By Jim Rossignol on October 5th, 2010 at 2:34 pm.
So, after last year’s discussions, I went for the now-out-of-production Razer Diamondback, on which the laser has just failed. In truth it was a bit of a relief, because I never fully adjusted to it, and I felt it was too low-budget for a man of my exotic stature. Time for something new, clearly, and the newness I’ve just received is the Logitech G500. An expensive move on my part, but it feels good to rest my gentle hand on such quality. The tiny weighted cartridge, which you you can add a series of 4.5g and 1.5g weights (“I say, this mouse is 27 grams too light!” etc), is clearly ludicrous, but I rather like the on-the-fly DPS control and the gears for the mouse-wheel. If I were some kind of hardware reviewing guy I would say that it was robust, with high long-term ergonomic suitableness.
The Razer faithful (RPS chum Tom Nullpointer) have already chastised me for not going for the 17-button Naga, but that was too much thumb for me. It’d be like having a mobile phone for a mouse, or something.
What are your hands fidgeting with, readers?
UPDATE: the G500 makes a barely audible high-pitched whistle. Odd.
05/10/2010 at 14:35 loGi says:
My 2rd MX518 going on at the moment.
05/10/2010 at 16:24 Nathan says:
Same here, and I can’t see myself getting rid of it for a good while yet.
05/10/2010 at 16:29 BAReFOOt says:
I stopped using Logitech, when I found all their little designed-to-break things, that make you pointlessly buy a new mouse. Like the glide pads, that go away in no time. Or the cable that breaks way to easily. Or when it just stops working for no reason at all, causing your system to crash when you plug it in. (I think that’s just with the wireless ones.)
I think the weight thing is pointless too. A heavier mouse just causes more inertia. And that’s it. Duh.
I have a Razer Copperhead. And while it luckily does not have weights and is pretty light, it has all other features you described. Since a long time ago. I especially like the profiles. I went so far as to create meta-modes by assigning a button to a script that re-programs the normal modes in the mouse.
Unfortunately, I had to program the on-the-fly thing with the mouse wheel myself for Linux.
Also, being left-handed, I automatically ignore all right-hand-Nazis.
05/10/2010 at 16:46 Flaringo says:
I’ve had this MX518 for maybe 4 years, if not more, and it’s still working just fine. I don’t even treat it that well! Great mouse.
05/10/2010 at 17:07 jalf says:
Yeah, I’m not sure when I bought my mx518 either, but it’s got to be at least 4-5 years ago.
It still works perfectly. The only way it’s showing its age is really that it’s getting pretty grubby. You wouldn’t want to put it in a store window on display, but it works great.
05/10/2010 at 19:48 l1ddl3monkey says:
Also an MX518 user. I need a chunky mouse as despite my username I’m actually not very little (or a monkey) and I tried a sleek Razer mouse but it left the edges of my fingers rubbing on the mousemat. The MX is about as responsive as I need as anything over 1600 DPi and I don’t play a game so much as spastically twitch through it shooting myself in the feet repeatedly.
05/10/2010 at 20:54 Will says:
I can’t remember a time when my mouse wasn’t my trusty MX518… Before, I had a RAZR or whatever they’re called but it broke after 3 months.
I suppose everyone just automatically hates the first expensive mouse that ever broke on them, so by random chance some people will hate even the most reliable brands. Although if one looks at responses in aggregate – I think I do see a lot of love for the Logitechs.
05/10/2010 at 21:24 Paul says:
*raises hand as another happy MX518 user*
05/10/2010 at 22:28 Toxi says:
Bought my first MX518 as a open box return from best buy. Used it for more than 5 years. Just got my 2nd one a year ago. The old one still works perfect on another pc in the house :D I love the way the 500 is styled and might get one in 5 or 6 years when and if i decide to change mice.
05/10/2010 at 23:02 MD says:
I’ve had this MX518 for years and years. (No idea how many, but I reckon it’d be at least 5.) No problems so far! In the hope that they don’t start worrying about the lack of repeat purchases, I should note that I plan to repay them by sticking with Logitech until I do get a dud, and recommending them to others when I get the chance.
05/10/2010 at 23:26 DarkFenix says:
Barefoot your little conspiracy theory falls a bit flat when you consider that Logitech customer service send out replacement mice with zero fuss. Did you even bother to call them?
05/10/2010 at 14:37 nayon says:
Logitech G700. You can even make it wireless or wired.
Don’t buy the Razer Mamba, its wheel always gets damaged and starts squeaking loudly, I had it replaced 3 times but still.
The Logitech G700 is very configurable and you can even transform its wheel from clicky to rolly.
05/10/2010 at 14:45 Arthur Barnhouse says:
I’ve just used an M500 for years at this point, if I’m going to use a mouse to play games at all. What are you doing with all of those buttons?
05/10/2010 at 16:30 Fred Wester, CEO of Paradox says:
I’m really mad at them for releasing the G700 just now, because I bought a MX1100 which has the same shape (for which I bought it) but lacks the precision and response because it’s only wireless… :\
Anyway, I’m back to my A4tech X7 now – really good and snappy for gaming, fairly cheap, and actually I was kinda relieved by it’s more flatter shape and less weight than the MX1100 (damn those batteries weigh, even if you leave just one)
05/10/2010 at 16:32 sfury says:
Wow, Fred Wester, CEO of Paradox, is reading my mind today… :D
05/10/2010 at 16:38 BAReFOOt says:
Weird, I never had a problem with at Razer mouse. Maybe the new models?
What I had problems with, is the fraud that Logitech calls its mice. They are intentionally designed, to break at certain places. Cable, glide pads, wheel, and some internal firmware thing where it crashes your system. I’ve had them all.
So look out for all mice (no matter the company) with anything other than a very thick cable, very thick glide pads, a wheel that’s build in a very robust way, and updateable firmware. Because your high-performance mouse isn’t very high-performance, when it’s dead…
05/10/2010 at 16:53 Zyrxil says:
You haven’t had a problem with Razer, but tons of people have. Razer has absolute shit build quality/quality control.
05/10/2010 at 16:58 SomeGuy says:
I’m still using an old G5, best mouse ive ever had, and lasted me a good 4-5 years at this point. Got all the main features of the newer mouses too.
05/10/2010 at 18:50 DrGonzo says:
@Barefoot
My Razor broke pretty quickly. In fact it’s probably the worst built mouse I’ve ever owned. Their drivers also cause bluescreens. I’m not sure why anyone would buy any of their products.
05/10/2010 at 19:16 Pangaron says:
I have G700 as well (I replaced my G5 a few weeks ago). Absolutely awesome mouse, wire+wireless, AA battery (you can get that one anywhere if needed, right?) and a lot of buttons to configure. Combining it with G13 I fell like in gamers heaven sometimes.
05/10/2010 at 14:39 Mr Wednesday says:
I’m still rocking the original G5.
05/10/2010 at 15:27 JustOneWay says:
So am I.
It was so much better than anything else I had ever used when I got it and I still love it to this day.
05/10/2010 at 15:59 Ginger Yellow says:
G5 here too. I like it, but it’s not amazing.
05/10/2010 at 16:02 Alexander Norris says:
G5v2 owner myself. I’ve had it for four years and it’s still in perfect working form.
05/10/2010 at 16:08 jonfitt says:
G5 also. I never have changed the weights though, I just loaded it up as heavy as it would go and was done.
I also never use the DPI change. It’s too fiddly to reach below the scroll wheel under pressure.
05/10/2010 at 16:32 KillahMate says:
Another G5. Had it for five years, love it very much. A bit worn, but still works great.
05/10/2010 at 18:19 rhizo says:
A G5 here as well. The surface material is a bit worn already but otherwise it’s in good shape. The DPI changer is a life-saver in games like BFBC2 where the sensitivity in menus and in vehicles would otherwise be a big pain. Takes a while to get used to changing DPI mid-game, it certainly caused me a few embarrassing deaths along the way. The mouse has lasted a lot longer than the worst of the MX-series that broke in a month or two.
05/10/2010 at 22:57 chokoladenudlen says:
G5v2 is also my current rodent of choice.
05/10/2010 at 23:22 DarkFenix says:
Another G5v2 user here. Moved up to it having gone through two MX518′s.
06/10/2010 at 12:22 fallingmagpie says:
Me nine. Load it up as heavy as it goes, and let it rip. Nice heft. Had it three years, no problems.
05/10/2010 at 14:39 dancingcrab says:
Razer Salmosa. The main button squeaks a bit (no pun intended), but other than that, I’m happy with it. I don’t played enough in the way of competitive multiplayer stuff to really care too much about my mouse-hardware.
