| Article Index |
|---|
| Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Mouse Review |
| 2 - Style and Design |
| 3 - Features |
| 4 - In Use |
| 5 - Conclusion |
| All Pages |
In Use:
The shape and feel of the SideWinder is a little odd and took a bit of getting used to when I first started using it, and although even after a few weeks of use it still feels noticeably different to other mice that I use around the office, it’s actually quite comfortable, and when using for long periods of time (I’m playing this game is for research – honest) it was still comfortable, no pain in the wrist or anything else sinister.
All the buttons you actually need to press (i.e. not the quick launch or macro program button) are easy to find by feel alone, especially the thumb buttons are better defined and easier to locate in a hurry than any other mouse I’ve ever used.
The tracking of the laser optical engine and very smooth and precise, I didn’t find any wayward tracking or cursor movements at all like I have seen with some other laser mice in the past. The movement is very similar to the Logitech G5 and G9 engines, and to say that is quite a compliment. Fast and sudden movements are handled with ease and the features work surprisingly well. The macros work as well as expected and once you configure the quick turn function properly, which can take a bit of time to get exactly right it can be quite a useful feature.
Its performance within games is excellent, just as you would expect, but I’ve also been using the SideWinder for a few weeks for all my general Windows usage, not just for playing games and in all that time I haven’t found a single thing about the SideWinder’s operation that annoys me. As a standard mouse within Windows it’s just as a good as it is at being an ultimate gaming tool within your favourite FPS.
