By Alec Meer on January 16th, 2009 at 10:51 pm.
Every so often I suffer from serious mouse-hunger, and I am far too prone to indulging it. As a weedy man who sits in front of his PC all day, I fairly inevitably suffer from varying degrees of tendonitis. Rather than doing anything about it, like exercising regularly or learning to sit up straight, I manage to use this as an excuse to buy expensive mice – ergonomics, or something. I dunno. Really, I just like luxury mice, which all their flicky buttons and blinking lights and ridiculous adjustable weights. Specifically, I’ve been hooked to the Logitech gaming range, which I used to swear blind genuinely made me better at FPSes – until I got roundly thrashed at Quake III by a guy using a beige PS/2 ball-mouse.
Nonetheless, my hand has become accustomed to their shape, and I feel oddly uncomfortable when using a rival rodent. Unfortunately, I’m in a bit of a bind – the wireless G7 I’ve been happily using for a couple of years now seems to have fatally chewed through its rechargeable batteries. My every day is characterised by my cursor grinding to halt at precisely the wrong time, leaving me frantically scrabbling to swap the dead battery with the barely-alive second one the mouse was usefully supplied with. Two hours later, repeat. I’ve weathered this absurd inconvenience for months now, but I’m increasingly worried the next time my mouse cuts out during a Left 4 Dead session I’m going to lose my mind. Hell, I definitely can’t have it happen during the great Planetside war.
So I’m in the market for a new one, and my attention was naturally drawn to Logitech’s latest lump of oval-shaped excess. When showing shots of the clutch of ominous spiky black plastic that constitutes the new G series of peripherals (see the shot at the top of this post) to a colleague, he described it as looking like a Terminator’s wet dream, which, the logistical questions of such a concept aside, sounds about right. I’ve little interest in that uber-geeky-lookin’ keyboard for precisely that reason, but even the new mouse the G9x (a minor revision of the G9, which I’ve yet to try) looks a bit too cyber-fetishistic for my liking. Of course I desperately want it because all those features I’ll never use sound strange and clever, but the painful pricetag drags me back from my madness. Do I really, really need another high-end mouse? Or should I just solve my battery problem by buying some cheap, comfortable wired model?
It’s the paradox at the heart of all gaming peripherals – Logitech, Microsoft et al are forever trying to improve upon something really very simple, and sometimes it seems amazing that there’s been quite as much revision of mouse’n'keyboard tech as there has over the years. The G9x is capable of 5000dpi – is that really going to make me a better gamer than the G9′s 3200dpi, or my tired G7′s 2000? Is an expensive mouse an augmentation for one’s gaming ability – or a substitute for it? Am I just the middle-aged guy buying a Ferrari to try and compensate for my bloated belly and balding crown?
Which is not to demean gaming mice, keyboards et al – most of ‘em are truly well-crafted pieces of kit and, again, I’m hooked on those fancy-doodle mice for some reason. I just wonder, a little, how much they matter to gamers at large, because it’s not the kind of thing you often catch folk talking about. When you could spend £30 on a game, or £30 on a mouse, which are you going to go for? Who here places much stock in what mouse they use? What about your keyboard? My keyboard has two giant knobs on it, which makes me happy, but I can’t ever imagine using all those programmable macro keys and whatnot that turn up on the really crazy ones. So I’m curious as to who the audience for this kind of high-end stuff is, in an age where everyone seems to be moaning about game prices. Is it Johnny Average PC gamer, is it hopeless materialists like me, or is it some silent, affluent gaming elite?
I’m totally going to buy that mouse before too long, of course. I just can’t help myself.
16/01/2009 at 22:58 Sev3rity says:
Razer Death Adder. I’ve had all kings of mice throughout the years. MS, Logitech, and I can say, for me, nothing compares to my Death Adder coupled with the Razer eXactmat.
16/01/2009 at 22:59 Sev3rity says:
*kinds
16/01/2009 at 22:59 The Archetype says:
I would normally pay as little as possible for a mouse on the thoery it doesn’t matter, but you hit on the way I could be sold one in your second sentence. Ever since I said to myself “I’m going to be a drummer!” I’ve had this crippling fear of carpal tunnel, tendonitis etc.., meaning that I’m always drawn to mice that claim to be “ergonomic” in a way that will somehow force you to keep your wrists healthy. I’d probably have fallen for it and bought one by now if I ever had any money.
16/01/2009 at 23:02 Paul_M says:
Cheapy Logitech laser here – two buttons and a mousewheel, nothing else to confuse me. I’ve used my brother’s fancy Logitech gaming jobbies in the past and I just don’t like them. I think light and nimble basic mice are truly the most effective, I wouldn’t buy anything with “gaming” on the box.
16/01/2009 at 23:06 wvanh says:
Personally I have 3 logitech MX1000s. I’ve never used a mouse that had a better weight, or felt as comfortable in my hand. All the new ones just cost more for “features” the MX1000 has too. Being the kind of person who doesn’t believe you need more resolution than the first MS laser mouse offered I decided this was, for the foreseeable future as good as it gets. Then, almost 5 years after buying the first one (which I’m still using now and has a battery life of a week of average use), I’ve still not found a better one and figured logitech will probably discontinue them soon, so I got some more.
As for keyboards, I use the cheapest compact dell keyboard and I love it to death. Desk space and price is more important to me than seeing my health and ping on a little LCD display when, uh, well, I guess I’d only see them when I look at the keyboard, which, I’m fairly sure, would negatively impact my gaming performance somewhat.
16/01/2009 at 23:16 lemming says:
Razer Deathadder, by far the best mouse ive ever owned and I get through a few…
16/01/2009 at 23:17 Ziv says:
I’ve just now moved to non-generic mouse an keyboard. the keyboard was worth it, it’s a simple logitech keyboard that has everything I need – a volume knob,media player quickbuttons, a key to open FF and is very responsive (even though it has a problem in NFS).
my mouse is a G5 which i don’t really like the shape of but function wise is good, I don’t change the res in games but I do in windows , the extra buttons could be good if I could get then to work correctly in games.
oh, and one last thing is that I program for school and the side scrolling is useful.
16/01/2009 at 23:23 Wurzel says:
Using a wired logitech g5 after my previous (wireless) logitech’s battery died, and have absolutely no complaints with it. Fast, cheap, precise and with just enough buttons to avoid clutter. The weight configuration is pretty natty, too.
16/01/2009 at 23:24 Rich_P says:
My old PlanetSide outfit encouraged me to buy a high DPI gaming mouse and a lovely n52 Speedpad, which I still use in every FPS to this day.
16/01/2009 at 23:24 LactoseTheIntolerant says:
When looking for a mouse, my requirements are that it must have at least 5 buttons and be wired (can’t be doing with wireless dropping and batteries failing). It also needs to be fairly comfortable to hold and fairly responsive. As for keyboards, they must have 105 keys. Though I have rather fallen for the Das Keyboard Ultimate.. (€100 is out of my price range, however).
