华硕推出了名为(ASUS)Strix的全新游戏外设和硬件组件品牌。这个名字取自古罗马和希腊语(Roman and Greek word)中的“猫头鹰”，意思是最敏锐的听力和最敏锐的视力。听起来很大胆，不是吗？这些设备不以Republic Of Gamers品牌销售，整个产品阵容都是自己的新品牌。我们非常有兴趣测试这些设备，看看它们的表现如何。幸运的是，我们得到了这个阵容中的一些设备。首先(First)，我们测试了Strix Claw 游戏(Strix Claw gaming)鼠标和Strix Glide Control 鼠标(Strix Glide Control mouse)垫。从这篇评论中了解它们有多好以及它们是否值得购买。
华硕 Strix Claw 鼠标(ASUS Strix Claw Mouse)和Strix Glide Control 鼠标垫(Strix Glide Control Mousepad)拆箱
如果您熟悉游戏鼠标，那么在您将其开箱即用之前，您肯定会注意到Strix Claw的一些有趣之处：与(Strix Claw)华硕(ASUS)的大多数游戏外设不同，这款鼠标不是以Republic Of Gamers品牌销售的，这很好奇。定义游戏玩家共和国(Republic Of Gamers)产品的传统激进的红色和黑色色调在此模型上不存在。取而代之的是，盒子被涂成黑色，并带有一些亮橙色的点缀，强调了这是一个具有不同图像和信息(image and message)的新品牌。
抛开设计不谈，这个盒子与其他(Design)华硕鼠标(ASUS mice)的包装非常相似，包括我们在这里评论的Gladius。您会在透明保护盖内找到鼠标、快速入门指南(start guide)和带驱动程序的光盘。
Strix Glide Control 鼠标垫(mouse pad)是一款优质的重织布垫，可与各种传感器配合使用，并采用橙色盒子包装(orange box)。
如您所料，您只会在包装盒中找到鼠标垫(mouse pad)。不需要任何类型的手册或光盘。🙂 Strix Glide Control采用优质重织面料，可实现平稳控制和高精度。或者至少这是华硕(ASUS)的承诺。
硬件规格
拆开包装后，我们来看看游戏鼠标(gaming mouse)和鼠标垫(mouse pad)的规格：ASUS Strix Claw配备 5000 DPI光学传感器，跟踪速度为 130 英寸/秒，跟踪加速度(acceleration level)为 30g . 最大轮询频率(polling rate)为 1000 Hz，该设备与Windows 8.1、Windows 8、Windows 7、Windows Vista 和 Windows XP 兼容(Windows Vista and Windows XP)。尺寸为 122.55 x 71.75 x 45.25 毫米（4.82 x 2.82 x 1.78 英寸）（长 x 宽 x 高(Length x Width x Height)），它是一款中型鼠标，仅比华硕 Gladius(ASUS Gladius)短一点。史崔克之爪(Strix Claw)不含电缆时重 110 克（0.24 磅）。华硕(ASUS)选择了日本制造的 Omron D2F-01F开关来搭配这款鼠标，与(Japan-made Omron D2F-01F)Gladius的备用开关相同。该公司没有提及这些开关是可互换的，因此它们很可能被焊接到PCB上。左右按键统一，左侧也有3个可编程按键。
在鼠标顶部的滚轮(scroll wheel)旁边，您会找到两个灵敏度开关，您可以使用它们在四个可编程灵敏度级别之间进行切换。灵敏度等级也由三个LED 指示(LEDs)，它们点亮鼠标左键(left mouse button)上的三个疤痕(scars)，每个灵敏度等级(sensitivity level)一个。在最低灵敏度级别(sensitivity level)，所有三个LED(LEDs)均关闭。编织的USB 线(USB cord)不可拆卸，它通过镀金USB 连接器(USB connector)连接到 PC 。
鼠标垫(mouse pad)的面积为 400x300 毫米（15.7 x 11.8 英寸），厚度为 3 毫米（0.11 英寸），重量仅为 208 克（7.4 盎司）。您可以在这里找到鼠标的全套规格：Strix Claw - 规格(Strix Claw - Specifications)和鼠标垫的规格：Strix Glide Control - 规格(Strix Glide Control - Specifications)。
使用ASUS Strix Claw和Strix Glide Control
使用Strix Claw是一次愉快的体验。华硕(ASUS)为所有握持方式设计了这款鼠标，因此您在使用它时应该不会有任何问题。由于采用哑光饰面，在使用过程中不会从您的手中滑落。我们已经在办公室工作和游戏(office work and gaming)中测试了该设备，并且表现出色。但是，此鼠标适合惯用右手的用户，而惯用左手的用户不会有最好的体验。我们在测试Gladius(Gladius)时玩过不同类型的游戏，例如反恐精英：全球攻势(Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)、暗黑破坏神 3(Diablo 3)、魔兽世界(World of Warcraft)、蝙蝠侠：阿卡姆起源(Batman: Arkham Origins)或孤岛危机(Crysis). 当您根据所玩的游戏需要不同级别的响应时，配置文件非常有用。就像(Just)ASUS Gladius一样，鼠标没有任何专用的宏按钮，因此您将无法将MMORPG中的所有命令分配给鼠标上的按钮。但是，这会使事情变得更加拥挤并且更加昂贵。DPI离合器阶段(DPI Clutch Stage)按钮是一个不错的选择。您可以将此功能分配给其中一个可编程按钮，它会将DPI降低到您设置的值，但仅在按住该按钮的同时。这在FPS(FPS)中被证明是有用的例如，您需要降低狙击灵敏度的游戏。该设备具有良好的制造质量(build quality)，外壳的哑光黑色饰面不会为指纹留下太多空间。发光的Strix标志也很漂亮，具有呼吸效果。
