The Sidewinder X5 is, at best, an entry-level mouse. It’s priced on the the low end of the scale, but even then it may not be worth your attention.

This mouse is primarily for the casual gamer who needs a cheap gaming mouse. If you need a mouse mostly for Internet browsing and working, or you play games more than occasionally, you probably won’t find this a good fit.

On the positive side, you can customize the gaming buttons to your preference. The mouse has five programmable main buttons, as well as two vertical thumb buttons that can be assigned macros such as frequently used game actions. It offers on-the-fly DPI change, which is a good feature to have. It’s always nice to get extra precision when you want it.

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On the negative side, the mouse is rather bulky and awkward and is better suited for larger hands. It’s not particularly comfortable for long use.

The thumb buttons are rather poorly placed. Depending on the size of your hand and how you grip the mouse, you have to move your hand to press the buttons or you are constantly pressing the buttons accidentally. The scrolling is not as smooth as it should be, either.

Unfortunately, this mouse simply doesn’t have the natural feel and easy handling most people want from a gaming mouse that will see a lot of action.

All in all, this piece of hardware has a lot of annoyances that add up to a less-than-enjoyable mousing experience for many people. If you’re going to buy a new mouse, you might as well spend a little more money and get something that will truly satisfy your needs.

Here are some of the features of the Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse:

• - 2000 DPI laser tracking engine for fast action
• - Built to last – main button life rated to 10,000,000 clicks
• - Instantly switch sensitivity between high (2000), medium (800), and low (400) with one click
• - Five programmable main buttons
• - Create and assign macros out-of-game using included software

Here is what current owners have to say about the Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse:

Y. Kim: “I know that this is not a gaming mouse with lots of bells and whistles such as a Logitech G9 or a Microsoft SideWinder X8. However, I think it will fit most gamers nicely. This mouse focuses mainly on fast actions, durability and several programmable buttons that I think are most important for a gaming mouse. In addition, the X5 is the most responsive mouse I have ever used. I would not replace my MX Revolution with the X5, however, I would recommend the X5 for anyone looking for a good gaming mouse at a reasonable price.”

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If you’d like more information about the Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse, you can get further details, customer comments, and the latest special price here on Amazon