Microsoft releases SideWinder X8 mouse

[safan80]

http://www.guru3d.com/news/microsoft-releases-sidewinder-x8-mouse/#comment

By Hilbert Hagedoorn, September 11, 2008 - 7:05 PM

According to Microsoft the X8 wireless mouse is considered by the company to be one of the quickest and most precise mice yet through a combination of technologies. It uses the same BlueTrack blue LED sensing as the new Explorer mice to properly track over more surfaces but also boosts the sensitivity to as much as 4,000DPI, twice as much as the corded SideWinder X5 and enough to match faster gaming or those with very large displays. Guys you got met at 1600 DPI really ..

The X8 still has an adjustable sensitivity toggle that scales back to as low as 250DPI and uses 2.4GHz RF wireless to eliminate much of the latency that would affect Bluetooth or older RF connections. In a rare touch, the new SideWinder also has a special USB cable that lets it charge from the attached PC while it plays. Normal battery life is estimated at about 30 hours of continuous use from a built-in lithium-ion pack.

Ergonomics are still similar to the X5 and include the signature vertical side buttons and replaceable feet that change the friction of the mouse for different surfaces. All seven buttons are programmable for different functions; in Windows, the mouse can also be used to jump to the Vista Games menu or to record macros in-game and use them later.

The SideWinder X8's announcement comes a little rpemature, you won't see it ship until February, when it will be available for oh eh .. how's $100 ? And no, that isn't a joke.

more pics here
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3286041&postcount=46
and here
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3286045&postcount=47

[tjelaw]

wireless wont do it for serious gamers :) gg MS

[Nedjo]

wow what a fugly mouse

[ryboto]

Some competition for my G7? Might have to look to this if Logitech doesn't fricken release a new version..

[metachronos]

Why announce it so far ahead of time?

[FischOderAal]

wow what a fugly mouse

+1

Fugly indeed...

[BlazingArrow]

Some competition for my G7? Might have to look to this if Logitech doesn't fricken release a new version..

Oh you know they will, that's just how logitech does it! lol

[inCore]

For 100 dollars I could have a mouse molded after my hand in a cheaper country and stuck onto an MX 518 or any other decent mouse for half the price.

[kryptobs2000]

Sounds pretty good to me but once you connect it with the usb cable does it transmit through that or does it still use wireless? I'd probably use it wirelessly depending on how it feels but I'd never (until technology is better at least) buy a wireless only mouse.

[MrMojoZ]

No wireless please, then we can talk.

[Chad Boga]

I think it is a good looking mouse. :clap:

[evil-98]

looks to be wireless and wired, it doesnt look that bad

the new SideWinder also has a special USB cable that lets it charge from the attached PC while it plays

[Polizei]

I think it's wired only for charging.

[evil-98]

I think it's wired only for charging.

would be nice if you could play while it charged tho

[MrMojoZ]

would be nice if you could play while it charged tho

Um like this: "that lets it charge from the attached PC while it plays"?

[XS Janus]

^Why not.
Finally a good new wireless "game" mouse for those of us who dont buy into wired hype...
Looking forward to reading impressions of both this and Logitech MX1100.

[STaRGaZeR]

Can we have a proper wireless sucessor for the G7 and stop the "OMG wired mouses are teh best for playing!!!1one"?

Please :(

[Xope_Poquar]

That's fugly? Have you guys not seen the G9?

[SparkyJJO]

Wired typically IS better for gaming because many wireless mice have lag. Even a slight bit throws me off, and I'm not even nearly what you'd call a pro gamer. There are some though that are pretty darn good, I used a logitech G7 and I was pretty happy with how responsive it was, response felt wired. I'm sure this mouse will be the same way since it is geared towards gamers and not just casual windows internet email stuff.

[XSAlliN]

This mouse could hurt a sweaty hand, so people could sue Microsoft and get rich, so might be a good deal for this purpose only.

[Monkeywoman]

That's fugly? Have you guys not seen the G9?

G9 fugly? its by far the best mouse ever made, soo comfortable and quick. who here sits checking out their mouse?

[deathman20]

^Why not.
Finally a good new wireless "game" mouse for those of us who dont buy into wired hype...
Looking forward to reading impressions of both this and Logitech MX1100.

