Raptor M3 Platinum Gaming Mouse Mini Review

[steve_sarge]

Well, I finally got my hands on a Raptor M3 Platinum Gaming Mouse last week and thought it would be the decent thing to post my thoughts.

Firstly, I'll post the link to the Website for anyone who wants a look at the Store's specs and other hardware.

Raptor Gaming M3 Platinum

Next is the Tech Details of the mouse in Brief

• High resolution laser gaming mouse
• Resolution adjustable by hardware in steps (800 dpi, 1600 dpi, 2400 dpi, 3200 dpi)
• Resolution adjustable by software in steps (up to 3200dpi)
• different weight settings (110gr. - 155gr.)
• Special Design for right-handed use
• removable RAPTOR-GAMING-WRIST-REST
• Special Soft-Touch Surface
• Flexible 2m USB cable
• 6 buttons incl. mouse wheel
• additional sets of mouse sliders

The package contents are as follows:

• RAPTOR-GAMING M3 PLATINUM
• 21 additional weights (each 2 gr.)
• RAPTOR- MOUSEBAG XL
• RAPTOR-WEIGHTBAG
• RAPTOR-GAMING-WRIST-REST
• Quick installation guide (German and English)
• additional sets of mouse sliders
• Application software CD (always get the most current version on Raptor Gaming Technology GmbH)



Here is a pic of the mouse with the added Hand Rest:



I found that my hand is a little large to appreciate the rest but I have had others comment that they quite like the feel of it. The downfall of it to me is that it rises into the position of where my little finger rests in the groove and feels a little uncomfortable. I personally like to feel the mouse mat with movement too as I am a bit heavy handed on the mouse.

Next, The weight set:



Each individual weight can be removed from the foam pad and stored in one of the little satchels that was packaged with the mouse. I like the 155 grams of the mouse and have opted to leave all the weights in place.

One thing I love about the Raptor package contents is the fact that there were more than ample spare pads that shipped with the mouse



Here are a few pics. I will add a few notes about my opinions after the pics.









OK. Here are the "PROS":

•Good for right handers.
•Fantastic button layout.
•Ability to turn on/off, side button lights in the control panel.
•Ergonomic design (can use it for a long time without Cramping in the hand)
•Nice, wide scroll wheel

And of course you need to know the "CONS":

•ONLY for right handed users.
•Neither the Manual nor the Raptor Site give concise instructions on how to use the Control Panel of the mouse to it's full extent.
•The Sensitivity adjustment button (explained more below) Could have been placed just behind the scroll wheel (for those that need it in a hurry)
•The scripts that I have managed to write to the mouse for Battlefield 2™ haven't been as responsive as I would like.

In saying all this, if you are going to buy one of these purely based on the scripting ability in game, I would advise that you may need a little more patience than most, as it is a task to write one to the control panel. The other option that is available to you is, the 3 buttons (2 side and 1 middle button) have the ability to "Emulate" keyboard strokes or other devices, so this is what solved my complaint.

Next up, the Sensitivity adjustment. Pics first.





Notice the round RED button: It is pressed once, the Red light comes on, now you simply scroll the wheel up or down for the different levels of "Preset" sensitivity (which can be altered in the Mouse's Control Panel) When you are happy with the level of Sensitivity, simply push the round button again to keep the level and return the mouse wheel to it's normal function.

Now we will take a look at the Raptor Control Panel and its different settings:

The Button Configuration page is actually quite straight forward. If you want to "Emulate" a keystroke, you can select this option and enter your key presses in the assigned box. There is also a "Push Pin" looking button which will show you which button's settings you are modifying.


This is the Script Screen in all it confusion. To enter a script, you have to go through each button press one by one, adding them to the configuration after each press. This is where there could be some improvement in the instruction manual or on the Raptor site itself. The Control Panel is Loosely translated and hard to follow for those that are only fluent in one language.


Next up is the Sensitivity levels adjustment page:
This is as straight forward as it comes again and the only option that I don't understand here is the USB Report Rate, but this doesn't seem to alter the ability to use the mouse.


To summarise:

I am more than happy with this purchase. I have taken a couple of days to get used to the feel of the mouse after using nothing but Razer for the last 18 months. I'm still struggling to get used to the sensitivity adjustment button's location, I guess I'll just learn to accept it. I'll be grateful when someone writes a tutorial on how to get the most out of the ability to run scripts that are responsive in game (outside of game is not so important from a time point of view for me) I would almost like the option of a side scrolling wheel for this baby too as it is fantastic in photoshop for the low sensitivity it can get to.

Feel free to tell me if I can improve this review guys as it is the first I've written.

[GSte]

Excellent review mate, great pics and screenies and a good level of explanation and detail. Had a Raptor M1 which I loved, so was very interested to read this thanks.

[steve_sarge]

Great. I was hoping it would be easy to read and not TOO BORING. Cheers GSte

[godsdog]

Yeh, nice review and pix.

I really like the look of that.

[Switch[uK]]

Now, I'm fairly open to new things. But this mouse doesn't appeal to me. Since I started gaming to a decent level I have owned (and pwnd with) Razer Mouses (that is the plural of computer mouse ). I have a copperhead it cost me £50 new. Its never failed me, its got profiles for different games. Its simply a great mouse. Its green and when you leave it alone for a while the back fades in and out, making it look like its alive! Sexay!

This M3 platinum seems, over sized over sexed and over nessecary... Maybe if you play WoW or online strategics you need a mouse like this but for me, a mouse has to be a high DPI, fast and light piece of kit which never fails to register a click.

Your thoughts

Switch[uK]

[Clunk]

Great job mate

It's a fine looking mouse, but I think you'll have godsdog pestering you for the included purse and handbag

Please DIGG

[godsdog]

Is that right? You can't view the pretty pix unless you're logged in?

[Clunk]

Test

[godsdog]

Now, I'm fairly open to new things. But this mouse doesn't appeal to me. Since I started gaming to a decent level I have owned (and pwnd with) Razer Mouses (that is the plural of computer mouse ). I have a copperhead it cost me £50 new. Its never failed me, its got profiles for different games. Its simply a great mouse. Its green and when you leave it alone for a while the back fades in and out, making it look like its alive! Sexay!

This M3 platinum seems, over sized over sexed and over nessecary... Maybe if you play WoW or online strategics you need a mouse like this but for me, a mouse has to be a high DPI, fast and light piece of kit which never fails to register a click.

Your thoughts

Switch[uK]

I've got the Razer Diamondback 3G and whilst it's slick and I like it, they really need to work on button placement and design. That M3 platinum button placement / design seems bang on the money for comfort / ease of operation. Is that about right steve_sarge?

[Kelainefes]

The USB Report Rate (also called USB Polling Rate) it's the number of times the mouse will report the position to the PC in one second.
Basically, it's the cursor's lag: 500 means 2 ms, 125 8 ms, 1000 1 ms ans so on.
If it's set very low it will make you feel that you are like pulling the cursor around with an elastic.