Razer Salmosa Gaming Mouse

Performance:

Going back years Razer has promised Linux support, but they have yet to deliver any Linux support -- proprietary or not. Those using Razer mice on Linux are limited to using the normal X.Org input driver, but even still the mice usually end up working out very well and we still end up liking their products. Third party tools (like RazerTool) have come about to expose different Razer features under Linux, like the ability to adjust the DPI/polling rate from the software along with the option of reprogramming the Razer's firmware, but none of these software projects have lasted or made much progress.

Even without any specialized Linux driver for the Razer Salmosa, we still enjoyed this gaming mouse. With the hardware switches on the bottom of the mouse, we were still able to adjust the DPI and polling rate without any problems. With there being no side buttons on this mouse or other special features, using the mouse had worked just fine. We were running Ubuntu 9.04 with the Razer Salmosa and put it through normal GNOME desktop testing, web browsing, gaming (Enemy Territory: Quake Wars and Nexuiz), and other common desktop tasks.

Conclusion:

The Salmosa Gaming Mouse is another well-built Razer product, but it is not the best that we have seen from this manufacturer. The Salmosa will cost less than $40 USD, which is about half the price of a Lachesis, and as a result it has a slimmer set of features and its infrared sensor is not nearly as great as the other mice that are also more sensitive. What is nice about this product are the physical DPI and polling rate switches, which is also very handy for the Linux / alternative OS customer, and the build quality of the mouse itself. Beyond being a mouse that is priced quite affordably for the cost conscious gamer, this mouse would also be great for the mobile gamer or anyone for that matter that prefers to carry a mouse with them while traveling, due to its smaller form factor and lightweight design. The Razer Salmosa is widely available from Xoxide and other Internet retailers.