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Paladin
09-14-2009, 08:20 PM
When I find a mouse I love, I stick with it. I've had a Razer Copperhead for 4 or 5 years. It took some getting used to in the beginning, but once I got comfortable using it, it was hands down the best mouse I'd ever used (granted, my prior experience had been Microsoft Intellimouses (Intellimice?), so I didn't have much to really compare it to.

A couple of months ago, the mouse wheel started to really degrade. It went from having a tactile, rubber feel to being so smooth it was slick and hard to spin. I started getting creamed in FPS games because I couldn't switch weapons precisely (if at all). Finally, 2 weeks ago, the mousewheel sensor gave up and started acting like I was spinning the wheel all the time. It was time for a new mouse.

Sadly, the local stores don't stock a great variety of mice. They have a few bargin bin models, and then a few in the $90+ range, including some Razers. There just wasn't much really good in the sub-$50 range. I finally settled on a Razer Diamondback 3G from Dell, which I ordered without ever seeing in person.

So far, and I'm only a few hours into using it, I'm liking it almost as much as my well broken-in Copperhead. The mouse is very precise. It comes with on-the-fly-DPI adjustment (which I don't know if I'll use... I just need to find a level I'm happy with). It also adds 4 side buttons to the 3 the Copperhead had. This is probably going to be the biggest challenge for me to get used to. I already downloaded the Razor driver and shut off the two right-hand side buttons, as they were mimicing the mouse wheel in TF2 and I was accidently weapon switching at the worst possible times. The left mouse buttons hit my thumb in a much more expected place and I haven't had any trouble accidently hitting them so far. I can see mapping one them to be my in-game microphone key.

Aside from the placement of the right-hand buttons being in a spot where I accidently hit them (the Copperhead had rubber grips on the sides, so I'm also used to being able to hold the sides of the mouse firmly without triggering anything), the other issue is the size of the mouse. It is about an 1/8 of an inch wider than the Copperhead and maybe slighty more longer. It FEELS much larger though. After a couple of hours of use, my palm is a little achy from holding the larger mouse. I think I'll be able to get used to that, however. The Copperhead actually already feels small when I try it in comparison.

I'll post a follow up in a week or two, once I have gotten used to it (or decided I hate it and see if it's mousewheel will fit in the Copperhead).

Razer Diamondback 3G (http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-mice/razer-diamondback-3g)

FYI... I got mine in blue, to match the glow from my PC. The mousewheel lights up nice and bright. The sides are no where near as bright as the pictures on the website.

Creole Ned
09-14-2009, 09:17 PM
It looks like an ambidextrous take on the DeathAdder (http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-mice/razer-deathadder/razer-deathadder/) (which only has buttons on the left side). I really liked the DeathAdder and it took much longer to adjust to the G9 I'm using now, whereas the DeathAdder was an instant "fit". I like the rubberized surface and the feel of the wheel -- solid, not mushy but without too much resistance, either (the G9 is way too tough to click to use reliably as a button, in my view).

i have fairly small hands and never found the size of the mouse to be an issue. Odd that you would (unless you have even smaller hands).

Tai
09-15-2009, 05:39 AM
Nice write up, I'm looking forward to the followup after some serious play time. I can't actually see the side buttons in that image, but I like the glow, I'm using Logitech G5's at home and work and really like them (although I could see possibly using one or two more buttons if they existed). The G9 looks way too wide for me.

Paladin, try the on-the-fly DPI switch when you are scoped in as sniper: it makes it almost like cheating. :) (although your strafing/walking still goes slow, you can aim just like normal).

I am surprised you use the wheel for weapon switching, I find 1,2,3 and Q to be faster/easier, and switched to using those from the wheel a long time ago. You do have fast weapon switching turned on though, right?

PS. We had Postal, Shadowrat, Armerius, and myself on the same team last night - we missed you. :)

Creole Ned
09-15-2009, 10:49 AM
The G9 is quite a bit smaller than it looks. It's actually smaller in size than the G5 mice.

Tai
09-15-2009, 11:31 AM
ah, really? It looked huge (and square) to me. Interesting, maybe I shall take a look at it in person next time I'm in Best Buy.

Creole Ned
09-15-2009, 01:40 PM
The shells that clip over top of the mouse make it look much bigger in images. If you can try it hands-on, I'd definitely recommend checking it out. It's also a stubby design and it took awhile for me to adjust to that. Unlike the Razer mice above, you can't really palm the G9 as it's too short.

armerius
09-16-2009, 06:38 AM
the G9 always looked very uncomfortable to me.. I've been happy with my G7 for a long time now. I absolutely LOVE the battery cartridges and charger that are so easy to change on the fly and the feel is great... also the ability to adjust sensitivity is really awesome when i'm in apps that require more precision from LESS DPI. (and it's great to slow down movement in sniping).

Paladin
09-16-2009, 05:27 PM
One reason I picked a wired mouse was to avoid the added weight of batteries or a battery pack. I used a wireless mouse for the 2 weeks between the Copperhead dying and my Diamondback getting here, and I was so glad to get away from the batteries. Don't get me wrong, I like wireless mice... just not for gaming.

Creole Ned
09-16-2009, 07:59 PM
The G7 is pretty good as far as wireless mice go. The battery it uses is quite light. It only has one side button and the wheel is only so-so as a button, unfortunately.

armerius
09-17-2009, 08:04 PM
i agree. i miss having more than 1 side button.. and the wheel is a TERRIBLE button.