I began my search at our local computer retailers, but didn’t really find anything that intrigued
me. So I did some surfing online and found a site called Razerzone - then I found their
BoomSlang 2000, or BS2000 for short. The more I read about it, the more I liked. So I got it.
The first thing I noticed when it arrived was the packaging. The box was silver, with a green and black snake logo (a Boomslang is a snake, for those who want to know), but no info about what was inside, unlike most other retail boxes for hardware and software. Opening it up, I found a round tin, kinda like those cookie tins you can get at the supermarket. This was also silver, but had info about the mouse on the outside of it, including basic specs and a lot of what I can only call very cool writing. Whoever does their advertising is really, really good.
I popped the top and found round cardboard inserts from QUICK SETUP to a MASTER GUIDE and a promo piece titled THIS IS NOT YOUR MOTHER’S MOUSE. Eek! The mouse itself is a piece of work - black with clear green plastic so that you can see the innards. It’s also lower and wider than a regular mouse, which made it feel more comfortable in my hand. With right and left buttons on the top and sides and a small wheel in the middle, this mouse can be configured to work for left-handed or right-handed folks. Since I’m left-handed, this was an immediate success with me, even before I plugged it in and got it running.
Set-up was easy - install the driver, shut down the computer, plug the mouse in (USB or PS-2),
then reboot. No fuss, no muss. After rebooting, I went to the Razerzone site to get the latest
drivers, and believe me, you will definitely want to get them. Then I went to the Customizer
menu and configured each of the buttons, double-click speed, the scroll wheel and the sensitivity.
Speaking of, the BS2000 is billed as an “extreme sensitivity mouse,” and it is. It reaches up to 2000 dpi, but by using the “On-The-Fly-Wheel,” you can instantly change the sensitivity as you move from one game or program to the next. It really does adjust instantly, once you get the hang of using it, which took me about an hour of flipping back and forth between programs and games, then changing the sensitivity in each program and game. Because of this sensitivity, the mouse barely has to move - that was probably the hardest thing to get used to. I usually have to move my mouse around the desk or mousepad a good amount of the time. With the BS2000, I barely have to nudge it - it’s almost scary.
The only thing I found lacking was a mousepad - the BS2000 doesn’t come with one and a normal mousepad doesn’t cut it. Razer sells a mousepad that works with the BS2000, so I ordered that and was not unhappy with it when it arrived, although it looked too thin to do much good. I really feel the mousepad should be included with the mouse instead of making the customer pay extra for it.
Each of the four button have no slip surfaces, which is great if you like to snack and work or play
at the same time. Oh come on, we’re all guilty of this!
I found that no matter what program I was using, the BS2000 made navigation a breeze. The
hardest part is getting used to the sensitivity of this mouse - but once that was conquered, I found
myself designing artwork in CorelDraw with a lot more ease and precision. I am able to do my
basic work in DTP or word processing just like a regular mouse. And I can really kick some butt
in games, whether online or by myself.
If you’re looking for a mouse that can do everything, the BS2000 is the closest you’re going to get. Unless they come up with a BS3000 or a rival takes them on. Until then, the Razer BoomSlang 2000 is *the* mouse to own.
The Razer BoomSlang 2000
$99.99 retail (check their site for special offers)
J.A. Hitchcock is a regular contributor to Compute Me. Visit her web site at jahitchcock.com.