To be honest I think, like most ‘Gamer’ gear, these mouses and keyboards with their sci-fi aesthetic and glowly LEDs are aimed mainly at 13 year olds who spend their days playing Crysis or CoD4, calling us all “fags” and “noobs” and buying Antec 900s.
16/01/2009 at 23:28 AlexW says:
Woo, MX1000. Not that I use it all that much outside games, on account of the Wacom Volito2 A6 tablet sitting next to it, but I love me some comfy mouse action and an overabundance of buttons. Now, if only I had a mousepad and a desk that didn’t put the only available space half a foot above the desktop, I’d be able to avoid the arthritis I’m expecting as a 30th birthday present.
16/01/2009 at 23:30 Satsuz says:
Until 8 months or so ago, I was using a $10 mouse I got to quickly replace a recently broken pointing device. I bought it at the local CVS (24 hr pharmacy/convenience store). It served me well for 4 years (of nearly constant use), until I accidentally dropped something heavy on it and the scrollwheel died. Everything else worked, so I took my time replacing it with something I thought would be better.
Replaced it with a $30 or so MS mouse. Not really any better at all. Got a Logitech wireless mouse & keyboard set for Christmas; haven’t bothered to set it up yet. I’m getting the feeling that high-end accessories are overrated.
16/01/2009 at 23:31 mexico says:
I recently purchased the mx 620. the heavy wheel and adjustable clicking is really nice. I set it to spin freely when browsing and set it to clicking mode when I am in game. the side scrolling is great for switching between tabs in firefox.
as far as keyboards go, i rarely use the macro keys on my g11 in games. but annoying buttonmashing sequences are easily defeated by making a macro. they are very helpful in programs, i do some CG work, and setting macros for the various tools in blender makes my life much better.
16/01/2009 at 23:38 Kelduum Revaan says:
To be honest, something that has annoyed me for quite some time is that keyboards nearly all have the numeric keypad where the mouse really should be.
Some time back, I picked up a Logitech diNovo set, with the MX700 mouse, and a separate numeric pad. Eventually, after that died from overuse, I picked up the later version diNovo with the MX1000 mouse, which was a nice improvement.
And then, a few weeks ago, when that started to die (no easily replaceable batteries!), I replaced them both with a MS Sidewinder keyboard and mouse (the original one, not the new mouse) with the fancy lights and adjustable mouse weights.
I also picked up a Wolf King keyboard pad thing which was pretty cheap, and its effectively a separate keyboard with optimally laid out WASD keys.
So far, the combination has been pretty good, everything just works as it should do, and without any of the excessively complex stuff. And of course I can plug the keypad in when needed without having to worry about locating batteries.
16/01/2009 at 23:39 Pags says:
MX510 still serving me better than any mouse I’ve ever known. It’s wired because I didn’t want to hit upon the same problems as you Alec, ie. battery inevitably dying. A good wired mouse will serve you indefinitely.
I did have a Saitek Cyborg thing once, and while the motorised adjuster was nifty, it was still clunky and uncomfortable compared with a Logitech. Plus, it died after a month or so of action.
I’ve always imagined that the constant attempts at reinvention for peripherals simply stems from scientists in a warehouse attaching as many widgets and gadgets to their mice as they can in an attempt to justify their existence.
16/01/2009 at 23:42 elvedrano says:
G15 Gaming Keyboard, serves me for only one, albeit vital purpose – instant messaging while I’m playing fullscreen games or watching movies.
16/01/2009 at 23:42 sbs says:
I think the main target is kids who want to get into the competetive gaming thing, looking for some placebo that makes them think they aim better.
At least that’s why I bought this Razer Boomslang piece of shit when I was 14.
16/01/2009 at 23:43 Ergates says:
I’m sure this the gaming worlds equivalent of the Hi-Fi worlds expensive wires.
It shouldn’t be too difficult to test either – create a game that involves a simple repeatable task (e.g. clicking on a number of randomly appearing circles on the screen or something) and get people to complete it using different mice.
16/01/2009 at 23:44 Erik says:
After a few years of literally wearing out cheap mice at a rate of about two a year, I finally broke down and bought a Logitech MX510. It’s been the best single computer purchase I’ve made… great feel, not too crazy and still going strong after two or three years.
Wired mice all the way, I hate the weight and recharging of wireless.
16/01/2009 at 23:44 Markoff Chaney says:
I’ve been running an MX 510 so long all the teflon footies fell off long ago. She’s still aiming strong and dead on with no skps or stutters like some I’ve seen. I even foolishly bought a specific optical mouse gaming surface pad. Heh… I also swore the duo improved my FPS ability. Never return to a ball, will I, though.
I also alternate my left hand between an n52 Nostromo pad or my beloved IBM Model M 101 Key 42H2192 Buckling Spring Keyboard: safe from WinKey interruption and as loud as I love it with perfect response after years of banging and thrashing away on it. I hope I never have to replace this keyboard…
16/01/2009 at 23:47 Chris R says:
Logitech G9 here, upgraded from the Logitech MX518.
I play a LOT of FPS’s (TF2 and L4D mainly, with a splash of Crysis, FC2, and Fallout3 mixed in), and the G9 is an amazing mouse. If you can find it on sale, it’s totally worth it. I don’t really mess with the weights, because I like the mouse as is (without any weights). The G9 is pretty flat, which is why I love it. The MX518 was decent, but too “rounded” and high for long sessions of playing. If I find another G9 on sale, I’m definitely getting it.
16/01/2009 at 23:50 Logo says:
http://www.steelseries.com/
I love their products (other than the price).
I haven’t tried their mouse (though it looks awesome) but I do have their mouse pad and headset and am in love with both of them.
16/01/2009 at 23:51 Schmung says:
I suffer the exact same problem as Alec. Years ago I switched from a naff generic MS mouse to a G7 and it’s been wonderful, the lack of a wire being genuinely handy and the extra resolution and customisation being variously useful.The batteries are now starting to burn out alarmingly quickly and I’ve been contemplating a replacement of some sort as well, but cost is a real factor for me as I am always rather brassic. My ancient PS/2 Dell keyboard that work ‘gave’ me is still functioning, though a number of the keys are worn smooth now.
16/01/2009 at 23:56 Logo says:
And to toss in on the whole gaming debate about if it makes a difference to your play….
the answer is yes but only if you’re playing at a pretty high level of skill and only on some products. A G15 keyboard isn’t going to make you any better than any other keyboard with a good feel to the keys but a good mouse can make a big difference. The higher sensitivity/accuracy offered by ‘gaming mice’ can really help when you’re try to put out 100, 200, or 300+ APM or trying to head shot someone with an assault rifle from across the map.
A good mouse is also like a good sneaker. Wearing good sneakers won’t turn you into a world class runner or Michael Jordon but as a good player you need to be wearing a high quality pair to sneakers to keep yourself going strong (and avoid injury). It’s the same with a mouse (other than the injury part).
17/01/2009 at 00:01 Pags says:
Well sort of. Choosing a good mouse can be a real limiter on how much damage you do to your hands over time; if you’re using a mouse a lot, it’s sort of inevitable that you’re gonna end up with some stiffness eventually, but the difference between sore joints and full on arthritis can be the extra £20-30 you’re willing to spend on a good mouse.
