Replacement for IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0?

Y

Yeastwood

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Jul 21, 2009
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Looking for an alternative to the MSIE 3.0 and was wondering if anyone could lend their 2 cents to help me find the right mouse for me :)

Needs:
* Size: I want something that doesn't have a huge lump in the rear-mid-section of the mouse, something on the small side (translation: ABSOLUTELY NO LOGITECHS!)

* Weight: Something light, and similar to the original Microsoft Optical Mouse seen here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105184), or the MSIE3.0 (which is a tad bit lumpier, but still feels very nice).

* 5+ buttons with "Backwards" and "Forwards" buttons on the left of the mouse.

After doing some research, I've narrowed done my list to the following:
* Another MSIE3.0
* Microsoft Habu
* Razer Copperhead
* Razer DeathAdder

Getting a replacement MSIE3.0, to me, is not a bad thing, however, I'd really like to experiment to see if I like something better. The Habu seems like the next best bet. However, from what I'm reading about the driver and technical support (or lack thereof) issue really makes me question whether it's worth the hassle. Also I read about some tracking, or glitching issues?

For the Copperhead, I've read a LOT of complaints where the damn thing gives out even faster than my MSIE 3 did (mostly single clicks turn to double clicks, with no fix). Although, if not for that issue it would seem 100% perfect for my needs, as it has backward/forward buttons on the left (AND the right, for lefties), looks relatively low, and lightweight!

The DeathAdder looks really nice and intriguing, however, I've read that it's a little heavier than would be the MSIE3 and the hump is kind of bulky in the midsection.

So I'd really appreciate it if any of you guys could lend their support to help steer me in the right direction. Is the DeathAdder bulkier than the MSIE3? How is the longetivity on the Copperhead (and how is the overall "feel")? Has the support for the Habu been sorted out?
 
Search my post history and you'll see I had a similar question back in the day.

I was a fan of the Logitech G5 Rev 1, but didn't like the Rev 2 or any of their other products.

A few days ago I got the DeathAdder. I have to tell you, it's pretty freaking awesome. I worry more about ergonomics and long-term comfort than most other criteria, and I can tell you that the DeathAdder really delivers there and in terms of precision. It's also really good looking.

And, in comparison to the Logitech products I had, it's very light. Almost too light, imo. I'm sure I'll adjust, but it sure seems speedy right now compared to my old G5!

-S
 
I have a habu and love it. I use it on a glass mouspad (steelseries). It has the back/forward buttons.

They are a little tricky to install, but I've figured it out. All you have to do is FIRST update the mouse from windows update rather from than from the razer site, then it works flawlessly on vistax64. Then you can get the razer software if you want.
 
Want to comment on the copperhead issue. I've had mine for over 2 years and it's still going strong, not a single issue out of it as of yet. 2 thumbs up from me.
 
The Deathadder is by far the best performing mouse out on the market as far as I'm aware. I just couldn't stand the shape of it. Next best is MX518. The Deathadder is very difficult to pick up off the table in my experience. I hold my mouse where only my fingertips and the heel of my palm touch the mouse. When I pick up the mouse, I don't actually grasp the mouse. My thumb and ring finger come in from the side so when my hand goes up, the mouse happens to be picked up with it. The Deathadder has no ridges of any sort on the side to facilitate this sort of handling with the mouse. It essentially forced me to collapse my hand down onto the mouse so I could maintain a good enough grip to lift the mouse, and eventually that caused me to get severe hand pain.

In terms of performance only, Deathadder is the way to go. The rest in your selection, I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. I thought the Copperhead was good, but that was a severe misjudgment. Lots of negative acceleration and general accuracy problems in terms of tracking.

Really, it's only the Deathadder and the Logitech MX518, but seeing as how you said no Logitechs, I guess the Deathadder is the only thing that's worth getting. Except of course, its horrible shape (in my opinion).

The perfect mouse would be the Deathadder internals in a Copperhead body, bar none.

I play at extremely low sensitivity. 800 DPI with sensitivity of 1.7 in CS 1.6/CSS and 1.3 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Deathadders are very bulky. Probably one of the largest if not the largest mouse I have ever owned. By far the largest footprint of any mouse I've ever used.
 
Take a look at the Sidewinder X8; it has no big lump afaik. It certainly is on the larger side of mice, but no lump. It's also the only wireless mouse I've come across to date that I'd recommend.
 
xSnowmaNx said:
I thought the Copperhead was good, but that was a severe misjudgment. Lots of negative acceleration and general accuracy problems in terms of tracking.