Amen. On my 3rd wireless mouse and I got one when they where first released from Logitech. Think its my 3rd at least. Had the MX1000, it went bad with 2 months left in warrenty and got a Revolution. I had one before the MX1000 but forgot what it was. Great mice.

This one looks odd but hey if its a quality product I'd get it. Not sure on the wired charge, it is nice though if in a gaming season and boom, low batt, you can plug it in and ur still good to roll. For me its either a short 30min break, or break out a wired controller for 30-60min and go back to the wireless.

Wired controllers FTL! Wireless FTW. Even had that first wireless logitiech keyboard, that was great, then it brokered :( Haven't found a nice replacement for it yet.

[SparkyJJO]

OK wireless mice make sense, the wire catches on stuff and can be a bad thing sometimes when gaming. But a wireless keyboard? It just sits there so what's the point, unless you have your PC connected to your 42" TV and you are on the couch operating your PC :p:

[Lestat]

wireless wont do it for serious gamers :) gg MS


any REAL gamer knows that the mouse dont make the man.

either your good or your not, your mouse isnt gunna effect your game.

i have NEVER owned a mouse that made me game good or bad. and i have owned and still have more mice than i care to think about.
this bastards are running around everywhere

[BiFfMaN]

any REAL gamer knows that the mouse dont make the man.

either your good or your not, your mouse isnt gunna effect your game.

i have NEVER owned a mouse that made me game good or bad. and i have owned and still have more mice than i care to think about.
this bastards are running around everywhere

Well I know from first hand experience that when your battery dies on you during the heat of the moment with no warning, you will get PWNed like a Noob.

And the second thing i learned was that Do not tell all in Chat all/ that your battery died and dont shoot while i replace them/get USB cable. It becomes a feeding frenzy at your spawn point :(

[FischOderAal]

Well, it's nice that you can charge your mouse while you're playing, this was/is the biggest disadvantage of a wireless mouse. I only had a wireless once and the battery was always empty when I wanted to play... It's still damn ugly though.

It is that ugly, that it could be modern art. ( :D )

[Bo_Fox]

I have the original wired Sidewinder mouse (replaced my Logitech G5 from last year) and a Logitech G7 for my other rig.

The Sidewinder is large and bulky. It's also heavy--I refused to add any more weights to it--it took me a couple weeks to get used to it because my hands and wrists would get tired and sore after fragging with it for more than 1-2 hours. I love the thumb mouses--they're original in how it's positioned. It's just that the palm area is a bit too big and I'd rather have it more like a finger-controlled mouse than a palm controlled mouse (like the old 3-button Logitech mouseman). I still have not yet tried the G9.. 2000dpi is enough for me.. I was already satisfied with 1600dpi from the MX518.

Logitech's G7 is arguably the best wireless mouse to date, and that remains to see if Microsoft's X8 can one-up it but it's not due until February. My worst gripe about the G7 is that I have to replace batteries after only 6 hours of gaming, or even less depending on how much I'm using it. The battery charger has a turbo recharge mode that can charge the batteries in like 2 hours or so, which was so necessary for me since the normal charge mode took like 8 hours to recharge it.

I guess I should shut up and try the G9 first before I can act like a "know-it-all" ha ha!

[D-Cyph3r]

Still wont sway me from Razer. My Diamondback has been going strong for over 3 years now and the Copperhead on the other rig is just as lush.

[Eastcoasthandle]

G9 fugly? its by far the best mouse ever made, soo comfortable and quick. who here sits checking out their mouse?
The G9 was to short for my hand to either grip or palm it. If the mouse isn't comfortable the amount of features it brings has absolutely no meaning. I still look for another MX1000 like mouse (wired this time) :mad:. The closes thing to it is a MS 6000 but that's not a gaming mouse for my needs though.

[DamienKC]

any REAL gamer knows that the mouse dont make the man.

either your good or your not, your mouse isnt gunna effect your game.

i have NEVER owned a mouse that made me game good or bad. and i have owned and still have more mice than i care to think about.
this bastards are running around everywhere

haha play professional counter-strike and your opinion on this will change dramatically.

also mouse bungees were made for a reason, to not have your mouse cord snag.

the only reason i see anyone getting wireless over wired is if they want to sit back farther from their computer to do stuff or something. my couch is right behind my computer so that'd be nice sometimes. definitely not for anyone into competition gaming though for sure.

