X

Hands-on with Mad Catz's gaming accessories

At CES 2013, gaming accessories maker Mad Katz showed a series of new products including a portable and powerful gaming mouse and a keyboard that won a CES award for design and innovation.

Kent German
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Kent German
DSC_0013.jpg
1 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Mice and more from Mad Catz

LAS VEGAS--Mad Catz, a manufacturer of offbeat and feature-rich gaming accessories showed up at a CES 2013 press event to show off some of its newest products.

First up is the R.A.T. Wireless Mobile Gaming Mouse. Smaller than a standard mouse, it has a large scroll wheel and an adjustable palm rest.

DSC_0020.jpg
2 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Power up

The 400 DPI twin-eye laser sensor runs off of two AAA batteries that slide in the bottom. Also, it uses Bluetooth 4.0, which promises better low-power performance. Mad Catz says that the R.A.T can run for as long as a year on the same set of batteries.
DSC_0025.jpg
3 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Making connections

You can use the mouse with PCs, Macs, and TVs and tablets. There's also a removable USB receiver for making a connection.
DSC_0017.jpg
4 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Controls

The mouse comes with 12 action buttons, like this thumb button pictured here. Ten of the buttons are programmable.
DSC_0066.jpg
5 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Going bigger

Larger than the R.A.T., the M.O.U.S.9 has all the same features plus a laser sensor that can track on glass. It also supports software like Adobe Creative Suite and Office. Besides the standard white and red models pictured here, the device comes in several concept designs with bright colors and patterns.
DSC_0037.jpg
6 of 10 Kent German/CNET

S.T.R.I.K.E.7 Professional Gaming Keyboard

This gaming keyboard is the winner of the CEA's Best of Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Award in the Gaming Hardware & Accessories category.
DSC_0064.jpg
7 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Coming apart

Designed to be modular, it comes apart in several places to be as functional or as minimal as needed. You can remove the wrist rests, for example, or you can take off the right portion when you just need a portable solution. The various pieces connect with Micro-USB cables.
DSC_0061.jpg
8 of 10 Kent German/CNET

Tap tap

Up top is a small touch screen. Of course, you can detach it when you don't need it.
DSC_0065.jpg
9 of 10 Kent German/CNET

More keys

The keyboard also comes with a small case with additional keys that you can switch out, plus a few accessories.
DSC_0034.jpg
10 of 10 Kent German/CNET

F.R.E.Q.M Mobile Stereo Headset

Clad in aluminum, the headset has a foldable design with in-line cables. It's compatible with a PC, a Mac, or smart devices, and it comes in several colors including black, red, and white (pictured here).

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos