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Binding: Electronics Brand: Microsoft Color: Black EAN: 0882224709354 Label: Microsoft Manufacturer: Microsoft Model: ARB-00001 Publisher: Microsoft Sales Rank: 7654 Studio: Microsoft
Features:
2000 DPI Laser Tracking Engine - For fast action
Built to Last - Main button life: Rated to 10,000,000 clicks
On-the-Fly DPI Switching - Instantly switch sensitivity between high (2000), medium (800), and low (400) with one click.
Five Programmable Main Buttons - Customize your main gaming buttons to your preference.
Macros - Create and assign macros out-of-game using included software.
Product Description: This Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse is designed with all the gaming features you need to own your opponent. Get the latest and greatest gaming features from a mouse that's built for fast action. Five programmable buttons, including vertical side buttons put all the control at your fingertips, and the high performance laser tracking engine keeps the action fast and furious. Engineered for Speed - Right-handed shape designed for quick, balanced, precise gaming action. 1) RESOLUTION - 2000 DPI laser. 2) IMAGE PROCESSING - 7080 frames per second. 3) MAX ACCELERATION - 20 G. 3)MAX SPEED - 45+ inches per second. 4) USB REPORTING - Full-speed, 500 Hz.5) BUTTONS (Left/Right) - Rated to 10 million clicks. Quick Launch Button - One-touch access to Microsoft PC Gaming features. Quick Turn - Check your perimeter with the click of a button. Wide Rubber Scroll Wheel - With detent clicking action. Built to Last - Main button life - Rated to 10,000,000 clicks. System Requirements - Windows XP or Windows Vista, USB Port. 3 Year Warranty
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - A Good Gaming Mouse - Works With OS X
I went from a wireless six-button mouse to this wired gaming mouse, and I have to say the difference is significant. Where my wireless would do weird things like not recognizing clicks until I moved the mouse, and dropping out every once in a while, this wired mouse with increased resolution never does either of those things. It's incredibly responsive, and makes me glad I decided I could "live with" having a cord on my mouse.
The buttons are handy, and easy to reach. The feel is a little more blocky than I'm used to, but it's still comfortable. The mouse just feels like it's tracking far better than any I've used in a long time-- There's no "jumpy" feel to it in lower DPI settings, and less of one in the high setting than on my wireless mouse. It's kind of cool that I can switch DPI on the fly with a button.
In games, I noticed my response time was better, especially for circle-strafing and mouse-looking. While I'm not a huge FPS gamer, I did get some better control with this mouse in Team Fortress 2, and I felt a HUGE improvement in the way the mouse felt for Oblivion. Clicking on small icons and buttons on the in-game GUI isn't as tedious with the Sidewinder X5.
I use it in both OS X and Windows XP. Despite what the package says, the mouse does, indeed, come with drivers and control panels for OS X (not that OS X needs drivers, but the control panels are handy to assign buttons).
There's one button that I find sort of stupid and useless on this mouse. It's near the back (under your palm, when the mouse is being used) and its purpose varies depending on what OS you're using. It's not reassignable, either. It does what it does, and that is all. In Windows XP, all it does is launch the Intellimouse software; That's the mouse control panel, which you can normally reach two other ways (click the desktop/Start menu icon, or go to Control Panel). That's all it does. I hardly see why a button was needed for this function. In OS X, the button just pops your pointer up to the top left corner of the screen, and again, you can't reassign this button. It's just sort of a waste of moving parts, if you ask me.
However, stupid button aside, I dig this mouse. I think I may stick with it, despite losing wireless freedom compared to my old mouse. This mouse just works better!
Oh, I should mention that this mouse has two red lights on the bottom, near the back, and one on top. They remain on as long as your computer is sending power to the mouse, and this might be annoying for some people who don't want their mouse to be all lit up. It doesn't bother me much, but it is curious that Microsoft would put bright red lights on the mouse when the laser tracking emits light that is invisible to the human eye. These lights aren't part of the tracking hardware: They're just decoration. I guess it's supposed to look cool or something. I just think it's sort of a waste of power.
A good mouse, but not for the office or conservative desktop. Definitely a step up for gamers, though.
Rating: - Comparable to logitech
I have at least 3 Logitech mice around the house. I have in the past stayed away from Microsoft for no other reason than it was not Logitech (Logitech customer support is also fantastic). Getting a chance to examine the SideWinder X5 was an opportunity I didn't want to miss. At the least, I'd get a chance to see if Microsoft measured up to Logitech quality wise.
