Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse

Reviews: Peripherals

Accessories | Gaming Devices | Keyboards / Mice | Printers

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Max Slowik
Brian
Microsoft
Feb. 11, 2009

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Introduction

Microsoft makes better hardware than software. There, I said it. It's that they're surprisingly good listeners. Back in the day, they set their sights on Gravis and totally flattened them with their Sidewinder. (RIP Commander Keen.) The joysticks were the same; people wanted them because they were excellent, period. Everything's the way you wanted it to be, Microsoft was innovative with features, and the devices were bulletproof.

It's really surprising that they waited as long as they did to make a Sidewinder mouse; not that the office mice aren't bad, but gaming hardware lives and dies by features the likes of which will never become mainstream. Of course, they did partner with Razer for the Habu, but Microsoft's part was little more than branding.

If all you could see was the mouse, you might just buy it there. There's a lot of action on the thing, but a little studying shows not bling, but function cut down to hard lines. And then there're the hallmarks of great gaming mice, like the customizable weights and swappable feet for different kinds of resistance. But then, what about macros? Game-specific configurations? Hot red ground lights? Ok, there's a little bling. Might come in handy if you need a, uh. Bling.

First Looks

Shuffling this mouse back and forth, from home to the office, then to the coffee shop... I lost a foot. I'll get to the feet here in a sec, but a drawstring bag would be nice. Just something to hold everything together.

The two main buttons are extensions of the, let's call it the fuselage. This mouse is for righties who, with a rest/ grip for your whole pinky (comfortable) and a plate that ends with two thumb buttons--traditionally one on either side, this is much nicer--nickel studs that are very easy to differentiate. Button three, the scroll wheel, is modified with a spring suspension, so you don't click when you scroll and vice-versa, and has enough mass to spin. Behind it, a little out of reach, are the DPI buttons (programmable). Next to your thumb is the backlit LED display that shines your current resolution, but the DPI buttons each have a light; you don't really need the display to know which is selected.

Out of reach from the thumb is the macro button, used to record and execute macros made in-game (there is a more adequate macro recorder in the utility).

The cable's a bit of a disappointment. It's shy compared to other gaming mice, coming in at about six feet long. This, in truth, was a problem for me; my desk is big and my machine's on the far end of it. It might have to do with signal integrity, as the mouse's USB polling rate is 500Hz--but I doubt it. I'd say it's just short. The cable is otherwise supple and light. I prefer cloth, but the rubber is functionally as good.

Helping out the cable is a rubberized box, designed to hold the extra feet and mouse weights. The box, too, is weighted, and has a non-slip pad to rest on. The weights drop into a caddy that slides out completely, and clicks back in solidly. There are 35gs in optional mass to play with; three tens and a five.

Personally, I think that the feet are a little gimmicky, and I could only really tell the difference switching directly from the slick pads to the grainy. The fact that I lost one testing it means that they could use a better latching mechanism; they're held in with little plastic tabs.

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Page 1: Introduction and First Looks
Page 2: In Use, Software & Conclusion

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