Microsoft SideWinder X8

Manufacturer:	Microsoft
Price:	£88.07 inc VAT
Reviewer:	Mark Mackay
Review Date:	Apr 2009
Design	37/40	93%
Features	32/35	91%
Value	14/25	56%
Overall	83%

Verdict: Microsoft finally releases a mouse good enough to justify such a great name.

The SideWinder brand has been applied to Microsoft's gaming peripherals for some time. The last mouse to boast the title was the SideWinder X5, which had a large humpback and a distinctly cheap quality to it. The X5 was a poor follow-up to the disappointing SideWinder we reviewed in early 2008, as it emphasised the weaknesses of the design and skimped on extras, such as adjustable weights. However, Microsoft has persevered with the general design of the modern SideWinder mouse in the X8, but has refined it to have smoother curves and a less pronounced and more comfortable humpback. Microsoft has also chosen the SideWinder X8 to introduce gamers to its new hypersensitive BlueTrack optical engine.

The SideWinder X8 uses 2.4GHz wireless to communicate with the PC. A small magnetic connector at the end of the USB cable attaches to a recess under the front of the mouse to charge or power it. The excess cord tidies away into a neat multipurpose device, which we'll refer to as the puck.

In addition to its role as a handy cable tidier, the puck houses the wireless receiver for the SideWinder X8. The puck's rubber feet grip the surface of your desk, allowing you to unravel only as much cable as you need. This avoids the possibility of your mouse cable becoming tangled and restricting the movement of the mouse. The puck also stores replacement feet for the X8, allowing you to customise the glide. This is a cool feature, but you'd be hard-pushed to notice any difference between these and the pre-installed feet.

The rechargeable AA NiMH battery is rated to last for 30 hours of active use. With this installed, the SideWinder X8 weighs 144g, making it considerably heavier than its predecessor. However, with the power cord attached, you can remove the battery and reduce the weight of the SideWinder X8 to 114g. Unlike many modern gaming mice, there are no adjustable weights.

The SideWinder X8 has five programmable buttons, including a customisable macro button. The mouse configuration software, which must be installed before plugging in the mouse, is easy to use.

Microsoft has refined the thumb buttons with the SideWinder X8. They're now angled inwards towards your thumb, so an intuitive and effortless rocking of the thumb is all that's needed to press them. The metal scroll wheel looks nice, but accurate scrolling is a little tricky, as the wheel is rather slippery.

A red backlit LCD screen reads the adjustable DPI settings as you hit one of the three dpi buttons behind the scroll wheel. With BlueTrack technology underneath it, the SideWinder X8 is capable of achieving 4,000dpi.  

Conclusion

The SideWinder X8 is Microsoft's best gaming mouse since the IntelliMouse. It's sleek and comfortable to use, and the build quality is excellent. The feature set is very practical, with the cable tidying and securing puck a handy extra. While we suspect that many people will use the mouse with the cable attached, the ability to use it in a wireless state at any time could be useful. The dpi selection buttons, LCD readout and vertically aligned thumb buttons are certainly useful features. Add to the mix the fastest tracking engine in the world, and you have one of the best gaming mice since the Logitech G9.