我们发现的唯一缺点是滚轮(scroll wheel)具有相当高的阻力并且并不总是易于按下和用作按钮。总而言之，我们喜欢使用ASUS Strix Claw和使用(ASUS Strix Claw)Gladius一样多，这对华硕(ASUS)来说是一个大拇指。关于鼠标垫(mouse pad)，没什么好说的，只是它与华硕 Strix Claw(ASUS Strix Claw)配合得非常好。校准鼠标以使用此鼠标垫(mouse pad)非常容易，它提供了您期望的精度和控制水平。(precision and control)但更多关于本评论下一部分的校准过程(calibration process)。
驱动程序和 Strix 软件
(ASUS Strix Claw)Windows 8.1自动检测到ASUS Strix Claw，开箱即用。但是，要完全控制这款鼠标带来的功能，您需要安装华硕(ASUS)提供的Strix Claw 驱动程序和软件(driver and software)。我们安装了软件，我们面临着一个看起来不错的界面，用于配置鼠标的几乎每个按钮和功能(button and function)。
鼠标有两种可用的功能模式：
- 硬件模式(Hardware mode)- 此模式不需要安装驱动程序并自动将灵敏度级别(sensitivity level)切换到第二级（默认设置为 2000 DPI）。
- 软件模式(Software mode)- 此模式需要安装驱动程序并允许您配置设备的所有设置。
Strix Claw软件允许您配置设备的每个按钮，调整光学传感器的灵敏度级别和轮询率，更改照明效果并定义宏命令。它还允许您针对两种类型的ASUS 鼠标(ASUS mouse)垫校准鼠标 - Strix Glide Control和Strix Glide Speed - 或者您可以针对您的表面手动校准它。该软件还允许您定义不同的配置文件，每个配置文件都有自己的设置。Strix Software应用程序的界面分为两个主要部分：
- 鼠标(Mouse)- 此部分允许您配置鼠标的每个按钮。您可以将命令类型设置为鼠标功能(mouse function)、Windows 快捷方式(Windows shortcut)、多媒体命令(multimedia command)、宏，也可以完全禁用它。您还可以微调鼠标的灵敏度和亮度。
- 宏(Macro)- 此部分允许您定义单独的宏，然后您可以将其分配给鼠标的任何按钮。
判决
ASUS Strix Claw是一款坚固的鼠标，具有许多自定义选项，在游戏和办公场景(gaming and office scenarios)中表现出色。它有一个很好的设计，很容易适合大多数握把类型。鼠标让我们想起了很多华硕 Gladius(ASUS Gladius)，它是另一款具有出色精度和性能(precision and performance)的全面设备。即使您不是游戏玩家，它在办公环境中的表现也会非常好。与Strix Glide Control 鼠标垫(Strix Glide Control mousepad)搭配使用，效果非常好，使用起来应该不会有任何问题。
ASUS Strix Glide Control是一款非常出色的全能鼠标垫(all-around mousepad)。它的橡胶背面有助于防止它滑过你的桌子，我们在上面使用激光和光学鼠标都没有问题。如果您是游戏玩家，您一定会喜欢它，尤其是它的尺寸足够大，可以避免鼠标在桌面上滑动。我们没有遇到任何跟踪问题，我们还建议将其用于日常使用，包括办公室工作(office work)，而不仅仅是游戏。
Reviewing The ASUS Strix Claw Mouse & The Strix Glide Control Mousepad
ASUS has launched a nеw brand of gaming peripherals and hardware components called Strix. The name is taken from the ancient Roman and Greek word for "owl" and it means the keenеst hearing and sharpest eyеsight. Sounds daring, doesn't it? These deνices are not sold under the Republic Of Gamers brand and the whole lineup is a new brand of its own. We were quite interested to test these devices and see how well they fare. Luckily, we got our hands on some devices in this lineup. First, we tested the Strix Claw gaming mouse together with the Strix Glide Control mouse pad. Learn from this review how good they are and whether they are worth buying.
Unboxing The ASUS Strix Claw Mouse & The Strix Glide Control Mousepad
