The Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse Review

Attention All Razer Fans,

I've written a short and concise review of the Razer Lachesis 3G Laser Gaming Mouse. Do let me know if it's of any use to you. It's my first time writing a gaming equipment review and it's quite tough at first.



The Razer Lachesis Product Review
By Adrian ‘La_DottA’ Lai

*Note: I’m leaving out the part about the unboxing as I lost the pictures (therefore I’ve merely taken pics from other sites) and I feel every Razer unboxing reveals the same boring stuff (cert. of authenticity, stickers, driver).

Introduction

The engineering maestros down at the Razer Research Facility never fail to impress gamers worldwide with their state-of-the-art innovations and stylish gaming equipment. This time around, I will be looking at one their newest additions to their range of gaming mice: the Razer Lachesis 3G gaming mouse. Compared to the its predecessors in the lineup, the Lachesis employs an entirely different technology with its third generation laser sensor. Equipped with a ground-breaking 4000 DPI (dots per inch) maximum sensitivity, this mean fighting machine should be coveted by every hardcore high senstivity gamer.

With its third generation laser sensory, Razer hopes to solve the many inadequacies that came along with the current second laser sensor mice, namely the Logitech G9 and the Saitek Cyborg.

However, what is most striking about this particular model is its radical and ambidextrous designs. Let’s have a closer look at the Razer Lachesis and decide if it deserves the ‘Bringer of Silent Death’ tagline.

Specifications

•*4000dpi Razer Precision 3G Laser™ sensor
* 32KB Razer Synapse™ onboard memory
* Nine independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
* 1000Hz Ultrapolling / 1ms response time
* On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment
* Variable true dpi setting adjustments in increments of 125dpi
* Always-On™ mode
* Ultra-large non-slip buttons
* 16-bit ultra-wide data path
* 60-100 inches per second
•Colours: White, Red and Blue
•Retail Price: RM 268 (As of December 2009)



Features and Designs

The Lachesis is known for its trademark ambidextrous design which is an attractive selling point for left-handed gamers. This is certainly a god-send as most other gaming brands out there (Razer, Logitech, Steelseries) only cater to right-handed gamers.

However, after close inspection, the ambidextrous design is a flaw in itself: the side buttons are not as useable as they should be, and the mouse is not as comfortable to hold as it could be.

The Lachesis is comparatively long, flat and requires gamers to palm it in order to obtain a firm grip on it. It is also important to note that it will not be very comfortable for low-sensitivity gamers who prefer to drag their mouse around. Oddly enough, once the DPI is turned up high, the shape of the Lachesis works really well if you rest your palm on the back and move the mouse around with your fingertips.
Another awesome feature on the Lachesis would be its on-the-fly DPI adjustments. Without having to install any drivers whatsoever, gamers will be able to toggle between 4 pre-programmed DPI settings via the two buttons behind the scroll wheel. This allows gamers to play different games at different, customisable sensitivities.
Of course, every other button can also be customized and be saved in five separate profiles that can be switched back and forth at the bottom of the mouse. All this is made possible with its 32kb of onboard memory.


Picture Courtesy of techPowerUp

The mouse also comes with not one, but two glowing parts, namely the scroll wheel and the pulsating Razer logo on the back which really is a nice touch, not to mention the sense of style it generates.

Use and Testing

I’ve tried out the Lachesis for about two weeks now and the results are staggering. It took me approximately three days to get used to its over-the-top “Batmobile” looks and here is what I have come up with:

1. As I have mentioned earlier, the side buttons are not the easiest to use, compared to those of the Deathadder model, but nonetheless the DPI-swicthing buttons have compensated for them.

2. I have tried using the mouse on three different mousing surfaces, namely the Razer Goliathus, Steelseries QCK and Razer Destructor. On the cloth mats, you will not believe how much the cursor jerks by itself and not being responsive to my hand movements. This, I believe, is attritbuted to how the laser sensor reacts to the fibre of the mat which makes it unstable. On the hard-surface pad like the Destructor, however, the Lachesis works like a charm! The mouse elegantly glides over the pad without much effort and my hand finally feels at ease.

3. After using the Lachesis on RTS games like Red Alert 3, DotA and Starcraft, I have achieved pin-point precision as to where I want to move and move around my armies next. The 9 customizable buttons also help assist me in my microing skills. As for FPS games like Counter Strike and Team Fortress 2, the DPI-switching comes in handy for different guns and fragging becomes that much simpler.



Conclusion

Pros
• Stylish looks
• A hell lot of buttons
• Able to switch between DPIs with ease is an added plus
• 4000 DPI is a must have for super-speed players

Cons
• Bad ergonomics. Not one of the most cumfortable mouse to use
• Pricey
• Easily scratched and fingerprint magnet
• Fragile mousefeet that wear down easily after long use

In a nutshell, the Razer Lachesis is definitely a mouse worth using, just because it offers an insane maximum resolution of 4000 DPI. The mouse does need some getting used to but once you’ve tamed the wild stallion, nothing shall get in your way from dominating your opponents freely. The mouse does feel comfortable on a normal sized hand and works even better if you use your fingertips to control the mouse. This is a must-have if you are a left-handed player, or if you’re looking for a mouse that matches lightning-speed hands or even if you have the extra money. Seriously, this is a masterpiece that no avid gamer should miss out on.

Overall Score: 9.1 / 10