Gaming Mice, or Mouse

[-Fake]

So what would you get.
I have the following I might get

• Razer Deathadder 3G
• Steelseries Xai

What would you get, or what other mice would you get. (Any types Logitech, Razer, Microsoft, Steelseries, etc. Any types are okay)
I currently have a Wireless mouse, it is a Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000. It is okay for flick shots in CS:S but not sure.

 

[Ducttape]

Everyone has their own opinions about mice (see the 1000's of flame war threads on mice )


It comes down to you.

Yes,
you.

Best thing to do is go into a Brick & Mortar store like a Best Buy, and actually put your paws on the mice, see how they feel.

I've used a lot of mice, and there's just a huge difference between the ergonomics, how they feel, and how your hand feels after an hours long gaming session. Get a mouse that doesn't fit well with your style of holding & using a mouse and you'll start to notice pain and discomfort in your hand and wrist. not fun.

Short video on the different styles of holding a mouse:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqSGFQIcU_o[/ame]

Not the greatest video, but it gives you an idea. Try to identify your style, and that'll help you find a mouse that better suits you.

Also, how big are your hands? Large? Small?

I have HUGE hands: seriously, I can palm a basketball without even trying to stretch my hands (I'm over 6' tall, and have long gorilla arms, too :O )

I tried using a Logitech G9 mouse once, but that mouse is so tiny it was like I could only get a few fingers on it at once.
Logitech G9

The Logoitech G500 was ok, but the Wheel was a total failure for me. I remember having that mouse when L4D was still in it's height of popularity; a common game mouse necessity was changing weapons with your mouse wheel, and you needed to 'click' the mouse wheel to select a weapon; unfortunately, the G500 mouse wheel is so uncontrollably free-spinning and almost impossible to click without moving the wheel again, it made L4D kinda hard. Other than the wheel, I really didn't like the placement of the side buttons, and the texture was like sandpaper.
Logitech G500

A larger line of mice (like what I'm using now) is the Microsoft Sidewinder series. Decent mice, feels nice (IF you have big hands). These mice feel, I dunno, like their built industrial strength strong? Overall mostly hard-plastic feels like it'll last, but not as comfortable to hold as the Razer Deathadder.
Microsoft Sidewinder X5
If you need a wireless gaming mouse:
MIcrosoft Sidewinder X8


The Razer Deathader 3G (I've had that one, too) is a good mouse. My only complaint about that mouse was the sensor: it had to be used on certain surfaces, and white surfaces wasn't one of them. Since my desk is white, it wasn't a good fit for me. I loved the way it felt, and (when used on a mouse-pad) it had great response and tracking.
Razer Deathadder 3G
The Razer Lachesis has a better laser sensor, but a very, very different ergonomics. Might be a good mouse if you have a finger-tip control style. It's very low to the ground, and wide in the front. If the idea of having a mouse that doesn't have that 'arch' to rest your palm on sounds tempting, this is the mouse for you:
Razer Lachesis
The Razer Mamba (a great mouse) is essentially a Razer Deathadder with a better laser sensor, wireless, and offers DPI switching. Kinda pricey though, but worth a look if you can afford it:
Razer Mamba

Sorry, but I don't have any experience with the Steel Series of mice.

If I was on a budget, and wanted a good, cheap mouse used primarily for gaming, I'd consider the Razer Deathadder and the Microsoft Sidewinder X5.

Remember, the Razer Deathadder does NOT offer on-the-fly DPI switching (practically every other gaming mouse does). Instead, you can map (via the Razer software) sensitivity changing to one of the buttons. (I mapped mine to the mouse 'click' button) Click the mouse wheel, and scroll the wheel up/down to adjust, and click again to set it. Not as nice as actual DPI switching, but it gets the job done. The Deathadder feels tremendously better to hold (the texture of that mouse is great) the Razer software is sooooo much better than the Microsoft software (if you want to remap buttons, macros, etc, Razer is far superior to Microsoft).

The Microsoft X5 is overall ok, but it might be too big for some people, and it only has a 2000DPI max sensor.

 

[-Fake]

Thanks Ducttape, it was exactly what I needed!

 

[Cut Chem!st]

The Logoitech G500 was ok, but the Wheel was a total failure for me. I remember having that mouse when L4D was still in it's height of popularity; a common game mouse necessity was changing weapons with your mouse wheel, and you needed to 'click' the mouse wheel to select a weapon; unfortunately, the G500 mouse wheel is so uncontrollably free-spinning and almost impossible to click without moving the wheel again, it made L4D kinda hard. Other than the wheel, I really didn't like the placement of the side buttons, and the texture was like sandpaper.

