Microsoft SideWinder X8 Black 2.4GHz Wireless Gaming Mouse

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Not a bad mouse, my first wireless mouse in general, traded up from a Logitech G5. just enough buttons but not enough to get lost in.

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This is a replacement for a previous X8 that broke after falling down a set of stairs... could hardly blame anyone else the me me, so I purchased another one; it arrived DOA; the charging symbol flash like crazy with a warning triangle on top of it. As I didn't respected the 30 days time limit to submit a RMA with NCIX, I will have to deal with MicroSoft directly.I did choose this model because of: AA sized battery that can be user replaced, not a proprietary format like some others brand.The only two gripe that I can see are: the x-y axis are not individually adjustable and the scroll wheel take some time to "break in" and be comfortable to use.

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bought this mouse about 4 months ago, and my scrolling wheel finally died. I called microsoft to get a replacement under the warranty, they are only willing to offer mouses that are half price of this mouse, since all sidewinder are stopped except x3.

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This mouse is a bit disappointing. 2 buttons (game centre launcher and macro record) are totally useless and i wish i couldd reprogram it to something else.The scroll wheel is small, making sideway scrolling difficult.The mouse is quite larger, making small movements very difficultI expected a lot better from Microsoft considering this is the best mouse they have to offer.

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Took me a while to get used to the odd shape and the heavy weight of this mouse. I am still not the biggest fan of the mouse shape, but I love the features. The selectable dpi on the fly, and the play n charge are the best features. The lcd and macro functions are useless to me. I've tried the MX, G9x, razer mamba, and the RAT 7, but prefer the X8 over all of them. This review was modfied by poster @ 12-13-10 07:32 PM

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I purchased this mouse after my G7 developed the double clicking issue as well as some form of reset bug internally. The mouse has so far been an excellent replacement and better in some areas.The increased DPI has been a welcome addition as my hand moves less. I definitely make use of the additional buttons on a daily basis. There is also no more small receiver to keep track of when moving the mouse with me to a LAN. Not having to switch battery packs is also a huge relief; just drop  in the cord and you can keep on going.I would definitely purchase this again and have recommended it to several people.

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I just received this mouse today, at first I wasn't sure of the feel but after just a few hours I have grown very fond of it. (I had used the same mouse for 7 years prior)It feels solid and its easy to charge. I don't have any complaints aside from the 3 DPI picker buttons are not programmable to do other things (but you can change the DPI they switch to ranging from 250-4000) stock is 500/1000/4000.

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One of the best mouses I have purchase so far. I really enjoyed switching from a g5 to a Sidewinder X8 to make a really big difference on gaming and other things. Tryout the Razer exact mat, it really will make a difference to your response on the bluetrack, and high response on sensitivity levels.

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May feel strange at first because of its shape, but this mouse has a good feel overall. The thumb buttons are placed vertically so you use the tip of your thumb to press it instead of the bottom (squishy) of your thumb if the buttons are horizontal (like on some logitech mice); this makes them easier to press. With a nice amount of programmable buttons it enhances the overall gaming experience by allowing you to freeup your keyboard hand for some tasks that can be done with the mouse. Unfortunately you cannot reprogram all 12 buttons like the sensitivity and especially the "Game Explorer" button which I rarely use.

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I like the mouse because it actually fits my hands, unlike many smaller mice. The extra buttons are all configurable (except the Games for Windows button, but it's covered by your palm). The software for the mouse works great in Windows 7, too.This mouse is wireless, however it claims to be responsive like a wired mouse. When recharging the battery (included!) with the "puck" the mouse is still wireless, but can be used while charging.The build quality seems good--especially the mouse wheel--but the plastic shell feels a little cheap. Dropping something like this might do some serious damage.My only gripe is that occasionally when clicking the mouse wheel in, I'll change the DPI by accident (three buttons just south of the wheel).One thing to note: get the NEWEST software from Microsoft's website. Other reviewers can't change the DPI speed settings, but I seem to be able to on Windows 7 x64 without issue. This review was modfied by poster @ 01-11-10 02:19 PM

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-This is probably the most comfortable mouse I've ever used. My hand grips around it perfectly. As a bonus it is cordless and easy to charge and can reach speeds up to 4000 DPI with some extra macro buttons. The software to cstomize the 3 levels of DPI doesn't work on Windows 7 but that is a very minor complaint. I love this mouse so far.

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So this is a decent mouse if you buy it strictly for gaming. My main mouse is a logitech and it is definitely better ergonomic wise. My hand hurts after using this mouse for a few hours. I also had a problem with drivers interfering with each other so if you have two mice then uninstall both drivers. The mice should still work without these, at least it still does in windows 7. If you are experiencing any problems with this mouse it is more than likely a driver issueThe build quality for this mouse is pretty crappy as well, it is all plastic and not high quality plastic either. I'm also not a huge fan of the huge receiver/charging thing. On the plus side, the mouse comes with three pairs of feet. Bluetrack seems to be a legit feature as it tracks better than my logitech laser mouse on most surfaces. Overall I would recommend this mouse as a gaming dedicated mouse to go with another mouse. I honestly don't think you would want to use this mouse for a extended amount of time.