17/01/2009 at 00:04 Schmung says:
The RSI thing was part of the way I justified my extravagant G7 purchase. Then I realised the 8 hours a day I spent in a crap chair at a crap desk using a godawful mouse and keyboard in work was probably a lot more detrimental to me. Oh well.
17/01/2009 at 00:11 wyrmsine says:
I’m a big fan of the Nostromo n52, which they’ve just retooled with… well, underlights reminiscent of 2002 tricked-out Honda. Still, a fine peripheral that I use for everything from Photoshop to RA3. The only game I can’t program it for, and should be, is Eve Online. If they’d just have a slightly better hat-switch control, I wouldn’t need a mouse at all.
Also been experimenting with various Wii controllers for PC gaming, and they require a lot of highlty-specific programming, but have potential. The Wii remote failed the Eve test, but that may be the fault of the user.
17/01/2009 at 00:25 Requiem says:
Sod mice, someone needs to make a decent gaming trackball fast. My Microsoft Trackball Explorer is knackered and they don’t make them any more.
17/01/2009 at 00:34 MetalCircus says:
If you’re playing games to get better at them, and buying flash new keyboards and mouse to boost your abilities then you can’t really claim to love video games. It’s no longer fun; it’s something you have to do to brag about amongst your peers.
Personally, I have a microsoft intelli-mouse. I’ve had it about 6 years now (i think) and the trusty old thing’s never failed me once.
17/01/2009 at 00:35 Fede says:
I have a logitech mouse too, but a very cheap and simple one with a wire, 2 buttons and a wheel.
I am strangely more comfortable with mouses with wires and without laser.
But for my pc I also prefer CRT over LCD so maybe I’m just weird.
17/01/2009 at 00:43 windlab says:
Microsoft ergonomic keyboard and the Microsoft/Razer Habu mouse.
Microsoft may suck at creating OSs, but they’re not bad at hardware.
N.B. Logitech are t3h 3vil. ;)
17/01/2009 at 00:43 Ging says:
I’m rolling with a G15 and a G7 (though, as with others, my batteries are only lasting a few hours) – I’m not sure about the G9x, it just looks painful to use…
Admittedly, this is coming from someone who used a logitech rollerball for years, so I’ve only actually been a mouse person for 6 years. I’d have gotten a replacement, but decent ones became almost impossible to find.
17/01/2009 at 00:45 noom says:
I’ve been using the G9 for months now and the only gripe I have is that I’d prefer the mousewheel to be further forwards than it is. I think I laboured under similar ideas about comfort and long term RSI and such, as well as telling myself that £50 really wasn’t that much to pay for something I’d get so much use out of. And really I still believe that. I never get any pain in my right hand now (though my right shoulder is a different matter altogether -_-) and sure don’t miss the problems I’ve had with jumpy cursor behaviour and buttons that click twice when I press them once.
A sound investment I say :D
17/01/2009 at 00:49 A-Scale says:
A Razer Copperhead, a Razer Propad and a thin generic keyboard. The mouse is a bit strangely shaped, but serves me well. The pad is nice as well.
17/01/2009 at 00:52 malkav11 says:
I have a cheapo wired Logitech keyboard I bought a while back because my *really* cheap General Electric wired keyboard stopped working when I spilled water on it. This one claims to be immune to such things. And a 5-button (left, right, wheel, and sides) Intellimouse Optical I’ve had for at least eight years. Wired all the way. I can handle a little unreliability in my 360 gear – quite aside from anything else, 360 games know to pause when your wireless controller drops – but not on my PC. And frankly there’s nothing worth the pricetag about spendier peripherals.
Though that one keyboard with every key a separate, programmable holographic display is pretty nifty.
17/01/2009 at 01:01 Hypocee says:
I exclusively buy mice / pointing devices with more than three buttons, but that’s for PC usability rather than any gaming function; I can live without the ‘web browser back’ button, but I strongly prefer it to the other options. I will not buy a wireless PC peripheral until the day that’s all they sell.
My brother was a serious CS/CSS player for years – I only recently found out that his clan peaked at 13th on the US national CSS CAL ladder. For the majority of that time he was on an everyday Intellimouse Explorer. He did eventually upgrade to a Fatal1ty something-or-other because A. he liked the weight and shape and B. while uber DPI doesn’t improve your play per se, moving a shorter distance per twitch was apparently easier on his wrist. As for a mousing surface, I happened across a thing called a Wowpadwhich my mouse liked a lot, and he spoke highly of the one I gave him. It’s cheap too.
Personally I’ve actually been using a trackball for PC use and the majority of my gaming for over a year, a Kensington Expert Mouse. It’s done wonders for my hand, which had been starting to fire occasional warning shots. I would expect gaming to be impossible on most trackballs – on the Expert Mouse’s giant fingertip ball it’s merely difficult and weird. I do keep a real mouse handy for gaming, but my skillz are more eccentric than m4d in the first place so the ball usually suffices. Surprisingly it’s not FPSes that suffer most on a trackball, but 3D RTSes. All that RC-dragging for the camera; World in Conflict sent me whimpering back to the rodent. I’m also perpetually tempted by those pressure-sensitive 3D puck things, but so far haven’t been stupid enough to bite.
I do still wish we could get real information on keyboard ghosting/masking, though, and maybe a couple models with upmarket scanners but less of the LED bling and extra twiddly knobs of ‘gaming’ boards. Five keys at once – any five keys at once. That’s how many fingers I’ve got. Is it really that hard to pull off, keyboard manufacturers? I was recently almost considering one of those Command/Claw doohickeys because presumably they’d have serious anti-masking…right? So one would assume.
17/01/2009 at 01:09 KBKarma says:
What’s the difference between the G9 and the G9x? The latter looks like the former (considering that the former is currently sitting in my vice-like grip right now, I should know). The only difference I can see is that the G9x goes up to 5000dpi, while the G9 only hit 3000dpi (if memory serves).
17/01/2009 at 01:10 LactoseTheIntolerant says:
I should add that I do, unfortunately, have a Razer Diamondback. I purchased it when I was 14 and while I’m now embarrassed by the red glow, I don’t plan on giving it up. It still works perfectly after 4 years, the scroll wheel is nice and smooth, it has a couple of buttons by my thumb (and a couple on the other side that I never use) and is smooth and sensitive.
I also love how it feels in my hand – the shape and smoothness. Though that’s probably borne out of having used it for so long.
My keyboard is a standard emachines one that’s about six years old. I did buy a Saitek Eclipse at the same time I got the Razer, but I broke it and this one is serving me fine.
17/01/2009 at 01:10 Tony says:
I’ve got a Logitech Click! or something or other. Served me well, although the paint has worn down to the plastic and the mouse wheel is getting iffy, but it’s a nice smooth mouse and cost me about a fiver, if I remember rightly.