[Malcontent]

There is a reason why companies like razer who deal in almost exclusively in hardware for gaming haven't come out with a cordless mouse, its just not advanced enough yet, its not to the point where the hard core gamers (such as my self) will look at it as an option. If Im playing in a match I dont want to even THINK about about my hardware failing. It will distract from the game and make my play worse. One of the many reason why for while yet corded is the way to go for hardcore gaming.

[metachronos]

haha play professional counter-strike and your opinion on this will change dramatically.

also mouse bungees were made for a reason, to not have your mouse cord snag.

the only reason i see anyone getting wireless over wired is if they want to sit back farther from their computer to do stuff or something. my couch is right behind my computer so that'd be nice sometimes. definitely not for anyone into competition gaming though for sure.

This is just ridiculous.

[inCore]

How so? I'd have to agree. I don't play professionally, never have and never will, but I see what he means.

[[XC] leviathan18]

the batt never died on me while playing with my MX1000

[D-Cyph3r]

This is just ridiculous.

It's not at all ridiculous. I'm far from a pro player but I do consider myself an above average competitive player (2-3K/D for BF2, just under 2000 ELO for UT3) and when I cant use my Razer i'm a pile of dog:banana::banana::banana::banana:.

[thephenom]

I'm using the MX Revolution at home, and had a MX1000 before that. I don't find the lag noticeable at all. With older generation of wireless mice, it might be a problem, but now a days, it's just as good IMO. For those who complain about a wireless mouse, at least give your experience with a GOOD wireless mouse before you claim ALL wireless mice suck. It's almost as annoying as those who says Vista sucks but have never used it before.

[xoqolatl]

Good mouse doesn't help, it just doesn't hinder you.

[revenant]

yep.. this one reminds me of the 6000SUX also.. ;)

[ExodusC]

Finally a good new wireless "game" mouse for those of us who dont buy into wired hype...
Sorry, I couldn't help but laugh at that... :rofl:

[Bo_Fox]

I'm using the MX Revolution at home, and had a MX1000 before that. I don't find the lag noticeable at all. With older generation of wireless mice, it might be a problem, but now a days, it's just as good IMO. For those who complain about a wireless mouse, at least give your experience with a GOOD wireless mouse before you claim ALL wireless mice suck. It's almost as annoying as those who says Vista sucks but have never used it before.

*sighs*.... you do not understand the problem with the "activation" lag that comes with the MX1000. I bought it the first day it was released for $100 and then returned it within 1-2 weeks after confirming that Logitech was never going to fix this problem via a downloadable firmware update.

Just google "activation lag" or "activation delay". It's a totally "anti-gamer" mouse for those who play fast-paced games, as the delay for the laser eye to reactivate takes nearly a full second! For me, it was more than 0.5 second for sure! The same delay is plaguing the newer MX1100.. what's the problem with Logitech?!? Is Logitech trying to make sure that this mouse is not for gamers or what?

Here's a thread here in XSforums: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=42119 saying that the pick-up delay is about 400-600ms. If you do not notice it, then ignorance is truly bliss, eh?!? :D


Anyways, I dont think the Sidewinder mouse is ugly.. it has a style very similar to the interior design of an Audi car. Of course, some dont like the Audi style. It's just excessively heavy and bulky, that's all.

[Jaivan]

G9 fugly? its by far the best mouse ever made, soo comfortable and quick. who here sits checking out their mouse?

+1 i absolutely love my G9 it may not be the prettiest mouse, but I find it much more comfortable then the MX1000 that I upgraded from.

MX1000 and G7 type mice are just too big for my little asian hands :rofl:.

I also really like the VX Nano wireless notebook mouse even though its not ment for gaming its another really comfortable everyday mouse if you have small hands.

[Tibu]

Mice improvements stopped with the MX518. Everything else is just a sidegrade.

^^^
My completely nonfactual OPINION.

[safan80]

I think the wired comments are funny. I like my logitech mx1000(I have 4 of them) and game with them. It finally looks like there's something finally that can replace it even though it happens to be from microsoft.