05/10/2010 at 14:40 Schtee says:
My bazillion-year-old Razer Diamondback conked out the other day (there’s a slight break in the cord, such that lifting it makes the Windows detach booboop sound). I also replaced it with a G500. It feels ridiculous having a weight cartridge and mouse-wheel-free-wheel, but it seems like a good mouse. And it’s a helluvalot cheaper than the Razer Imperator I was looking at.
05/10/2010 at 14:40 Taverius says:
Anywhere MX, as I’m on a lappie.
05/10/2010 at 15:15 mlaskus says:
Same here. I love my little rodent.
06/10/2010 at 13:07 Jhoosier says:
I had some sort of MX wireless I got about 4 years ago, then I got a wireless keyboard/mouse combo while in Singapore, and it seemed silly to have the extra USB port taken up, so now my mouse is kinda generic. But it’s all Logitech. Actually, nearly all my peripherals are (well, my webcam is anyway).
Never had one fail, really, so I think that’s why.
Relatedly, I sit quite far from my CPU, so I use wireless stuff because it keeps the cords straight and me from going crazy. Do other people game with wireless keyboards/mice? Hmm, or maybe I’ll just ask in forums.
05/10/2010 at 14:40 Chiablo says:
Logitech G9. One of the weirdest looking, but most comfortable and awesome mice available. I’m a Logitech fanboy simply because their customer service is so amazing.
05/10/2010 at 15:08 President Weasel says:
I liked the G9, although I managed to wear out the cord due to putting a permanent kink in it. While it worked it was extremely comfortable, despite or even because of the unusual shape.
The whole “tray of interchangeable weights” schtick that logitech has going on is pretty silly. Despite having had two mice from logitech with that feature I’ve never found myself thinking “if only my mouse was fractionally more massy at the front I’d totally have got that medic”.
Still, for something that I’d probably use for 3 or 4 hours on an average day and would last me a year, the price is pretty reasonable. I’ve no idea what I am using now instead of the G9; it may be a G500. I’d recommend the G9 to people who are thinking about getting one.
05/10/2010 at 15:10 Phinor says:
G9 here too. My second actually. The first one simply ran out of clicks ie. the buttons stopped working. Few e-mails later I was sent a brand new replacement G9. Very few people seem to like the G9 variant but to me it’s simply the best mouse I’ve ever used and that includes some very dark years between around 2000 and 2007 when I must have tried five different mouses every year. That was, until I got my first G9.
05/10/2010 at 15:23 csuzw says:
I’ve got a G9 as well and while it’s the best mouse I’ve ever owned it’s not perfect. I find I often accidentally hit the profile button just below the left mouse button and it almost always happens at the wrong time. That said I could probably set all profiles to be the same without it causing me any problems as it’s so rare I legitimately want to change it.
I’m replacing it with the G700 as I’ve been looking for a mouse with a few extra side buttons (not loads like the Naga) and I like the fact it can be switched easily between wired and wireless.
05/10/2010 at 15:38 Loopy says:
I also have a G9, I’ve been through a few already in the last…. 5 years? No idea how long they’ve actually been out.
05/10/2010 at 15:43 wererogue says:
I’ve had a g9 for about 2 years, and it’s still going strong, and I love it to bits. While the weighted cartridge is way over the top, I have switched between full and empty a few times, for a change.
My work mouse is a g5, and it’s perfectly serviceable for TF2 every lunchtime.
05/10/2010 at 15:57 President Weasel says:
Damn my eyes, I didn’t even think of contacting logitech for a replacement. I guess I am just used to bad customer service.
05/10/2010 at 14:41 Snall says:
I still like my old Logi G5.
05/10/2010 at 14:41 John Peat says:
MX518 – v.happy with it, been great for 2+ years now
05/10/2010 at 14:42 Theory says:
I switched to a trackball recently and haven’t considered going back. It’s far easier on the wrist and arm and is just as accurate (although clearly, I’m not at quite the same level as I was after 10+ years with a mouse).
The only problem is that you can’t track as far in one sweep: the surface of the ball becomes your mousepad in a sense, and there is less surface area before you hit the body of the mouse with your thumb. I’ve got it set up to do 180° turns in one “spin” though, and that’s a pretty good compromise.
05/10/2010 at 18:16 pepper says:
For games I still have a normal mouse, especially FPS games, but for normal computing I use a trackball mouse, much more comfortable and I can use it with my left hand, whilst the normal mouse sit in the place for the right hand so that I can switch on the fly.
05/10/2010 at 14:43 Brumisator says:
OH I just love my Diamondback, I had…I think it was a copperhead before that, very similar to the diamondback.
When this one dies, I’m totally getting another razer mouse. I’m in love with them <3
My only problem is that the teflon pads wear out quickly on my filthy mouse pad.
05/10/2010 at 16:09 Ricotta says:
Agreed, I’ve messed with lots of logitech mice and they just don’t have the right feel that my razer mice do. I have a copperhead which i love to death for my work laptop, and i just bought a death adder last week and i love it. I know Razer mice will last forever, I’ve had my copperhead for as long as i can remember!
05/10/2010 at 14:43 Schaulustiger says:
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 forever and always.
Razer mice are also good, though. But I’m just madly in love with the Intelli series.
05/10/2010 at 14:56 Spandex says:
Amen
05/10/2010 at 14:57 Man Raised By Puffins says:
Ditto, picked mine up years ago as my first optical mouse (after having to break out the PCG blackberry-on-a-stick mouse cleaner one too many times) and it’s still going strong, albeit worryingly discoloured.
05/10/2010 at 17:08 dartt says:
Likewise, I’m on my third intellimouse, each one having lasted for several years of intensive use. They feel very natural now, after all this time, and I can’t imagine changing.
05/10/2010 at 18:58 LionsPhil says:
The Intellimouse v3 was the highpoint of computer rodents. I really ought to replace my fussy Logitech MX Laser with another one, because the “old” optics work a hell of a lot better on a wider array of surfaces. And it doesn’t randomly decide that one scroll-down increment is ten 10% of the time, which makes weapon-switching an exciting adventure in probability.
05/10/2010 at 19:31 mrpier says:
I’m on my second at the moment, and the first one still works except something happened with the mousewheel so it got too sensitive.
05/10/2010 at 21:38 Brian says:
As much as I had always thought the Intellimouse Explorer to be the epitome of mouse design, Microsoft has outdone itself yet again with its new Sidewinder series. My model is just called the Sidewinder (not X3 or any such suffix) and is a 2000dpi laser mouse with distinctly protruding metal thumb buttons and a fat, wide metal wheel. It’s a large, adjustable, wonderful mouse that is perfect for my large, meaty mitts. You can modify the resolution with the 3 toggle buttons and can map any button to any keyboard key to force full button support even in the most oblivious games (my favourite is mapping the two thumb buttons to pgup and pgdown for Sims 3 which raises or lowers the camera by one floor per click).
Take my advice and don’t underspend on a lesser model (like my wife’s Sidewinder X5). The buttons and wheel are plastic and it doesn’t come with weights nor their carrying case which doubles as a cable tether.
05/10/2010 at 14:43 Dave says:
I’m rocking a G500 as well, after my old friend Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer Something-or-other finally gave up the ghost after 10 years or so.
I still despise wires on mice, but this is a good mouse. The weights might be useful if you have a slingshot or something.
07/10/2010 at 04:00 Stromko says:
I’ve tried a few wireless mice, but I couldn’t handle them flaking out at critical moments, or the slightest bit of latency. Also, handling the batteries is a pain. I’m using a G500 myself. Mine doesn’t make a high-pitched whistle, or any sound at all as far as I can tell, and the braided cable has thus far saved it from the curious bites of my cat. I’m sure he’d tear it to shreds if he put his mind to it though.
05/10/2010 at 14:43 skotch says:
Razer Habu. It’s a few years old project between Microsoft and Habu. Nice shape, a little bit fatter than the usual gaming mice. My favorite part is that the buttons are separate pieces of plastic. I really dislike mice that have the one big piece of plastic that includes the two buttons on it.
As far as buttons go it’s nothing too fancy, there’s two thumb buttons and two on-the-fly DPI adjusters by the wheel that can be reprogrammed.
Best part of the mouse? It fits in my hand.
Had one fail, and the click acts up on this from time to time (likes to double click on single clicks).
05/10/2010 at 14:44 Seniath says:
I’ve been rocking an MX1000 for the last, um, four years, but the middle click button is slowly dying and the battery is storing less and less charge, so I dare-say it’s time to look for an upgrade myself.
05/10/2010 at 23:42 The Dark One says:
Hey, that’s exactly what’s happening with me. I have to push the middle click a little bit sideways to get it to register and it drops down to two bars of battery after a full day’s use, but otherwise the mouse is a trooper.
