Microsoft SideWinder X8 gaming mouse gets official, examined

Apparently fearing it would get lost among all its other product announcements yesterday, Microsoft waited until today to get official with its new SideWinder X8 mouse, which boasts the same BlueTrack technology as the company's new Explorer mice but in a more gamer-friendly package. Those touches include a play and charge system to let you keep playing while your battery recharges, switchable DPI settings, interchangeable feet to suit your "glide preference," seven programmable buttons, and a dedicated macro record button, to name a few. Unfortunately, you're going to have to wait even longer to get your hands on this one, with it only set to be released in February, 2009 (for $100), but you can at least get a good idea of what's in store by hitting up Maximum PC's hands-on below.

Read - Microsoft Press Release
Read - Maximum PC, "Hands-on with Microsoft's SideWinder X8 Mouse"

[Rainier @ Sep 10th 2008 4:16PM]

That mouse doesn't look too comfortable.

[Maeztro @ Sep 10th 2008 5:56PM]

Had the last generation sidewinder and it was the most uncomfortable thing around. It had a huge hump if that makes any sense...

[Techie @ Sep 11th 2008 12:41AM]

The Razer Copperhead is worst; the white gel around the mouse makes it harder to hold down and move the mouse.

[avester @ Sep 11th 2008 3:04AM]

I have the last gen sidewinder, and it's pretty comfy.

Got it since the OEM version retails at 36€, while the G9 is over double the price...

[maty @ Sep 11th 2008 4:54AM]

Actually a wired, standard laser version of this has been available for a while.

It doesn't "look" comfortable from those sharp edges but actually your hands done tought those - its extremely comfortable and the buttons are very well placed so you don't knock them.

I was waiting for the keyboard to be released to match mine, but heck, might as well upgrade the mouse whilst I'm at it!

[Reece @ Sep 10th 2008 4:17PM]

I know this might sound weird, but I don't ever picture myself spending $100 on a mouse.

It just doesn't seem feasable to me.

[eggothewaffle @ Sep 10th 2008 4:21PM]

Not that I would ever pay $100 for a mouse, but I think it's funny that so many people, especially gaming system self-builders, are so intent on skimping on peripherals like mice, monitors, keyboards, and speakers and then will go ahead and buy ridiculous GPU setups.

Peripherals are the components that you will actually touch...So why get a $10 mouse or a $50 speaker set?

[PynkFloydd @ Sep 10th 2008 4:34PM]

I'm with you on that. I'd get a $50 wired version of this mouse though.

[Dragod @ Sep 10th 2008 4:50PM]

I'll be buying the Logitech G5... It's a little bit cheaper, and is very nice. I believe spending $60 on a mouse that will last 10x as long as the $10 mice is well worth it.. Plus, it's just damn nice.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 10th 2008 4:59PM]

I'm with you on that, Dragod. Love my G5.

[Jason @ Sep 10th 2008 5:31PM]

It's because most self-builders are smart enough to realize that the supposed "high end" input devices offer little if any real advantages, and often have unwanted features that just get in the way of the using the computer. Better to buy something that has concrete advantages, like smooth frame rates. You sound like a Circuit City salesman.

This reminds me of a Quake gaming competition I attended once. One of the lead competitors was using a $3 mouse.

[Jason @ Sep 10th 2008 5:38PM]

I was trying to reply to Eggo. I guess you can't do that.

[Will H. @ Sep 10th 2008 8:14PM]

I have to admit, I spent nearly $100 on my Logitech Revolution MX mouse. I like it a lot, and it's been great since I got it. I have to say, I don't like the look of that MS mouse, and for $100, I don't think it's as good as an MX. If you are in the market for a luxury (lol) mouse, I would reccomend an MX.

[cheng @ Sep 10th 2008 11:05PM]

that may be true of games, but you can't tell me the smooth scroll wheel on a revolution mx isn't actually useful. sure its diminishing returns as you pay more, but there are real advantages to an expensive mouse.

[Hung @ Jun 4th 2009 12:23AM]

Jaedong, Boxer, Bisu, Stork, July, Flash, Luxury, Stork, Best, Jangbi, FBH, Fantasy, Nada (to name a few)...

So have you ever seen these guys in action? I've never seen a wireless mouse in a Korean Starcraft match; only American pro-gamers use "high-end" (fiat, I'm sure) peripherals. While I'll admit that a G5 is definitely nicer than a ball mouse, I'm sure those guys up there are willing to bet their sponsorships on the fact that the two are identical in-game.

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 10th 2008 4:17PM]

I wish this had all the features of the X8 but came in the shiny red casing of the Arc Mouse. Then my mouse would be all dressed up and ready to kill (and by kill I mean snipe n00bs in deathmatches).

[Kamokazi @ Sep 10th 2008 4:17PM]

Hmmm...I'll have to compare it to my Logitech G7. Might be worth it.

[brandon_r87 @ Sep 10th 2008 4:24PM]

I have a G7 too, and it's the best mouse I've ever used. This one looks really good, but I don't play games so much any more so all those extra buttons would go to waste for me. The only thing I wish my G7 had was a dock to charge when I'm not using it. I'd rather have that than have to switch the two batteries, but at least they did give us two. The thing drains batteries so fast that having one charging and one in use is necessary.

[r3loaded @ Sep 10th 2008 5:01PM]

Very nice mouse, and I'd buy if I didn't already have a G5. Well, I know what to get next time...

[Ryan @ Sep 10th 2008 4:18PM]

The material looks cheap and a too plasticky. Why not opt for a mouse dock instead of a stupid cord. I know dock's have cord, but it looks much nicer/organized on a desktop.

