Philips introduces two new precision computer peripherals to the PC gaming world... and sent them our way for the purpose of reviewing them for you. So let's go ahead and jump in... starting with the unboxing!
The packaging is standard for keyboard and mouse products at this price point, but regardless of no extra oohs and ahhs... the packages are informative and kept the tech safe during shipment.
Here's a better look at the side of the mouse. This mouse dwarfs my primary mouse a bit, but what I like about this one is that my hand fits well. If I want to rest my palm on my mouse pad... I still have that option, but this is big enough for a nice full-handed grab.
The texture on the sides of the mouse works well... and I appreciate it not being that thick rubber-like material that some mice have that breaks down over time. I've had a few of those... along with a gamepad or two... and once they break down... they become an unusable mess.
As you see here... you have 3 shoes (foot pads) on the bottom of the mouse... and they're wide, covering good portions of the bottom, and work pretty well for maneuvering the mouse while gaming, working... or whatever.
Tip: I advise using the cords Velcro tie around something in a high enough area to give you slack. The slack helps deliver the best movement because that tug can certainly affect it.
What I will probably do is use some ceramic glide feet to place on this mouse because I like how smooth they help the mouse move... plus there is nothing wrong with having an edge on the competition. In its current state, it moves a lot better than my mouse (out of the box).
The Philips Momentum mouse (model: SPK9413) features:
- Optical mouse sensor
- 5 programmable button
- Between 1200 to 6400 DPI
- Up to 6000FPS
- Forward & Back thumb buttons
- Dynamic RGB ambiglow lighting: I know you can switch between colors on the mouse, but... I still don't know how to switch the colors without switching the DPI or turning on the rapid mouse click.
One thing I would like to see in the future is actually software where you can swap the colors and program the buttons. This would allow you to switch things up without a need to memorize any button presses to switch settings.
There is a 4-level cycle switch; Roller DPI indicator; 1200DPI (green) - 2400DPI (purple) - 3200DPI (blue) - 6400DPI (red)... but I haven't been able to use any other DPI setting smoothly beyond the 1200DPI (green).
The reason why I'm able to is... whenever I switch to the other DPI levels, the mouse arrow scrolls down. If you click it once, it scrolls down a little (i.e. it would click the email below the one you wanted to click). So... if you're experiencing that problem, go back to the green asap by clicking the back button.
Clicking the forward button will also switch colors, but will cause double/rapid clicking with the left mouse button. This works for rapid shooting in FPS games... but for anything outside of gaming, it might drive you crazy. So green is the color that literally means you're good to go for normal function.
I played about 2+ hours of Slime Rancher with this mouse... and it felt good as far as holding and handling the mouse. The downside is that I don't know how to switch things up, the user manual doesn't explain it... so it's really important that they work out the functions of this mouse so that they can easily be switched.
Price-wise... the Philips Momentum Wired Gaming Mouse retails for $14.99, which is a pretty good price tag. It would be even better if I knew how to switch up the settings... but I will mess around with it a bit more to see what results I'm able to come up with. Computer hopping... here I come!
That said... here's how I rate it:
Comfort 5
Usability 3
Features 2
Price 5
3.75 out of 5 Cool Points
I can't lie, I have enjoyed reviewing this keyboard.
According to Philips, "The Philips line of keyboards and mice offer a wide array of feature sets with intended use ranging from basic office to computer gaming, with an emphasis on offering performance at an affordable price." While I can agree with this to an extent, there are a few things to be desired in this keyboard... which can be offered in a revised version.
Our audience definitely consists of gamers, that's the primary reason our platform is accessed... but gaming isn't the only thing the vast majority of our audience does. We have students who use PC peripherals like these for schoolwork, the average person who may use their PC for emails, web surfing, bills, and business professionals in a variety of fields tuning in.
So... when the time comes for a revised version, it should definitely include a... calculator key for easy access. If I were to replace my current keyboard with this mechanical keyboard, I would certainly miss that button the most. My current keyboard also has an email button and a home key. There are more buttons... but luckily the Philips Wired mechanical gaming keyboard (SPK8614/00) also has those buttons... which are the play/pause, skip, and back buttons.
One plus that I really like is the volume knob (with the mute button in the middle) that allows you to quickly turn up... or down.
