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Software
This is not your average mouse and there are not only software updates, but
firmware updates as well.
**click to enlarge**
Now, the GUI is just as high tech looking as the hardware itself. I've
always been fond of the software bundled with their mice. From the
main screen, you can easily configure each button to your liking. The
Razer Copperhead has a total of seven buttons that can be customized to your
liking.
**click to enlarge**
Before I get into some of the other options, I would like to cover firmware
upgrades. The reason for this is because updating the firmware on your
Coppperhead is far from easy! I personally had three attempts before I
actually was able to successfully update it. With that said, I feel it
is necessary to cover this process in detail.
If you click on the Config section on the main screen, it
will load a small window that will list "Update Firmware" as one of your
choices. When you click on this option, it will load a window allowing
you to browse your drive for the firmware. The firmware image is
located in the install directory of your Razer. In this case, it is
"C:\Program Files\Razer\Copperhead\Firmware".
**click to enlarge**
After you choose the firmware file, you'll be greeted with the window above.
This is actually where it does get difficult and if you're one that doesn't
know how to navigate around windows using just a keyboard, it may be quite
challenging.
You
need to unplug the mouse first then hold down the button located on the
bottom of the mouse and release it only when you have plugged the mouse back
into the USB port. If it is the first time you attempt this, Windows
will see the Copperhead as a new hardware device and prompt you for the
location of the drivers. What you should note
at this point is that you should browse to the directory of the driver
itself and not the firmware directory. Using your keyboard,
navigate to the directory and say "continue" to the prompt of unsigned
drivers. After this, your Copperhead will continue to be unusable.
Using the keyboard, click "OK" to the window above and the firmware update
will continue.
**click to enlarge**
If
you are successful, you should see the dialog above. Yes, the firmware
process if not exactly easy, but at least this product does offer this kind
of feature in order to further improve it.
**click to enlarge**
The
included software offers you maximum control of your Copperhead. There
are two pull down menus on the left side of the main window. The first
menu is sensitivity, all of which can be controlled "on-the-fly". The
second pull-out menu offers some advanced features such as the control of
the X-Y sensitivity and master sensitivity.
Tom's Comments on software and features
"Of
course, the big improvement with the Copperhead is the integrated memory and
the ability to set various profiles using the included software. There are
two big catches with the system…first, the saved information is limited to
the dpi and the polling rate. Second, in order to switch profiles, you have
to flip the mouse over to get to the button on the bottom in order to do it.
The system does work, and it is certainly uncharted territory so a few
mistakes can be at least understood. Given Razer’s track record though, I
was a little surprised to see this less than elegant method used at all."
Performance
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The
Razer copperhead was primarily tested on the
X-Ray Thunder 8 dual surface
performance mouse pad. This is, in my opinion, one of the best mousing
pads out there. Now, unlike the Diamondback Plasma I reviewed some
time ago, the Copperhead liked the smoother surface much better. It
still functioned on the rough side of the pad but there was a significant
difference when switching to the smoother side of the pad.
I'm
only a casual gamer and is why I have asked Tom to provide his thoughts on
gaming performance. However, after playing with this mouse over a
considerable amount of time, it is now my primary mouse and was worthy
enough of replacing the excellent Diamondback
Plasma LE. While its full capabilities are a bit too much for
everyday use, there is plenty of flexibility, thanks to the five profiles it
does support that can be stored on its onboard memory. I do plenty of Photoshop work, as well as video editing
so the ability to easily lower DPI for such use is a major plus.
Overall, the Copperhead is very responsive and a pleasure to use.
Tom's Comments on Performance
"After some long bouts on Unreal and Battlefield 2, I’d place the Copperhead
as being a slight improvement on the Diamondback. If you already own the
Diamondback and are anything but a hardcore gamer the upgrade will probably
not be worth the dollars involved. The side buttons are actually usable,
although the rear set is still a little far back for my taste. The grips on
the scroll wheel are also a nice addition, although the feel on the
Diamondback wheel is so nice that this may actually be unnecessary. The
scroll wheel ‘clicks’ have exactly the same feel as the Diamondback as well.
I found the higher palm rest to be a boon, as I tend to rest my hand on the
mouse itself and this was decidedly more comfortable than previous Razer
mice."
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