Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse

More bolt-ons than Frankenstein's Monster

A mouse is a mouse, right? You move it, it moves a thingy on the screen, it's as simple as that. Well not when you're a hardcore PC gamer it's not. For these guys, a mouse is a precision tool that needs to react exactly how and when you want it to, or be laughed to the bottom of every scoreboard in town.

And you're not going to get much more precise than the Sidewinder mouse from Microsoft: a resolution of up to 2000dpi (not that you'll need it) and interchangeable teflon feet for a smoother glide. You can even swtich cursor speeds live in any game with three adjustable buttons on the top, insert small weights into the body of the mouse to alter momentum, and reprogram all the buttons. It all sounds pretty ridiculous, but you just can't scoff at this array of options.

Gamers tend to prefer wired mice over wireless, as the response time is quicker. But Microsoft has acknowledged that wired mice can be cumbersome, by adding a cable-stay in the form of a weighted box (which houses all your other add-ons), and renders the wire unnoticeable.

The Sidewinder is sold under the 'mouse' category, but considering its colossal size, it's more of a 'badger'. You might even find your mouse-mat feels less spacious once you plonk one of these on it, but we're unaware of any badger-mats currently on the market. It does feel rather unusual at first, but you'll soon adapt to the shape and button action.

With a whole host of tailoring options, it has to be the most comprehensive wired-mouse out there, and at around £40, it's far from being the most expensive. On top of that, it feels well made - harder-wearing than the old Intellimouse Explorer series. The Sidewinder could be just the edge you need to rise from doe-eyed noob to fearsome bullet-slinging overlord.