Review: Razer Orochi
By Tim Hage on Nov 3rd, 2009 at 10:48PM
When it comes to gaming, Razer and Logitech are usually among your first choice for a new mouse, but what if you’re looking for a mobile gaming mouse? Sure, Logitech and many other companies offer wireless gaming mice and laptop mice, but never before has a company been ambitious enough to combine the two for the benefit of the games…until now. Meet the Razer Orochi.
While Logitech and other mouse developers are racing to make the smallest possible USB receiver for their devices, Razer is skipping that step and eliminating the need for another adapter all together. With Bluetooth, you need no adapter plugged in, you merely need a laptop (or PC) with built in or added on Bluetooth. The top half of the mouse pops off to reveal the two AA batteries powering the mouse. If you need it on a PC without Bluetooth, you can attach the included 3-foot cable, converting the mouse to wired, thus eliminating the need of batteries and upping the max DPI from 2000 to 4000, and the max polling rate from 125 to 1000.
The Orochi features Razer’s signature aggressive design. Some may argue that Razer’s design choices are getting old and/or repetitive. While I do agree with this, the overall style of their mice has served them well so far and certainly doesn’t look bad. The thumb buttons on this mouse are a bit too low profile and heavy-set for proper gaming use. It can be quite hard to press one (let alone the correct one) in a heated gaming battle. There are a total of four thumb buttons; two on each side. This helps make this mouse perfectly ergonomical. Powered by two AA batteries in wireless mode, Razer claims that the Orochi will last up to 3 months of standard use on a set of batteries.
Compared to most laptop mice — which just feel like a lump in your hand — the Orochi is quite comfortable and natural. The choice of an ergonomic design may have removed the option of any radical comfort-based designs, but the mouse manages to keep your hand supported through many hours of gaming. I do feel that the palm of the mouse could have been designed to fit your hand better, but I think Razer did very well with what they had to work with. Unfortunately, the lower half of the mouse’s shell is made of that shiny, sweat-attracting material we all love to hate. For an every day mouse, this is a fine design choice, but for gaming, this only gets sticky and annoying during heated gaming.
Scores
Price: 8
While $80 is a little more than I would consider spending on a laptop mouse, this is a gaming mouse first and a laptop mouse second. It will outperform most desktop mice and for that, the price is justifiable.
Setup/Install: 9
With the wired setup, little is required of the user. Bluetooth does require a pairing sequence before it will connect. While I would prefer a simple “connect” button, it is still very simple to set up.
Ease of Use: N/A
After you’ve connected it to the computer of your choice, it’s a mouse. Cup your hand around it gently and the world is your oyster.
Performance: 10
For what seems like a simple laptop mouse, the Orochi packs a massive punch. Thanks to Razer’s 3G laser engine, this mouse puts many gaming mice to shame.
Features: 9
With the option of wired or wireless, a soft protective pouch and shiny LEDs, this mouse has just about everything you could hope for. The only thing that I would prefer it comes with is a Bluetooth USB adapter of its own.
Overall: 9 Olives
Very nice write-up ! I was just scanning articles and I could tell this was yours. I love to read your stuff. Keep up the good work.
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I guessing “me from downstairs” is your mother Timmie…aww how cute.
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or the devil…
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No, I’m sure it’s the slave I keep in the basement…I thought I revoked his internet rights >.>
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So Tim, say I buy this and my PC has no bluetooth – What do I need for wireless? A bluetooth reciever?
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If you want to use it wirelessly and your PC/computing device of choice does NOT have Bluetooth built in, then yes, you will need a Bluetooth adapter. You can use it with the cable either way though.
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I would also like to point out that the thumb buttons are extremely loud when you click them. Other than that, it’s a great and sexy-looking mouse.
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another weird thing about the orochi is that there are buttons on both sides of the mouse…i kno it is designed to be ambidextrous but that could be an issue for both left handed users and right handed users?
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Tim Hage Reply on December 25th, 2009 at 12:50 AM
@Jason Tsai, How exactly could the versatile design be a bad thing for gamers?
Jason Tsai Reply on December 25th, 2009 at 1:09 AM
@Tim Hage, well, most gamers spend a long time at their desk and so u would want to get the most ergonomic fit….if u had 2 buttons where ur pinky is all day u mite accidentally press it and its not exactly useful unless multiple people use that mouse or u use the mouse with both hands (i dont think gamers switch hands lol)….anyways when u are out to buy the mouse you probably will want to find something that is more tailored for ur hand not something made for a lot of people to use right?
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