Here's our first look at the Kone XTD in the flesh, and it's an interesting fusion of styles. In an earlier review Richard described ROCCAT's Savu as discrete and not gaudy, and whilst certainly not gaudy the Kone XTD could hardly be labelled discrete. Two high-gloss bands run the length of the mouse, under which lies the LED light-bars which can not so subtly illuminate it. Rather than an illuminated ROCCAT logo, the Kone XTD has a prominent silvered logo on the palm rest, along with the XTD label. The majority of the mouse is finished with a matte black rubberised layer, a style heavily in use as it both makes the surface adhere to the hand and is a more quality feel than bare plastic.
On the top we have the usual left and right mouse buttons (LMB, RMB), and central scroll wheel. Below the scroll wheel are two buttons - labelled '+' and '-' - which are generally reserved for DPI/Profile changing on gaming mice. Above the wheel is a single button for miscellaneous use, bound to the Windows Key by default. The scroll wheel also includes tilt functionality to the left and right, a feature typically more often seen in those designed for office productivity, which should add to the Kone XTD's overall appeal in areas other than gaming.
The left of the mouse features two thumb buttons, located relatively high on the shoulder. The thumb rest is contoured in such a way as to provide support for the thumb without greatly increasing the width. Seen in profile, the relatively high arch of the Kone XTD is clear. This shape should provide plenty of support for the hand arch, though it may feel a little large for those with particularly small hands. It lends itself to a palm grip for most people, rather than the flatter arch which tends to encourage claw grips.
Underneath the Kone XTD we can see the sensor - the laser 8200DPI Pro-Aim Sensor R3 - and a small storage compartment for the four additional 5g weights, which is rotated to open when the triangles line up. A substantial portion of the mouse floor is taken up by three teflon pads, designed to allow a smooth motion over any mousing surface; there are no replacements for these in the pack, so treat them well.
Those interested in registering their Kone XTD with ROCCAT should also note that the serial number is also printed on the mouse floor, just above the Product Number (P/N).
Finally, the mouse USB cord is a lightweight braided cable with a particularly narrow connector. The braiding appears to be good quality, exhibiting a fair bit of flexibility and resistance to fraying. It does seem to have that ever-present issue of a couple of loose threads, but a pair of small and sharp scissors will fix that swiftly.
