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

Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical - $21

For a value gaming system, the $21 Microsoft Intellimouse Optical is an exceptional choice for a primary application and gaming controller. Perhaps the most prominent feature this mouse has is seamless Windows XP support, which is logical given both are Microsoft products. No more cleaning the mouse roller ball, as the optical eye takes care of all tracking. This 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. Its shape is also totally symmetrical which means it 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.

MS Internet Keyboard-About $15

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 - $82

After recommending Windows 98SE in our last value guide, we've changed gears and moved to Windows XP Home. There are still issues with the new OS, ranging from driver issues to problems running older games. Still, the operating system itself is pretty solid; and other than the reprehensible WPA protection scheme, there is really little to not like. Although Windows 98SE might seem the safer choice, at some point we're all going to be running this new OS, so we're opening up the bandwagon doors. Like our other value system components, the OS is a personal choice, so feel free in choosing the software that most fits your current and future needs.

The $82 price tag represents the cost of an OEM Windows XP Home CD, so be sure and buy it with a new system or one of your individual hardware purchases. If you forget, remember that the retail version of Win 98SE will cost significantly more, so don't blame us when you have to pay your local Best Buy double what the OEM would have cost in the first place. 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, getting a real CD should be a requirement for any new PC.

Floppy: About $10

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 a 10-spot and be done with it.