Computing: Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse Review – 70

Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse – $149

Computer gaming is a trade-off. While geeks may not get the girl, they sure get all the cool toys. Last issue Tim Anderson got to review Playtech’s impressive Striker Extreme PC. To those who are serious about their computer games, that quad core, water-cooled monster will be worth every cent of the $5999 (sans monitor!) it costs to own.

But not all the best computer gadgets will cost you six grand. For example, $150 will get you the latest and greatest in gaming mice, Microsoft’s Sidewinder. No, a mouse isn’t nearly as sexy as a PC that has glowing blue lights, but just try playing a shooter without one.

That the Sidewinder mouse is designed purely with gaming in mind is apparent just by looking at it. It’s bigger than a standard mouse, offering gamers the sort of control they require. Your father’s mouse probably doesn’t have five programmable buttons, an LCD display or a 2000dpi resolution, either. Perhaps the coolest aspect of the Sidewinder is that it is weight adjustable. Yep, it actually comes with its own tiny set of weights that let you add up to 35g of extra heft. That, plus the option to switch between feet made from three different materials, makes this perhaps the most customisable gaming mouse around. In fact the only down side to the Sidewinder is that the placing of its buttons means this is a product for right-handers only.

RICHARD BETTS

This review is from Tone issue #70.