Saitek intros Cyborg gaming mouse

Saitek's got a new gaming mouse for those in need of a little more precision than your standard off-the-shelf model, with its new Cyborg mouse cranking the dpi all the way up to 3200. That, of course, can be dialed back to accommodate various mousing tasks, and you'll get a good number of non-standard mouse features as well, including a programmable four-way hat switch, and two extra buttons that can be set up however you like. While there still doesn't seem to be any official word on a release, Gizmos.es points out that Amazon UK currently has it listed with a release date of January 11th and a list price of £40 (or $83), although it can be had for £30 (or just over $60) at moment.

[Via Gizmos]

[holycow @ Oct 31st 2007 12:00PM]

is it just me or does it look like its going to open up and transform into a small robot ?

[b_a_boone @ Oct 31st 2007 3:04PM]

GeeGo Gorgo Got!!!!!!

[Lazerface @ Oct 31st 2007 12:02PM]

But will it play...everything?

[Alexander @ Oct 31st 2007 12:02PM]

I want to know if this whole 'DPI' thing is a myth, or are they really increasing the resolution of the optical-sensor.

Because, if not, then what is the difference between all these mice?

[JTM @ Oct 31st 2007 12:38PM]

My Logitech G5 goes up to 2000 dpi and it's largely uncontrollable at that rate. I find it's nice to be able to turn it down for precise movement but super high dpi just makes the motion hyper fast.

[Alexander @ Oct 31st 2007 12:39PM]

Right, I have the G7 as well so I can turn that up and down as well.

My question still stands: Are they increasing the actual number of pixels on the optical chip, or is it just making the mouse move faster?

[steve @ Oct 31st 2007 1:41PM]

What it is meant to do is make it easier for those twitchy types to be insanely accurate even at the insanely high dpi. Ratchet up a normal mouse to those same speeds, you find yourself jumping ten pixels at a time. With these, you only move a tiny bit. I think it's still worthless, since I can barely use 1600 effectively, but for someone who does this sort of thing professionally, I can almost see the benefit.

[Dobbs @ Oct 31st 2007 3:40PM]

I don't know about technically speaking, but the higher dpi mice track much faster and more precise. So, I'd guess it is not a myth

[Alexander @ Oct 31st 2007 2:17PM]

But that still doesn't answer my question. I know that is what it does, and it is very handy to have when your sniping. When small movements are needed.

My question is on the actual chip INSIDE the mouse. It is a little bitty camera. Are they changing the resolution on the camera, or are they just multiplying the on-screen movement versus the actual on-desk movement of the mouse.

I already kind of know the answer. If they were increasing the resolution of the camera, it wouldn't matter much in terms of on-screen movement. You can change your mouse-speed to whatever you want anyway. They are just taking the input from the mouse, and multiplying it by a factor before they send it to the OS.

To the OS, it appears that you've moved your mouse farther than you actually have--and the opposite is true when you scale it back.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:19PM]

I can use 2000dpi fine. It just takes practice.

[RandallC @ Oct 31st 2007 2:27PM]

I work for a mouse-sensor company that is striving to break into the sensor market. As such, a portion of my job involves testing the competitors' sensors.

The sensors are indeed increasing in resolution. This is no myth. The latest Avago chips do 3200dpi and higher. The marketing spin gets applied elsewhere...for example, in report rates. There are some mice out on the market that claim very low report rates, but these are often achieved by "cheating"...either sending packets twice (report rate x2!) or splitting data up over multiple packets. The reporting frequency goes up but you need multiple data packets to get a complete frame. Soo...marketing mumbo jumbo.

What you and JTM said is also true though; at 3200dpi, you'd better have a very high resolution screen or your mouse is going to be very hard to control. At much higher then that resolution you begin to need micron-level resolution in your hand to use the mouse accurately, which is just silly.

[Alexander @ Oct 31st 2007 2:31PM]

Okay, thank you. I realize that you are unable to give us too much information for fear of breaking NDA's and such things. But thank you for clearing that up.

[david @ Oct 31st 2007 12:26PM]

Yeah, that mouse looks like it transforms or something.

[zfurie @ Oct 31st 2007 12:41PM]

I hope they come out with a matching keyboard with a similar design aesthetic, even if the mouse is not of the gaming type.

Then I can mod a case with a similar tri-tone paint job and military detailing and signage.

Hmmm. Not a bad idea.

[JB87 @ Oct 31st 2007 12:57PM]

That looks like it'd get rather uncomfortable to hold after a while.

[paul.davis @ Oct 31st 2007 1:00PM]

Decepticons... Transform!

[Brennan @ Oct 31st 2007 2:07PM]

since u guys dont know.......MadCatz is buying Saitek. My dad is a financial consultant n Saitek is his client. Yes i get free Saitek stuff, but he will soon be an adviser as soon as the deal with MadCatz n Saitek is complete.

dont believe me? Wait until later when they officially announce later this year.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:20PM]

WHAT? NO!

Will Saitek turn to crap, or will it be independent of MadShitz?

[RandallC @ Oct 31st 2007 2:40PM]

If this is true, and not public yet, you could get your Dad in a lot of trouble for posting this on Engadet. If it is public, then nevermind.

[skittens @ Oct 31st 2007 2:11PM]

poop on that sensor.
http://blog.razerzone.com/2007/10/30/the-razer-3g-laser-technology-%e2%80%93-our-statement/

I want to put a piece of energon on my desk and watch this and the sidewinder fight over it.

[eX @ Oct 31st 2007 2:44PM]

Supposedly the cmos camera does increase in resolution. The 3200dpi camera in Logitech G7 is supposed to be something like 6.4MP, which according to specs is same as what you get in a G5. However G5 is said to have a 2200dpi. Logitech's supposedly has higher res actual sensor that other cheaper makers but the whole 3200dpi still leads me to believe it comes from software interpolation and actual sensor puts out less. The new G9 mouse has exactly the same rating of 6.4MP for the camera which further suggests that the extra 1000dpi comes from software interpolation. Personally, I find even the 2200dpi (max) on my G5 be too much as it becomes too sensitive and lacks precise control. So I don't think there's a lot of sense in getting a mouse with 3200dpi, regardless whether it's full hardware dpi or not. I'd rather spend the difference in money and get a nice gaming grade mousepad like Razer eXactMat or similar from other companies such as Saitek. A nice mouse pad with grain designed for a laser mouse will ultimately be the best to get you the needed precision (I know that laser tracks well on most surfaces but from personal experience a good mouse pad still makes a difference).

[Vinh Sam @ Oct 31st 2007 3:26PM]

Someone said they wanted a matching keyboard. Well here it is, the matching Cyborg Keyboard.

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cykeyv3.htm

Yes, it is fugly. I guess it suits the name.

[Kilton @ Oct 31st 2007 4:48PM]

am i the only one that refuses to use corded mice for gaming/accuracy?

[Blakamin @ Nov 1st 2007 1:54AM]

I'm never getting another saitek gaming mouse. My old one still crashes itself (on 7 diferent pcs and from a week after new) about four times a day, if I actually ever plug the POS into anything.