Showing posts with label peripherals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peripherals. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Razer Mouse Plus Razer Keyboard Plus Synapse 2.0 Equals One Hot Mess

Razer's newest innovation is their Synapse 2.0 storage of mice and keyboard settings "on the cloud."  The Solo MMO Player likes their peripherals.  He just replaced his old mouse with a new Razer Naga mouse to work with his two year old Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard.  He downloaded the Synapse 2.0 information and bingo!  His keyboard programming vanished.

Synapse 2.0 recognized his new mouse but not the keyboard.  A call was made to Razer tech support in India but they didn't have any suggestions except to have someone more knowledgable get back to the Solo MMO Player later.  This is an issue the tech support person he talked to hadn't heard of before but he did suggest a hard reboot of the system to see if that took care of what he thought must be a bug.


The Solo MMO Player had extensively customized that keyboard.  He was not pleased.  However, being a smart cookie with extensive experience with engineers who are much more interested in the newest thing than in making sure the product works well, he analyzed what happened from every angle and came up with a fix.

First, he removed the Synapse 2.0 software, then he unplugged the Naga mouse from the RS232 port on the Black Widow Ultimate keyboard's right side and plugged the mouse into another RS232 port elsewhere, then did a hard reboot.  He reloaded the Synapse 2.0 software and like magic it worked.  Even the keyboard programming miraculously reappeared.

Bottom line, Synapse 2.0 can't tell the difference between a keyboard and mouse, even Razer's own models, if one is plugged into the other.   Why Synapse 2.0 decided it would see the mouse instead of the keyboard, I have no idea.  This is a major quality control testing error of a new product but engineers forget what pays their bills when they are dazzled by the Next New Thing.

The Solo MMO Player is happy again but I imagine when the Razer engineer calls, if he or she ever does, they are going to learn from a customer who is knowledgeable, aggressive and not exceptionally polite not to take their eye off the ball.


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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

New Gaming Peripherals from SteelSeries and Razer

SteelSeries showed off their latest gaming mice and keyboard at Blizzcon.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/blizzcon-2010-steelseries-shows-off-cataclysm-mmo-mouse-pro-ga/

http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/razer-announces-specialized-mmo-gaming-keyboard/

SteelSeries has just announced that they will have a MMO key set for their new SHIFT keyboard.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/steelseries-introduces-new-shift-key-set-for-mmos/

UPDATE:  Kotaku has a review, complete with video, on their website of the SteelSeries Shift.
http://kotaku.com/5709650/review-steelseries-shift-is-a-mighty-morphin-power-keyboard

Razer has a headset, keyboard and mouse set geared for Starcraft 2 fans.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/blizzcon-2010-razer-demos-the-naga-epic-starcraft-2-gear/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Addons for the Mouse Addict

If you prefer to navigate via your mouse instead of keyboard, you may be interested in Healium.  This addon for healers sets up heals so they can be clicked on to activate.  There's a video of it in action embedded in this article.  Note that Clique can also be set up to be activated by mouse clicks.  Speedy Actions is also spotlighted as it helps make mouse users faster.  The article also mentions the Logitech G-15 keyboard and the G-13 keypad, which are particularly useful for disabled players.
http://www.wow.com/2010/09/09/addon-spotlight-addons-for-clickers/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Friday, September 3, 2010

Hardward and Connection Tips for PvP

A few hardware and Internet connection tips for PvP players.  Basic, commonsense information but I think the tips for turning your video settings low might be useful for some players and there are good ideas for minimizing latency problems in PvP.
http://www.wow.com/2010/09/02/the-art-of-war-craft-a-handy-guide-to-winning-at-everything/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Pwnwear Reviews the Logitech G13

A full review of the G13 gamepad with examples of macros and how the keybinding was set up for one character.  Follow the link to other setups if you need fuller information.  There are links to informational resources such as the manufacturer's website at the end of the article.
http://pwnwear.com/forum/geek-review-logitech-g13-for-wow-t559.html

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Friday, August 6, 2010

Using Your Mouse More Effectively

Gravity on learning to use your mouse to turn and using situational awareness--
http://pwnwear.com/2010/08/06/guide-on-learning-to-mouse-turn-and-situational-awareness/

Here are the two tutorials he references in his article.  They have great information about using your mouse, orienting yourself with the camera and learning to use situational awareness while playing.
http://looking4more.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/situational-awareness-and-you-part-1/

http://looking4more.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/situational-awareness-and-you-part-2/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Mobile Gaming (in a Truck)

Interesting article about specialty equipment used by a trucker who wants to play WOW on the road.
http://www.wow.com/2010/08/06/guest-post-northrend-truckers-a-tale-of-wow-otr/

Here's the direct link to the Jotto laptop table mentioned above.
http://www.jottodesk.net/big-rig-jotto-desk/big-rig-jotto-desk-b100.htm

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

New Foot Pedal Peripheral (Tap Chat)

The foot pedal peripheral is now available at the Blizard store (second link) and at the manufactuer's website (third link).  NOTE: it is currently sold out both places.  This USB device was designed as a voice chat hot key activated by a foot.  I don't know if it can be adapted to other uses, but I hope so for the sake of disabled gamers.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/05/world-of-warcraft-tap-chat-now-available/

http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=1100001062

http://us.store.creative.com/Sound-Blaster-World-of-Warcraft-Tap/M/B003BQKCUI.htm

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Friday, June 25, 2010

Mac Gaming News

Mac gamers have some good news to celebrate.  Steam has added Mac games to their download service AND they are having a "Perils of Summer" sale until July 4.  Single player MMOs like Torchlight are available for download at half price.
http://store.steampowered.com/browse/mac

Wonder how an MMO can be single player? Read about Torchlight here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchlight

In other Mac news, Kotaku reviews the new Kanex XD, which allows one to display console games on your Mac screen.
http://kotaku.com/5572203/kanex-xd-review-more-gaming-on-your-imac

It's a good time to be a Mac gamer.  Just keep inside to avoid the typical summer perils (sunburn, sharks, sand in your hair).

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Keybindings: Unique and Unusual (and Normal)

Thanks to a chance mention on WOW Insider, I found this series of articles on keybinding that Blessing of Fish (who mostly plays a Holy Paladin) has written. The first article is about using the mouse scroll wheel.
http://blessingoffish.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/keybound-the-scroll-wheel/

The second article in the series talks about the addons Clique and Grid.
http://blessingoffish.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/keybound-grid-and-clique/

If Zal writes any more Keybound articles, I'll update this.

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Healers, Mouseovers and the Razer Gaming Mouse

Although it reads like a commercial for Razer's Naga mouse, this article does explain how to use this mouse in combination with a mouse over macro if you are a healer.
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/10/the-magical-alchemy-of-mouseovers-plus-a-razer-naga/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Monday, June 7, 2010

Skeleton Jack and his N52te

An old post from Skeleton Jack about how he uses his N52 keypad.
http://www.skeletonjack.com/2010/06/06/n52-guide-a-little-rough-on-the-edges/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Gaming Mice and Keyboard Reviews

A review of various gaming mice and keyboards on Pwnwear's forum.  The second link has photos of all the items discussed.
http://pwnwear.com/forum/gaming-mice-and-keyboards-t185.html

http://pwnwear.com/2010/05/25/gaming-mice-and-keyboards/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Computer Monitor-Induced Insomnia?

If you have trouble sleeping at night you might  be interested in this article from Dreambound who is trying out monitor software that is supposed to reduce the glow emitted by computer monitors at night.  There is research that suggests such light impacts your internal body clock, perhaps making insomnia worse.
http://dreambound-druid.blogspot.com/2010/05/flux-screen-tinting-light-and-nighttime.html

The f.lux program can be downloaded here.  There is both a Mac and a PC version.
http://www.stereopsis.com/flux/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Kae's Keyboard and Mouse Key Bindings

Kae of Dreambound talks about (and diagrams) how he keybinds macros to his Steel Series gaming mouse and his Logitech G15 gaming keyboard.
http://dreambound-druid.blogspot.com/2010/03/kaes-keybinds-and-peripherals.html

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Razer's Left Handed Gaming Mouse

A mouse for the lefties.  It's a Death Adder but curved the other way.
http://kotaku.com/5495193/finally-a-gaming-mouse-for-left-handers

http://www.wowhead.com/blog=155191

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Friday, March 12, 2010

Razer Mice Will Have Mac Drivers

Razer announced at the GDC that in the future all their mice will have Mac drivers available.  Good news for Mac owners.
http://www.wow.com/2010/03/11/mac-drivers-to-be-available-for-all-razer-mice/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Review: Peregrine Gaming Glove

WOW Head takes a look at the Peregrine Gaming Glove, which is only available on pre-order right now.  This weird thing replaces a keyboard and the reviewer thinks it has great potential.  It has to be programmed on a PC running Windows XP but after that it'll run on any system.  The reviewer used it on his Mac after borrowing an XP system to set it up.
http://www.wowhead.com/?blog=147000

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Reviews of the WOW Gaming Mouse, G13 Game Pad and ZBoard keyboard

Review of the WOW Gaming Mouse, the Zboard keyboard, and the Logitech G13 game pad.
http://roguewindsrants.blogspot.com/2010/02/product-review.html

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Astro Gaming's Headset/Amplifier Reviewed

Kotaku reviews the A40 Audio System from Astro Gaming, a headset and amplifier system marketed as for gamers.  Read the Comments for more information and other options if you are in the market for headphones.
http://kotaku.com/5409375/astro-gaming-a40-audio-system-review-sound-advice

Here's the company website.
http://www.astrogaming.com/products/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com