If you're familiar with gaming mice, you'll definitely notice something interesting about the Strix Claw, right before you get it out of the box: unlike ASUS' most gaming peripherals, this one is not sold under the Republic Of Gamers brand, which is rather curious. The traditional aggressive shades of red and black which define Republic Of Gamers products are not present on this model. Instead, the box is painted in black with a few bright orange accents, underlining the fact that this is a new brand with a different image and message.
Design aside, the box is very similar to the packaging used for other ASUS mice, including the Gladius that we reviewed here. You will find the mouse inside a transparent protective cover, along with the quick start guide and a disc with drivers.
The Strix Glide Control mouse pad is a premium heavy weave fabric pad that works with all kinds of sensors and comes packaged in an orange box.
As you would expect, you will find only the mouse pad in the box. There's no need for manuals or discs of any kind. 🙂 The Strix Glide Control has a premium heavy-weave fabric for smooth control and great precision. Or at least this is what ASUS promises.
Hardware Specifications
Now that we've got the packaging out of the way, let's check the specifications for the gaming mouse and the mouse pad: The ASUS Strix Claw has a 5000 DPI optical sensor with a 130 inches per second tracking speed and a 30g tracking acceleration level. The maximum polling rate is 1000 Hz and the device is compatible with Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. At 122.55 x 71.75 x 45.25mm (4.82 x 2.82 x 1.78 inches) (Length x Width x Height) it's a medium sized mouse, just a bit shorter than the ASUS Gladius. The Strix Claw weighs 110 grams (0.24 pounds) without the cable. ASUS has chosen the Japan-made Omron D2F-01F switches to go with this mouse, the same kind of switches that were included as a back-up with the Gladius. The company doesn't mention anything about these switches being interchangeable, so they're most probably soldered to the PCB. The left and right buttons are unified and there are also three programmable buttons on the left side.
On the top side of the mouse, next to the scroll wheel, you'll find the two sensitivity switches that you can use to change between four programmable levels of sensitivity. The sensitivity levels are also pointed out by three LEDs that light up three scars on the left mouse button, one for each sensitivity level. On the lowest sensitivity level, all three LEDs are off. The braided USB cord is not detachable and it connects to the PC through a gold-plated USB connector.
