shape, 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 point to keep in mind, as some surfaces (such as clear glass) may cause the mouse's optical eye to "jump" if moved quickly.

Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard

Current Cost: $15
Months on list: 16
Price Change: $0

A keyboard is a very personal item, especially for gaming, and we can only offer a very basic recommendation to get you started. It is best to try and test a few out at the local retail store, and then decide which model is the right fit for you. As for our selection, it's much the same as it is for the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical, and although we continue to look for a successor, there's really no compelling reason to change. The Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard is a great value, and one of the more impressive $15 keyboards we've used. This model includes a full complement of multimedia buttons in a quality unit, and for the price, you really can't go wrong. Like with the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical mouse, Microsoft keyboards functions perfectly in Windows XP and the nifty extra multimedia keys can even be customized to your own requirements.

Operating system: Windows XP Home SP1

Microsoft Windows XP Pro remains well outside our $1K budget, and is tailored to a more high-end system configuration, so we're sticking with the Home version for our value systems. Windows XP Home more than fits our requirements, offers a comparative gaming environment to XP Pro, and even supports many high-end features such as Intel Hyper-Threading. For current games, Windows XP is the only way to go, and virtually all new PC hardware and software runs at its best on Microsoft's newest operating system. New games use XP as the default operation system and driver support usually centers on either Windows 2000 or XP. We also recommend picking up the Windows XP Home SP1a (or SP2) CD, as these updates have created a more stable and secure gaming environment.

The approximate $79 street price represents the cost of a licensed OEM Windows XP Home CD, and not the boxed retail version. This means that in order to get the lower-priced OEM deal, you'll have to buy the Windows XP CD with your new system or bundled together with one of the 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 quite a bit more than the OEM CD price.

Name Brand Floppy

Current Cost: $0

We've taken our reader's advice and scrapped the floppy from our main guide. This not only embraces the future of PC design, but also saves us a few bucks into the bargain.

Of course, this is a guideline only, and for those who will feel more comfortable with a floppy drive, just slap down $8 and buy a basic name brand (Panasonic, Sony, TEAC, etc.) and be done with it.