The Conclusion
The Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse is definitely an interesting encore performance. It marks Microsoft’s attempt to return to the forefront on the gaming peripheral market. At the very least, it makes for a surprise reunion tour after we all thought the Sidewinder line had sang its swan song. I’m still left wondering if Microsoft really knows what they are getting into, as this time around there are many more players in the gaming peripherals market. We’ll have to wait and see.
As for the Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse itself, it’s hard to deny that it is a feature rich mouse. The laser sensor is quite sensitive and accurate. There is no perceived performance lag, if such a thing exists in the modern optical mouse environment. Finally the mouse is fully customizable in both feel and functionality.
The feel and functionality of the Sidewinder is also its one failing point, if not at the very least a major caveat. Though some may like the design, the fact that it caused me physical pain is not something I take lightly. The size of this mouse is just too big, and its ergonomics don’t seem to be very well thought out.
The fit will appeal to some gamers, as everyone does have different comfort preferences. Some will still prefer the shape of the Logitech G5, while others with find the Sidewinder to be the answer to their quest for the perfect mouse. I’m in in the former camp, as I found the Sidewinder mouse to feel like a lump of clay in my hand. Your mileage may of course vary. Even after getting used to the feel of the mouse, I still found it uncomfortable.
The functionality was overall very feature rich, but it has its questionable options as well. The main one would be the macro controls, which while being a great idea are also kinda impeded by the fact that your macro has to be mapped to one of the mouse buttons. You then loose default functionality for this button.
In the end, it’s hard for me to give a reward to a product that has actually cause me physical pain. Luckily we are just talking about a hand cramp, and I’m a tough guy, but if I experienced this problem, I’m sure someone else undoubtedly will, and it will affect their gaming experience in a big way. On technical merit alone I would award Microsoft an 8 rating, but due to the points I’ve mentioned here I must knock down a point and place a wrist health warning on it. It definitely looks interesting, and has some awesome features, but the fit is what will make or break your enjoyment of this product. Try before you buy.
The Good
- Smooth accurate movement
- Adjustable DPI that’s quick to access
- Fully customizable feel and functionality
The Bad
- Looks may seem garish to some
- Feels uncomfortable and ham-fisted
- Hand cramps and pain in fast moving games
- Needs to be tried out before being bought
Overall Rating: 7.0 / 10.0
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