The mouse pad's area is 400x300mm (15.7 x 11.8 inches) and it's 3mm (0.11 inches) thick while weighing only 208 grams (7.4 ounces). You can find the full set of specifications of the mouse here: Strix Claw - Specifications and those of the mouse pad here: Strix Glide Control - Specifications.
Using The ASUS Strix Claw & The Strix Glide Control
Using the Strix Claw was an overall pleasant experience. ASUS designed this mouse for all grip styles, so you shouldn't have problems handling it. Thanks to the matte finish it won't slip out of your hand during usage. We've tested the device in both office work and gaming, and it performed great. However, this mouse is suited for right-handed users and left-handed users won't have the greatest of experiences. We've played different types of games while testing the Gladius, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Diablo 3, World of Warcraft, Batman: Arkham Origins or Crysis. The profiles are very useful for cases when you need different levels of responsiveness according to the game you play. Just like ASUS Gladius, the mouse doesn't have any dedicated macro buttons, so you won't be able to assign all of the commands from an MMORPG, for instance, to the buttons located on the mouse. However, that would have made things a lot more crowded and a bit more expensive. A nice touch is the DPI Clutch Stage button. You can assign this function to one of the programmable buttons and it will lower the DPI to a value that you set, but only while keeping that button pressed. This proved to be useful in FPS games where you need to lower your sensitivity for sniping, for instance. The device has a good build quality and the matte black finish of the case doesn't leave too much room for fingerprints. The illuminated Strix logo is a nice touch too, with its breathing effect.
The only downside that we have found is the fact that the scroll wheel has a rather high resistance and is not always easy to press and use as a button. All in all, we enjoyed using the ASUS Strix Claw just as much as we did the Gladius, which is a big thumbs up for ASUS. Regarding the mouse pad there's not much to say except that it works very well with the ASUS Strix Claw. It is very easy to calibrate the mouse to work with this mouse pad and it offers the level of precision and control you would expect. But more about the calibration process in the next section of this review.
Drivers & Strix Software
ASUS Strix Claw was automatically detected by Windows 8.1 and it worked well right out of the box. However, to gain full control over what this mouse brings to the table, you'll need to install the Strix Claw driver and software provided by ASUS. We installed the software and we were faced with a decent looking interface for configuring pretty much every button and function of the mouse.
The mouse has two functioning modes available:
- Hardware mode - this mode doesn't require the driver to be installed and automatically switches the sensitivity level to the second one (by default it is set at 2000 DPI).
- Software mode - this mode requires the driver to be installed and allows you to configure all of the device's settings.
The Strix Claw software allows you to configure each button of the device, tune the sensitivity levels and polling rate of the optical sensor, change the lighting effects and define macro commands. It also allows you to calibrate the mouse for two types of ASUS mouse pads - the Strix Glide Control and the Strix Glide Speed - or you can manually calibrate it for your surface. The software also allows you to define different profiles, each with its own settings. The interface of the Strix Software application is divided into two main sections:
- Mouse - this section allows you to configure every button of the mouse. You can set the type of command to be either a mouse function, a Windows shortcut, a multimedia command, a macro or you can disable it completely. You can also fine tune the sensitivity and the lighting of the mouse.
- Macro - This section allows you to define individual macros that you can then assign to any button of the mouse.
Verdict
ASUS Strix Claw is a solid mouse with lots of customization options that fares well in both gaming and office scenarios. It has a nice design and it fits most grip types easily. The mouse reminded us a lot of the ASUS Gladius and it is another well-rounded device with great precision and performance. It will perform very well in office environments, too, even if you're not a gamer. Paired with the Strix Glide Control mousepad, it works really well and you shouldn't have problems using it.
ASUS Strix Glide Control is a very good all-around mousepad. Its rubberized back side helps to keep it from sliding across your desk and we had no problem using both laser and optical mice on it. If you're a gamer, you will definitely enjoy it, especially since its size is big enough to avoid sliding your mouse on the desk. We didn't experience any tracking issues on it and we also recommend it for day-to-day use, including office work, not only gaming.