05/10/2010 at 14:45 toaster says:
Logitech G5. I looove Logitech stuff, really high quality and lasts for a very long time. You could say I’m a Logitech whore.. heheh. Rockin my G15 and G5 with a G25 wheel. Also have a C600 webcam and H360 for Skype calls.
05/10/2010 at 14:46 zornbringer says:
razer deathadder. my favorite mouse so far, except the original microsoft optical mouse was also prety nice.
it has the fancy blue glow on the logo and on the wheel and no overkill buttons. just two on the side. perfect for me.
will buy this mouse again and again if its brakes sometime.
05/10/2010 at 18:49 Fumarole says:
Same here, and I’ve had it for maybe two years or so. I’d definitely buy another.
05/10/2010 at 14:47 Farfarer says:
My faithful Logitech MX Revolution.
Had to remap it a little as the scroll-wheel – while very fun (a word rarely used to describe scroll wheels) – is too clunky to be of any real middle-mouse-button use.
05/10/2010 at 15:22 SquareWheel says:
I had an MX Revolution but recently got an MX Performance. Both are good mice. I admit I miss the left scroll “wheel” and charging dock of the Rev, but their unifying USB dongle, smoother buttons, and better tracking is probably worth it for an upgrade.
I got this for free under warranty after my Rev started missing clicks and the rubber was peeling really badly.
05/10/2010 at 17:41 neolith says:
Does the Performance also have a wheel that automatically switches between free and precision mode? Or do you have to switch yourself?
05/10/2010 at 14:47 Gene says:
Diamondback too low-budget? Fucking snob :P
05/10/2010 at 14:48 Bluebreaker says:
my old 3€ mouse beats you expensive shit.
05/10/2010 at 14:49 st.Andrew says:
I’m quite happy with my Mamba!! No squeak to speak of and I’m putting in about 15 hours of use a week over the last year.
The left hand is one of those silly ‘ergonomic’ one-handed gaming keypads, some Logitech cat#, but I’m quite pleased with that also.
05/10/2010 at 14:49 Auspex says:
My mouse is from Argos and the mouse wheel doesn’t work properly.
Beat that!
05/10/2010 at 18:53 DrGonzo says:
I have a 3 quid value Asda mouse.
05/10/2010 at 14:49 Wang Tang says:
I’m in the Logitech fanboy base as well, and my G5 still works like on the first day.
05/10/2010 at 14:49 Simon Dufour says:
I had my Logitech MX518 mouse for as long as I can remember. More than 3 years. I have the old 1600 DPI version.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logitech_MX-518
It STILL works perfectly well. So I can’t buy a new one.
I’m not sure about Razer now. I bought a new headset (Razer Piranha) from them and I’m not a fan. While the product do look solid, I feel like the mic is too short and the adjustments are really lacking. I might just stick with Logitech for everything now.
05/10/2010 at 14:50 cubed2D says:
Logitech all the way for mice, i have a G5 and a G500 at the moment, and i love them both <3
05/10/2010 at 14:51 Alex Ruddick says:
Some sort of cheap-o corded optical mouse from Microcenter. I think it cost me $5-10. Works just fine for anything I care to play, and I don’t worry about it breaking when I throw it in a backpack, etc.
05/10/2010 at 14:52 PiD says:
I’ve got the Cyborg R.A.T 7 mouse, it’s a odd looking thing but it’s surprisingly comfortable! I’ve not found a use for the crazy thumb wheel thing but I love the programmable aspect.
05/10/2010 at 14:52 mrmud says:
My ancient Logitech G7
Its out of production and pretty much impossible to get hold of these days but I cant seem to find a suitable replica.
The combination of form factor, wirelessness and hotswappable batteries is just something I cant seem to find anywhere else.
05/10/2010 at 14:55 Warduke says:
I’m with ‘ya. I’ve been using my G7 for 4 years now and it’s still going strong. I’ve been really happy with it.
05/10/2010 at 15:51 Petethegoat says:
Oh god, the G7 was my favourite mouse of all time.
Kept using mine until it couldn’t hold charge for more than an hour or so. :(
Still, it held strong for five or so years, can’t complain.
I’m now happy with a G500. The shape is just similar enough to bring back the memories.
05/10/2010 at 21:17 Velvet Fist, Iron Glove says:
I too am a G7 lover. Hotswappable batteries (so there is always have one charged), fast wireless (no lag, but also no cable to get filthy or caught on things). Just enough buttons. Comfortable.
I’ve been this one for 4-5 years now. I bought four of the things (originally for four different machines), which means right now I have two spares.
And if/when the batteries go, I’ll open them up, pull out the cells and find replacements from somewhere on the internets.
05/10/2010 at 14:52 TehBuLL says:
I’ve been on this Logitech G5 (The one with the blue lighting looking pattern) for awhile now and it is easily the best mouse I’ve ever used. I’ve never dived into the whole *entire keyboard on a mouse* thing…seems counter intuitive. But for mice, I only go Logitech.
05/10/2010 at 14:53 Dataflashsabot says:
A crappy, ultra-low-price logitech optical.
05/10/2010 at 14:54 datazbytes says:
Sidewinder X8 here. Im happy with it.
05/10/2010 at 14:54 Dawngreeter says:
My girlfriend’s Razer Imperator is just awesome. I have the old Razer Lachesis and I like that it’s longer than Imperator. It feels better when you rest your palm on it. But Imperator is made exclusively for righties and it adds that little bit of comfort when you handle it.
I hear there’s a new Lachesis out, with all the hardware improvements of Imperator. Which is cool, but were I to buy a new one I’d go for Imperator.
05/10/2010 at 14:54 Ian says:
Another one with a really basic two-buttons-and-a-wheel job.
I can’t begin to imagine what you mentalists do with all those buttons.
05/10/2010 at 15:10 subedii says:
You find the two extra buttons are really handy after just a short period of usage.
By default, the two side thumb buttons scroll forwards and backwards through Explorer or your internet browser, and when you’ve become used to that it’s so intuitive you can’t imagine doing it another way.
In games, well again, you map them to what suits you, and you find it saves having to map lots of stuff on the keyboard. In Batman Arkham Asylum for example, the two side buttons are mapped by default to to quick batarang and grappling line, which quickly becomes intuitive.
Most FPS’s I tend to map them to some combination of melee / grenade / aim / zoom depending on how many functions the game has and how they’re used. Gears of War has grenades mapped to a number just like any other weapon for example, but binding it to MB4 makes using them far more intuitive. Similar with Half-Life 2 and grenades / RPG. Mapping those to MB4 or 5 made me use them far more often since I could just quick-switch to them. A lot of games have a default “grenade” button, but even those that don’t, I’ve found if you bind it to the mouse button then you can use them rapidly. Similar with melee.
05/10/2010 at 14:55 CogDissident says:
I use a “Logitech trackman wheel”. The thumb wheel is really comfortable for me, and it is really good for FPS games, and 8+ hour gaming sessions without causing any wrist problems.
Used the same mouse foe 6+ years now, and i tend to burn through 1 a year, but I like the design enough to keep re-buying it every time.
05/10/2010 at 14:56 OptionalJoystick says:
If you’re not a fan of the weight cartridge, you could stick some USB ports up there instead! For some reason!
http://lifehacker.com/5655179/add-usb-ports-to-your-mouse
05/10/2010 at 14:57 LimEJET says:
Oh dear yes. There is nothing better than the Intelli3. I’m going to buy my third one soon, the one I use now is so well-used you can actually use it as a mirror.
05/10/2010 at 14:57 yves torres says:
I think this is the next mouse I’m going go to get, love the look and it was apparantly well received.
http://www.steelseries.com/products/mice/steelseries-xai-laser
05/10/2010 at 14:59 Novotny says:
I remember this from last year, when the vast majority of us implored you to get an MX518. I certainly advised against the razor mouse, which I had bought only months earlier and given away. You bought it.
For the love of all things FPS, get yourself an MX518. I haven’t used anything else in maybe 6 years now
05/10/2010 at 15:00 Shrewsbury says:
A Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 2000. It ain’t pretty, but it’s the most comfortable mouse ever, especially for a lefty like me who can’t use these crappy ‘ergonomic’ mice.
05/10/2010 at 15:00 konrad_ha says:
My Razer Lachesis does exactly what I need and not more. Was a pain to install under Win7-64, though. But hey, as a PC-gamer I love making things work against all odds.
05/10/2010 at 15:00 subedii says:
Like a lot of others, been using the MX518 for a few years now, and would happily replace it with another one.
Cheap, does the job. Can be a little fiddly to clean the cracks between the mouse buttons and the frame, but that’s a minor thing.