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Although Microsoft makes pretty decent keyboards and mice in general, this didn't even last a year. I can still use it if I keep it plugged in, but then the lights are constantly blinking which is very annoying. Microsoft support is not much good either despite this having a long warranty, their ticket or email based support just tells me it encountered a problem every time I get to the last step of submitting my ticket. I found a few other people having this problem online, so I would not feel safe buying this again. Probably some cheap components inside :(

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This is the worst mouse I ever owned! I bought this to replace my MX518, this was a really big mistake! The mouse feels really cheap and the left button keep getting stuck. It just doesn't feel right, I switched back to my MX518 after trying 3 months to get use to the X8.Don't buy this mouse!

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I had this mouse for a few months and i use it for both gaming and surfing. It started having problems with right-clicks and the mouse button sometimes get stuck for a second. Another problem is that i have to charge it pretty often. The mouse is bigger that common mouse and feels a bit weird and is a bit too heavy. It doesnt feel like a 4000 dpi , i have problems being precise with it. The wireless is good and response is ok. For the price its not worth it and i would purchase a cheaper next time which can give me maybe better results. I liked my old logitech mouse better than this one and will replace it because cant get good performance in gaming.

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This is a great mouse if you're an average user. I don't game and will never really take this mouse to capacity but it has nice features (on the fly charging) that I thought were conveniences and I now know they are necessary

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A bit of a deception. The ergonomy is average. Cover is made of slippery plastic. Avoid if you have small hands. The documentation is well made but incomplete. So is the software (intellipoint). For example, you cannot create  profiles wich is annoying for a gaming mouse these days. Mine is still new and I find battery life is in par with my very old Logitech MX1000. If you have the later, keep it. For gaming it's not a better mouse but it's pretty much as good so not worth to spend the money. IMO, the X8 is a finger type mouse, not a palm type.

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Purchased this mouse because of the new technology and price. It had a lower price tag than the other gaming mices (was looking at g9 and the WoW mouse at the time). I had doubts about it being wireless and I needed a quality gaming mice but the x8 delivered. I had to get use to the feel of the mouse but that has been overcome and all I have to say is the sidewinder is very reliable and performs just like a wired mouse. It also has a cool recharging feature.

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Coming from a heavier mouse I was worried that the "feel" of the X8 would be too light. However, the wide base of the mouse seems to make up for any weight issues. The tradeoff here is that for people with smaller hands the mouse may feel too big and a little clunky. The alternate pads are a bit of a throwaway, though the ability to remove them allows for more effective mouse cleaning.I've always wanted to see a "pinky" button integrated into a mouse, I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer :(Three-thousand DPI is overkill for everyone, including "professional" gamers. Such sensitivity only serves to satisfy impractical speed-fetishes and hype wars between competitors. However, this indulgence does not take away from the mouse in any way.The X8 is all in all a good replacement [so far] for my G7.

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I was hesitant to buy a MS mouse after being a logitech user for so long but I have been pleasantly surprised, it feels great even compared to the logitech MX and G lines, has a good feature set (quite happy with the charge & play cable over a cradle), a really good product.

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Like I mentioned in my keyboard review, I've always been fond of Microsoft hardware. I've used their keyboards, mice and still have their original Sidewinder joystick. This X8 feels great. The only knock against it is the charging mechanism. I had a Logitech MX900 mouse and the charging dongle that came with that allowed you to dock the mouse. With this one, you have the charging mechanism sitting on your desk, along with the mouse, resulting in a cluttered desk. Not a big knock but Microsoft could have done better.

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bought it a week ago and received it 2 days ago. it is great, to fit my hand - not too small or too big. Compared to my previous mouse Microsoft IntelliMouse® Explorer the difference between two are really huge(just wanna get a better mouse, after 6 years). I think the backward and forward button is more comfortable than normal ones. It has fast charges(5 mins) and not heavy at all(the mouse itself with 1 AA rechargeable battery). I have no problems with microsoft mouse since it never fails my expectation. This is a great deal, suit users who use mouse everyday!

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Fits my hand perfectly but remains a large mouse. Buttons have nice feel and excellent placement for shooters and other games alike. Tracks perfectly and no cord to hold you back. Battery life seems to be forever but should you run out, the cable connects via magnet and you continue playing, excellent design.Software is generally lacking and no documentation explains the extra mouse feet friction specs. All in all, a great mouse that should last a long time.

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Coming from a razer copperhead the mouse is about as light without the battery. It's more of a hand over like logitech mice than a fingers mouse like the razers.A nice touch is that the mouse have an on/off button under that allow to save on battery power.All in all, the sidewinder x8 is a nice confortable mouse that can game well.