Digital Discoveries
Bo Moore, technology editor, and Tuan Nguyen, editor-in-chief, share their recent technology loves
RAZER MEKA
When I’m not reviewing laptops, I spend a good bit of time battling it out with the heroes of Overwatch. I don’t usually go all fanboy on game-branded toys or peripherals, but something about Overwatch just tickles the right nerves for me, so when Razer announced this rad pair of Overwatch- themed headphones at BlizzCon 2017, I knew I needed them.
Modeled after the headphones used by in-universe professional StarCraft player turned MEKA pilot turned Overwatch hero Hana “D.Va” Song, these MEKA-themed headphones help me feel like the worlddefending hero I know I am. Sure, the sound isn’t audiophile quality, but with 40mm Neodymium drivers and leatherette ear cups, they’re more than enough to get me through a lengthy gaming session.
For extra D.Va flair, Razer also has a Goliathus oversized mouse mat and Abyssus Elite 7,200 dpi gaming mouse—in honor of D.Va’s StarCraft roots—tricked out with D.Va’s pink and blue paint scheme. They’re nice additions to the arsenal, but it’s D.Va’s headset I’m really psyched about. Colors are one thing, specially modeled headphones are another. I had to have them. GG. $80, www.razerzone.com
MICROSOFT CLASSIC INTELLIMOUSE
I admit: I got excited about a mouse. But it’s not just any mouse, it’s the mouse that made the modern mouse. The original Microsoft IntelliMouse was one of the most popular pointing devices in its day, and it continues to impact mice with its ergonomic design.
Which is why I ordered the new Microsoft IntelliMouse Classic. It’s an update of the IntelliMouse Explorer, with bumped-up specs for more precise tracking. The original even sported a red glow. Thinking about it, I suppose Microsoft was responsible for starting the LED-lit accessory trend. While the new IntelliMouse Classic doesn’t go all-in with RGB lighting, it does update the original with a white glow under the base, and a small monotone Windows logo.
Microsoft says its new critter uses BlueTrack for tracking, and enables you to use the mouse even on glass, but I still recommend some type of mousing surface.
I always wondered why Microsoft didn’t continue updating its excellent IntelliMouse; now the wonder is over. The company doesn’t make a huge range of PC accessories, but what it does produce has been mostly high quality and durable. I still have the original IntelliMouse, and it still works. $40, www.microsoft.com