When you are a gamer on a PC you need to have the best of the best. Be it to keep up with the ever changing graphics and system requirements of game engines or just to have the fastest response time to a game's mechanics. The latter obviously done with the input devices you connect to your PC, wired or wireless. Well, we got a chance to play around with some of Origin's gaming peripherals that need to be up to par with the gaming systems that they pump out. In this instance I am talking about the Origin specific BlackWidow keyboard and Taipan mouse that was put out by Razer exclusively for Origin. I put them to the test in all aspects from gaming, design, and pure aesthetics. Here's the break down.

Hated

To be honest, this is more of a pet peeve than hatred but I am not a huge fan of the sound that comes from the keyboard when in use. I am specifically talking about the 'clicking' and how it is as obnoxious as Lilly's loud chewing from HIMYM. It is something I personally can overcome by placing in my ear buds but do I get an ear full from everyone else who hears me typing away. Granted, this wasn't all too bad while playing games as there are few keys needing to be pressed but I was not a fan so it had to get placed in the Hated slot. Also, this is no real fault of Origin's as I have been made aware that this is the case of even the 'generic' versions of the keyboard.

Lastly, as I have very little to Hate this review, these things will spoil you. There is a bit of a learning curve that comes with these items and not in the way of difficulty of use. 'Decompression' may be a better term. What I am talking about is that, specifically with the Origin Taipan, when you are forced to use another device you have to unlearn all of the cool extra features or ease of use. I currently have the items in review set up in my personal office but have to work with multiple other devices in other offices every day. I quickly got used to the feel and speed of reaction with these items and feel upset when I don't get to use them. If only they were easier to transport to ever other system I have to lay my hands on. But I can't so I have to deal with the downgrade as I swear these things are slowly conditioning my brain.

Loved

So I didn't have much to hate, here comes the love. First off, they are damn pretty and with the exclusive coloring for the Origin brand they fit right in with my gamer cave. It has been really hard to find any gaming equipment that has a red and black motif, not impossible but hard, that are also worth their weight in gold. In fact, I used to own a standard Razer Taipan mouse before but was forced to the color scheme that didn't match. Not to mention I was not a fan of the snake head design as well. It feels nice to be able to walk into my gamer cave and see that nice Portal looking Origin logo pulsing a nice blood color as well as the keyboard. Why was this so rare before? Can you explain?

Aesthetics aside, what is also nice was the USB Pass-through for all of the devices I use when gaming, writing, or whatever. In fact, it helps a bit with the pet peeve above of not being able to take my mouse on the go. Usually I don't as that would require me to reach behind the system and try to find the correct USB device so I could take it with ease. Now it is right in my face and on the right of the keyboard. Shear brilliance!

Also, and this come in handy for my gaming and design needs, but the programmable macro keys and profiles for the devices help speed things up to where they should be. You have no idea how nice it is to be able to swap from writer, to designer, to gaming mode and have all the awesome little extras set up. This, as the branding claims, is best way to game and use a PC. This really lends to Origin's overall goal or at least as I see it. It brings the best of the best to the hands that we all want them in.

Lastly, major thumbs up on the braided fiber cables for all of the input devices. As I mentioned above, I used to have a Taipan mouse. Why I don't any more is because of an act of puppy. She chewed right through the flimsy rubber coated cables which forced me to use a lower quality mouse for my PC needs. These Origin branded items have a heavy duty braided fiber that I would think would give little Pandora a run for her money if she tried to chew through everything again. It also gives me a bit more confidence that these cables won't get worn and tattered as quickly if I start to move everything from my game cave to somewhere else.

Overall

In the end, I give my seal of approval on these devices. While the Origin BlackWidow Keyboard will set you back about $140, and the Taipan Mouse about $80, I can in good conscience say it is worth the price of admission. While Origin may not be the people actually building these items you can be damn well sure that they have made a damn fine decision to link them in with their PCs. Everything is state of the art, so to say, and that is what we should be expecting. It is being delivered in this case as well. Good choice. Now I just wish I had my gear right now as I write this.

Units were provided by Origin for review purposes.