05/10/2010 at 15:01 Zind says:
Razer Lachesis. Just enough side buttons; not too many, with the on-the-fly DPI controls (I generally keep it at 4000 though, unless I’m sniping) and a wheel that’s easy to click without scrolling.
05/10/2010 at 15:02 AzraelXJM says:
Thinking of upgrading from my generic logitech mouse to something configurable for gaming, and ideally for time-saving in game editors. Fellow at work has a vertical mouse that you hold like it’s a drinks can, which is actually a more natural position for your wrist. But something about the shape of the thing is unsettling, like it just shouldn’t *be*.
05/10/2010 at 15:03 egg says:
Had a MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0. Failed. But it served me good for a few years.
Had a Razer Deathadder. Failed. And I totally hate their tech support.
Have a MX 518. Love it. 100%.
05/10/2010 at 15:03 El_MUERkO says:
I use a mamba, however I’ve had some issues. My first Mamba died while upgrading the firmware and on my current Mamba the rubber side grips have started to slip about, I think the glue underneath them is weakened over time.
Other than that it’s the best mouse, wireless, hyper accurate and incredibly comfortable.
05/10/2010 at 15:04 Lewie Procter says:
I have an OK logitech wireless one I got with wireless keyboard, for like £8ish by making PC World pricematch it from £29.99 to £10 at Staples.
Served me alright, but the range is pretty low.
05/10/2010 at 18:25 Flobulon says:
Me too!
GENERIC BLACK PLASTIC MOUSE USERS, UNITE!
06/10/2010 at 06:26 Joshua says:
I am a generic plastic silver and black mouse user, can I join?
05/10/2010 at 15:07 Spinoza says:
I’m using Power of Will (TM).Works wonders.
05/10/2010 at 15:09 groovychainsaw says:
I got the G500 when the battery on my old mx700 started playing up and I decided I’d never used the wireless feature really (only sitting 2 ffet from the tower…). I love some of the G500′s features, paticularly the dynamic DPI shift (slow down for sniping, speed up for strafing!), and, weirdly, the braiding on the cable, meaning it doesn’t snag on the table surface. Just feels well thought through. Its VERY light with no weights in though. I happily put all the weights in and even then it was only about the same as the old mx700. Which I like, I like a bit of resistance from my mouse. Can’t praise the G500 enough really, bit pricey, but probably the best mouse I’ve owned.
05/10/2010 at 15:11 Zyrxil says:
Currently using a NAOS 5000. Ridiculously configurable software, plus all the weights and DPI buttons that come with expensive mice. Ergnomically very comfortable, and is very solid in build quality.
05/10/2010 at 16:44 BAReFOOt says:
“braided cable” reads good.
40,000 Hz sampling rate sounds like a horrible CPU hog. When I switch mine from 500 Hz (that’s 2ms) to 1000 HZ (1ms) the only difference I can tell, is that CPU usage goes way up. No mouse should have any noticable CPU usage at all. With 40 times that, my whole CPU would be eaten up. And even with the best system money can buy, it would still be way too much, eating away frames. No thanks.
05/10/2010 at 16:49 Zyrxil says:
Not sure where you’re getting 40,000 or exactly what that number’s for. It has up to 1000hz polling rate, adjustable down to 100hz in the software if you don’t want it.
05/10/2010 at 15:12 wviperw says:
Once again, using the SteelSeries Ikari Optical–at home AND at work.
05/10/2010 at 15:15 K says:
I have a Razor Diamonback. Why? Because I love its shape and couldn’t care less about the buttons. Can someone tell me which newer Razor mouses (that is the correct plural, take that, grammar nazis!) have the identical symmetric shape?
05/10/2010 at 15:16 Langman says:
MX518. Obviously.
Is it even worth considering any other?
05/10/2010 at 15:17 Web Cole says:
I have the crappiest, plasticy Microsoft thing you’ve ever seen. For shame.
05/10/2010 at 15:17 Darkflight says:
@skotch My Habu started doing that recently after 3 years, seems its a fault with the Copperhead which the Habu is based off of iirc. Got an Imperator in August which is really nice.
05/10/2010 at 15:18 Nero says:
I’m using my second Logitech MX518, the first one’s left mouse button broke (had to push it very hard to register) and bought another MX518 because I just love this mouse. Best one I’ve ever used.
05/10/2010 at 15:19 Rond says:
I’ve obtained an Oklick Hunter (aka Ozone Smog) laser mouse this summer. It’s got DPS-switch, cool big wheel with horizontal clicks, 1000Hz USB, 7-color LED and some more useless stuff like that. If only it would be cordless.
05/10/2010 at 15:21 gryffinp says:
Still got my Logitech MX Revolution. That thumbwheel redefines games for me. I literally cannot play team fortress two correctly without my mouse. And I mean literally. I have it so that moving the thumbwheel forward selects the primary weapon, back selects the secondary weapon, and inward selects the melee weapon. Whenever I’m not using the Revolution, I end up flopping my hand at the side of my mouse trying to switch weapons as I die horribly.
05/10/2010 at 15:21 rak0ribz says:
I just can’t bring myself to buy one of these, as I feel that, as long as they were designing a gaming mouse, they should’ve named it death.adder for added videogame authenticity.
05/10/2010 at 15:22 rak0ribz says:
(The Death Adder mouse, that is)
05/10/2010 at 15:26 Jakkar says:
Good old Razor Diamondback. Over three years old. The rubber feet have fallen off; I’ve not noticed. The mousewheel really is a wheel now, it basically just spins freely. The grip coating on the mousebuttons is just.. Shiny.
.. It still does the job, I can still score a smooth headshot, and I love it.
05/10/2010 at 15:29 Brulleks says:
Yup, Steelseries Ikari for me too, under orders of PCG’s hardware guide. It’s like an extension of my hand, except it, erm, can’t pick stuff up.
Used to use Logitech MX mouskies, but the last model I tried had zero friction and I never got used to it. I’m sure pro-gamers love that kind of thing, but I found it uncontrollable regardless of speed settings.
05/10/2010 at 15:30 Brulleks says:
…and that, of course, was supposed to be a reply to wviperw.
05/10/2010 at 15:31 Chiablo says:
For those who complain about having a weights tray in their mouse… why not re purpose it like this guy did…
http://stupidhax.blogspot.com/2010/09/usb-hub-inside-logitech-gaming-mouse.html
05/10/2010 at 15:31 Vodka & Cookies says:
Steelseries XAI if you’ve ever used a Microsoft Intellimouse or Explorer laser 6000 the XAI is what you get to replace it. Microsoft even seem to have erased the corded laser 6000 model from their own website.
You do need to change the mouse pad though the MS mice work fine on glass surfaces the XAI becomes hyper sensitive so I recommend a cloth mouse mat at default settings.
I’ve been using click scroll wheel mice for so long I cannot use mice with the free wheel which is now on just about ever mouse out there bar specialty gaming mice so thank god the Steelseries XAID is a clone of the laser 6000 in form factor too.
I spent hundreds on replacement mice trying to find the right one
05/10/2010 at 15:33 catharsis says:
I love my cheap, old Dell rolley-ball mouse that came with a boring home pc package from 10 years ago. I bought six replacements several years ago in case they stop making them and I’m still on number #1. I love the smooth feel of the el-cheapo rolley mouse. The action is comfortable and reliable. I bought a few expensive laser gaming mice but didn’t like them and got my money back. I suppose I played too many years with the old school mouse to ever change. I use the inverted settings for all my games too.
05/10/2010 at 15:35 Radiant says:
I have an mx518 for a while; it’s ok but the teflon stickers fly off at the slightest provocation.
Also it is the same colour [weird silver leopard print] as an ex girlfriend’s underwear.
So there’s that.
05/10/2010 at 16:46 Chiablo says:
You can get some good replacement feet at http://www.slicksurf.com/
I’ve used them in the past, cheap product, but it works fantastically.
05/10/2010 at 17:30 Vodkarn says:
Are Mouse Skates (Skatez? I can’t remember how it’s spelled) anymore? I should have bought those awhile back.
05/10/2010 at 23:58 Radiant says:
I bought a roll of thin teflon cellotape. That sorted me out.
05/10/2010 at 15:35 Dingo says:
I have a 10 Euro optical mouse from Logitech. It’s made in China and I don’t know what’s its name, but it works flawlessly.
Never really understood why I should pay 100 Euro for a mouse… but then, I don’t earn my monies with FPS games. ^_^
05/10/2010 at 15:35 Javier-de-Ass says:
it’s all logitech g9 here. best mouse ever. g9x actually
05/10/2010 at 15:38 Nilokey says:
Good choice in mouse Jim, I myself bought the same model earlier this year and I have to say I’ve not looked back since.
Its a very handy mouse for gaming, especially games that require vehicle and infantry shooting, as when need be I can turn up the sensitivity while gunning (usually games turn down sensitivity for them) and then turn it back to medium for infantry aiming.
