Reviewed: June 11, 2006
Reviewed by: Mongoose

Manufacturer
Razer

Type: Cable Guide
System: PC

Rating: 6.0

System Requirements

  • Wired Mouse

    MSRP: $19.99

    		•
    Razer is one of the few mouse developers that remains committed to creating wired mice, and with those wires comes clutter, both above and below the desk. The Razer Armadillo Mouse Cable Management System is an awfully big name for such a small product, a product that in actuality is nothing more than something you might have created in high school shop class the day they let you use the lathe.

    The Armadillo is basically a small, but surprisingly heavy pylon that comes in two parts. The bottom section stands about an inch high with four slots at 90-degree increments. The top "cap" unscrews allowing you to slip your mouse wire into the slots before screwing down the cap. By leaving the cap loose for the moment you can slide the wire through the slots until you locate the perfect place on your desk to rest the Armadillo. Then carefully tighten the cap to prevent the cable from slipping through and you have the perfect way to "guide" your mouse cable to the back or even off the side of your desk.

    The Armadillo also lifts the cable about 3/4" off the surface of your desk when it passes through the notch. Depending on where you have your Armadillo resting, this might actually cause more problems than it solves by having an elevated wire draped across your desk. Using my 90-degree solution to get the cord off my desk in the shortest distance seems to work around that problem.

    In my testing I did it both ways. First I ran the cable straight through to the back of the desk but later I bent the cord so it went in at the 6 o'clock position and exited at the 3 o'clock position and dropped straight down to my PC which is to the right of my desk. The 300g Armadillo is heavy enough that only the most violent mouse movements on your part will cause it to shift. Conversely, the Armadillo keeps the stiffer wires from unintentionally moving your mouse. There is nothing worse than trying to line up that perfect sniper shot only to have the mouse cord flex and throw your shot off.

    Now for my one big complaint, which I really wouldn't have noticed except for the fact that I recently switched from a wireless keyboard to the Logitech G15 which does have an annoying cable sticking out the back. The Armadillo only allows for cables up to 3.5mm in diameter, which is perfect for wired mice but not my keyboard cable. So I can manage one wire on my desk but not two?

    While I can't condone the procedure for anyone else, I ended up taking the steel Armadillo into my workshop and widened out two of the notches so it would accept my G15 cable. There was some minor scaring on the sleek carbon coated finish around the notch area, but at least the Armadillo now serves its complete and intended purpose. After all, you can't call yourself the "ultimate cable management system" and only do half the job.

    You can't fault Razer for trying to solve a problem that has plagued gamers for as long as there have been wired devices, but the Armadillo seems a bit pricey for what boils down to a notched paperweight. Cut the price in half and cut the notches bigger and this would be an easy recommendation. For now, it's a luxury item for true gaming nerds.