14 DAY TRIAL // After announcing several peripheral devices, including the new Arc Mouse and the BlueTrack-equipped Explore and Explore Mini mice, the Redmond, Washington-based software giant has also introduced a new mouse specifically designed to meet the requirements of enthusiast gamers. Unlike most of the company's gaming-oriented mice, the new X8, which will be part of the SideWinder lineup, features the same BlueTrack technology as the new Explorer mice.
It was somewhat to be expected that Microsoft would incorporate its latest technology in a mouse that was specifically built to improve the gaming skills of its users. Given the new technology and X8's overall design, Microsoft could just become the favorite manufacturer of gaming gear on this segment of the market.
“When conducting our research, we found room for improving on the wireless experience for gamers, especially as it related to perceived delay or lag time of response. The SideWinder X8 Mouse will put those wireless gaming mouse fears to rest,” said Bill Jukes, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware. “We designed this mouse to perform to the highest gaming standards — with near-zero latency, uninterrupted gameplay and the world’s most advanced tracking with BlueTrack Technology.” Jukes added.
The new X8 mouse has been designed to combine the company's proprietary BlueTrack technology with the latest in wireless technology, in order to improve the gaming experience for all those users out there who are looking for high-end devices that can deliver concrete improvement to their gaming experience. Featuring the new BlueTrack technology, the SideWinder X8 mouse offers image processing of up to 13,000 frames per second, 75g maximum acceleration and 120 inches per second maximum speed.
In addition, X8 also includes gaming features such as DPI switching, which allows users to instantly switch sensitivity, with three custom settings, high, medium and low, ranging from 250 to a whopping 4000 dpi. There are also seven programmable buttons, and a macro record button, which allows uses to easily record macros, while in-game.
If the features of the new X8 mouse have managed to get your attention, we might as well mention that you will need to wait until February next year before you get a chance to test one out. In addition, be prepared to pay as much as $99.95 for such an item, although the price tag could be set even higher than this, depending on retailer.