Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Mouse

Microsoft claims their design inspirations for the SideWinder Gaming Mousewere Halo’s Master Chief and a concept car from Mazda called the Senku, and the comparison may be apt: the aerodynamic top and chunky side projections call to mind some sort of high-tech car or jet. Microsoft studded the top and sides of the mouse with all kinds of controls: the standard left, right and scroll-wheel buttons, two additional programmable buttons on the left side, an on-the-fly macro recorder, a quick launch button molded into the palm rest, the world’s first (according to Microsoft) LCD display in a mouse, and three DPI buttons for adjusting the sensitivity of the laser sensor.

The Microsoft Sidewinder has the potential to be a truly excellent gaming mouse: features like the thumb buttons placement, DPI buttons, macro button and textured scroll wheel complement a mouse that sits well in the hand and - thanks to customizable weight and textured feet - moves with the feel that suits you best. However significant issues, including the low number of programmable buttons and the upper limit of the mouse’s laser sensor, underscore a need by Microsoft to reevaluate their design. With some revisions, the SideWinder could be the world’s best gaming mouse, but it isn’t quite there yet.

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