Acually microsoft didn't design this mouse, they worked with Razer to put their name on it. If you want to see is your hand is comfortable with this Habu, test drive a Diamonback, or any other optical Razer. Personnaly I don't like the way they feel. As for the Xbox controller for the PC, yes the wired version works seemlessly with the PC already and you can buy it for 10 dollars cheaper from the Xbox section and download the latest pc driver from microsfot. The wireless version however is not currently compatible. I am thinking that what is required is a bluetooth dongle and a driver to use it.

Personnaly I use a G5 at work and the G7 at home, I am happy with my mice and will not be buying one for a while I am sure. However the wireless 360 controller for the PC is good news.

Perfectly happy with my Logitech MX510, ergonomic and beautifully functional. I love the Intellimouse as a product cycle, but when the left-click button died and I found out that that is the way nearly ALL intellimice die (and soon too), I had to resolve to not buy MS mice anymore...

I used to use an MS Intellimouse 3.0. Used it for years with no problems and eventually had to replace it because the feet got worn out. I replaced it with an intellimouse 3.0.

I loved that mouse but always wanted a wireless so my current mouse is now a Logitech MX1000. It took some getting used to because of its unusual shape but now I love the thing. It has a TON of buttons that are 100% remappable in its setup program and thats always nice. Combine that with a Belkin Nostromo N52 Speedpad and you've got some serious gaming power :)

Everytime I get a new mouse it comes with more buttons and I keep thinking to myself "I'll never use those damn things" but then you end up finding nice uses for them and you end up not being able to live without it. That MX1000 has a 4 way tilting button surrounding the scroll wheel and so I've remapped all of those to functions within my games, I have the forward/back buttons that I remap to ALT+ and ALT+ so that they still do "forward" and "back" functions in IE but then most games will recognise them as those combos so you can remap functions to it. So thats 6 buttons not including the standard right/left/middle that you get with a normal mouse with a scroll wheel.

Not for Noobs? So like MS is calling everyone who doesn't own that mouse a noob?!

While the 1st version of the IntelliMouse Explorer didn't really have it in terms of build quality (I personally went through 2 in 1 year), Microsoft Mice (in general) have feel better in the hand than any other manufacturers' mice. Their mouse clicks actually feel like clicks unlike some other branded mice which I've tried which feel too light or mushy. The standard shape of MS mice is also one which feels most natural. The typically highly touted Logitech mice are either asymetrical which forces me to contort my wrist to be able to use the mouse, or have no curves which are typically present to make mice easier to hold.

While I can't say anything for their keyboards or other peripherals, MS Mice are indeed in a class of their own.

The thin flexible cord which is mentioned is already used in their current Laser Mouse 6000 (which I bought recently to replace a 4 yr old IntelliMouse Optical which was still working well). If i'm not actually looking at my mouse, I can hardly even tell that it is a wired mouse; the wire is that thin and light. The cables on my older MS mice are almost twice as thick.

While I certainly don't need a gaming mouse with 2000dpi, the increased accuracy of lase technology on my Laser Mouse 6000 is indeed fantastic. I might never consider the Habu, but I might consider the new IntelliMouse Explorer if I can actually see shots of it.

Naaaaaahhhh... it isn't wireless!!!! =(

I think I'll just stick with my Razer Copperhead.

I've been looking to replace this stupid Logitech G5 ever since the day I bought it. Most uncomfortable mouse ever. First logitech mouse I purchased since my old serial 3 button back in like 92. Thank god Microsoft designed this, I know it'll be comfortable.

Thank god Microsoft designed this, I know it'll be comfortable.

I'm guessing Razer probably did a good portion, if not all, of the design work.

I stand corrected sir. More importantly, the G5 in my opinion is nothing more than an attempt at lampoonery.

(yawn)...

WTF, a special xbox 360 controller for Windows... can't existing controllers use USB ports? The only thing missing are drivers... so essentially anyone who already has an xbox controller has to buy another to get the drivers, and drivers have traditionally been free... and then will they even work with the "old" xbox 360 controllers? Laaame.

As for mice, I don't see wireless in my future, as long as I have some slack in my wire there's no need, it doesn't get in my way. For gaming I find that my 3-axis (mouse wheel) and 5-buttons are sufficient, and indeed required. Also it's an optical mouse, much better for gaming than old ball mouses.

For most FPSs I keep my mouse on "mouselook" mode (X axis = look l/r, Y axis = look u/d), and the wheel cycles weapons. Mouse 1 fires, Mouse 2 does an alternate fire mode (if there is none I make it zoom or throw grenade or whatever). Mouse 3 is jump, Mouse 4 is reload, Mouse 5 is crouch. I find this to be a satisfying configuration. On my keyboard I use arrow keys to strafe and move forward/back, and keep and important keys bound around that area (in numpad and lower right side of main key area).

You can download the drivers for free from Microsoft, they are simply selling a seperate controller for PC users who do not own or want an Xbox 360. The controller is identical to the xbox 360 version. It's just marketing; most consumers would not have any idea that a 360 controller will also work on a PC so they designed a special package for them. Naturally they included the drivers with it. Incidentally from what I've read the official drivers suck. There are some third party drivers that are supposed to work much better.

That's the standard fps default config... notfornoobs.com. (How many people are gonna use that as a snide remark?)

Give me a standard Microsoft Optical mouse any day.

Nothing like the old Logitech Trackman Marble FX. Still sells for $100 on ebay and its been out of production for a number of years. Never understood why they stopped making it.

I went through three Intellimouse Explorers, and they all turned out to be junk. The cable shorted out on the first two, and the last one developed a problem with the button where it would rapidly double click when you pressed it, or wouldn't stay pressed if you were trying to drag something. I bought a Logitech MX500 to replace it and there's just no comparison. I'm not eager to buy any more Microsoft branded hardware.

I prefer my decade old finger pad :)

They need to re-invent that for the desktop! Dang it!

You play games on a finger pad?

They're right - not for noobs. :P

yes! I'm not an fps'er...twitch gamer. I'm an old man gamer, you know mahjong and strategy

:)
10years+ using them things young whippersnapper!

I'll stick with my MX518, thanks. ;)

Best mouse ever made.

amen!

Can't wait for the IntelliMouse Explorer, the best mouse out there. Have been search for one to replace my current one, and they are either used, and expensive or cannot be found. I am not referring to the one with tilt buttom, that mouse is terrible.

the use of a thin, flexible code makes it feel like a wireless mouse.

Eh?

Whazzat?

still no sign of a new trackball mouse :(

"serious gamers" -

are these those people whose sole and main sense in life is gaining self-respect from computer games?

or could it be that this is just nonsensical language?

there are those called "gamblers", but, hey - they make a living from gaming . . . and, seriously, not from computer gaming.

There are plenty of gamers who make their living doing nothing except playing computer games. I bet there are more gamers making their living on computer games than those "gamers" trying to making a living from the casino.

lets not forget the video game olympics, and that one fatal1ty dude which has his own line of computer hardware ....
who got there by doing nothing but playing games :)

...and schmoozing.

LOTS of schmoozing. ;)

(Schmoozing is actually in Bon Echo's Spell checker...but Bon is not. How strange.)

Look at the game review sites like GameChronicles.com. He spends a TON of time writing his solves (Sinjin Solves) and doing other game reviews. I suppose he would benefit from such a mouse.

Seems crazy but maybe you don't know you need it until you get one and see the benefits. Many things developed for consumers today fit into that category.