The Great Mouse Debate

H

Hobbs

I made one post
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Jan 10, 2008
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20
Here are my reviews of the mice I either currently own, have owned, or tried.

Ratings Scale from 1-5

Logitech G5 (Dual button)
Logitech G5 Link
------------------------

Design: 4
Comfort: 4
Performance: 4
Software/Drivers: 4

Pros:

* Well-constructed Laser with 2000 DPI.
* Tracks well on most surfaces.
* Customizable weight tray.
* DPI selection indicator lights.
* Horizontal scrolling.
* 64bit Drivers.

Cons:

* Plastic material is slippery.
* Easy to mis-click horizontal buttons when trying to use the center click.
* Large mouse, not good for people with smaller hands.
* Cracked Blue Design looks horrible.

Comments:

I’m actually using this one at work now.
The fact that this mouse feels like it has been “slimed” turns me off from using it while gaming.
The horizontal scrolling works nice for excel documents though.
It also seems big and bulky to me and not very accurate for precision gaming movements.


Logitech MX518
Logitech MX518 Link
---------------

Design: 4
Comfort: 5
Performance: 3
Software/Drivers: 4

Pros:

* Tracks well on most surfaces.
* Excellent feel and grip.
* Well-positioned buttons.
* 64 bit Drivers.

Cons:

* Optical not laser.
* 1600 DPI max.
* No indicator for DPI level.
* Tracks when lifted.

Comments:

This is still my fav Logitech mouse.
The button placement is excellent and the feel and size is perfect.
I only wish they would update the sensor.


Razer DeathAdder
Razer DeathAdder Link
-----------------

Design: 3
Comfort: 5
Performance: 4
Software/Drivers: 3

Pros:

* Excellent feel and grip.
* Does not track when lifted.
* Sensor is always on (No delay).
* Cool lights.

Cons:

* Lack of buttons (only 5)
* Optical Infrared sensor, not Laser.
* Horrible Firmware (have to upgrade after you buy the mouse).
* No 64bit Drivers.

Comments:

This would be my be fav mouse if it wasn’t for the sensor and the lack of buttons.
It has the perfect weight and feel IMO.
I would have rated the style higher if it wasn’t for these shortcomings.


Razer Copperhead
Razer Copperhead Link
---------------

Design: 3.5
Comfort: 3
Performance: 4.5
Software/Drivers: 3

Pros:

* Tracks well on most surfaces.
* Does not track when lifted.
* 1000 Polling rate.
* Excellent 2000 DPI laser.
* Sensor is always on (No delay).
* 7 buttons (although they are placed badly).

Cons:

* No indicator for DPI level.
* Horrible button placement (impossible to select buttons on opposite side of hand).
* No 64bit Drivers.
* Price!

Comments:
Many Razer users swear by this mouse.
In the performance arena it is truly top dog, but the feel and look of this mouse is a huge turn-off for me.
The rails seems to jab into my hand and I personally don’t like the feel of them, although they are functional for grip.


Razer Lachesis
Razer Lachesis Link
--------------

Design: 3.5
Comfort: 3
Performance: 5
Software/Drivers: 3

Pros:

* Tracks well on most surfaces.
* Does not track when lifted (the best I’ve seen yet).
* 1000 Polling rate.
* 4000 DPI Laser!
* Sensor is always on (No delay).
* 9 buttons (although they are placed badly).

Cons:

* No indicator for DPI level.
* No 64bit Drivers.
* Horrible Software (registers all advanced button configurations as a single click).
* Very Lightweight, no weight adjustment options.
* Odd feel (more for a claw type grip instead of a palm).
* Price!

Comments:

This is the one I’m currently using (not anymore).
I would prob drop it though if it weren’t for the supremely amazing laser it has.
It is honestly the most accurate and well-built laser I have ever played on.
It stops tracking the minute you lift the thing a millimeter off the surface.
When it is placed back on the mouse pad it doesn’t jitter like so many other mice either.
The only downsides are the crappy button placement, design (not good for palm grips), and weight.

Microsoft Sidewinder
Microsoft Sidewinder Link
--------------

Design: 3.5
Comfort: 4
Performance: 4
Software/Drivers: 5

Pros:

* Tracks well on most surfaces.
* Does not track when lifted.
* 2000 DPI Laser.
* Sensor is always on (No delay).
* 9 buttons (4 are not programmable).
* Adjustable weight system.
* Customizable mouse feet.
* 64 Bit Software.

Cons:

* PRICE!
* Large Mouse.
* Feels cheap.

Comments:

Overall this mouse is top notch. There are a few issues I found however that keep this mouse from getting top honor.
The Price is exceptionally high for a mouse, the awkward placement of the side buttons, overly large size of the palm end of the mouse, and the generally "Cheap" feel of the mouse itself. On a positive note Microsoft has one of the best software packages out for any gaming mouse I have seen to date. It rivals both Logitech and Razer for customization and ease of use. With configs like 180 degree turn, on the fly macro additions, and game detection (that actually works) it is hard to beat Microsoft's software.

Logitech G9
Logitech G9 Link
--------------

Design: 4
Comfort: 4.5
Performance: 4.5
Software/Drivers: 5

Pros:

* 3200 DPI Laser
* 9 Buttons (7 Programmable)
* Onboard Memory
* Always on laser.
* Tracks on most surfaces.
* Free scroll or Click option.
* DPI display with alternate colors for various profiles.
* Two different grips.
* Adjustable Weight System.
* Excellent Software Options.
* 64 Bit Drivers.

Cons:

* Price.
* Case shell is a little loose.
* Side buttons are small and not separated (easy to mis-hit).