[Bo_Fox]

Yeah, I loved the MX1000 too--it was so beautiful, comfy, and had plenty of buttons. It was the first laser mouse ever released. But the activation/pick-up delay/lag was unacceptable. I'm a twitch gamer, not some guy who plays slow-paced games like RPG or RTS games. I pick the mouse off the surface quite frequently to re-position it on the screen.

That's why the wireless "lag-free" G7 eats batteries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Logitech was wise to include 2 (TWO) lithium batteries so that one is always being recharged and ready for swapping.

[thephenom]

*sighs*.... you do not understand the problem with the "activation" lag that comes with the MX1000. I bought it the first day it was released for $100 and then returned it within 1-2 weeks after confirming that Logitech was never going to fix this problem via a downloadable firmware update.

Just google "activation lag" or "activation delay". It's a totally "anti-gamer" mouse for those who play fast-paced games, as the delay for the laser eye to reactivate takes nearly a full second! For me, it was more than 0.5 second for sure! The same delay is plaguing the newer MX1100.. what's the problem with Logitech?!? Is Logitech trying to make sure that this mouse is not for gamers or what?

Here's a thread here in XSforums: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=42119 saying that the pick-up delay is about 400-600ms. If you do not notice it, then ignorance is truly bliss, eh?!? :D


Anyways, I dont think the Sidewinder mouse is ugly.. it has a style very similar to the interior design of an Audi car. Of course, some dont like the Audi style. It's just excessively heavy and bulky, that's all.

Lifting your mouse, good thing I lost that habit when I switched away from ball mouse. :P

I guess the shutoff timer can be annoying with the MX1000, but when I'm playing FPS, I'm constantly looking around moving my mouse anyway, so I don't notice it turning it off. Now that I'm not a pro-gamer, so perhaps it doesn't bother me as much as a pro.

Have you tried the MX Revolution?

[safan80]

some pics
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/handson_with_microsofts_sidewinder_x8_mouse_w_blue track

[safan80]

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/handson_with_microsofts_sidewinder_x8_mouse_w_blue track
pics continued.

[Calmatory]

wireless wont do it for serious gamers :) gg MS

Why not? Define a "serious gamer".

No, and a "1 ms delay" is no excuse.

[safan80]

Yeah, I loved the MX1000 too--it was so beautiful, comfy, and had plenty of buttons. It was the first laser mouse ever released. But the activation/pick-up delay/lag was unacceptable. I'm a twitch gamer, not some guy who plays slow-paced games like RPG or RTS games. I pick the mouse off the surface quite frequently to re-position it on the screen.

I think maybe you need a bigger mouse pad I don't pic up the mouse all the when I'm playing FPS. like another poster stated I'm always moving the mouse.

[ryboto]

Can we have a proper wireless sucessor for the G7 and stop the "OMG wired mouses are teh best for playing!!!1one"?

Please :(

I really hope this kicks Logitech in gear to actually update the G7 or a successor to it. Mine works fine now, but my first one didn't last nearly as long as I'd expected it to.

[Hawkeye4077]

I havent liked Logitech since they moved to that crappy Setpoint software. I have the old MX500 and then 2 MX510s.. best mice I have ever used (well compared to my old Mouseman from like back in 96 :P) But the Mouseware software works so much better.

I have the MS Sidewinder (red with the 2 stick buttons on the thumb sides) and it gave my wrist a HUGE ache the first week I used it.. so much I went back to the G5 but then I used it again and havent had any wrist pain since. The Intellipoint software is no frills and works exactly the way I want it to. Excellent precision compared to my G5.

[InputUsername]

I'm quite interested in the new sidewinder keyboard though.

[hecktic]

razer lachesis is better

[Malcontent]

razer lachesis is better

+1 :yepp:

[mikeyakame]

I've been using the Microsoft Wireless Laser 8000 mouse for a while now and it's by far the best wireless laser mouse I've used to do this day. The Intellipoint software does what it is supposed to do, and drivers well they are Microsoft nuff said. Flawless in all aspects. This is only 1000DPI but even so its really precise and on top of that there is no lag over bluetooth.