[PynkFloydd @ Sep 10th 2008 4:28PM]

...click the link. It's got a retractable cord that attaches with magnets so you can keep playing if your mouse dies. A dock wouldn't make sense for a gamer.

[pozzitron @ Sep 10th 2008 4:19PM]

I think its a bit too much money for a mouse, unless it helps me win in Crisis.

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 10th 2008 4:24PM]

Has someone already confirmed that this mouse WILL play Crisis????

[konshuss @ Sep 10th 2008 5:08PM]

i picked up a microsoft j-mouse from a bargain bin for a dollar. it had a sticker of a hippo on it. it will play crysis.

[Arthur @ Sep 10th 2008 4:20PM]

I wonder if Logitech will be releasing anything based on Bluetrack.

4000dpi isn't bad for a 1st gen optical-tech mouse :) I'm pretty stoked.


C'mon Logitech!!!

[iRawr @ Sep 10th 2008 4:20PM]

Apple should come out with a mouse for PC's and overtake the peripheral marker

[PynkFloydd @ Sep 10th 2008 4:30PM]

Don't you have a bridge to protect somewhere, troll?

[jollyllama @ Sep 10th 2008 4:42PM]

Oh come on. I've got more Apple products than I can count sitting on my desk right now, but my mouse isn't one of them. I like some of Apple's mouse ideas (the big button and scroll ball are great in certain ways) but for overall useablility, I replace them with Logitech.

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 10th 2008 4:43PM]

Yeah, I hate being confused by all the buttons on non-Mac mice. At work I had to write little instructions by each button.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 10th 2008 4:43PM]

Apple's mice already work with PCs, they're just total garbage so nobody wants to pay the premium for them.

Seriously Apple, did anybody really have a problem with mouse buttons? They took the world's most elegant input device and overengineered it to death.

[iRawr @ Sep 10th 2008 4:21PM]

*market

[iRawr @ Sep 10th 2008 4:21PM]

rawr...

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 10th 2008 4:25PM]

RAZR

[pozzitron @ Sep 10th 2008 4:27PM]

@burriot.

is not razr.. is rawr... get your lol/hawt/ etc etc straight.!

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 10th 2008 4:29PM]

@ Pozzy
It's RAZR as in Motorola Razr. Hello Moto!

[iRawr @ Sep 10th 2008 4:30PM]

thats just KRZR talk...

[pozzitron @ Sep 10th 2008 4:38PM]

razr, krzr....whats with all the dirty four letter words.

why dont you name this beaty too.
http://www.oaktreeent.com/web_photos/Telephones/Motorola_Cellular-One_Cell-Phone_web.jpg

[iRawr @ Sep 10th 2008 4:39PM]

Big Birtha...

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 10th 2008 4:41PM]

@Pozzy
That phone was the inspiration for Nelly's "Hot In Here" video. Women see it, they start taking off their clothes, all of a sudden the roof is in flames.

[NickTheRat @ Sep 10th 2008 4:21PM]

I like that arc mouse. does it have a batter pack or does it use AA? i hate using things that use batteries these days, just seems so wasteful.

[Zelatio @ Sep 10th 2008 4:26PM]

This just looks like another mouse to me, nothing special. My MX700 is the best mouse I have ever used, and I will use it to it's dying moments.

[absinthe party @ Sep 11th 2008 8:03AM]

I ended up buying the MX518 when I was strolling around Best Buy drunk last year. I was lonely and it was shiny, so it was an easy match. Aside from the lack of cords, is the MX700 really 182 naming points better?

[canidae @ Feb 24th 2009 1:45PM]

The MX700 is old school, it came out in like 2002. the 518 is newer and has much higher dpi.

Sadly my MX700 is dying, hence looking at the new crop of wireless mice.

[John @ Sep 10th 2008 4:32PM]

I'd like to see some testimonials from Korean SC players about the advantages of this blue tech. Then I'd be sold.

Also, is anyone else a little annoyed at how neutral posts were also made grayed out a little? Is it too much to ask to make this an option rather than just how stuff is displayed, always?

[vaff @ Sep 10th 2008 4:39PM]

i love how companies try to make money of gamers ... but when it comes down to it a pro gamer wouldnt use a mouse like that ... its to heavy, has to many odd features they would never use. Normal mouse with decent dpi, normal plain keybord and a good pair of headphones is all you need. its 95% skill, 5% hardware. If not even less. All companies do is scam casual gamers.

[iRawr @ Sep 10th 2008 4:40PM]

...the new BB

[stripy @ Sep 10th 2008 5:07PM]

only relevant mouse benchmark: http://www.esreality.com/?a=post&id=1265679
hope it gets updated soon, but its still a good read for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

[LocalToast @ Sep 10th 2008 5:49PM]

"75g maximum acceleration and 120 inches per second"

I'm not sure when I'll need that kind of support, but I'll take it.

[StackThatCheese @ Sep 10th 2008 6:03PM]

If you are going to fork over $100 for a mouse, you better get the Logitech MX Revolution, not this ugly piece. And yes, i did fork over $100 for mine, and i love it.

[superdx @ Sep 10th 2008 8:10PM]

Uh, the mouse is what you actually use on your computer. I wouldn't skimp on input devices, especially the ones which may be responsible for causing you agonizing wrist pain as the years go by. That being said, this Sidewinder X8 doesn't look too ergonomically friendly, but the design is there. I love the charging cable and the whole side button concept, both areas where the MX Revolution (which I use now) could use improvement on. Hopefully Logitech is able to match MS's offerings this time around - I can't stand the smooth scroll of the MS mice.