Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse

(Review) - Microsoft jumps onboard with high-end gaming mice with its newly released Sidewinder. For lack of a better word, it’s interesting, and certainly a noteworthy competitor to Logitech’s G5 gaming mouse. Just like Logitech’s G5, the Sidewinder is USB 2.0, wired and has a customizable weight kit. Not to mention, it offers 2,000dpi, the highest resolution in gaming mice to date. However, there are dissimilarities that position Microsoft’s Sidewinder in a category of its own.

The layout of the mouse is a little unique, to say the least. Although the overall size is somewhat bulky, even for larger hands, it’s manageable, and we aren’t complaining too much about it. Then there is a total of 10 buttons, out of which 5 are customizable with the included Intellipoint application. Two main buttons, two thumb-side buttons, and a scroll wheel cover the Sidewinder, respectively. Additionally, you get access to a Games Explorer button that access the Games Explorer folder in Vista, a QuickTurn button that spins your character 360-degrees with one press of the button, and a dedicated macro button for assigning different options without exiting the game. How great is that!

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As discussed previously, the mouse offers 2,000dpi, but you can also select from 400dpi and 800dpi and instantly switch between the three options as you see fit. This is just on default settings, of course. With Intellipoint, you can select resolutions from 200 to 2,000dpi. In fact, there’s even an LCD display on the mouse that informs you of the selected resolution. It’s an interesting, but a rather pointless feature. But we suppose this pointlessness is what sets apart gamers from average computer users. Some bling-bling probably isn’t a bad idea.

Going back to the customizable weight kit, it’s available in 1x 5-gram and 3x 10-gram weights, which is stricter than Logitech’s options that offer more weight choices. However, unlike Logitech’s weight kit, Sidewinder’s weight case, a separate accessory from the mouse, acts as a cable wrangler as well. You can choose to wrap the Sidewinder’s cable around it for controlled slack. Awesome! Moreover, the also includes three varieties of feet: Teflon, Half-Teflon and Plastic. Again, it’s another one of those for-gamers-only features that only the hardcore gamers will be impressed with.

From a performance aspect, Microsoft’s Sidewinder is excellent, naturally. With so many customizable options, and an interesting new design, Microsoft has a winner on its hand. It just needs to watch the design a bit more carefully in Sidewinder’s next iteration, and it’ll be perfect. Kudos to Microsoft for a job well done, and that, too, for only $54.99! Wow!

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