Whew. When a product like this comes along, I don't quite know how to approach reviewing it. I mean, it's trying to be three things at once, and that means I either need to review it as a whole and take every function into account for the final review score, or I need to review it as three different devices and let them each stand on their own.
I choose the latter. So let's get to it:
As A Mouse: The mouse function of the Chameleon X-1 is nice. I'd call it comparable to Logitech or Microsoft in most categories. It's smooth, works well, and is fairly versatile. I don't like the extra buttons being over there on the pinky-side of the mouse (I can't make my pinky work properly to press button on its own; That may be a physical disability on my part, so I won't hold it against them), and I don't like the way the battery compartment functions; There's a loud crack whenever you open it. I feel like I'm at risk of breaking it! All in all, it's a passable mouse and could do the job for any desktop or laptop user who wants a nice-looking, multi-button mouse.
Score for Mouse: 4 out of 5 stars.
As A Presenting Device: I barely messed with this, but it seemed to do the job well enough. The mouse buttons can be locked in place so the presenting side is all you use, and the mouse buttons aren't clicking willy-nilly while you're messing with the other side's buttons. It feels okay in the hand when used like this. It is responsive, easy to configure, and works just as you'd expect. The battery compartment, as noted above, makes that cracking noise and that's a bit troubling, but that's really the only major negative for the presenter mode.
Score for Presenting Device: 4 out of 5 stars.
As A Gamepad: Ugh. Where do I start?
The analog discs feel like a first-gen PSP. They do the trick, but you're not going to find them too comfortable for extended gameplay periods. The buttons are all decent enough. They work, they are responsive, and they're in a decent, standard configuration that's easy to use.
The lack of two more buttons on the back/side is troubling. There are triggers, but no bumpers. This means you're short a couple buttons from what you'd get with an Xbox 360 or PS3 controller.
The D-pad is okay. I won't be playing Street Fighter 2 on it any time soon, but it's adequate for basic gaming.
Grip is just weird. If you have small hands, you may be fine. For me it just felt like I was holding a mouse in both hands, and I didn't quite get into the feel of it. I really cannot see using this for anything more than a quick game. But the feel and fit weren't what was troubling to me; It was the fact that many games that are joypad enabled simply didn't "see" the Shogun as a gamepad... At least, not without some fiddling with settings and control schemes. This would be fine if it were 1995 and I were still used to messing with Windows to get gamepads to work properly, but it's not; This is 2011 and Games For Windows actually have native support for the Xbox 360 controller. So why would I mess around trying to get an awkward-feeling gamepad to work (and at this price point) when I can get an Xbox 360 controller that works out of the box and doesn't require all this mucking about?
If it could work in Games For Windows without tricking the games into accepting it, it would get a higher score. However, as it stands it's just a pain in the neck to use as a gamepad, and the only place I think it might be useful is with a laptop when you're on the road and can't pack your *real* gamepad. Otherwise, it's more of a hassle than a convenience.
Score for Gamepad: 1 out of 5 stars. (and just barely)
Final assessment? Get this for one of three reasons:
1. You want a mouse for your laptop and might want to do presentations or play games every once in a while.
2. You want a decent mid-level mouse and plan to ignore the other functions, and have money to burn.
3. You want an large, bulky presentation device and plan to ignore the other functions, and have money to burn.
Or don't get it at all, because each of its functions can be handled much more competently by dedicated devices. By trying to be a hybrid device, all the Chameleon X-1 manages to do is make each individual mode less useful bcause it makes serious compromises that don't benefit you as a consumer. You can do better by getting a good mouse, a good gamepad, and a good presentation tool. Yes, they'll take up more space, but you'll have dedicated devices that are much more capable at their specific function.
I can't recommend this device to anyone except road warriors who absolutely insist on carrying as few accessories as possible. If you're constantly on the go and absolutely need a gamepad or presentation device, and want to combine them into one device, then this is passable (but not what I'd call good).
The only reason it gets three stars from me in the end is that it's a halfway decent mouse at the end of the day. As a gamepad or presentation tool, it's barely there.