First off, getting the mouse out of its packaging proved easier than I thought. For some this will hardly matter. For me, not getting cut or exerting unnecessary energy and getting out my toolbox, in the process of opening up an electronics item I have purchased, is a big plus for the company.
The mouse connects via USB. My laptop with Microsoft Vista immediately found the necessary software and within 10 seconds I was able to use the mouse. The mouse comes with a software disk and manual. The software gives you access to the full capabilities of the mouse, which is what it was originally created for. Overall, when not playing games, the mouse is easy to use, comfortable to hold, doesn't skip around, good sensitivity, and easily programmable. It glides over a variety of surfaces so you can skip the mouse pad. It does feel light and not very solid, but I'm not about to throw it at my wall. Considering that some mice, i.e. from Logitech, cost about twice what the SideWinder is going for, I'd say you'd have a good investment on your hands if you purchased the X5. Then again, the original SideWinder is selling for less than the X5, so give it some thought as to what you really want out of your mouse. For example, you cannot change the weight here, as you could/can with the original SideWinder.
Rating: - Infra-Red Laser Technology makes it a Slick Mouse!
So what is a gaming mouse and why do you need one? Well a gaming mouse is optical so it is more precise and accurate than a standard mouse. This is important when you are playing first person shooters (or games like that) where every move counts. They usually have a better button arrangement and programmable buttons so you can access in-game features quickly. They are also ergonomically designed so they are more comfortable so you can spend hours playing your favorite computer game without straining yourself. All this may not seem that important (after all it is just a mouse) but to a gamer it is all about split-second decisions so a high standard mouse is a must.
The Sidewinder name has been linked to gaming for a long time and has always been known for quality and high standard. The Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro Joystick is probably the most popular joystick ever made and the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick is often acknowledged as the best one. The name also stands for reliability so it was interesting see how the Sidewinder X5 Mouse would shape up.
I hooked up the mouse to a Windows XP Computer via the USB socket. I didn't use the software, it installed automatically. When I decided to install the software to get extra features, I realized the Sidewinder X5 was not in the list but the Laser Mouse 6000 seemed to match. It didn't matter; the features are all still there so it just took getting use to it. This is pretty easy; the mouse acts as standard mouse for most things. It is just when you play a computer game that it comes into its own. I had previously struggled to play BioShock (PC Game of the Year 2007) with a standard mouse so here was the test.
On playing Bioshock, the mouse was a joy to use. I set it up so I could have certain features ready at the press of a button so it made the game easier to play. It was also very quick and responsive to every move I made and very accurate when I was shooting or making any quick moves. It blows a standard mouse away (even an optical one). The reason why is because this mouse uses an infra-red laser instead of a LED so the resolution of the image taken by the mouse is better and it also tracks a lot more efficiently (20 times better than a standard LED optical mouse).
The built quality of the mouse also looks pretty sound, it has a smooth design and it feels comfortable.
Overall I would recommend this - another option is the original Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Mouse but both are comparable in speed. Microsoft claims the Sidewinder X5 is built to last and it should be good for around 10 million clicks!
Rating: - Not as good as legendary SideWinder!
Micro$oft's SideWinder X5 Mouse reviewed here is a stripped-down version of Micro$oft SideWinder Gaming mouse which was released sometime last year.
You may ask why a new version? When the award winning SideWinder gaming mouse also sells for the same price or sometimes even lower?
Micro$oft has done some small refinements to the original SideWinder Mouse to cut the costs down and attempted to make it more lightweight ending up with SideWinder X5 which feels more plastic overall.
PROS
[+] Moisture resistant coating
[+] Still a good mouse for Gaming with customizable DPI ranging from 200- 2000 DPI
[+] New refined smoothened sculpted design with Rubber Scroll Wheel & detent clicking action
[+] Main buttons are rated for 10 million clicks for shooting those enemies down in a game or hit that send button sending as many emails as possible.
[+] L.A.S.E.R tracking engine for accurate results.
CONS
[-] Lightweight Plastic cheap feeling
[-] Designed for Right handed gamers only!
[-] Missing most of the goodies found in the original SideWinder!
I consider this mouse worth buying if it becomes cheaper than the original SideWinder from Micro$oft. Do not get me wrong, It is still a good gaming mouse but is slightly more expensive. Price on X5 will surely come down soon.
For now, I would still buy the original Sidewinder Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Mouse from Amazon which is cheaper than X5 while they are still available.
- Infra-Red Laser Technology makes it a Slick Mouse!
- Not as good as legendary SideWinder!
