AVB VMouse part 3

Performance:

The AVB VMouse was tested in Windows 98, Windows ME and Linux. Both the USB and PS/2 connection were used. No performance difference was found between operating systems or connection method. A wide range of games, applications and other programs were tested.

The AVB VMouse should be turned down or off while music is being listened to. The constant transfer of a signal to the mouse keeps it in motion. If you are not holding onto it it may run away from you and try and escape from your desktop! If you like listening to the music portion of your games you'll also be disappointed. The music effects clutter the game effects and make the mouse too active. Its suggested that you disable in-game music when using the VMouse.

I usually don't use a mouse as a first person controller but many people do. The VMouse is a great choice for this. The 3 button and wheel operation coupled with the effects gives you a good "feel" of the game. I played a few rounds of Quake III and Unreal Tournament. With the music disabled in the games things like gun blasts and hits to my pathetic character were felt with varying effects in my controlling hand. Other environmental sounds were also felt but didn't distract from the action too much. The sensitivity of the effects was set at approximately 50% for the best balance of effect. With it any higher the crosshair would be hard to control accurately due to the movement of the mouse.

The game that was greatly enhanced by use of the VMouse was the highly addictive Flux. Flux is a simple game where colored items fill a grid. The object is to destroy matching items next to like ones and clear the board. Its much more addictive and challenging than it sounds. With the VMouse the destruction of matching items is accompanied with a loud explosion or sound of glass shattering and an impressive, synchronized rattle in your mouse hand.

Web browsing and application use varied. Unless the website or application has integrated sound effects there was differing effect. The mouse itself in nice and streamline. Its a bit larger than Microsoft or Logitech mice with scroll wheels (to accommodate the motor drive). Its also heavier than most other mice. The slide feet of the mouse are slick and it easily glides across most mouse pad surfaces. AVB recommends a softer mouse pad to help absorb some of the action and steady the mouse. I used both a gel pad and a standard cloth pad and did find the gel pad a bit more comfortable and easier to hold the cursor steady.

Overall:

The AVB VMouse is an affordable, effective alternative to other force effect mice. It offers control on par with other mice, has 3 buttons and a scroll wheel. It also has the added feature of cross operating system rumble effects requiring no special software support.

The effects are another way to add to your immersive computer experience. The first time I sat in a computer chair wired with a bass shaker driver mounted in its base and fired up a FA-18's jet engines I knew I was never going to fly any other way. The VMouse gives you the same impression (without sharing it with your neighborhood like my shaker seat!).

The price and features of the VMouse are on par with other scroll mice. The added feature of rumble effects makes the VMouse an easily recommended product.

Pros:

• Effective force effects in multiple operating systems
• Affordable
• Comfortable, ambidextrous design

Cons:

• Slightly larger and heavier than most mice

Previous