Are wireless mice any good for gaming yet?

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KeithTalent


Well my opposable thumbs make the G7 very easy to use, not sure about you though.

KT

I never said it was exceedingly difficult, just harder than it should be for an $80 mouse. I've spent the last 20 years of my life dealing with rechargeable batteries on a daily basis, and having to swap out batteries is a big step backwards. I cradle the mouse when I'm finished with it, go to bed, and it's brand new by morning. Swapping out batteries is 15 years ago.

Well pardon my ignorance, but what happens if it runs out while you are playing a game?

KT

I've had the MX700 for over 4 years now, and I've never ran out during a game. I'm on the second mouse, but the same pair of AAA NiMH batteries. To be fair it's just my gaming mouse now. If I had to use it all day, it would probably lose it's charge after 16 hours or so of use. Those are the original batteries though. I still have the brand new batteries shrink wrapped, and they would last days without being recharged.

 

[Skacer]

The part where you are incorrect is how much work is required to change the battery. You seem to be under the guise that there is some sort of latch and probably an annoying cover you have to take off to get at the battery. But on the bottom side of the G7 there is just a button, it fires the battery (which is a tiny square cartridge) out of the unit like a toaster. The recharger has a similar button. So you can fire the batteries out of both units very quickly and swap them. You also seem to be under the assumption that you would have to do the battery changing routine as often as you have to cradle your mx1000. From all of your replies, it shows clearly that you've had no experience with it so you are basing your assumptions on what it might be like versus what you are doing now. I am telling you though, that I had the mx700, I had the mx1000 and I now have the G7. You apparently can't comprehend that the method you think is more difficult would actually save you more time on a day by day basis.

 

[lxskllr]

I comprehend the mechanical nature of the G7 just fine. I looked at the pictures on Newegg, and saw exactly how it worked. Putting a mouse in a cradle before I go to bed is easier, period. I don't have to manipulate buttons, swap batteries, or even barely move. You could break both of my arms, cut off all of my fingers, and I'd still be able to charge my mouse :roll:

 

[bunnyfubbles]

The answer depends on the question. If you buy a newer wireless mouse for you computing, and you're wondering whether or not gaming is going to totally suck, most likely not.

Wireless has gotten pretty good to the point where its pretty good for some casual gaming. However if you're really competitive you'll want to avoid wireless like the plague; there are simply too many headaches associated with wireless mice that just don't make up for its one and only advantage.

Relative to a trusty wired you have to deal with...

Signal latency, signal interference, extra weight you can't get rid of (weight systems on mice are a gimmick, if you like a heavier mouse you can always add weight and mod it yourself once and then you're done, no need for the extra cost to go to retail with gimmick weight systems), battery issues, power down issues, increased cost, restrictive choices, poorer peak performance...

The one and only area the wireless mouse offers any advantage is that it doesn't have a cord that can snag or tangle, and that is a problem someone with even the most meager ingenuity can solve. Those who try to claim otherwise are either ultra lazy and/or have very extreme desktop mousing surface situations.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KeithTalent


Well my opposable thumbs make the G7 very easy to use, not sure about you though.

KT

I never said it was exceedingly difficult, just harder than it should be for an $80 mouse. I've spent the last 20 years of my life dealing with rechargeable batteries on a daily basis, and having to swap out batteries is a big step backwards. I cradle the mouse when I'm finished with it, go to bed, and it's brand new by morning. Swapping out batteries is 15 years ago.

Well pardon my ignorance, but what happens if it runs out while you are playing a game?

KT

Uh... you manually replace the batteries, just like you have to on a G7. You do know that you can manually replace the batteries in an MX700, right?

I'd much rather have the option to EITHER place the mouse on a cradle OR manually change batteries, like I can with the MX700... rather than ONLY having the manual battery change option with the G7.

