Razer Krait, Mantis, and Armadillo Review

Right before Razer's appearance at E3 2006, the company released the Krait, a mouse designed for Real-Time Strategy gamers, the Mantis, a massive mouse pad with several unique features, and the Armadillo, a clever cable management system. I gave each of these a try to see if they make the cut when it comes to high performance PC gaming.

The Krait is Razer's first mouse designed to provide the speed and precision needed for RTS games. It aims to provide high precision mousing without sacrificing precious time. A 1600 DPI sensor a 16-bit data path allow it to send more information to you PC quickly. With its Teflon feet, the Krait is able to glide across most surfaces--including computer paper, bare wood, and of course the Razer Mantis (we'll get to that later). I used the Krait to play several hours of Age of Empires III and The Battle for Middle Earth II and did not experience any skipping or delay. These are good results for a mouse of this price.

Razer Krait UI: Not your average configuration screen.The Krait is rather compact, which will often make a mouse awkward to grip. But the unique shape and large, anti-slip buttons that cover more than half of the mouse's body, make it comfortable and easy to use. Not only does the it feel like a Lexus, it looks like one. Its black, low profile body and glowing orange trim will be sure to get some attention at the next LAN party. The Krait comes with one of the best configuration programs I have seen. The basic options are at your fingertips and it adds handy features like On-the-fly sesitivity. Although it's not one of those new laser mice, the Krait's $39.99 price tag makes it an attractive bargain for gamers who are looking for an entry-level performance gaming mouse.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the Mantis was, "Where am I gonna put this thing?" Measuring about 17 inches long and 14 inches wide, the Mantis is one ridiculously large mouse pad. But if you have the real estate, the large size makes it nearly impossible to run out of surface in the middle of a maneuver. The large size comes in handy while playing on a low sensitivity setting. You'll have plenty of breathing room to make rapid and accurate selections. The Mantis surface is available in two flavors: control and speed. I was able to test the speed surface for this review. The Mantis Speed is made out of a soft material that your hand can rest on comfortably and it has a smooth texture that significantly decreases the friction between it and the mouse.

A simple little invention, called the Armadillo, keeps extra mouse cable out of the way and reduces friction by suspending the mouse cable above the mousing surface. It's a heavy duty weight with a cap that unscrews from the base and four notches for the mouse cable. Decide how much cable you need, feed the excess through the Armadillo, and screw the cap back on. The weight keeps the cable from moving all over your desk and the circular design allows for rotation. Although this isn't an essential item, its clever functionality may give real mouse buffs an additional edge. Just be careful not to knock the Armadillo off of your desk. Your mouse will follow and meet the floor very quickly.

If you're a Real-Time Strategy fan in the market for some new gear, this package is a no brainier. The Krait provides the quality of a high end gaming mouse, for a price similar to that of a standard optical mouse. The Mantis and the Armadillo both work to reduce friction, which makes gaming feel more natural and fluid. Combine the Krait, the Mantis, and the Armadillo together and you'll have a high quality mousing system at your command.