It seems even to this day Logitech hasn't fixed up all their problems with Vista, they have lag and intermittent bluetooth dropouts, and what is worse their receiver doesn't always switch correctly between hardware and software mode. So many times I've used the G15 on another computer at home and without power cycling it sometimes 2 to 3 times it won't switch back to hardware mode to use USB during post and in bios. I only rarely come across this problem with the Microsoft receiver, and it's usually due to fault on my own behalf.

If this new wireless Sidewinder is at least as good in terms of power draw and responsiveness it's going to be a sure thing for Microsoft. I'll definitely be buying one as the only thing keeping me away from buying a Sidewinder mouse at the moment is the cabling. The wired version is excellent, and looks like the new wireless model will be using blue laser instead of red. Should be amazing accuracy.

There is no comparison between Microsofts bluetooth wireless gear and Logitechs. Logitech has affordability, but drivers are still half-baked at best and quality imho isn't near what it should be. Too many little problems and inconsistencies. Microsoft won my heart for bluetooth wireless keyboard / mouse when I bought the Wireless Entertainment 7000 combo nearly year and a half ago. It's top notch quality and worth every penny you pay for it. To this day everything still works as new except the touch pad on the keyboard which I broke pulling the KB apart to clean it! The laser mouth works great on a polished timber desk.

The Sidewinder has a slightly steep price at $99usd to most, but the quality / product life / warranty all justify it. It'll come down once it's officially shipped no doubt.

MS gets my thumbs up for this!

:up:

[Gig4moller]

Frankenmouse is back!

[tiro_uspsss]

razer lachesis is better

pfft.
says the person who has tested an unreleased mouse

:down:

[Bo_Fox]

Lifting your mouse, good thing I lost that habit when I switched away from ball mouse. :P

I guess the shutoff timer can be annoying with the MX1000, but when I'm playing FPS, I'm constantly looking around moving my mouse anyway, so I don't notice it turning it off. Now that I'm not a pro-gamer, so perhaps it doesn't bother me as much as a pro.

Have you tried the MX Revolution?

I think maybe you need a bigger mouse pad I don't pic up the mouse all the when I'm playing FPS. like another poster stated I'm always moving the mouse.

Guys, it's necessary to lift the mouse to reposition the cursor every once in a while. No, I do not have room for an "arm's-width" mouse pad. It's already a old mouse anyways.. Yeah, I've tried the revolution and it's not a gamer's mouse either.

Anyways, I'm surprised to see such huge gains made my Microsoft in terms of dpi, inches per second, and acceleration in G's. Those are rather important for gamers but 4000dpi is going to be useless if it's too heavy to be delicately controlled by the fingers (like a "claw mouse" instead of a palm mouse). With a battery in it, I do not see how it could be any lighter than the wired Sidewinder that I have, which is already far too heavy. It's also too bulky.

Logitech really should "re-release" the original MouseMan, but this time with 4000dpi and extra buttons, etc.. It would probably be a huge hit with professional gamers who *still* use the old MouseMan!!!

[fragmasterMax]

this mouse is a pos!!!!
plus it's wireless!!!!
i held it at microcenter, and the design is very hard to get used to.
what a joke.

[clayton]

I don't see anything ugly about this rather than a product that looks like a "mouse" and features useful stuffs for gamers.

[kuhla]

Anyways, I'm surprised to see such huge gains made my Microsoft in terms of dpi, inches per second, and acceleration in G's. Those are rather important for gamers but 4000dpi is going to be useless if it's too heavy to be delicately controlled by the fingers (like a "claw mouse" instead of a palm mouse).

Huh? The X8 most likely uses the same philips twin-eye sensor as the Razer Lachesis which has been out over a year now.....

*inserts foot in mouth*

""But the X8 utilizes the new BlueTrack technology, a blue-light sensor that offers image processing of 13,000 frames per second, 75g maximum acceleration, and 120 inches per second of maximum speed.""

I'll be leaving this thread now. Carry on. :wth:

[th3pwn3r]

Mice improvements stopped with the MX518. Everything else is just a sidegrade.

^^^
My completely nonfactual OPINION.


Haha, tell that to my 518. It was great until the right click button stopped working. My Deathadder is going strong for 2 years. For those speaking about how great the G9 is...I received one for free and I decided it wasn't my cup of tea, Ebayed it, not that anyone cares haha.