Have you ever noticed how many speakers have their volume knobs at the bottom? They’re insanely hard to adjust especially if you have multiple speakers for surround sound. Well, the PowerMate solves this problem. The PowerMate, a “programmable audio and medial controller for your Mac or PC,” is designed to fit your computer décor (available in either traditional Silver or Black).

The simple yet affective package

The PowerMate looks simple. It’s just a knob. The packaging is simply and displays the PowerMate in all its glowing glory.

That is one of the most interesting parts of the controller. The bottom of the “solid polished anodized aluminum” casing is made of clear rubber, preventing a non-slip grip to most surfaces. It also allows for the unique blue glow that emanates from the PowerMate.

The PowerMate's anodized aluminum finish
and all its glowing glory

Upon further inspection, you find a CD containing everything you need to set up your new toy. You also find the 40” USB extension cable, great for those who have a large working area. Since the PowerMate uses a USB connection it simply plugs into your computer with only one cable. Now that everything is unpacked, you’re two steps away from utilizing the knob.

Just like any CD, place the installation CD into your CD-ROM and let it go. The installation is simple, with just a few options on installation directory and shortcut options. After installation, you can customize the controller just the way you want it. You may find all the options so impacting at first. What’s with all these options??

Screenshot of the installation

Not only can the PowerMate act as a volume controller, but it can do many of the key-command shortcuts you use everyday. The clicking action of the knob is a default mute button, but with the customizable program, you can change the knob to Alt-Tab through your open windows. Want to easily go back on your web browser? You can simply program the PowerMate to do that! For the video editor the PowerMate is compatible with Adobe Premiere easily scrolling through your timeline.

Screenshot of the controller options

With all these great options where can you go wrong? The PowerMate is indeed one of a kind, but like everything else it does have its downsides. Though the USB extension is extremely useful, I found that on occasion you’d have to jiggle it a little. The device also seems to be unimaginably sensitive to shock. A small amount of static can cause the controller to short, requiring a restart of your computer.

Verdict
The PowerMate is an awesome accessory, especially for those with matching cases. The volume control alone is nice and the application of the controller is an added bonus. It’s also compatible with Mac and PC allowing full usage by everyone. Pricing is a bit steep for those who are short on cash flow. Personally, the smooth motion of the knob is a little awkward. Physical clicks to show how much the knob has moved would be my preference. It’s a great device to own and fun to use…if you can afford it.

discuss in our forum

Please send all responses to this review to jkwan@valueupgrade.com