Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
KeyboardandMouse
Microsoft SideWinder X6 keyboard
(
http://www.microsoft.com
)
Microsoft SideWinder mouse
As always, the choice of keyboard and mouse is extremely personal. What we
love, you may hate, and vice versa. Over the years, we've tried wired and wire-
less keyboards and mice from literally dozens of manufacturers, but we keep
coming back to Microsoft and Logitech products. Both provide a huge range
of options, and both provide value for money, even in their inexpensive lines.
Ron Morse Comments
I have to put in a plug for the guys
at Unicomp, who still make and sell
the classic IBM Model “M” keyboards
net/keyboards.html
)
. There is no sub-
stitute. If you're building the highest-
quality computer possible, you should
use the highest-quality keyboard
available. The Model “M” lasts
forever…mine was made in 1994.
With our extreme system budgeted at $3,500, we decided we could afford
to devote more than usual to the keyboard and mouse. We ended up choos-
ing Microsoft SideWinder models, which are intended for gamers but also have
many features that are nice for general use. For example, the detachable numer-
ic keypad on the SideWinder X6 can be repurposed as a macro pad. Robert nev-
er uses the numeric keypad anyway, so being able to define dedicated macro
keys is very useful. The SideWinder mouse is available in various models with
different resolutions. High-resolution pointing is important in many games,
but it can be just as important for general use, including video editing. Besides
which, how many other mice have an LCD display?
Speakers
Logitech Z-523 40 W 2.1 Speaker System
(
http://www.logitech.com
)
Our extreme system needs a decent set of speakers. The extreme system will
sit on or under Robert's desk and he doesn't game, so he prefers a 2.1 speaker
system. He'll actually use his existing Logitech Z3 speaker set on the new sys-
tem, but the Z3 set is no longer available.
Fortunately, Logitech has replaced the Z3 with the Z-523 2.1 set, which sells for
under $100 and has equally excellent sound quality. If you want a 2.1 set with
top-notch sound but more output power, the standout choice is the 200W
Logitech Z-2300, which sells for half again as much as the Z-523.
If you don't want or need a subwoofer, you can choose among many excellent
2.0 speaker sets. In the $60 range, the best choices are the Behringer MS16,
the Creative Inspire T10, and the Logitech Z-320. In the $100 range, we like the
Behringer MS20 and the M-AUDIO Studiophile AV 30 sets. In the $150 range,
the M-AUDIO Studiophile AV 40 set is the best choice.
In 5.1 speaker systems, the 70W Logitech X-540 sells for well under $100 and
has excellent sound for the price. If you want the best 5.1 speaker system avail-
able and can afford the $400 price tag, buy the Logitech Z-5500 set. With four
62W RMS satellite speakers, a 69W center-channel speaker, and a 188W sub-
woofer, the Z-5500 produces a wall-rattling 505W RMS. You don't just
hear
the
bass, you
feel
the bass vibrating your internal organs. The Z-5500 is the leading
high-end choice among serious gamers, but at lower volume it's also excellent
for anything from listening to background music to playing DVDs.
