NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse - NZXT Avatar Software and Testing

Avatar Software:

As is the current trend, the Avatar doesn't ship with drivers or need drivers.  Instead it ships with software that allows you to program your mouse and then have your mouse carry the button assignments, profiles and sensitivity settings on board.  This is extremely handy if you have to sit down at a tournament machine and aren't allowed to install drivers.  If you're mouse is setup up for macros and other custom functions with the software once, it should carry through to other machines that it is plugged into.

Control Panel	Button Setup
Advanced Settings	Sensitivity

One thing I noticed that was available in the button configuration is the "Button Off" feature.  I thought this would be fun to disable all of the buttons, save it to the mouse and then let someone else use the "button-less" mouse.  As it turns out, NZXT has thought of that and requires that one button be set to "Click".  This enables you to cripple the mouse to the point of being an Apple mouse - and this can be handy for people who get confused by more than one mouse button.

Usage & Testing:
By Tia "Xena" Heide

The Avatar is a sleek and narrow mouse compared to the Ikari laser mouse.  It has six buttons as well as a clickable wheel, and that is a lot.  Now I am a girl who has big hands (for a girl) and the Avatar is a small mouse and that makes it difficult to use the right side button.  This mouse has so many buttons because it is built for right and left handed people. I personally prefer the Ikari because it is for us right handed people and is more comfortable with its wider body.

 
Avatar LEDs

The Avatar works well in games and has very fast response times; however the Ikari was nicer for adjusting sensitivity on the fly.  Both mice allow sensitivity adjustment in game, but the Avatar must stick to its default profiles set up in the software while the Ikari lets you customize as needed.  With default sensitivity at 12000dpi I was able to jump into to most games without a lot of adjustments however.  Movement in both game and desktop is fluid and smooth.  The mouse tracks very well on both soft and hard surfaces.  I like the Avatar better on my SteelSeries Qck+ Iron.Lady surface than a fUnc pad I'm also using.

Conclusion:
By Tia "Xena" Heide

I was spoiled when my husband asked me to review the SteelSeries Ikari mouse and was looking forward to comparing it with the new NZXT Avatar.  I was pleased with the performance of the Avatar mouse but like the feel, function and performance of the Ikari better.  That being said, I found the Avatar mouse to be a decent rival to the Ikari mouse and would consider it to be a close second.  The price of the Avatar makes it an affordable option for gamers - especially those with smaller hands.

Pros:

• Mouse feels sturdy and buttons click easily
• Mouse movement is very smooth
• Adjustable DPI profiles
• Easy to use software 
• Ambidextrous design
  

Cons:

• Ambidextrous design is not as comfortable as "right only" mice
• Can't fine tune sensitivity in game
  

I'd like to thank NZXT for giving me the opportunity to review this mouse.  If you have any questions for me about this review, please head on over and post them in the BCCHardware forum at the "Comments" link.

On the next page we've posted up a few pictures of the ergonomically updated NZXT Avatar Mouse.