General Use
As with all of our mouse tests I use the mouse to write this review as this allows me to test it's capabilities in everyday tasks such as general navigation, Photoshop editing etc. I am please to report that the QPAD 5K L.E is a very comfortable mouse to use for general office duties. The size of the mouse dictates that a palm grip works best and thus resting the palm of the hand on the mouse makes for less strain on the fingers and wrist so Health & Safety boffins will applaud the ergonomic design that QPAD have created. In default 'Plug'n'Play' configuration, it is ideally set and should need no adjustment thanks to the DPI switches, the lowest being set to a moderate 600 which is sufficient for every day use. The smooth textures, rich plastics and moulded sections used on the 5K L.E make for a pleasurable experience so you will not grow tired of using it. You can set the mouse up to snap to the default button in a dialogue box too which is helpful although nothing new and with the buttons being placed near perfectly, navigation of pages is swift and easy.
No problems here then - how about gaming?
Gaming Performance
If you like a large mouse the QPAD 5K L.E will be right up your street. The dimensions are such that you can use the mouse in both palm and claw grip however do to the ergonomic design of the mouse, it is most comfortable in palm grip. I would have preferred a little more friction on the mouse wheel as even though it is made from rubber, the notches are not very pronounced and thus it perhaps could be a little more accurate. Again, because of its rubber design, it feels 'squishy' under the finger, especially when being pressed. Personal preference maybe but I prefer a more solid design.
After setting up the mouse using the basic configuration software to how I like my mice I then fired up a copy of Battlefield 3. I guess I must be a 'n00b' because at 8200 DPI, the game was totally unplayable. I ran around like I was on acid and even vehicle control was hampered as the slightest twitch meant you inevitably going out of control! I will leave the high end of the DPI to the pro e-sports players I think!
Knocking the DPI down to a much more comfortable level I soon got to grips with the 5K L.E. Sniping was a joy thanks to the side buttons and the DPI switching button. You could have normal DPI for running riot with your pistol yet find a nice secluded spot, drop the DPI and you have pin-point accuracy at the touch of a button. Setting claymores, throwing grenades or any other secondary task was also a cinch as each button could be assigned a key or indeed a macro! This mouse is near perfect for FPS gamers unless perhaps they have small hands. The Hobbits among us may find the 5K L.E a little cumbersome to wield.
Speaking of Hobbits, MMO was just as good to use the QPAD however, the lack of buttons and multiple macro availability meant that it pales in comparison to dedicated MMORPG mice such as the Razer Naga we reviewed earlier. It is however perfectly adequate for the casual gamer.
Overall then, the QPAD 5K L.E is an out and out mouse for F.P.S gamers. It is perfectly weighted, ergonomically sound, configurable and best of all, comfortable for long periods of time. While clearly overkill for general use, it handles this with ease. It can also turn it's hand (excuse the pun) to any other gaming genre and while the lack of buttons may be an issue for some, it provides enough to get the basics under control.
Let's head over to the conclusion where I gather my closing thoughts...