17/01/2009 at 01:12 Warduke says:
FYI, Logitech offers replacement batteries for the G7 on their website. I’ve been using the G7 for 3+ years with the original batteries but recently I had a 3 day LAN fest and didn’t want to worry about having enough juice so I bought 2 extras from Logitech. IIRC it was about $10 delivered. Love the G7!!
17/01/2009 at 01:12 jacksonmc says:
I’ve been using a g9 for about a year and its proved to be my favourite mouse so far. The weight without anything in it is just perfect, and I love being able to switch to and fro from the spinny mouse wheel to the clicky one. I actually cant stand it when I have to use a normal mouse these days.
But it does have its faults, i personaly would like it to be larger and I’m using the largest chassis, but I do have rather large hands. My main gripe has been that I’ve found the rubber skin they paint the mouse with is peeling off, its not an issue but just looks grimy. This also could be related to living in an area of Africa with high temperatures and humidity. Irritatingly enough Logitec sells a new mouse chassis which is bigger and has a different finish but only in America and you have to have an image printed on it??
Great purchase, And I figure you approach it like you do a pair of glasses or a monitor, your in contact with it all the time so don’t cheap out
17/01/2009 at 01:14 dartt says:
Microsoft Intellimouse, for as long as I remember. Simple, solid mouse.
The trouble with high end gaming peripherals, as pointed out by CFIT in RPS chat, is that most of them just look to embarrassing to leave lying around on your desk where someone might see them. Imagine your horror upon luring one of those mythical females back to your lair only to realise you’ve left an enormous phallic joystick sitting beside the PC, illuminating the room with it’s gaudy neon readouts and casting horrifying shadows across the walls and ceiling with it’s intricate arrays of dials, grips, buttons and levers.
On the other hand, if they remark, “cool joystick”, you know you’ve probably got a keeper.
17/01/2009 at 01:18 Eli Just says:
I have a Razer Diamondback and a crappy Dell keyboard. I’d much rather buy a $60 mouse and skimp on the keyboard than the other way round. The mouse is really an amazing improvement, I know I can’t go back to a regular one.
17/01/2009 at 01:21 Ging says:
I was actually about to go see if they did offer some form of replacement / spares service for the batteries… hopefully they offer something suitable for us in blighty too.
17/01/2009 at 01:28 Arienette says:
I used a laptop mouse with my desktop for years, I loved the small size. Recently it started falling apart, stopping working in the middle of L4D, etc, etc. but lucky for me I won a Sidewinder mouse in some competition.
Strange thing is, I’ve got this gaming mouse now but it doesn’t feel nearly as responsive as the crappy little laptop mouse I had to hold with my fingertips.
17/01/2009 at 01:36 Smee says:
I bought myself a might upgrade for christmas, dropping 600 or so on the bits. I bought a keyboard too, for seven pounds. It works perfectly. I thought about getting one in the 40+ bracket, but decided that I just couldn’t be bothered. Overpriced peripherals are overpriced.
17/01/2009 at 01:39 jalf says:
I’ve been using my trusty old Logitech MX510 for years. I have no clue how long, because if there once was a sticker underneath it with a serial number or year or something, it fell off long ago. At a rough estimate, it must be 5-6 years old by now. Of course, it’s starting to look a bit worn and occasionally doesn’t seem to register when I move it in Windows (doesn’t seem to be a problem in games), but it’s served me well as a gaming mouse. Feels comfortable, has enough buttons to keep me happy (I use 5 of the 7 it has)
I’ve always been a fan of Logitech mice too, and when I have to replace this one, I’m most likely going to replace it with whatever wired mouse Logitech has available. But unless something dramatic happens, I expect it to last another year or two.
17/01/2009 at 01:39 roBurky says:
I bought an ultra fancy logitech wireless laser mouse a few years ago, and ended up regretting it terribly. Its ‘ergonomic’ design was just so heavy and uncomfortable.
I ended up buying a new Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer. Most comfortable mouse I’ve ever used, which is surely the most important attribute of a mouse.
17/01/2009 at 01:48 Eamo says:
I’m using a Microsoft Intellimouse for about 5 years now and it still works perfectly, all the paint has worn off, half the teflon pads are gone and every single crack and crevice is long jammed full of that black gunk that i can only assume is dried out sweat but I still love it.
The keyboard is the bog standard Dell, nothing fancy but has a nice solid feel for a cheapo keyboard. Have an N52 but never really used it much. No desk space and trying to use it from my lap was never very comfortable.
17/01/2009 at 02:23 cubed2d says:
a logitech *looks under it* mx518 apparently. I do love the shape of there gameing mice, much nicer than the razor ones.
17/01/2009 at 02:41 Johny Jack says:
Roccat. I have their mouse since release. never had better. and i’m one of those geeks who aready tried my friends’ g9s, razers and other so called “pro gaming” equipment. From them all, roccat is the best. my opinion though…
ohh, my previous mouse was a razer deathadder, my keyboard is a g15, just waiting for theh Valo from Roccat ^^ lol
17/01/2009 at 03:52 Chalkster says:
I’m going to answer all your questions.
When you could spend £30 on a game, or £30 on a mouse, which are you going to go for?
Now, assuming prices are similar where you are to where I am, referentially, I’d probably buy the game. I have, however changed my mind and bought something crazy.
Who here places much stock in what mouse they use?
I do, I can’t deal without high sensitivity. I TURN SO SLOW!
I’m currently using a Razer Diamondback.
I can’t even browse without it. xD
What about your keyboard?
All I need on my keyboard is volume control. I can create binds for anything else.
I actually put more stock into my headset lately. I’m actually thinking of buying a big honker with “surround sound” and a nice clear microphone.
Is it Johnny Average PC gamer, is it hopeless materialists like me, or is it some silent, affluent gaming elite?
Johnny Averace PC gamer, over here.
17/01/2009 at 03:54 Redd says:
cordless peripherals are complete horseshit. the emperor’s new clothes. well, the emperor’s old new clothes anyway.
i’ve a sneer reserved for people who call themselves gamers while clutching one, because i know that at some point they’re going to have their game interrupted, probably at a critical moment, by their shitty equipment being obstructed or running out of charge or god knows what else. what’s worse is they know it too, and yet they continue to put up with it, like that’s how it has to be.
no.
i won’t use wifi for gaming either for the same reason. it’s too flakey. it’s like being back in the dial-up days where the line would be dropped every hour or whatever. you can’t game like that.
what am i using now? logitech mx500. had it since 2003 i believe and it’s still flawless in function even if it’s a biohazard.
can we attack the clowns who play FPSs a few frames behind the action on their laggy LCDs now please? they may as well join the server in the next continent while they’re at it.
ahah, i keed. ;]
17/01/2009 at 04:05 Chalkster says:
Average, that is.
17/01/2009 at 04:06 Wedge says:
I finally got a G5 and I don’t plan to leave it anytime soon. It’s a great combo of function and form at a reasonable price. It’s much nicer than the random crap I’ve used for years past.
17/01/2009 at 04:08 RichP says:
Is it sad that I keep the same broken down old desk around solely because the keyboard tray has the perfect amount of room for my n52?