Its also very nice for browsing, free wheeling the mouse wheel button has become an interesting sport seeing how far I can scroll down a page before it stops. Also browser back and forward buttons are a god send.
Say hi to the little red man for me!
05/10/2010 at 15:39 Rhalle says:
Having owned several early Logitechs, Diamonbacks, Copperheads, a Death Adder and a G9, ironically, I am now on my first Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0.
The Puretrak Perfectglides are in the mail, because the default IE 3.0 feet are terrible and really suck.
And while the tracking is stunningly good, the mouse wheel is mediocre and the build quality is a tad cheap.
If I were still a WoW player, I would definitely have a Razer Naga.
If I were going to buy a new mouse today it would be the Mionix NAOS 5000; other possible contenders would be the Steelseries Xai, Razer Lachesis and Saitek R.A.T.
05/10/2010 at 15:43 sleepygamer says:
Razer Lachesis. Fantastic mouse. Saving my way to a Mamba, though.
05/10/2010 at 15:53 Pete says:
They’ve stopped making the Diamondback? Oh MAN. I’ve got three of them – one for work, gaming, and iMac. Such a narrow, light, accurate mouse. My favourite, even if 3/4 thumb buttons are useless.
Very, very tempted by the Mamba though. Finally a gaming-quality wireless mouse.
05/10/2010 at 15:54 Jerricho says:
I’m still with my Logitech VX Nano. I love it such that I have one for work too. That weighted scroll wheel makes ALL the difference.
05/10/2010 at 16:00 Kelron says:
I like the size of Razer mice but I hate their website with all their “1337 gamer” shit.
05/10/2010 at 16:00 CilindroX says:
Sidewinder X8 here too, really comfy with it … but truth to be told, can’t wait for an excuse to jump on the G500 bandwagon
05/10/2010 at 16:01 mordac says:
Another mx518 user here, although I am on my second one at the moment. I was quite sad when my original 1600dpi one gave up the ghost, but I got something around 3+ years out of it.
But it is seriously a good mouse–you don’t have to think about it ever, it just does what you want it to. It’s got enough buttons to make your life a lot easier, but not so many that you have to think about what button you should be pressing. Pair it with a steelseries qck+ and you’re good to go!
05/10/2010 at 16:03 Surgeon says:
I’m still kickin’ it ultra bong-handed with the Evoluent Vertical Mouse 2 for southpaws.
Begone foul RSI!
05/10/2010 at 18:10 kitchendon says:
That Evoluent vertical setup looks rather comfortable, I think i might give one of those a try. Hard to tell the size from their promo pics, though. Would be nice if it was a bit on the large size.
I like my Logitech Performance MX, but it’s just a tad small. I’ve ordered some silicon putty to try and make it a bit more comfy in spots.
07/10/2010 at 12:17 Surgeon says:
My mits kind of sit between gigantic shovel hands and tiny child hands Don, and it’s a good fit.
I’ll see if I can take a more accurate promo pic for you when I get a chance tomorrow :)
05/10/2010 at 16:05 plague says:
CM Storm Sentinel Advance. I must be the only person in the world using this mouse, but I love it.
05/10/2010 at 16:06 Gunsmith says:
I have never rated pheripherals with gaming bling as a selling point,
I dont need 4,000,000 dpi or 264 configurable buttons to kick arse, my MX revolution is fine. :)
05/10/2010 at 17:37 DrGonzo says:
But then you could do a lap of the world by moving your hand about 4cm!
05/10/2010 at 16:10 wcaypahwat says:
I got the G9x, by accident. I was slightly disappointed that its a dark silver, not black, like the original.
My old G9 had some loose wires so kept cutting out, and my G15 conked out around the same time, so i snached up the new mouse and a G19.
Can’t get the LEDs to match the same shade of blue, though :(
05/10/2010 at 16:18 nobody says:
A trusty very old MX510 (the father of MX518), overclocked with 500Hz USB speed. :)
05/10/2010 at 16:24 BooleanBob says:
Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 1000! Highly recommended*!
*lies
05/10/2010 at 16:28 Taillefer says:
Why is the high-end gamer market so full of hideously ugly things?
05/10/2010 at 16:30 warthog2k says:
Same here – bought two, use the older one for rattling around in my laptop bag (replacing standard issue corporate ballmouse). Suits my big paws and never given me any trouble.
05/10/2010 at 16:31 Nallen says:
When my MX518 screwed up I got a G500. Very happy with it. Is the G500 expensive then? my flatmate got it free from work. He get’s everything free from work, like our entire powerline network, 1.5Tb of network attached storage, iPad etc etc.
Lucky bast.
05/10/2010 at 16:34 Kyle says:
I bought a Logitech Performance MX for a going away to University present, and I must say that I love it.
It’s wireless, so no cables lying around, it’s large so it fits my oversize hands, and the things like the flywheel and thumb-button-to-choose-from-your-active-windows-switcher are just a bonus.
In my opinion, anyone short of FATAL1TY or however you spell his name who rails on about wireless mice reducing your score per minute due to lag haven’t tried a decent wireless mouse yet.
05/10/2010 at 16:38 Joe says:
Logitech G9. And one of these: http://www.mousebungee.com/Black.html
05/10/2010 at 16:42 PetitPrince says:
G9. But I got it for free after my G7 died. I still miss it, and I wonder why no one at Logitech redid that two-battery-and-one-always-charging thing. That was pure genius.
05/10/2010 at 16:48 CMas says:
Logitech MX620 here. Does a good job, aside from when the batteries are brand new, range seems to be really short. For those (few) talking about their cheapo mice etc all I can say is that personally, I find good (as in comftable and responsive, not gaming 10 million DPI) contact points really improve your all around gaming experience.
05/10/2010 at 16:54 Yka says:
I HAD a logitech mouse (the former version of the G500) : too bulky for me.
I changed for a Roccat KONE and it really shines. It fits perfectly in your hand. You can adjust the weight. Enough buttons. And good look. Anyone else has got this one?
05/10/2010 at 17:00 Inglourious Badger says:
Why a TRUST MI-2500X with a crack along the top where I got really annoyed with my team in Football Manager once.
I think it cost about £2 and is so light it feels like it’s going to fly out your hand when you move it but I can confirm it is robust enough even for Sir Alex Ferguson himself, I expect.
05/10/2010 at 17:07 TheMagic says:
Trust the pc crowd to make hundreds of comments about small rodents.
Mine’s a vole
05/10/2010 at 17:08 Jad says:
Microsoft Intellimouse Optical (even less fancy than you guys with those Explorers!).
This thing is — Good Lord! — NINE YEARS OLD.
That’s pretty cool.
Probably should get a new one, but it still works, and I’m comfortable with it…
05/10/2010 at 17:09 RobH says:
I’m on a good old Logitech G5, which moved to a couple of years ago after having a MS Sidewinder which just seemed too large. However, I’m lusting after the Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T. 7 which has a fully customizable width, length, height, and weight.
05/10/2010 at 17:11 Freud says:
I started using an Evoluent Vertical Mouse five years ago and I have since never had any ache in my arm no matter how intense gaming sessions I have. Granted, it is slightly less suited for gaming than smaller mice but it works well enough. And once you started using one, regular mice just feels weird.
05/10/2010 at 18:25 Surgeon says:
I totally love mine Freud.
I use one at home and at work.
It took a bit of getting used to for gaming, but after no time at all I was back up to speed playing Bad Company 2.
And I see there’s now a v4, and this time for lefties like me too seeing as we missed out on v3.
Woo!, and indeed, Yay!
http://evoluent.com/vm4l.htm
05/10/2010 at 17:16 Lizardman says:
+1 for MX518. I’ve had mine for a good few years now too, it’s probably my longest kept piece of gaming kit, so I can’t fault it.
05/10/2010 at 17:21 DrGonzo says:
I’ve tried lots of gaming mice. Various Razor’s and other expensive options. I still swear by my basic Microsoft mouse. It only has two standard buttons and a scroll wheel but nothing beats it.
05/10/2010 at 17:25 Vodkarn says:
I have a Razer Abyssus (http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.169414800)
My criteria for a mouse is that it is: Responsive, lightweight (RSI prevention), easy to clean, and doesn’t have 188903 buttons I accidentally hit.
I love it, it’s probably the best mouse I’ve ever owned, and I had an MX300 for… 9 years? (I bought two, but only needed the first one)
05/10/2010 at 17:30 DrGonzo says:
My Razor had a lot of issues. The drivers were awful. At first my PC was bluescreening until I uninstalled the Razor ones. Then in the end the scroll wheel stopped being able to spin as it came out of alignment, then finally I couldn’t click it either. It was really comfortable feeling though, just really badly made it seems.