You do realize there is a button under the mouse wheel on the g500 that stops it from being free spinning, and spins like a normal wheel, where it spins and stops after one movement. If you hit it again, it makes the wheel un-locked and doesn't stop its self.

 

[Ducttape]

You do realize there is a button under the mouse wheel on the g500 that stops it from being free spinning, and spins like a normal wheel, where it spins and stops after one movement. If you hit it again, it makes the wheel un-locked and doesn't stop its self.

yes I knew of the button.

Even in the 'click-as-you-turn-it' mode, the mouse wheel just didn't feel right to me - still felt very 'loose'. I do use the mouse 'click' a lot though (where you actually push down on the wheel to perform a function). If someone never really used that, it probably wouldn't be a big deal to them.

I don't know, it just never felt right to me? I know a LOT of people rave about the G500, personally I prefer the older MX518 to the G500.

 

[Cut Chem!st]

yes I knew of the button.

Even in the 'click-as-you-turn-it' mode, the mouse wheel just didn't feel right to me - still felt very 'loose'. I do use the mouse 'click' a lot though (where you actually push down on the wheel to perform a function). If someone never really used that, it probably wouldn't be a big deal to them.

I don't know, it just never felt right to me? I know a LOT of people rave about the G500, personally I prefer the older MX518 to the G500.

Hm, weird. My mouse wheel on it is very rigid, and pushing down on it a lot is no hassle.

 

[Ducttape]

I bought my G500 from Newegg. The wheel was so...funky I RMA'd it for a replacement. The second was just as bad, so I sent it back and got an entirely different mouse.

Knowing how much people love the G500, it's possible I just got really, really unlucky and got two bad ones in a row. I bought mine when they were first released; is it possible Logitech addressed this issue on later model G500's?

On the ones I had, the wheel was so wobbly it was nearly impossible to push the 'wheel click' without it going all squirly :/

 

[cool breeze]

In reference to the computer input device, the plural is "mouses". Mice refers to multiple rodents

They've probably improved technology quite a bit since the last time I tried a wireless mouse for gaming, but my preference is a wired optical. I feel like its the best combination of technologies.

I'm a huge fan of Logitech products, so my vote goes in their direction. Mousin' around with one of their offerings right now

 

[-Fake]

In reference to the computer input device, the plural is "mouses". Mice refers to multiple rodents

They've probably improved technology quite a bit since the last time I tried a wireless mouse for gaming, but my preference is a wired optical. I feel like its the best combination of technologies.

I'm a huge fan of Logitech products, so my vote goes in their direction. Mousin' around with one of their offerings right now

http://steelseries.com/us/products/mice <-- Big fail to them

 

[jaxory]

In reference to the computer input device, the plural is "mouses". Mice refers to multiple rodents

Actually, both mouses and mice are accepted terms for the plural form.

 

[cool breeze]

Oh, pffffff

Believe me, the industry's defined plural form is "mouses". "Mice" is accepted because there is no way in hell they could ever get every new computer enthusiast and everyday end-user to understand that its two different things even though the word is the same. Its one of those things you have to just let go, because all of the n00bs will never learn if they weren't around when the decision was made.

Either way, Logitech for the win . I wanna try out one of those Razers everyone keeps talking about, they sound\look nifty, but I am REAL particular about button locations on a mouse and those things look like keyboards lol

 

[jaxory]

Oh, pffffff

Believe me, the industry's defined plural form is "mouses". "Mice" is accepted because there is no way in hell they could ever get every new computer enthusiast and everyday end-user to understand that its two different things even though the word is the same. Its one of those things you have to just let go, because all of the n00bs will never learn if they weren't around when the decision was made.

Either way, Logitech for the win . I wanna try out one of those Razers everyone keeps talking about, they soundlook nifty, but I am REAL particular about button locations on a mouse and those things look like keyboards lol

I don't see how you can define the entire industries preferred choice. Both are used commonly in the industry. Either usage is correct. Even Logitech uses the term Mice. So does Razer. So does Microsoft. That covers the three big gaming mouse manufacturers. Just because you're using the term mice instead of mouses doesn't mean you're a noob. If you're really all that concerned about someone being confused what you're talking about, perhaps you should call them Mouse Devices.