17/01/2009 at 04:09 muscrat says:
G7 FTW!!!!
Still have my black G7, and its well over two years old, almost three I think.
Batteries still last a day each though; only one change per day :O
17/01/2009 at 04:29 WarpRattler says:
“Polytetrafluoroethylene feet”
When they use terms this complicated, you know the mouse is good!
Seriously, I don’t spend a hundred dollars on peripherals. Ever. And not just because I’m an almost-perpetually-broke student, either.
17/01/2009 at 04:53 MeestaNob! says:
I love my Logitech mice, they’re nice and heavy. I found the MS Intellimouse stuff far too light and flimsy feeling.
My next peripheral purchases will be the new ridiculous Gsomething keyboard when it comes out (the new one with the blue as pictured above) and maybe a di Novo mini if I ever do my HTPC.
Cant knock Logitech stuff, they make good equipment that works. I just wish someone made more Xwing so I could have an excuse to buy a shiny new joystick.
17/01/2009 at 05:41 Sucram says:
Am currently using a G9 , it’s a good mouse and I do like being able to change DPI on the fly. The wheel is good (Microsoft’s smooth wheels are rubbish for weapon switching) though the button to change from standard to free spinning mode is underneath the mouse, which is daft.
I’ve never added weights since it is already heavy enough. There are times when I wish it didn’t have a stupid rope like wire coming out of it. Also it’s a rather stumpy mouse, so it’s one for people like to drag their wrist around the desk, personally I prefer the longer shape of MS’s mouses.
I haven’t tried the Razer Death Adder but would like to, I think you can only know which high-end mouse is right for you once you’ve tried them for a bit.
17/01/2009 at 05:53 Dorian Cornelius Jasper says:
I play on a mouse that used to be white but is now pretty beige. Also a Das Keyboard.
In CoD4, I could rock people’s socks. Until the hackers logged on, anyway. Hotkey-heavy games are a pain in the rear, though. Like most competitive RTSes.
17/01/2009 at 06:10 obo says:
MX310 till I die. My first one lasted 5 and a half years, and I tried dozens out before just finding another one and buying it. $25 on Newegg, worth $60 at least.
It’s not for everyone – it’s corded, and probably the only comfortable mouse with rather sharp edges designed into it, and if your hand doesn’t fit it just right, it’s a pain to use. My hand happily does, and it’s sturdy, responsive, a dream to keep clean, and all six buttons are right where they need to be. It’s the only optical mouse that never flies out of control on my wood-grain desktop – I’ve never needed a pad, and it’s as precise as I can be.
Ambidextrous design, too, so hello lefties!
17/01/2009 at 06:12 qrter says:
Wow, this post really brings out the worst in PC gamers.. ;)
17/01/2009 at 07:27 Bas says:
http://www.roccat.org/home/
Precise, shaped to fit your right hand like earlier Logitechs, is wired, and lets you change the colours of the mouse through software.
17/01/2009 at 08:30 idespair says:
I’m still using a Microsoft Optical Intellimouse which I paid about £40 for about 9 nine years ago. It’s stayed with me through many computers, switched from PC to Mac and back again and seen off all manner of other mice.
17/01/2009 at 09:07 Turin Turambar says:
I have the normal G9 and i like it. Of course you never use the full 3200 dpi resolution.
17/01/2009 at 09:27 Heliocentric says:
Mx1000 didn’t get it for the dpi the erganomics the masses of buttons. I got it as it was a wireless mouse with a recharging stand (rather than having to use aa batteries) i do love these factors but i got it for durability. I’ve had high quality wired mice which broke because the cable got damaged, but low end wireless mice are worthless with poor signal and a need for replacement batteries every week.
17/01/2009 at 09:28 Hoernchen says:
I still love my old Razer Copperhead. Best mouse ever !
17/01/2009 at 09:33 Him says:
Another shout out down here for the Habu; the shell of an intellimouse, the quivering innards of a Razer Copperhead. I bought one to replace my tired old Intellimouse Explorer nine months ago, and my FPS scores have unremarkably improved.
(disclaimer: improvements may be entirely related to increased practice)
17/01/2009 at 10:07 Live-Dimension says:
The old Mx1000 =] It’s priceless. You wouldn’t believe it but I use 9 out of 10 buttons oftenly, incluidng a double click (reassign the middle thumb button to double click), back/forth, and the document movement buttons around the scroll wheel. Firefox, Windows Explorer, etc use these keys frequently. I’ll be sad to see these two mice go, which I’m afraid is only a few months away. =[
17/01/2009 at 10:12 Thomas Lawrence says:
My wireless Microsoft Intellimouse takes regular AA batteries, which can be rechargeable. In the event that the batteries stop working I can buy new ones in any shop that sells batteries.
Having gone wireless a few years ago, I wouldn’t go back for anything but the short term. The occasional irritation at having to replace batteries (mitigated by getting another set of rechargeable ones and a small charger you can keep next to your desk) is nothing compared to the manifold irritations of dealing with cables.
of course, if your desk layout is relatively stable and you never feel compelled to move your mouse an keyboard around much, then the appeal of wireless is much lessened. but for me it’s great – if I need desk space, I can literally throw my keyboard and mouse over to the other side of the room (onto something soft, natch).
17/01/2009 at 10:28 Nick says:
I currently use the Game mouse, little cheaply built thing for about £7.. it’s very responsive and I find I can’t cope with anything less than it anymore, downside is the build quality varies massively between mice (like.. er.. squier strats used to, dunno if they still do) so you can get one that’ll last and last, or get one that breaks within a year.
Either way anything fancy on a mouse beyond two buttons and a wheel that acts as a third just gets in my way.
17/01/2009 at 10:35 VelvetFistIronGlove says:
Here’s another G7 fan. I’ve got two of them (and want another) whose batteries are still going strong after 2-3 years.
Best mice I’ve ever used.
17/01/2009 at 10:41 Guido says:
I have a G9. Had a G7 until it kinda broke (the mouse wheel first, and later when I already only used it in the office, the main button), and I wouldn’t switch away from Logitech. Although i did have a good look at the Razer models beck there, of course.
The added DPI on the G9x won’t really help you a lot. A little math: My screen is 1280 pixels wide, that’s 90°, so 360° are 5120 pixels. considering I’m playing with low sensitivity and a Razer Mantis mouse pad, and use about 3-4 inches for a 360° turn (let’s take 3), that means that 1706.6 DPI let me target every single individual pixel around me.
But the G9 feels good anyway. And, I am a cyber fetishist, I guess, I just looove the looks of the thing. Plus, you can change the LED colors.
17/01/2009 at 10:45 Jocho says:
I’m using a Logitech Wave with the mouse bundled with it, and have no problem at all gaming. I might not be a great FPS-player, but that’s a matter of me not having good enough reflexes and aim rather then bad equipment. The Wave-keyboard has buttons that’s formed like two bowls or so, which makes typing really easy (it’s not “I can’t write without it”, however”).
They may be wireless, but so far I’ve only had to change batteries once or twice over the first year. I guess their lack of super-effective/draining functions is a part of that.
