Zowie Announces FK2 Mouse

[sorijealut]

Zowie FK2 has been announced.

Official Website http://zowiegear.com/index.php?i=news&p=59

Other info link at Overclockers UK: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/LP/zowie-fk2.php







For reference, the old FK dimensions:



"ZOWIE FK1 was well received by professional and competitive gamers around the world and ZOWIE FK2 will provide the same features in a smaller form for everyone that prefers the shape and size from the original FK while aiming to have the best performance from the FK1 updates."

Features:

�        Ambidextrous mouse developed for claw grip usage

�        Two thumb buttons on both sides to comfortably serve left- and right-handed users

�        Plug and Play (no drivers needed)

�        Easy to switch between left- and right-hand functionality

�        400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 DPI adjustment

�        Adjustable USB report rate 125 / 500 / 1000 Hz

�        Perfect lift-off distance = 1.5 ~ 1.8mm

�        Operating system: Win2000/XP/VISTA/7/8; Mac OS X v10.2 after

- No, it does not have OMRON switches, still Huanos.
- Not meant to "replace" FK1.
- Same Avago 3310 sensor

Basically original FK with updated FK1 sensor.
Your FK1 is still the best mouse. Unless you want a lighter, smaller mouse that is the original FK form.

[Flyersfan1]

This looks nice, but I wish the ec1 and ec2 would be revived, I've been trying to find them for a while, but they seem to be discontinued everywhere.  I found Huano switches to be rather tiring after a while, I could definitely see why they are the preferred switch type for FPS users, but for MMO's I much prefer omrons.

[sorijealut]

This looks nice, but I wish the ec1 and ec2 would be revived, I've been trying to find them for a while, but they seem to be discontinued everywhere.  I found Huano switches to be rather tiring after a while, I could definitely see why they are the preferred switch type for FPS users, but for MMO's I much prefer omrons.

I agree, I don't really know if this revision was needed at all... it would make sense if it catered to OMRON switch users or had an updated sensor.
Like you said, I think the EC line needs an update, not the FK line.

I initially thought these switches were heavy too, but it doesn't take much time to really enjoy the precision clicks.
MMO's I can see why one would much prefer palm grip mice with ligher clicks.

[munch]

aw man I got really excited and read it as EC2 in my mind. and thought it was a new EC2 with the 3310.
but it's nice that they're actually releasing something. fingers crossed I'll have a 3310 EC2 before christmas...

[Elrick]

fingers crossed I'll have a 3310 EC2 before christmas...

You mean Christmas 2015  ) .

[Lpwl]

Like I said yesterday, this "new FK2" is the exactly the same as the FK'14.

Zowie just changed the name

EDIT :

My bad !

That FK2 looks very similar to the FK'14 but they are not exactly the same.

In fact, the only differences that I have been able to find are :

DPI increments :
-  new FK2      =    400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 dpi
-  FK'2014      =    450 / 1150 / 2300 dpi

Polling rate :
-  new FK2      =   125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
-  FK'2014      =   500 / 1000 Hz

[munch]

yes, it has an entirely new sensor. a big difference.
and also new switches for the buttons.

[osi]

I wonder if Zowie has corrected their **** scroll wheel problem yet

[munch]

niet. can confirm they haven't. still ways to go until they get to Roccat level

[Latin00032]

Fix the scroll wheel problem

[Latin00032]

I'm thinking about the Logitech g502.

Now I think I should wait.

[dmbr]

The 502 also has a terrible scroll wheel.

Roccat KPM is where it's at

[billnye]

I wonder if Zowie has corrected their **** scroll wheel problem yet

I took mine apart and lubed the area where the pieces of plastic came in contact and it feels a lot better.

[sorijealut]

Like I said yesterday, this "new FK2" is the exactly the same as the FK'14.

Zowie just changed the name

EDIT :

My bad !

That FK2 looks very similar to the FK'14 but they are not exactly the same.

In fact, the only differences that I have been able to find are :

DPI increments :
-  new FK2      =    400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 dpi
-  FK'2014      =    450 / 1150 / 2300 dpi

Polling rate :
-  new FK2      =   125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
-  FK'2014      =   500 / 1000 Hz

Oh thanks for the dpi increments!

Maybe the sensor received some tweaks in the way of something like lift-off distance and tracking speed as well?
I'm still confused about this one, we'll hopefully see some comparison reviews once it's out.

[Bucake]

Oh thanks for the dpi increments!

Maybe the sensor received some tweaks in the way of something like lift-off distance and tracking speed as well?
I'm still confused about this one, we'll hopefully see some comparison reviews once it's out.

the FK had a different sensor than the FK1 and FK2 have.
the faulty 1000hz that the FK had is fixed since the FK1.

the sensor in the FK1/FK2 has a low LOD of itself, so they could ditch the custom lens they had in the FK.
the LOD on the FK1/FK2 is slightly higher than the LOD of the FK, but it's still very low.
as said, the FK2 is the FK1 internals in a FK shell. so if you own a FK and a FK1, you can make the FK2 yourself.
the internals of the FK were good, but the internals of the FK1 and FK2 are better.

unfortuantely the button latency is a bit high but, for most people, this is not really a problem.