05/10/2010 at 17:26 Ben says:
Had a Logitech MX518 for a long while now, cannot fault it in any way and recommended it to plenty of people as a comfortable gaming mouse. My thumb is appreciative of the perch!
05/10/2010 at 17:30 TooNu says:
Razer Deathadder here. I have a Razer Diamondback PLASMA EDITION!!! aswell. The missus has a Razer Deathadder to. It is the mouse of awesome.
05/10/2010 at 17:32 The Pink Ninja says:
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, mousie! :3
05/10/2010 at 17:35 SpinalJack says:
I have a Logitec G9 Laser, works and feels great, took out all the weights though cos my feeble hand got tired after using the heavier set up for long periods of time
05/10/2010 at 17:37 buedi says:
I have the same one and I love it. I think I got it when Microsoft first brought it to stores. I must have bought it back in the last century, or maybe somewhere around 2000 / 2001. So it´s at least 9 years old, yes. And I hope it never dies. AFAIK that was one of the first mice at that time with an optical sensor and more than 3 mouse buttons.
Good peripherals last forever, like my Acer Keyboard does (15+ years), my Cherry G3000 at my Office (15+ years), my IBM Model M (15+ years) and my IBM Model A from 1983 or 1984.
Sadly you only know after 10+ years if you had spent your money on a good piece of Hardware or not :-(
And when you know it after all those years, it´s very unlikely that it´s still in production. But the Intellimouse Optical still seems. Great! :-)
05/10/2010 at 17:37 DF7 says:
Like most Southpaw gamers, I remain a loyal Razer user.
05/10/2010 at 17:53 Zyrxil says:
Can you really call it loyal just because almost no one else makes ambidextrous mice?
05/10/2010 at 18:55 DrGonzo says:
I have a basic Microsoft Optical Mouse and it’s ambidextrous. In fact I think most Microsoft mice are.
05/10/2010 at 17:40 Omega Xi says:
Not the only person in the world ^_^ Although I’m a little surprised that almost no-one seems to go for this mouse, I really like it. Being able to switch between 4 different DPI settings on the fly is really handy. It’s a shame the lights inside it aren’t a bit more customisable though, I kind of hoped that someone would reverse engineer the firmware for it and try to make something that lets you have more control over the lights. I’m guessing though that no-one with that kind of knowledge owns one since I so rarely hear people mention the Sentinel at all.
05/10/2010 at 17:42 Omega Xi says:
Reply failed for some reason -_- Was replying to Plague who was talking about the CM Storm Sentinel Advance.
05/10/2010 at 17:47 killmachine says:
all that logitech fans…. i bought a mx1000 a couple of years ago. it was freakin expensive for a mouse, it was like 80euros. after one year or so middle mouse button only worked when i smashed my finger on it. a bit later left+right mouse button didnt work properly.
a very good friend of mine had the razer deathadder and i liked the blue glowing thing. bought it a few month later. til now im not disappointed at all. really nice feeling, minimalistic and …. i like the blue glow. :)
05/10/2010 at 17:49 Max says:
Had two G5′s and now got a G500, very happy with it.
05/10/2010 at 17:50 irongamer says:
My MX 500 sensor has started to go out. If I try to move the mouse down it the point keeps popping back to where it had originally been before I started to move it. I cleaned the whole thing but no change so I started hunting for a new mouse.
I was curious about the Cyborg R.A.T 7. After reading a bunch of comments I decided it may not suit my small hands. I checked out the various Razors and others. In the end I just settled for the MX 518. Still waiting for it to arrive.
05/10/2010 at 17:56 Polysynchronicity says:
My mouse says Gateway on the top, Logitech on the sticker underneath, and has two buttons and a scroll wheel. It works fine and I got it for free!
05/10/2010 at 17:59 Mall3k says:
Logitech G5, getting up in the days – but still being faithfull and giving me the joy i need from a mouse.
05/10/2010 at 18:02 skinlo says:
I’m currently on a Logitech RX250. Cost me £8 from Amazon brand new. I bet all you people with £50 don’t get 5x more kills than me :P
05/10/2010 at 18:03 skinlo says:
£50 mice that is.
05/10/2010 at 18:07 Limes says:
Steelseries Xai, couldn’t recommend both it and SS’ tech support enough (bought an Ikari, hated the shape, got a change up for the equivalent of £10 i.e RRP VERY quickly)
Previously had a deathadder, which may slightly edge the Xai in terms of comfort and scroll wheel, but not in weight, sensitivity, customizability, or it’s overall feel of quality, the Xai feels very well put together.
Xai is also driverless, LCD on the bottom is overkill though.
Can no longer recommend Razer post tech-support. A complete refusal to repair my DA or offer replacement parts ensured they wont be getting my business again.
05/10/2010 at 18:09 suibhne says:
On my third MX518 now, after an MX510 before it, and I have another MX518 waiting in the wings (purchased on a recent Newegg sale) for when this one kicks the bucket. I can’t imagine a better mouse, really. Except for the lack of weight configuration, I suppose, which is one of the really primo additions of later Logitech models.
05/10/2010 at 18:11 Aganazer says:
I used a Razor Naga for 8 months and didn’t like it much at all. About 2 months ago I upgraded to a Logitech G500 and its much much better IMO.
Logitech mice are simply the best. I thought the grass might be greener on the Razor side, but I was wrong.
05/10/2010 at 18:18 Phil H says:
After at least 4 years of ownership, my MX518′s mousewheel stopped registering down scrolls a few weeks back, so for a change of pace I’ve now got a Razer Mamba and it’s been nothing but silky smooth for me (in wired mode, Win7 Pro-64). We’ll see how it stands the test of time.
05/10/2010 at 18:42 BizSAR says:
Anyone that has not had an opportunity to try the R.A.T. 7 mouse is selling themselves short. Easily the best gaming mouse ever made. Maximum PC agrees with me: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/worldexclusive_review_rat7_best_gaming_mouse_ever_0
I loved my G9, but the R.A.T. 7 beats it hands-down.
05/10/2010 at 18:55 DrGonzo says:
That’s probably the ugliest perepheral I’ve ever seen and I want one.
05/10/2010 at 18:56 Jez says:
I had a G500 but soon realised that the Thumb buttons were shit, hard to press and very undistinguished. The rest seemed okay, but meh… Then I went for a G700 for Wirelessness and still have it, although that’s going to have to go. It’s painful to use, the weight is fine, but I’ve always been happiest with a simpler mouse… going to go for a Mamba, I think.. Something small, solid, fast and wireless. Wired FTL.
05/10/2010 at 19:09 Azazel says:
G5 for teh games – my mx510 has been relegated to Work PC mouse duties.
05/10/2010 at 19:10 klo3 says:
I bought the Steelseries Xai because i needed a precise corded gaming mouse for DA:O which for some reason lagged with my DiNovo. I liked the simple design and wanted to support a smaller brand.
The feel of the material is nice but the mouse feels too light for my tastes. The ambidextrous design makes it a bit too small for my manly mans hands. The mouse is precise, i guess, on mySteelseries aluminium mousing surface. One of the selling points was the driverless architecture were you save the settings with a program directly on the mouse hardware thus eliminating the need for a driver on your comp. This architecture is most obviously noticed when i happen to have it plugged in my laptop where it slows down the booting process during bios for about 15-20 seconds.
Overall i’m not fully convinced if its worth the high pricetag, and if i needed a new mouse now i think i’d go with one of the Logitechs mainly because of the physical design.
05/10/2010 at 19:10 Faxmachinen says:
It’s still easier to move your fingers than the whole mouse when you run out of “surface space” though. Also, you don’t actually have less surface space, since even an El Cheapo trackball has much higher sensitivity than the equivalent optical mouse. It just takes a while to aquire the necessary precision. I can do 180° turns by spinning my trackball one quarter of a revolution.
05/10/2010 at 19:29 Feet says:
Another mx 518 user for 3 years here. It’s good, I have never thought to trade it in for something else.
05/10/2010 at 20:00 scalywg says:
i miss my old wingman…
I wish someone would release a kickass new ball mouse for luddite gamers like me…
05/10/2010 at 20:01 Warduke says:
@Petethegoat
Pete, you can order replacement batteries for the G7 on Logitech’s website. I got an additional two last year for $10 delivered. I’ve never had to use them though. My original 2 batteries are going strong still and I get a full day of use out of each one.
05/10/2010 at 20:04 SuperNashwan says:
My MX510 is still going after something like 6 years. The adhesive for one of the feet gave out and I forgot to glue it back on before I lost it but other than that it’s as good as it ever was. When (if) it breaks I’m pretty sure it’ll just get replaced with a 518.