17/01/2009 at 10:57 Steph says:
I use a very old corded Serif mouse I got free with one of their programmes years and years ago. I do have a wireless mouse but it’s not as comfortable… and tends to die on my quite quick. My problem is that I prefer having the mouse on the left, you can’t do that with a lot of the really cool looking ones as the shape has been made for it being on the right.
17/01/2009 at 11:05 SuperNashwan says:
Another MX510 here. As long as it keeps going, I’ll never need another mouse.
What I *would* like is an end to the travesty where even brand new games don’t recognise all the mouse buttons for binding. I know there’re simple ways to deal with that, but that makes it all the more shit that developers couldn’t be arsed to put that into the game in the first place. In my new reich, mouse 4 would be ‘reload’ and mouse 5 would be ‘use’ by default.
17/01/2009 at 11:26 RLacey says:
I have a Logitech VX Revolution. Yes, it’s a wireless mouse, and I know that makes me mad, but the pleasure of not having to clear my desk in order to avoid trapping the wire more than makes up for it, particularly since it feels responsive enough that I don’t notice it’s wireless.
17/01/2009 at 11:56 Po0py says:
I’m using an MX510. It has served me well for at least four years now, I think. Although this past year the left mouse button has gotten a little less clicky comparet to the right mouse button. You just have to apply a bit more pressure. I’m actually considering an upgrade. I’ve fancied a wireless mouse for ages but have been wary of weather or not a wireless mouse is good for fps gaming. Anyone have any thoughts on wireless mice and twitch fps gaming?
17/01/2009 at 12:14 Dinger says:
Logitech G3 here, wired. I’d like to say it was for the reasons Dartt mentioned, but in truth, my cheapo mouse died and I needed something, and this is the only thing they had down at the shop that wasn’t another cheapo and didn’t look like something huge and impressive.
High DPI (well, okay, I usually go at 1600) helps to scroll lots of real estate without moving very much.
I do have a pair of surround-sound cans. I got them for similar reasons as for the G3 — I needed USB audio headset, and all they had was this monster. In my experience, for gaming, you’re better off spending the money on a decent set of headphones and a microphone. 6 crappy speakers next to your ear make a poorer soundstage than 2 decent ones. So look into a pair of Senns.
Keyboard is some crappy one I pulled out of the attic. Looks like first generation logitech wireless, and the bottom of the line at that.
17/01/2009 at 12:16 Man Raised By Puffins says:
I’ve been using my MS Intellimouse 3.0 for going on 5 years now and it’s still going strong albeit also, now that I look closely at it, incredibly filthy. While it has five buttons I only use the standard three when gaming, although oddly I almost can’t live without the extra two as back and next buttons when browsing the webs. So I can’t say I’ve ever been remotely compelled to trade up to a fancier model, in fact when my current mouse finally gives up the ghost I’ll probably just get the same mouse again if they still make them.
17/01/2009 at 12:24 Rei Onryou says:
Microsoft Intellimouse (wired) served me well for several years. However, I hated the pull that the wire gave. That biassed weight that was sometimes a problem and sometimes not.
I upgraded to a MX1000 (wireless) to solve that problem. Beautiful. Good weight, never had signal problems, nice size.
Last year I got the MX Revolution (wireless). Amazing. Lighter than the MX1000 and had the flicky scroll wheel (I can’t go back to before this), however I did have severe connection issues at first, but this is ok now. Only real issue is that the Logitech drivers are written by monkeys who never actually fix anything in new versions. They just introduce more bugs.
Personally, my next mouse will most likely be wired (wireless have limited DPI, and although I’ve never had a charging issue, I know that when my mouse is on its last legs, this will be the case) and may or may not be Logitech (the cursed drivers). Also, some mice just have too many functions. 2 main buttons, scroll wheel with button 3 in it, and 2 side buttons are enough. Maybe one extra button for voice chat.
I’d personally go for either the G9x (but wary of shitty drivers), or go for the Razer camp just for simplified ease (although I prefer the big Logitech shapes to the smaller form Razer). Perhaps the DeathAdder or Mamba.
17/01/2009 at 12:29 Jason Moyer says:
I have no idea how you guys can stand some of those crazy keyboard/mouse setups. It took me the better part of the past decade to get used to having a mousewheel instead of just a third mouse button in the middle, and don’t get me started on the total lack of modern, high quality 102 key keyboards. Everytime I accidentally hit the windows key or reach for the ‘pause’ key and hit the ‘power’ key it makes me want to smash things.
17/01/2009 at 12:32 darkripper says:
Oh god, I so want a G19 right now.
17/01/2009 at 12:35 phuzz says:
To slightly change the subject, how many other people are starting to get twinges of RSI? I’m 28, and I work in IT so that’s probably over 12 hours a day using a mouse, and I can feel it starting to take it’s toll.
Consequently I’m fussy about what mouse I use, but for general desktop work I also use some kind of wrist rest (at the moment it’s a stuffed lizard), and take cod liver oil.
Any other oldies out there got tips for keeping my hands working?
(oh yeah, I used a wireless mouse for years, and it was only when it got old that it ever lagged or stopped. The AA batteries used to last years)
17/01/2009 at 12:53 Chaz says:
I too have a Razer Diamondback and although it was fairly expensive when I bought it a few years back (£34.99), it really did feel well worth the expense. It has a nice heft and feel about it and it still works beautifully to this day. Before the Razer I used to use the Logitech TrackMan Wheel mice almost exclusively, but I couldn’t go back to them now. If I were to need a new mouse I’d definately go for another Razer.
17/01/2009 at 12:58 Butler` says:
I too have spend a ridiculous amount of money on ‘gaming’ mice — which all started at the release of the Logitech MX310 I guess.
I’m currently using the G5 and have been for a couple of years.
I’ve got the Razer Diamondback and Deathadder in a cupboard somewhere, which both turned out to be awful for my hands over long periods.
17/01/2009 at 12:58 wcaypahwat says:
Im using a G9/G15(original) combo.
Had the keboard about two and a half years, got it when I built my computer. Love it, but I’ve never used the macro keys…. normal keyboards just feel too small for me now.
Got the G9 last xmas, as a replacement for my mx1000. I got the same skin peeling issue someone else mentioned, but im using it for function, not to look pretty.
I still use the mx1000 when im watching stuff while laying in bed and such
17/01/2009 at 13:06 Butler` says:
Phuzz, get a decent joint care supplement with glucosamine, chondroitin and cod liver oil. Take a break every hour whether your boss likes it or not. You could also try using the mouse with your opposite hand at work — it’ll be difficult at first but isn’t that bad after a while so I hear.
And don’t play MMOs. :)
17/01/2009 at 13:51 Heph says:
Butler, thanks for that input as I have similar trouble too, I’ve started getting eye strain as well. I know the usual advice about stopping every hour and focusing at something in the distance but its hard to remember to do that in the middle of a gaming session when you have a horde of Super Mutants/North Koreans/Zombies coming at you from all angle.