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| (Sexy!) |
This knob is Dual-mode switchable (hold for at least 2 seconds to switch modes).
When in Office mode, it's unlit... allowing you to adjust the volume.
When the switch is in Gaming mode (it's lit), you're able to adjust the lighting effect and luminance between 19 Preset "Ambiglow" breathing effects.
Here's an example... which also includes the mouse.
Going back to the lack of office-related shortcuts... I don't think this is a bad keyboard for office work, it has a great feel and I've adapted, but I (personally) wouldn't also market it as an office keyboard. It's a good dual-purpose keyboard, but... the pluses that boost productivity are what will appeal to the office workers in the room.
That said... you can create a shortcut key to open your calculator, and i'll show you how:
Hit your Windows key >
Type in "Calculator" >
Right-click Calculator >
Select Properties >
(In the Shortcut key) Press these keys: Ctrl + Shift + C >
Hit Apply >
(If a permission box pops up) Click Continue >
(If a secondary box pops up) Confirm that >
Now... try it out! A calculator should appear, and you don't have to worry about the lack of the calculator shortcut key!
The click of the keys in this mechanical keyboard... is satisfying, and one thing I love is how open the spaces are between the keys. It may not seem like much until you want to get some crap from in between the keys of your keyboard. The openness makes it easier to blast with a can of air... allowing for an easier clean... plus this keyboard comes with a key remover. You can actually remove and replace them with ease.
It has been a pleasure writing up this review using this keyboard. I was able to type just fine using my primary keyboard, but... it wasn't as satisfying. The keys on this Philips keyboard have a slight dip in the middle of each key that allows me to get a full press without hitting another key by mistake. I can't say there wouldn't be a slip-up, but I've noticed that the space between the individual keys... it makes it harder (for me) to do so.
Simply checking out the body of this Philips keyboard... I noticed that it doesn't feel flimsy + has some weight to it... and (even if I won't attempt it) it feels like it could take a drop or two in the event of an unintentional snag & drop. Though I have never ever had an accident that has resulted in a cord being ruined on my keyboards... the threaded cord adds an extra layer of security.
Oh yeah, I appreciate the addition of the magnetic palm rest... because it can easily get placed on, but it can easily be placed to the side. I've seen others in this price point with a built-in palm rest... but I've never been ready to commit to the built-ins. I remember how gruesome some of them looked back in the day... so that might have something to do with it too.
The underbelly of this keyboard has ridges... but it's nothing that would prevent it from sliding (a rubber strip going across the middle of the underbelly would be great for those who like to work or game with their keyboard in their lap). For grip... you have two rubber shoes near the front of the keyboard's underbelly... while the back grips are more so plastic feet with some serious ridges.
The Philips Wired mechanical gaming keyboard has a switch under every key... which records the keystrokes. The standard keyboards use a rubber dome w/ a membrane that's used to record the keystrokes.
According to KnowTechie.com... the mechanical keyboards last longer because they're certified to be durable and are resistant to a crapload of typing. They also mention that collapsed rubber domes and the sticky keys break down and become less functional.
I have experience with keys no longer functioning... and pressing keys extra hard in order to get them to work sometimes. I've even resorted to copying and pasting letters at one point in my life because a key or 3 wouldn't work. So if this information holds true, a mechanical keyboard is the best route to go... and will ultimately save money in the long run.
Even if a mechanical keyboard costs a little more than some of the standard keyboards... you save money if you don't have to purchase standard keyboards and their non-mechanical replacements.
Gaming-wise... I've played both Pacman 256 + Slime Rancher with this keyboard and mouse. The movement in Slime Rancher was cool... I didn't notice much of a change in movement in that game (outside of the mouse). Playing Pacman 256 with this keyboard... I noticed the difference immediately. Maybe it's because the keystrokes fire off quicker... but it's definitely better than my standard keyboard which is a tad slower on the draw.
Overall, the Philips Momentum Wired mechanical gaming mouse (SPK8614) is a great keyboard. It's missing a few buttons that would make office workers feel more welcome... but overall it's a nice quality keyboard with a good price tag. The keyboard just reacts... I don't have to apply pressure to keys because once the switch is triggered it fires off.
Overall... I rate this keyboard:
Comfort 5
Usability 5
Features 4
Price 5
4.75 out of 5 Cool Points
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