Comments:

This is my new favorite mouse! It has many options for customization so that you can tweak both the feel of the mouse as well as the mechanics. The software is much improved from the G5 series and offers quite a few additional options.
The mouse also includes onboard memory, a 3200 DPI laser, and a weight cartridge system. The DPI meter can be changed to any color you desire and the onboard memory will remember your specific settings for each profile you create. This works well for creating multiple gaming profiles with different DPI settings. The mouse has a solid feel to it although the case is a tad bit loose. The back end of the mouse (where your palm sits) is wide, but would probably feel perfect for those with larger hands. In my personal opinion, this is the most comfortable and functional mouse of all the ones I have tried to date. I would highly recommend this product!
 
Last year I bought the Logitech Revolution MX and was so sadly disappointed after all its hype that I had to take it back the same day. It turned me off Logitech completely due to some of its design. The feel and buttons were great, but Logitech completely refused to make the mouse internals compatible with established standards. The forward and back buttons use proprietary button codes which made it impossible to use the thing without having the Logitech software (which is severely bloated) running on your system (which I refuse to do).

I may give them another try someday, but that experience soured me to them pretty badly.
 
I'm just going to go ahead and disagree with your Copperhead review.

I have this mouse and I came from a Logitech MX510 and a Razer Boomslang (Back in... I guess 2000ish?) and I prefer the shape of the Copperhead over the 510 (which is for more of a palm gamer rather than finger gamer). Most mice are too oriented towards palm gamers and this mouse was the perfect finger mouse for me. The rails are a very nice touch and give me something to grip it by (either directly on the rail or under to carry it) and it looks dang awesome.

Because of the way I use mice (finger!) the 510 (Every Logitech, Habu, Deathadder, Lachesis, OCZ) has always ended with some cramping in my 3rd and 4th fingers.

Performance wise, I'm much more accurate with the Copperhead over the 510. (The $35 Razer Mantis mousepad that came free with my Copperhead probably helps.) Before, I would miss my headshots by a frustratingly tiny amount but now it's dead on. (Ha, get it? Dead on? Because I own everyone.) And this is very important because I rely on headshots a lot. Apparently, I have the most headshots in the (TF2) Top 50 player rankings.

Drivers/Software was a breeze (Vista 64-bit) and being able to configure everything was very nice (I use a CP sensitivity of 3, no acceleration, 1800DPI, 1000HZ).

I'd give it:

Design: 4.5
Comfort: 3
Performance: 5
Software/Drivers: 5

So, that's my 2 cents. I wish I weren't so cheap because I would scoop up one of those new (limited edition) Boomslangs. Loved the shape and performance back then and I'm sure I would love it now.
 
I'm using a G5 right now, and I think it's extremely comfortable and accurate.
I have really big hands though, so smaller mice often feel odd to me.
 
I am also a finger mouse user. I don't think my palm ever touches the top of the mouse. I use the Logitech G7 (cordless version of the G5) and I love it. The thing I really like is that it comes with two battery packs. While one is charging the other is being used, so even if one dies it takes about 2 seconds to swap them out and get back in the game. I also love the on the fly DPI settings. I would never get a mouse that doesn't have that.
 
@ 1hrSleep:

Totally disagree with you on the drivers.

Razer has the absolute worst drivers I have ever seen out of any mouse.
They constantly release crap software that often need to be updated on a regular basis.
If you don't think that is true then go on their site and look at the revision number of any driver or go on their forums and see the massive amount of complaints.

When I got my Lachesis the drivers were so bad that I couldn't even adjust DPI or custom bind any of the buttons! This seems to be the trend with razer... that and the poor customer support have permanently discouraged me purchasing anything else from the company.

So, I can not give them anything higher then a "3" for any drivers even if the ones for the copperhead are FINALLY working.

As far as comfort... I am basing this on a "palm" grip rather then a claw or finger grip as you use so comfort will probably be different for you and I.
 
[quote1199732677=Archduke]
I'm using a G5 right now, and I think it's extremely comfortable and accurate.
I have really big hands though, so smaller mice often feel odd to me.
[/quote1199732677]

Haha. Same here. :)
 
I just bought an MX518 and it is full of awesome and win. Very comfortable, the buttons all work nicely, it looks cool, and I _don't care_ that it's optical. Very smooth motion with it, so boooo at the optical naysayers.
 
Apparently I'm not as choosy on mice as all of you. I have a Logitech MX518, and I love the thing to death. I have it turned up on its highest DPI at all times and find the movement to be very smooth.

By no means am I a sniper or a graphic artist, but I find it works well enough for me to loft that perfect grenade across a map in order to hit a sniper in his face while still allowing me to run circles without lifting my mouse up to reset it. So, if you want a mouse that is comfortable for a large-handed palm mouser that provides very easy to use thumb buttons (I use mine for mic and screenshots) and doesn't have that annoying side scroll, I heartily recommend the Logitech MX518.
 
i use the MX518 and i gotta say, AWESOME MOUSE. i wish they would update it with maybe laser or something
 
g5 custom paint thing so it looks like no one elses. i couldnt make a single complaint about this mouse if i tried.
 
I bought the G9 over the holidays and love it. You will have to pry that from my cold dead hands before I give that thing up.

Nuedar
 
Discontinued G5 man! (Rusted colored one) (Laser) I love it so much, and with the weights, it makes it that much better. :)
 
I used to use a KEM trackball, back in the day... was never able to game with it, though. Just not responsive enough, and they couldn't handle really high speed moves.
 
I use theis mouse (Logitech G5) and it rocks. I try all sorts of weight differences.
 
[quote1199879112=Nuedar]
I bought the G9 over the holidays and love it. You will have to pry that from my cold dead hands before I give that thing up.

Nuedar
[/quote1199879112]


I'm with you on that! hehe ;)
 
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