17/01/2009 at 14:40 Guido says:
Since the subjects of keyboards and sound came up…
For a keyboard, I’m using the (older model) G15, and never quite used the macro keys either – but it looks good anyway.
And regarding sound, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Sennheiser PC 350 headset. Great microphone, awesome sound quality. If you can live with closed headphones, and your significant other can live with you not hearing her while you’re gaming, it’s absolutely brilliant. You need a decent audio card to go with it of course, as you will hear the difference.
17/01/2009 at 15:24 Rowboat says:
I have a Logitech MX518. Serves me well enough.
Having an Awesome Special Gamer Mouse won’t make you magically better at games, but in my opinion (I used a bog-standard two-buttons-and-a-wheel MS optical up until a few months ago) it does make a difference to be, for example, able to move your mouse as fast as you can react without resulting in madness.
My old mouse (and not just that one, I have several mice for several computers) would often “spin out” if I did that, and sometimes on its own, which is to say it’d send bogus movement messages and point me straight up spinning as fast as the game allows. Probably my inferior mousing surface (the back of a book across a sofa armrest) played a role in that, but my MX518 has never had problems with it. It’s also never gotten briefly “locked” in one direction (try to quickly draw something with a poor mouse on a poor surface if you don’t know what I mean) as cheaper mice such as the one I still use on my laptop sometimes do, and so on.
So again, what I’m saying is a good mouse won’t turn you into Mr. Aimbot, golden god of gaming; but it does help you do as well as you are able at the purely “mechanical” aspects of FPS games, i.e. mainly quick and precise aiming, and in that respect you play better with one.
On the RSI front, I’m happy to have never had problems with that… my mouse hand’s wrist is slightly callused by contact, but that’s probably also related to the hours of handwriting a day that come with attending university.
17/01/2009 at 15:43 Dexton says:
Also using a Razer Death Adder, had a Logitech wireless before and had the same problem with the rechargable batteries failing after a couple of years. My brother has also had problems with his new expensive Logitech wireless mouse, so from now on I’ll stick with wired models. The death adder has the best feel and shape of any I have used, could maybe do with a few more buttons but otherwise perfect.
As far as spending £30 on a game or £30 on a mouse, chances are you will be using the mouse for alot longer than the game, so make an investment and get a good one.
17/01/2009 at 15:52 Fat says:
It’s hard to find a good mouse as i have small girlyboy hands. I did want to get a Razer mouse as a lot of people recommend them (as seen above)… but for anyone with tinyman hands… a good one i have found is the Microsoft Sidewinder mouse. Nice looks (imo), can change through DPI with one click, change the weight and has a cable securer so that you don’t get cable drag. Seriously sexy.
17/01/2009 at 16:16 Ravenger says:
My biggest problem with mice is that the decent ergonomic ones are all right-handed, which limits my choice, as I’m left-handed.
So I mostly get generic non-brand mice that can be used in either hand.
17/01/2009 at 16:50 pepper says:
Get a logitech G-5, everone i talked to said they felt it was the best mouse they had used so far. Even some people whom figured it wouldnt matter. I recently baught it after losing my beloved MX-510 after doing its duty for a good 4.5 years straight. Also, a decent mousepad does wonders!
17/01/2009 at 18:15 Cooper42 says:
I never used to bother about the mice. A £5 laser mouse did me for years. Then I got a Razer Death Adder, and, wow. It’s very simple, but great with it – same shape and size as most mice, the extra two buttons on the side help (I use them for crouch/sprint on some games, for voice comm on source games). It’s got a good response. Not sure it makes me any better at games, but I reckon the £30 investement was worth it – it’s lasted me really well so far, and look set to last more years, and it’s really comfortable to use.
I’ve not tried any logitechs, but they seem similarly good. Some of the ‘just fell out of a klingon’s holster’ type mice around like the one above seem stupid. That doesn’t look comfortable at all…
17/01/2009 at 18:35 Robin says:
Got a wireless MX1100 for Christmas. Comfortable, fantastic scroll wheel (with toggleable ‘free spinning’ mode) and looks the business. Took me a while to get used to the sensitivity, and I can’t use the secret thumb button because the drivers don’t support my OS, but apart from that it’s great.
Prior to that I had an MX510 for at least four years, and only stopped using it because the scroll wheel died. Before that the Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical (the first optical mouse Logitech did, which cost me 40 quid in 2000), and before that a mechanical Logitech Pilot. (And before that, a Naksha three-button mouse circa 1990.)
All of these mice are roughly symmetrical and don’t have any gimmicks obstructing the use of the middle button. Oh, and drivers which allow the cursor to be moved in single pixel increments. All of which seems to be beyond the grasp of Microsoft’s ‘Intellimouse’ engineers.
17/01/2009 at 19:02 Eamo says:
I got some pretty nasty RSI from too much time at the keyboard. My right arm got so that it would shake pretty bad anytime I lifted even moderate weight with it (for example pouring a cup of tea for someone sitting accross from me would cause my arm to shake rather uncontrolably). I went to see a physiotherapist about it, she put me doing a couple of stretches and exercises and told me to get my fat ass to a gym and it got better pretty fast.
17/01/2009 at 19:19 wviperw says:
I know how you’re feeling Alec–I had the pleasure of dealing with the wireless G7′s battery for years; it always crapping out at the exact moment when I needed it most. I’ve since gone back to a wired mouse, namely the Ikari Optical. It’s got a massively wide base and at first it was a little off-putting, but it didn’t take very long to feel like they molded the mouse into my hand. Going back to the Logitech mouse profile just feels weird now.
17/01/2009 at 19:35 Forceflow says:
Can’t believe nobody used “of mice and men” in all those comments.
17/01/2009 at 19:38 rob75383 says:
Mice? Gaming keyboards? IMHO, they are the equivalent of stickers on a car. Flashy, yes. Make car faster, no.
On my gaming rig, I use a tired ol’ Compaq presario keyboard, circa 1996, with the windows keys dug out since Doom II. As far as mice go, I game with a CruiseCat touchpad. And we all know cats eats mice.
17/01/2009 at 19:59 dhex says:
i have an mx518 and while i like it, like most computing peripherals i wish it were larger. another two inches wide and maybe another 1.5″ long would make it dope as hell.
17/01/2009 at 20:31 Paul B says:
I use an MX Revolution – expensive but worth it just for the fun free-scrolling wheel. It’s useless in FPSs though, but as I only play RPGs and MMORPGs I don’t need the latest high dpi mouse.
17/01/2009 at 21:40 Kong says:
For more than ten years I have been using Logitech mice. G5 at present. I like how its structured surface feels, it is heavy and beautiful. Tough too, it fell down several times and still works fine. The higher price is absolutely justified. Logitech mice are of a quality that is anachronistic for our time.
In order to give a full profile of my nerdiness: I own a Saitech x52 and the saitek gamer keyboard, the latter will soon be replaced by the G11 keyboard. I need the programmable keys for X3 Terran Conflict.
I do not play at a desk, my place looks more like the cockpit of an old and very filthy space freighter.