 

[Skacer]

The MX700 battery can be replaced, but the MX1000s can't. And it is not a valid comparison, because you cannot charge the un-used batteries for the MX700 while using the other batteries unless you have a seperate charger. For that fact, replacement batteries do not come standard like they do on the G7. The MX700 also had a worse charger than the MX1000, it suffered from a contact problem which meant you could sit it on the charger and not notice it wasn't charging until the morning. If you don't have spare chargeable batteries for the MX700 then you suffer the same fate as the MX1000, go get a wired mouse for a few hours when it dies if you forget to charge it. The MX700 is an LED mouse, so that is a black mark on it right away.

The G7 is a lighter mouse, ships standard with 2 seperate batteries, has a finish that doesn't fade, and is a 2000 DPI mouse versus 800 DPI.

And Bunny, when comparing a wired mouse to a current gen wireless mouse, I bet you will snag your cable more often than I will get "signal loss". Regardless of whether your cable snags or not, the position of the cable and it's pull on the mouse in general is having a constant effect on how the mouse is moving. Especially when you factor in whether you like a light mouse and how smooth the mousing surface is. The lighter the mouse, the heavier the cable is by comparison. The comparison I like to make is that a wired mouse is an object on a leash that you are dragging around, where as a wireless mouse is a free standing object that you can move in any direction at any time.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: TreyRandom

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KeithTalent


Well my opposable thumbs make the G7 very easy to use, not sure about you though.

KT

I never said it was exceedingly difficult, just harder than it should be for an $80 mouse. I've spent the last 20 years of my life dealing with rechargeable batteries on a daily basis, and having to swap out batteries is a big step backwards. I cradle the mouse when I'm finished with it, go to bed, and it's brand new by morning. Swapping out batteries is 15 years ago.

Well pardon my ignorance, but what happens if it runs out while you are playing a game?

KT

Uh... you manually replace the batteries, just like you have to on a G7. You do know that you can manually replace the batteries in an MX700, right?

I'd much rather have the option to EITHER place the mouse on a cradle OR manually change batteries, like I can with the MX700... rather than ONLY having the manual battery change option with the G7.

Well no I did not know that, which is why I asked the question.

KT

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Skacer
The MX700 battery can be replaced, but the MX1000s can't. And it is not a valid comparison, because you cannot charge the un-used batteries for the MX700 while using the other batteries unless you have a seperate charger. For that fact, replacement batteries do not come standard like they do on the G7. The MX700 also had a worse charger than the MX1000, it suffered from a contact problem which meant you could sit it on the charger and not notice it wasn't charging until the morning. If you don't have spare chargeable batteries for the MX700 then you suffer the same fate as the MX1000, go get a wired mouse for a few hours when it dies if you forget to charge it. The MX700 is an LED mouse, so that is a black mark on it right away.

The G7 is a lighter mouse, ships standard with 2 seperate batteries, has a finish that doesn't fade, and is a 2000 DPI mouse versus 800 DPI.

And Bunny, when comparing a wired mouse to a current gen wireless mouse, I bet you will snag your cable more often than I will get "signal loss". Regardless of whether your cable snags or not, the position of the cable and it's pull on the mouse in general is having a constant effect on how the mouse is moving. Especially when you factor in whether you like a light mouse and how smooth the mousing surface is. The lighter the mouse, the heavier the cable is by comparison. The comparison I like to make is that a wired mouse is an object on a leash that you are dragging around, where as a wireless mouse is a free standing object that you can move in any direction at any time.

Since I have kids, I have plenty of rechargeable batteries around the house. That said, you don't need spare rechargeable batteries for the MX700 - any standard alkaline batteries will do. Just be sure not to try to charge them.

I've had two MX700s (one at home and one at work), and I've never had the charging problem you describe. I guess that must happen with other people. :shrug:

I prefer a heavier mouse, as long as the feet are smooth. I don't want a mouse that I can push without meaning to push it. I'm the same way with cell phones (minus the smooth feet comment) - I want something hefty that I can grip... not something so light, it feels like I'm going to break it. Different people have different opinions - you like a light mouse, I like a heavy mouse.