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Saitek Touch Force Optical
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Developer
Saitek
Publisher
Saitek
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Reviewed by
Kevin L. Kitchens
[Feedback] [Author Bio]
Review Date
September 3, 2002
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Rating (out of 5.0)
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4.5 out of 5.0*
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Strengths
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- Well-constructed
- Subtle "forces" don't overwhelm
- Good optical sensor
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Weaknesses
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* Notes
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Gaming Voice ratings are based on the technical and/or gameplay merits of a given product as well as the developer's choice of features and delivery of same.
Our rating is not an endorsement of the thematic content of a given title. Gamers and parents are cautioned to determine if such content conflicts or coincides with their values and beliefs.
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I love this mouse. |
Let me say it up front: I love this mouse. It has made using my laptop computer a much more enjoyable experience. The Saitek Touch Force Optical is well-constructed and responsive. It's Force-Feedback implementation is subtle enough not to be a nuisance.
The mouse is perfect for both right-handed and left-handed, being symmetrical in design. The two primary buttons are large and easy to click. The third button/mouse-wheel is made of rubber and moves very smoothly, with distinct clicks for each stop point. This allows for precise page-scrolling.
The Saitek's optical sensor works well on any surface. As I said, I'm using with a laptop and have been able to use on a shiny coffee table, rough sofa surface, as well as the arm of my sofa (which is quite curved). This means no carrying around a mouse pad to accomodate the ancient "ball" mechanism of older mice.
The Force Feedback is controlled using the now-standard Immersion software. Several different schemes are available and you can turn forces on and off at will using a hotkey of your own choosing. Even at the maximum setting, the forces won't shake your hand off like some other FF controllers I've used. I still don't think FF in a controller adds anything of value to the gaming or computing experience, but won't hold this against the Touch Force Optical.
About the only problem I've had is that the cord is a bit stiff coming out of the box. This can be annoying when trying to maneuver the mouse as the cord can kink up on itself. But after a few uses, the cord relaxes and kinking ceases.
If you're in the market to replace your desktop mouse or supplement the built-in pointing devices of your laptop, definitely consider the affordable Saitek Touch Force Optical.
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