18/01/2009 at 01:58 Dennis says:
All this “gameing” stuff irks me, probably because I’m no fun at all, and I agree with someone way above who things it “brings out the worst” in otherwise tolerable people. Firstly, certain thick people can’t spell something chronic, so giving them a difficult word like “gaming”, with its root of “game”, leads to all kinds of nasty mutations. Secondly, “gaming”, at least where I’m from, involves old people feeding their pension money to the pokies, because they’ve got nothing better to do in a society that devalues them. “Gaming” therefore has seedy and sad connotations, and makes me feel dirty and sweaty when I sit down at my computer.
Another thing occurs to me when I read about the “WOLFKING TROOPER” and “RAZER ANKLEBITER” and other absurdly named gewgaws marketed to “serious” FPS appreciators: people who were/are actually serious about – and good at – FPS games existed back before 2000, when the air and the water was clean and tasty, and played Quake with a trackball or a wooden tiller.
A parallel to this silly mouse biznezz is how distressingly ordinary computer steering wheels were until quite recently. The idea of playing a racing game with a wheel and pedals has been around for a while, first embarrassing players in arcades before embarrassing them in their own homes. Even though real cars had had clutch pedals since the mid 80s, until the G25 wheel appeared, this was not considered important, even for serious racing sims.
To sum up: No, it doesn’t make the slightest difference and yes, it is all rather tacky and embarrassing. What I would like to see, just for fun, is a writeup of actual direct competition between players using old and new gewgaws, playing a game like Quake 3, or one of those strange RTS things. This would at least, hopefully, put to rest the claims about certain bits of plastic being “better for games” in any quantifiable way.
18/01/2009 at 04:41 Hypocee says:
And what of those of us who report pain or discomfort that’s lessened or stopped by certain bits of plastic? Is that not ‘better for games’ sir?
18/01/2009 at 11:30 Messy Penguin says:
I have a Razer diamondback which has been running for years i just love the feel of the mouse this runs over a roccat sense mousepad and im typing on a razer lycosa mirror keyboard.
I dont see anything wrong on spending a bit more money on nice equipment for your pc as its the item i use the most.
Or maybe its just the soothing blue lights (God im sad)
18/01/2009 at 14:47 Talorc says:
Cant you just buy some new rechargeable batteries for the mouse you already have? :-)
19/01/2009 at 03:25 bio says:
I have a Logitech G9 and like it a lot. The only downside being that I can’t really stand to use anything else because it’s invariably inferior, and so I end up bringing it places with me.
19/01/2009 at 08:20 rhizo says:
I used to doubt the usefulness of gaming mice as well. I was using a random wireless MS mouse for FPSs and in my own opinion was doing just fine. A mate recommended MX510 and I decided to try it out. It totally transformed my aim and movement. I went through 3 MX510s and one MX518 in a couple of years. After that I decided to try something other than a Logitech mouse because the buttons were breaking left and right. Bought a Razer Copperhead, a decision I still regret. It cost quite a lot at the time and despite trying, I never really got used to it. After I quit competitive gaming, I decided to stick with what I had and actually replaced the separated wire of the Copperhead with a spare from one of the broken MX510s. Recently though, I got a new keyboard and decided to get the G5 as well. So far the best mouse I’ve tried, the only problem is that the side scrolling makes the third button quite clumsy to use.
19/01/2009 at 10:43 Shifter says:
I have a Razer Diamondback and an old, generic, Dell keyboard. I got the Diamondback soon after it was first released on some dodgey website for £21 delivered which was a safe deal because everyother site had it at £35-40.
I use all the buttons I can actually reach (the 2 on the right side of the mouse are pointless) for the use of grenades/melee in games or push-to-talk in VOIP. I would definatly like a keyboard with volume control and some other media keys but I cant warrent spending the money on it anymore.
Having used my Diamondback with increasing frequency since I got it, I have never had any trouble with RSI. At work I currently use my mouse all day, it is a Dell basic mouse and as I have been using it I have noticed more and more pain in my right arm that I assume to be RSI. I am getting quite worried to be honest but dont know what I can do.
19/01/2009 at 14:29 Iain says:
My Logitech G15 keyboard doesn’t make me a better gamer, but it does glow in the dark, which makes it a whole lot easier to find keys with the lights off.
As for mice, I’ve always used Microsoft mice – the Intellimouse Explorer 2.0 being my favourite, several of which I’ve used to destruction. Currently my mouse of choice is the Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 – not a hi-tech, hi-res thing by any means, but a good all rounder, for everything from office work to FPS games and everything inbetween. It’s also a (mostly) ambidextrous design (bar the thumb button) which is great, given that I’m left-handed and swap the mouse between hands pretty much at will.
19/01/2009 at 18:03 fodigg says:
I love my G9 mouse. Far more than my gaming keyboard, a Wolfpaw something or other.
Outside of gaming, being able to unlock the mouse wheel and “spin free” is surprisingly useful for scrolling large amounts of data.
20/01/2009 at 03:32 D says:
G9 mouse for christmas has done wonders for me in Red Orchestra, where putting pixels (center of scope) on pixels (mans top of head) is important.
Sometimes I feel it must be a little unfair that with the flick of a button press, I can now maneuver my pointer much much slower than would be useful in any other situation. But it helps the killcount.
Recommended for RO. But neigh noticable in TF2, L4D, CoH etc.
20/01/2009 at 20:08 Crispy says:
As a left-hander I use an ambidextrous Razer Diamondback as the best option at the moment. When hardware manufacturers learn that flipping over the mould means you can give ergonimic design to the left handers as well (shock! horror!), I might consider buying Logitech.
I picked up a new mousemat and headphones recently made by CyberSnipa. Other than the name having a repulsive l33t sound to it, the anodised aluminium pad is spacious, grippy on the bottom and low-profile; and the heaphone/mic combo give pretty decent performance and comfort (the mic ‘stem’ can contort into any position desired).
Overall I’m very happy with my peripherals setup, and it’s well worth the almost £100 I spent on it in the last 2-3 years.
20/01/2009 at 20:41 Guido says:
“To sum up: No, it doesn’t make the slightest difference and yes, it is all rather tacky and embarrassing. What I would like to see, just for fun, is a writeup of actual direct competition between players using old and new gewgaws, playing a game like Quake 3, or one of those strange RTS things.”
Well, I did try to play Quake Live at the office, with the standard issue optical mouse and the wireless keyboard that we use here.
I stopped trying after being constantly fragged for a couple minutes. The input (delays on keys, no smooth mouse movements, occasional mouse hiccups) is just too erratic for somebody used to high-end built-for-games equipment like me.
People (me included) were able to play back then, but the sole reason why we didn’t care that our mice occasionally hiccuped was because there were no mice that didn’t. Nowadays, there are, so everything except using them is silly.
20/01/2009 at 20:43 Guido says:
(The first paragraph of that last comment of mine was quoting Dennis, added for clarity.)
In short: It does make a difference, and how.
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18/10/2009 at 20:59 Flobulon says:
Thanks, appreciate the link man.