@Lpwl
the FK also had 125hz as an option.

@munch
all FK mice have the same switches.

[osi]

I wonder if Zowie has corrected their **** scroll wheel problem yet

I took mine apart and lubed the area where the pieces of plastic came in contact and it feels a lot better.

My problems weren't with the feel--the wheel would fail to register scrolls. Extremely frustrating

[Bucake]

I wonder if Zowie has corrected their **** scroll wheel problem yet

I took mine apart and lubed the area where the pieces of plastic came in contact and it feels a lot better.

My problems weren't with the feel--the wheel would fail to register scrolls. Extremely frustrating

i don't think this has been fixed this is a much-reported problem

[munch]

I wonder if Zowie has corrected their **** scroll wheel problem yet

I took mine apart and lubed the area where the pieces of plastic came in contact and it feels a lot better.

My problems weren't with the feel--the wheel would fail to register scrolls. Extremely frustrating

oh. they claim this is fixed with the newer batches of FK1, and the FK2.
but if it has been a problem with previous zowie mice (minus the Mico because ugh. the scroll wheel is terrible in this one) then I'm not sure.

[Novus]

My 2 cents - I went through 2 Cl's that started peeling and 2 FK1's that had defective scroll wheels.

You've heard of the original EC skipping. You've had the evo CL peel and then you've had the Fk14 with the same problem.
When I received my CL which peeled within a few days, they said they were working on it.
Then the FK14 came out, and it had the same exact issue.
Now the FK1 has a skipping scroll wheel and some people have complained about the shell warping.

Zowie claims alot of stuff - oh we're sorry we fixed it - but they shouldn't be having these fundamental issues to begin with.
It's not that bad if it's just 1-2 defective products but the amount of users it affects is pretty high.

As for me, my record with Zowie is I've had 2 CL's which have had issues and 2 Fk1s that had a bad scroll wheel (0/4).

[munch]

those are some good cents, yeah.
I hate that they make the best shaped mice with good sensors though. and low weight.

[_PixelNinja]

Like I said yesterday, this "new FK2" is the exactly the same as the FK'14.

Zowie just changed the name

EDIT :

My bad !

That FK2 looks very similar to the FK'14 but they are not exactly the same.

In fact, the only differences that I have been able to find are :

DPI increments :
-  new FK2      =    400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 dpi
-  FK'2014      =    450 / 1150 / 2300 dpi

Polling rate :
-  new FK2      =   125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
-  FK'2014      =   500 / 1000 Hz

There are also two LoD options for the FK1 and FK2.

[Johan]

Now if they could just update the Mico while they're at it that would be great.

[SpicyLobotomy]

Do you guys like this mouse better than say the Steelseries Sensei?

[munch]

FK1 > Sensei, for me personally. the smaller FK is too small for me.
I don't really like either though, for shape preferences.

but if going by hardware, FK1/FK2 has the better sensor, but less good buttons and scroll wheel.
and shape/grip, I think the Sensei is better than either Zowie

[_PixelNinja]

Why are the buttons of the FK inferior to the Sensei's? Are you referring to Huanos vs. Omrons?

[munch]

well, button feel would be a better way to word it.
the huanos aren't technically inferior to the omrons, it's just that the shell of the Zowie mice are designed in a way that makes the buttons a lot harder to press.

while I understand this is personal preference, I definitely feel like it slows down my reaction time due to having to put a bit more pressure to click it, in FPS games especially.

[_PixelNinja]

Okay. In that case I agree. Huanos are indeed an acquired taste, but I would not consider them in any way inferior to Omrons.

I hope Zowie has addressed the scroll wheel issue on the FK2.

[sorijealut]

The shell for FK1 does make button press a bit harder.
After using it for a while though, of course, one would adapt with no problems.
I thought that RTS/MOBA games would surely need a lighter switch, but turns out FK1 is a fine mouse for that too, at 1000dpi.

Speaking of mice switches, anyone know about the switch for Logitech's new G302?
they're calling it some "Metal Spring Tensioning Button System" but I wonder if it's still just an omron in the core of it.
I'd love to see some pictures of the internals.
http://gaming.logitech.com/assets/52861/2/g302-daedalus-prime-moba-gaming-mouse.jpg

[_PixelNinja]

AFAIK, they are indeed Omrons. The spring mechanism is there to counter the play between the buttons and the switches themselves, negating the mushy feeling you would tend to find on other mice. It seems to work well according to owners of the mouse. I am quite tempted to try out the G302 myself. 

[sorijealut]

AFAIK, they are indeed Omrons. The spring mechanism is there to counter the play between the buttons and the switches themselves, negating the mushy feeling you would tend to find on other mice. It seems to work well according to owners of the mouse. I am quite tempted to try out the G302 myself.

Thanks for that explanation. I do like the idea of springs in mouse switches.
I'm glad they're innovating as I've grown a little tired of the standard Omron tbh.