Zowie AM Review - Page 26

I just played along

Build quality seems quite good, but it might need some small tweaks for buttons. I'm sticking with it for now but the sidebuttons are left unused atm.

If they can fix all of the button issues for the next batch, I think my quest for the perfect mouse is finally over.

I received my AM last week (alongside with my mechanical keyboard). Lovely mouse. Tracking seems very good. Shape is not perfect, but alround never is, with that in mind I think the shape is very good. Good for palm, fingertip and claw (probably best with claw, which I tend to use with the AM and I never really was a claw grip type).
Basically I think I'm a mixed grip type. I swap between the fingertip and claw (usually it is the process of moving the mouse forward or backward), but mostly do not touch the back side of the mouse with the palm, though occasionaly I do and I like the feeling of having something in the hand. The CM Spawn felt a bit uneasy with it's shortness, even if I barely touch the mouse with the palm. I guess this is where an allround shape is a win. If you are 100% palm, then you will be a bit disappointed (go for the Deathadder then, in trade for worse LOD).

Build quality is nice. After a week no shacky buttons yet. I have the best grip with glossy sides (Deathadder is like magnetic to my skin), but I do like the feel of the rubberised sides with the AM.

I love the wheel, perfect click, good scrolling. The wheel doesn't sit straight though, the gap at the right is wider than on the left. Not a dealbreaker, but not nice.
I also love the fact that the red wheel is slightly translucent and the red led light of the sensor shines through. I can easily find the mouse in a pitch black room on a pitch black mousepad. Though I wish the wheel was even more translucent and would glow slightly brighter.

The buttons. M1/M2 do not touch for me. Can someone who received his model from Caseking.de confirm? Perhaps it is the 2nd batch afterall? I can make the buttons touch, buy pressing them in the most unnatural way, something I didn't even think about doing, not before I read about that issue on this forum.

The HUANO's are quite stiff. I got used to it, but ultra-fast double clicking brings errors sometimes. I wish the click was lighter. Someone who plays games where you need to click the buttons at the most inhumane pace, I'm not saying stay away from the AM, but try it before deciding to keep it.
Click sound is nice though, fast and sharp. A bit to loud for my personal taste, but all mice are actually.

Sidebuttons are not as comfortably usable as the Deathadder/Imperator. My style to actuate the M4 button is with the thumb knuckle, while the M5 button with the top side of the tip. With the AM I need to move the thumb all the way to press both side buttons with the actual tip of the thumb. Not a dealbraker, but not the best design for me either.

AM glides well on my Qck (wow, didn't even try on the ultra smooth Propus yet).


All in all a very good mouse. Played through Half-Life 2 with it and it was a gread experience (both, the game and the mouse).
Only time can tell now if there will be problems with it or not.

I ordered my zowie 2 minutes ago, I should have it on monday. I will post my feedback as well.

It's doubtful you have one of the second batch. Zowie themselves have stated that the 2nd batch isn't due until the end of februari or the beginning of march.
Edited by scandalous - 1/4/12 at 7:43pm

I ordered @ caseking too and my buttons touched :/

I guess the further you press them, the more likely it is that they touch.

Do (or did) you have the GS version?

anyone have the 411 on the US release date?

Makes sense, I never experienced it but I have quite small hands. Hell, my ex gf her hands were slightly bigger then mine

i only date girls with small hands because it feeds my ego if ya kno what i mean HER HER AMIRITE GUYS *elbow shove playful euphemism*

haiiyaa told me PC is 3+ for all the steps so maybe the 2.7 we heard about was just poorly tested. i trust skylits review above most others
Edited by eosgreen - 1/5/12 at 4:43pm