Capsule Review: ROCCAT's Kone XTD and Kone Pure Gaming Mice
by Dustin Sklavos on February 27, 2013 1:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- Gaming
- Mouse
- ROCCAT
ROCCAT's Kone Software
Both of these mice, the ROCCAT Kone XTD and the Kone Pure, feature half a megabyte of on-board memory along with a dedicated 32-bit processor. It's kind of crazy when you think about it, given that these are mice, but the key to unlocking them really is in ROCCAT's software. Unfortunately, that software does have a slight learning curve. The common problem of having a lot of features is that it can be overwhelming, and peripheral designers have almost never gotten the software right.
Frustratingly, ROCCAT doesn't have a unified software package for all of its peripherals. That means you'll need to download and install different drivers for different peripherals. This is kind of silly when you realize just how much is duplicated between the suites; the XTD's software suite was only slightly different from the Pure's. Note that both mice can store up to five different profiles, and these profiles are extremely detailed.
The first page of the Kone software contains extremely detailed control for all of the mouse motion and allows for up to five dpi settings per profile. It's self-explanatory, but it's still very busy, and I've honestly never had a great need for this much detail. Your mileage may vary, though.
In my opinion, the Button Assignment page is practically the Kone's ace in the hole. These "shift" functions are becoming increasingly common, and the Kone adds a little to its learning curve by configuring the typical "back" button to be a shift button. Hold the shift, and the "Easy-Shift" profile is available. I love that ROCCAT treats virtually every function of the mouse like a button, though. Just about every function you could want can be configured, though, including media keys, DPI shift for aiming, and macros. If anything I wish they'd found a way to include another button to use as the "Easy-Shift," one that doesn't basically replace the back button.
The remaining pages include even more detailed and precise pointer control functionality, color configuration, and ROCCAT even has a mouse-related achievement system. This last one could probably be done without in favor of simplifying the software some. It's not in the way, necessarily, but it's kind of silly.
You can also use the software to update the firmware of the mice, and configure the software's voice. Whenever you switch profiles, a gravelly voice says "Profile Up" or "Profile Down." He thunders and is actually a little off-putting, but you can turn disable him.
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dishayu - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
Completely agree with the opening statement. My friends ask me why i keep buying "gaming" hardware even though i don't play games. I always have a hard time explaining that it's just a marketing gimmick for top quality peripherals. It has some truth to it, because the gaming usage scenario does require better feedback and precision which come with these high quality parts. My dad liked my deathadder so much that he decided to nick it for use in his office.ilihijan - Sunday, March 3, 2013 - link
I just got paid $6784 working on my laptop using these simple steps leaked on this web page. Make up to $85 per hour doing simple tasks that are so easy to do that you won't forgive yourself if you don't check it out! Weekly payments! Here is what I've been doing Epic2.c(om)nikolas04 - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
Hi very nice review , i would like to ask about linux compatibility , i have 2 computers , desktop & laptop with ubuntu and now that steam has one foot on linux i have started playing games from my library . I have a logitech g500 very nice with linux compatibility and i am very happy with it , what about roccat? can you change dpi with a button on the mouse? thanks in advancetim_roccat - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
Check out the Roccat website. You will find a link to Linux drivers for almost every Roccat product http://www.roccat.org/Support/JeBarr - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
"...and I look forward to getting more of their hardware in for testing."Can't wait!
I was looking at the Roccat surround headset recently but couldn't afford the gamble. Up to now I've been relying on the LTG Magnum with two pairs in the last six years. Was hoping to find something with a bit more punch and still haz muh Sauron eye on Roccat. The price is up there but if they're good quality I can overlook that.
Subyman - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
It's a hard sell when a g500 is $45 on amazon. I just retired an old Razer Diamondback after years of service for a G500. Great mouse for extremely cheap.jigglywiggly - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
please test the sensors in these micedraw circles in paint
get a turntable and measure the malfunction speed
also test if they work on all mousepads
try synthetics like aim400kg to see if you perform better on other mice vs different ones
my friend buys one mice per sensor and he is very picky since he plays at 108cm/360
we both get 73,600 on aim400kg
although i use 28cm/360 ingame
lyeoh - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
I suppose Capsule Review means not a full Anandtech review?Might consider including some of the following in a full review:
e.g. max polling rate
surface compatibility - wood, glass, laminates, black glossy surface, black matte, etc. Also state surface used for the benchmarks/tests.
Benchmarks/tests:
-latency - button and movement latency
-mouse malfunction speed.
-reproducibility in X, Y and both axis - e.g. set the OS mouse config to no acceleration then repeatedly move the mouse physically from point A to B and back to A again, how far is the mouse pointer on screen. repeat test at higher speeds and higher iterations.
-does 5 cm horizontally move the mouse pointer the same distance as 5 cm vertically? Do physical circles end up being circles on screen or ovals or worse?
-maximum lift height before motion stops being detected.
-max/average lift/place jitter (how much the mouse pointer moves when lifting the mouse straight up and then placing it straight down - can test by locking the mouse down and moving the surface instead).
-audibility - clicks etc (dB)
jigglywiggly - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
there is no reason to use the g500the sensor isn't that good
g400 is better
optical mice are better in general, the deathadder 4g has the best sensor in any mice, even better than the old one which is surprising. works better on different surfaces too
i use the g9x though, sensor is bad, built in mouseaccel, and it doesn't track that smoothly.
noticibly worse than my abyssus, which i used before it
however, the grip on the g9x is too good. (I don't use the shell) and for my 28cm/360 it's not bad.
k1llsen also uses the g9x
cigar3tte - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
G400 does not have the wheel tilt, nor the braided USB cable. Some of us to find those to be deal breakers vs the G500.I'm currently holding onto my G9 (not G9x). Found it to be the best among the many I've tried (G400, G500, G600, G700, Naga, Naga Epic).
One thing I still want on a mice but never find, is for the two thumb buttons to be vertically laid out instead of horizontal.