Hi friend! Looking to upgrade your gaming gear but overwhelmed by the options out there? Purchasing separate keyboard and mouse can get confusing fast. That‘s why an all-in-one combo simplifies upgrading. This comprehensive guide explores why matched sets rule…
Evolution of Gaming Keyboards and Mice
Let‘s start with a quick history lesson…
In the 1960s, early electronic keyboards used physical typewriter mechanisms with moving key arms striking ink ribbons. These bulky beasts eventually gave way sleeker electric models by the 1970s.
The first computer mice emerged around this time too – but required users to roll a separate trackball to manually track cursor movement.
Fortunately, innovations like optical tracking, ergonomic designs, and programmable buttons arrived by the early 1980s as personal computing took off. This drove demand for specialized peripherals that could withstand intense gaming conditions beyond what basic models handled.
Key milestones in the gaming keyboard/mouse evolution include:
| 1978 | Keyboard switch patents filed by IBM engineers to improve electrical contacts and feel |
| 1982 | First optical mice tested at Xerox PARC to track motion via images rather than mechanical parts |
| 1996 | Microsoft launches first gaming-grade Intellimouse with increased 400 CPI resolution |
| 1999 | Razer launches Boomslang gaming mouse with precedent-setting 2000 CPI sensor |
| 2008 | SteelSeries introduces the Xai gaming mouse using Pro-Optic R3 sensor with 5,000 CPI |
According to gaming historian Lane Winner, early examples bore little resemblance to the sleek, highly-engineered models today:
"From bulky typewriter-based keyboards to rolling trackball mice, early computer controls were ill-equipped to meet gaming demands. Custom parts purpose-built for gameplay simply didn‘t exist in consumer markets back then. Fortunately pioneers like Razer brought specialized gaming gear into the mainstream by the mid-2000s."
With that quick history lesson out of the way, let‘s explore 5 great reasons to invest in a gaming keyboard/mouse combo so you can dominate modern games!
#1 Reason: Tremendous Value
In 2022, the global gaming peripherals market surpassed $4.5 billion in size. By 2027, some estimates project over $6.5 billion in gaming keyboards, mice, and accessories sales annually as eSports boom.
Savvy peripheral makers now offer discounted combo bundles that pair premium keyboards and mice for less than individually purchased units. Known as "Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combos", these ready-made sets can save $50-100 easily over piecing gear together.
Here‘s a real example:
Logitech‘s G213 Prodigy Gaming Keyboard retails around $70 separately. And the matching G203 Prodigy Gaming Mouse sells for $40 individually. But together in a combo bundle, the price drops to just $100 – saving you $10.
Considering high-end gaming mice alone can cost $150+, combo deals deliver an awful lot of value and performance at entry-level prices.
#2 Reason: Pure Convenience
Veteran gamers love fine-tuning tricked out keyboards with customized macros and mice with weight tuning systems and unconventional button layouts. But finding the right complementary set often requires serious research into arcane specifications.
Manufacturers use varying terminology and measurements for key elements like actuation force, rollover limits, and DPI ratings across devices. Just decoding these opaque metrics takes considerable effort for new gamers.
Even experts risk compatibility issues mixing and matching individual components from different brands. For example, installing generic drivers can disrupt specialized software and cause glitches or lag during frantic play sessions.
By handling the painstaking integration work for you, a gaming combo eliminates hassles figuring out which keyboard and mouse play nice together. Just plug and play without worrying whether your gear works cohesively!
#3 Reason: Built for Serious Punishment
…continued below with additional details on durability and constructions of gaming-grade components.
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