05/10/2010 at 20:52 SH4RKY says:
Rev 2 G5. Sublime.
Might try and source another as a back up, dont fancy the freewheel in the G500. Friends g500 wheel broke and i had a MXrev that had the same issue. Dont really trust that freewheel design anymore.
05/10/2010 at 21:06 WindowsGamer says:
Admit it, you all just Ctrl-F’d all 3 pages to see if your mouse was mentioned! Ok, so did I. And it was, a few times… the Razer Imperator (laser) has great tracking and on-the-fly DPI switching, but the mouse wheel is already feeling flimsy after 2 months. Also, the mousewheel click has a frustratingly high degree of resistance.
05/10/2010 at 21:08 Nootrishus says:
Steelseries Ikari laser mouse. Don’t think I will ever look back.
05/10/2010 at 21:31 terry says:
Microsoft Comfort Optical 3000 – same as the last five years.
05/10/2010 at 21:32 zacaj says:
Logitech MX Revolution. Best mouse Ive ever used, liked it so much I have a stack of 5 in case they break. I should be set for life.
05/10/2010 at 21:33 Vitamin Powered says:
I’m using the previous version of your mouse Jim; the Logitech G5. Occasionally glitches a little (mostly due to flying from London to Melbourne and back again in my luggage), but apart that she’s a fine mouse.
05/10/2010 at 21:39 somedude says:
After owning a number of intellimice, and eventually coming to the conclusion that they were not particularly compatible with my wrist for pain-free work, I switched over to a Razer ProSolutions mouse (which is basically a Diamondback with slightly more professional branding). It’s lasted close to as long as all three of my intellimice put together, and it’s great for work, and okay for gaming (use it mainly for RTS gaming).
My first love for FPS gaming, though, is another mouse that is generally rare to see, one dubbed the PistolMouse (put out by the possibly defunct company MonsterGecko). It basically looks like a pistol controller propped up on a huge mouse base, and while it looks quite unwieldy, it’s surprisingly sturdy and actually very nice to play with – the feeling of actually holding a gun and pulling on an actual trigger to shoot in FPS games makes them feel much more immersive, to me at least. Also, since you hold it like a pistol with a vertical grip, it works a lot like the vertical-style ergonomic mice, and it’s helped enormously with reducing wrist pain for my long gaming sessions. Of course, given that I’m apparently one of the very few people who love the thing, it was pretty much a commercial flop. The plus side, though, is that a bunch of places are still trying to unload their remaining stock. This means they sell for about the price of a budget mouse nowadays, so I bought up a bunch of backups on the cheap to replace my original if it ever breaks.
05/10/2010 at 22:00 Shakermaker says:
On my desktop I use a Razer DeathAdder. I have owned it for over two years now and even though I treat it very poorly it has yet to fail me. Perfect shape for my hand, big side buttons and as others have mentioned the pulsating logo is a useless but cool feature. The only gripe I have is that the main buttons are just a tad too responsive. I would have liked it even better if clicking would require just a little more effort.
I also recently bought a Logitech Anywhere for my laptop. As the name suggests it works on basically any surface. It is even responsive on the fold-out tray tables you have in airplanes. While not a proper gaming mouse (and cordless) it does the trick well enough, especially when on the road. It has the perfect weight, perfect size (for a portable mouse that is) and the perfect click. Also very nice is that the wheel can toggle between free spin and increments. That is feature every mouse should have imo. Highly recommended in general and a must-have for heavy laptop users.
06/10/2010 at 10:18 Vague-rant says:
Razer Deathadder here as well. I agree completely! Perfect except for those sensitive, sensitive buttons. I rammed some tape under the LMB to ease its sensitivity (after alot of trimming it formed a makeshift spring). It worked, and was barely noticable externally but I felt like I should learn how to use the mouse I spent 25 quid on (took me ages to eventually convince myself it was worth it for a mouse that wouldn’t break after a few months).
05/10/2010 at 22:17 A-Scale says:
I have giant bear claws and enjoy my Logitech G9. It’s a far superior mouse to anything Razer produces. If you too seek a mouse to fit your giant hands, go with a G9 rather than G7 variant, which didn’t fit my hands at all.
05/10/2010 at 22:25 LeavingLasVegas says:
I agree wholeheartedly. The MX518 is a great mouse. HIghly durable and highly functional without being complicated.
05/10/2010 at 23:59 John Peat says:
Thirded – no weights (gimmick), no extra buttons (you won’t use or or you’ll get banned for using em!!) just a nice sized, smooth running mouse which should last eons…
05/10/2010 at 22:36 Auspex says:
I genuinely cannot believe how many comments this post has produced. I’ve never given a shit about computer mice: am I the weird one?
05/10/2010 at 23:58 John Peat says:
A good mouse is a fantastic investment – you don’t have to spend a fortune (MX518s are EU25/£25/$35).
I fix PCs and I never fail to be amazed at the SHIT people use – like it would kill them to get something which WORKS!
Mice with too-short cords, mice with sticky buttons, mice with NO SCROLL WHEEL (like having a PC powered by COAL!), mice with actual balls which stick all the damned time (and have 3 tonnes of skin inside them) – I mean The History Channel called and wanted to do a feature on these people…
It’s not like gaming keyboards (which are largely gimmicks – he says typing on a Sidewinder but it WAS cheap!!) – a decent mouse helps everything you do from browsing, art progs, video editting and – of course – gaming…
JOIN US!
05/10/2010 at 22:49 Adventurous Putty says:
I’ve got my loyal MX 600 mouse from forever ago. It’s never failed me, even for years, and although the bottom is a bit scraped up it still works like a charm with the wireless keyboard it came with. Truly a godsend, and not just for gaming either — I love being able to have a Google button that immediately starts a search for highlighted text in a new tab. Awesome functionality. It might be out of production nowadays, though.
05/10/2010 at 22:55 Kadayi says:
Being of the leftie collective I’m using a rather dated Logitech G3. Though I am tempted at some point to buy a Lefty Razer Death Adder .
05/10/2010 at 23:05 DevilSShadoW says:
I have yet to find anything that van even come close to my Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse
05/10/2010 at 23:54 John Peat says:
I’ve seen one of those and nailing a giant pink cock to your forehead might have a similar effect in ‘style’ terms…
Gratz for getting anything made by Saitek to last more than 1 week past the end of any warranty tho – that’s rare…
05/10/2010 at 23:24 Grey_Ghost says:
I’m using a Razer Orochi as a wired desktop mouse.
05/10/2010 at 23:51 Blackberries says:
Razer Diamondback I got in 2005, still going strong.
06/10/2010 at 00:02 John Peat says:
One thing I’m noticing here is that a few people have gone over to the darkside and switched to wireless…
Don’t get me wrong – no wire is amazing but I’ve NEVER used a wireless mouse which didn’t have lag and which, as a result, was useless for gaming.
No just the cheapies – I tried a high-end Logitech and it had as much lag as most of the others. The simple fact is that a wireless mouse needs a little CPU/resource on your PC to work so when it’s busy/hectic it might just have to wait a – there you go, no action…
How do these people live with themselves – an extra core in the CPU just to cover that?? :)
06/10/2010 at 00:02 Eddeman says:
I’m still using an mx500 after 7 or so years, still works perfectly. Only 2 of the mouseskates are left, but I have no problem using it with my 15 year old mousepad (I was using it with our Pentium 75 mhz). I dread the day when I have to replace either of them.
06/10/2010 at 00:08 Radiant says:
apropos of nothing what’s the best mouse to avoid tendon strains?
I’ve avoided it [touch wood] but was wondering if it’s because I exclusively move the mouse using my fingers and a planted wrist with a high sensitivity or whether it’s my trusted MX518?
06/10/2010 at 11:19 bonjovi says:
been playing FPS’es for yonks, never had a tendon strain.
I’m using my whole hand to move a mouse, tried to learn to use only fingers but I find moving whoel hand much more confortable as i don’t ahev to support my fingers hovering over buttons.
06/10/2010 at 00:26 Chorltonwheelie says:
I’ve got a lovely little silver Philippe Starck designed number.
It seems to be wearing out after 6 years use and that makes me sad.
06/10/2010 at 00:53 Renk says:
On my Desktop i use my old Logitech MX310. It’s held up at least 5 years now and through 3 computer builds. Hell, it was used when i got it XD. If i ever need to get a new mouse, i see no need at all to stray far from Logitech.
On my laptop, i use a Trackman. For one, it’s much easier on the wrists and whatnot, but also very space friendly as it can be used just about anywhere.
