THIS mouse has everything packed in, yet probably disappoints in the most important department - comfort.

The first gaming mouse from Silverstone, loved by PC buffs for its famed aluminium cases, looks the part when you pull it out from the pretty packaging.

On this critter, you'll find just about every feature that more established rivals like Logitech and Razer have.

First off, its top-end laser sensor offers more-than-you-need 3,200dpi sensitivity. Carbon fibre and tough plastic outer shell to handle rough play? Check. Snazzy styling? Check.

There's even a small screen showing off the dpi levels and a pretty Raven animation for the bling lovers out there.

If Silverstone had stopped at all that, the Raven would have been a good enough mouse. However, the addition of a bulbous scroller wheel on the left makes it not just strange-looking but more than a little awkward for users with small hands.

This scroller, called the Flip 3D, does exactly what it suggests. In Windows Vista, you can easily scroll through several windows using the Microsoft Flip 3D feature. It does come in handy if you have lots of programs open.

The question is whether it warrants having your right thumb in a rather awkward position all the time. The more conventional position, when I looked at a Logitech G5 or Razer DeathAdder, two popular gaming mice, is for the thumb to push into the mouse, in a more relaxed fashion.

In comparison, the Silverstone Raven felt a little uncomfortable.

Save for the white-plastic Flip 3D wheel, the rest of the mouse appears well-built. The Teflon feet, for example, ensures smooth movement in games.

When I tried out the mouse with first-person-shooters like Crysis Warhead, it acquitted itself well, offering controlled movement and aiming in games. The regular scroller wheel (not the Flip 3D), which came with slight notches, let me change weapons with ease.

I'll be honest to say that 3,200dpi sensitivity, offered by a Philips 'twin-eye' laser, is somewhat overkill for most folks. Sure, it works - with the slightest flick of the wrist, you do turn around real fast in a game. However, with speed goes control and you might need to be a super accurate shooter to aim at a small target with that kind of speed.

Fortunately, you can dial things down, perhaps to the more balanced 2,000dpi or so.

Final say

It has over-the-top features and bling, but if Silverstone had put ergonomics higher on its list, the Razen might just be a better mouse.

By Alfred Siew, a freelance writer

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life on 5 November 2008.

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