06/10/2010 at 02:51 john_silence says:
Razer is a risky option, it seems. 1-year warranties, terrible tech support… This fun video absolutely drove me away from Razer’s Lycosa keyboard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S070xPc8j_0
I was also pretty depressed by their latest newsletter, urging me to “wipe that smirk off the noob’s face” by investing in one of their stupid wristbands. Seriously, if I’m using a wristband while playing an FPS then most probably the noob is me, getting all sweaty and confused because of my unending deathstreak.
Anyway, in spite of the appalling name the brand elected, I’ve been happily using a Stinger by Cyber-Snipa (chuckle) for 2 years now. It’s got pretty much everything covered: it’s high and ergonomic, the weight system actually makes a difference to the point where I’ve actually felt adding in or removing just one weight made the mouse feel better, the rubber sides are amazing, there’s on-the-fly DPI switching, but toned down to meaningful levels (400/800/1600/2000) instead of ridiculous 5600 twitch blasts and instantly identified by a change in the scrollwheel’s colour, and best of all it looks fun (the bright-red cord makes the fiancee happy – no, not like you’re thinking – really, stop that!)
I went to it after getting tired of my second MX518 (my dog ate the first one’s cord – what is it with everyone in my home obsessing about cords?). It felt like a step-up, honestly, although the MX581 is fine.
06/10/2010 at 03:14 Matt says:
I’ve got a Logitech G9 Laser. You can tell it’s better than all the other mice mentioned because it has the word “Laser” printed on the heel and the phrase “Gaming-Grade Laser” printed on the underside.
Also: 4 buttons, multiple profiles, rolly/clicky mousewheel toggle, weight tray, etc. etc.
06/10/2010 at 04:18 Angryinternetman says:
I’d love to have a gaming mouse that doesnt go clickety click when I press mouse buttons.
I own MX 518, btw.
06/10/2010 at 04:21 Ben says:
G500, and its really not too expensive if you get it at the right time from, say, newegg.
but while I’ve always agree’d that the weight cartrages are kinda silly, I have found throwing a little extra weight near the back did make the mouse feel a little better (nothing I’d pay extra for, but notable). I picked it because its the cheapest one that had an excellent DPI. also, love the software independent macro, etc.
06/10/2010 at 05:21 Ozzie says:
I always go for the most cheap mouse available. As a result they never last long, but I really love the last one I bought, the Genius Netscroll, eh something. It lies well in my hand and the buttons are satisfying to click. The mouse wheel is also well usable as a middle mouse button.
It looks like this:
http://www.panadir.com/osc/images/genius%20mouse.jpg
06/10/2010 at 09:09 Halbyrd says:
Went with the Razer Imperator myself. Would have loved to get the Mamba instead (two more buttons, 1000hz polling over RF), but my wallet wouldn’t support the cost. $130 for a mouse? Yeesh.
06/10/2010 at 11:12 bonjovi says:
Had razer copperhead for about 2 years, however it’s drivers/software did not like my pc. i had to unplug , plug after each reboot. but the mouse itself server me very well.
replace id with g9, which i’m using over 2 years now and it’s the best one yet. i stripped it off any weights (lost them actually). my only bug with g9 is that it’s cabe although very durable got ripped off it’s protective skin on the edge of my desk (i wouldn’t call it bad design, i probably shoul dhave prevented it XD.
copperhead’s cable did not rip on the same desk probably because it beeing smooth causes no friction with the edge of the desk.
both mices awesome to use in FPS, woul dbe very happy to get either as a present! :-) (this time securing the cables ;-) )
06/10/2010 at 13:50 Tyranny says:
Deathadder for me too. I never really think about it, so it must be doing everything right. I like the pulsating blue glow, but I really like that it’s just black, unfussy, with very clean lines. The Gentleman’s mouse!
I got mine for more than £25, you did well Vague-rant. Like John Peat below, I think it’s always worth investing in a good mouse. The difference it makes even to just browsing can be incredible. That goes for keyboards and monitors too. Basically your interface to the machine should be as pleasant to use as possible.
That’s why I don’t think these data-spikes inserted into the spinal column are really going to catch on.
06/10/2010 at 14:37 Tom says:
I’ve just got a microsoft sidewinder (the original not the new X ones) and it’s awesome!!! On clearance in PC world for £30!!!!
I had a razer pro solutions before which was good but this is another level. It’s got metal vertical page up down buttons so you don’t hit the wrong button which I did all the time on the razer. Dpi buttons with lcd display, metal scroll wheel, adjustable weights (with case that doubles as a cable anchor), macros (including quick turn) and different feet to suit different surfaces.
06/10/2010 at 16:58 MadMatty says:
Any “dad” mouse will do, unless its really crappy or something.
Used to have a Razor Boomslang, also with realtime DPI adjustment, tho it turned out to be of lesser use. These days i dont care that much.
I used to play Counterstrike religiously, and our team actually got to 40th position once on clanbase- had to play 3-4 hours a day to keep warm, and i needed a very precise mouse for the fanatics we were facing at that time. Actually, the high DPI turned out to be overkill, and i left the mouse at a comfortable 1/10th sensitivity i think.
Extra buttons are a bonus, unless you click some by mistake, with your vice like death-hand grip (comes from heated Counterstrike matches).
06/10/2010 at 17:00 MadMatty says:
oh yeah, time for a quick E-peen:
i had 50,000 registered multiplayer kills on clanbase, the real number probably tripple that :D
06/10/2010 at 17:04 MadMatty says:
I think the very high DPI for mice might be more usefull these days, as were playing games at much higher screen resolutions.. does that make any sense? you´re still aiming for pixels and such.
06/10/2010 at 17:14 MadMatty says:
theres something called GAS: gear aquisition syndrome:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_Acquisition_Syndrome
usually hits computer games players with more money than common sense…
If you wanna BUY yourself an e-sports advantage, i´d suggest getting a better graphics card (ATI for the win this time ´round)….
But then you´d only be playing agaisnt people at your income level.
Wanna fight like a man, try the oldschool version of Counterstrike!
06/10/2010 at 17:04 Richard Beer says:
I can’t believe nobody’s got the Roccat Kone. It’s a fantastic mouse. Sometimes I change the colour of the LEDs!
06/10/2010 at 18:31 GC says:
I replaced my MX510 with a MX518 (which has big glide pads so less prone to unstick) and love the speed control, though I’d like finer increments…
06/10/2010 at 22:57 Alexander says:
I got that one to replace a decaying microsoft one; after having experienced a bunch of razers (and I’m not partial since I’m using one of their keyboards) and considering them rather mediocre built I am surprised by this mouse. It’s feels solid, works beautifully. Not such a heavy gamer anymore though and I doubt you’re going to do any DPI switching in-game since the screen(wtfponies?) for the profiles is on the bottom of the mouse.
06/10/2010 at 22:58 Alexander says:
this was in response to the Steelseries XAI post.
07/10/2010 at 07:12 Kos says:
I have a simple rule. If it has buttons under the thumb, it’s not my mouse. Simple.
I don’t click with my thumb. I grip with my thumb. Whenever I held a mouse with thumb buttons, I felt uncomfortable.
07/10/2010 at 16:06 crooon says:
Being a guy who’s spent 500USD+ on mice, and tried most, I’ll just come out and say it:
Qpad 5K or Mionix Naos 5000. That is all.
Commence agreement or unfounded ignorance, your choice.
07/10/2010 at 16:54 john_silence says:
No one normal should be reading this comment thread anymore, but since my post a page before was apparently eaten raw by angry Internet men, here I go again: I have used a Stinger by Cyber Snipa for 2 years, and find it very nice. I used to have a MX518, which was nice, but found the Stinger a bit of a step-up.
07/10/2010 at 17:59 The Head Geek says:
I recently picked up a Logitech MX518 and I absolutely love it. The ability to change DPS on the fly becomes second nature after a short time. It’s great for gaming, and also doing graphic work (since you can get very precise when needed).
08/10/2010 at 07:51 Sixxor says:
I’ve had a few in the last 10 years or so!
First was an MS Intellimouse Explorer 3, which I loved but it wore out (sticky left click).
I then got a Logitech MX700 which along with the wearing out with sticky left click again, the charging contacts stopped working unless I rammed it down really hard, and even then it would sometimes stop charging part way though so it would then die again really quick.
Then I had a Logitech G7 whcih eventually developed the same problems as the MX700 so I gave up on Logitech after that.
About 4 years ago, I bought a Razer Deathadder, and I love it so much that last year I bought a second one for home gaming and now use the old one at work which is still working perfectly.
I tried the Razer Imperator the other day and I really like the feel of that too, so that might be my next purchase when it comes to replacing one of my Deathadders.
09/10/2010 at 03:53 geck0_k says:
G9x + SteelSeries I2 = Sex. smooth mouse movement, adjustable weights and 2 interchangeable bodies. I love this combo, it’s well worht the price.