I play at extremely low sensitivity. 800 DPI with sensitivity of 1.7 in CS 1.6/CSS and 1.3 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Click to expand...

Haven't noticed any tracking/accuracy problems either, but I keep mine at 2000 dpi at all times. I also use 1.7 in all source engine games. Wonder if it's only an issue at lower dpi's?

Nevermind, I use 3.0 sensitivty. 1.7 is brightness.
 
Yeastwood said:
Looking for an alternative to the MSIE 3.0 and was wondering if anyone could lend their 2 cents to help me find the right mouse for me :)

Needs:
* Size: I want something that doesn't have a huge lump in the rear-mid-section of the mouse, something on the small side (translation: ABSOLUTELY NO LOGITECHS!)

* Weight: Something light, and similar to the original Microsoft Optical Mouse seen here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105184), or the MSIE3.0 (which is a tad bit lumpier, but still feels very nice).

* 5+ buttons with "Backwards" and "Forwards" buttons on the left of the mouse.

After doing some research, I've narrowed done my list to the following:
* Another MSIE3.0
* Microsoft Habu
* Razer Copperhead
* Razer DeathAdder

Getting a replacement MSIE3.0, to me, is not a bad thing, however, I'd really like to experiment to see if I like something better. The Habu seems like the next best bet. However, from what I'm reading about the driver and technical support (or lack thereof) issue really makes me question whether it's worth the hassle. Also I read about some tracking, or glitching issues?

For the Copperhead, I've read a LOT of complaints where the damn thing gives out even faster than my MSIE 3 did (mostly single clicks turn to double clicks, with no fix). Although, if not for that issue it would seem 100% perfect for my needs, as it has backward/forward buttons on the left (AND the right, for lefties), looks relatively low, and lightweight!

The DeathAdder looks really nice and intriguing, however, I've read that it's a little heavier than would be the MSIE3 and the hump is kind of bulky in the midsection.

So I'd really appreciate it if any of you guys could lend their support to help steer me in the right direction. Is the DeathAdder bulkier than the MSIE3? How is the longetivity on the Copperhead (and how is the overall "feel")? Has the support for the Habu been sorted out?
Click to expand...

The copperhead is absolute garbage I had one and it just disintegrated. It also tracks terribly. Actually, I feel all laser mice are terrible. I think optical or infrared are the best. Now that I think about it, the time I spent using the Copperhead was sort of the dark age of mousing, that stupid pulsating light and poor build quality, terrible tracking. You might like the new Diamondback 3G.

Honestly though, with respect to build quality, button placement, and overall ergonomics, nothing beats Logitech, particularly the MX518. If you can't find another mouse with the shape and features you want, it would be well worth your time to try and get used to a MX518.
 
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xSnowmaNx said:
The Deathadder is by far the best performing mouse out on the market as far as I'm aware. I just couldn't stand the shape of it. Next best is MX518.
Click to expand...

Snowman is right on. In the tests I saw, Deathadder outperformed MX518. The ergonomics build quality and button placement favor MX518. However, the new Diamondback 3G has the same infrared sensor as the Deathadder, and the shape is a little flatter it seems. I would definitely look into the Diamondback 3G. But, nothing beats the awesome DPI on the fly button placement on the MX518.

I think the Diamondback 3G might be the "Deathadder internals in copperhead body" that Snowman was talking about.
 
Blackstone said:
Snowman is right on. In the tests I saw, Deathadder outperformed MX518. The ergonomics build quality and button placement favor MX518. However, the new Diamondback 3G has the same infrared sensor as the Deathadder, and the shape is a little flatter it seems. I would definitely look into the Diamondback 3G. But, nothing beats the awesome DPI on the fly button placement on the MX518.

I think the Diamondback 3G might be the "Deathadder internals in copperhead body" that Snowman was talking about.
Click to expand...

Like I said before: the X8 has no tracking issues I've seen (esp since it is wireless.) It also isn't laser, it's the newer blue-track.
 
FinalAura said:
They are a little tricky to install, but I've figured it out. All you have to do is FIRST update the mouse from windows update rather from than from the razer site, then it works flawlessly on vistax64. Then you can get the razer software if you want.
Click to expand...

Hm, I wonder if this method works the same on XP x64 (my OS). I saw another thread, or site, which listed the # of steps to install the Habu and it was at like, 15!!

From looking at comparison images of the DeathAdder vs. the Habu, the height and the placement of the "hump" seem similar:
http://www.esreality.com/?a=post&id=1300302
And from reading various glowing reviews, I would put the DeathAdder over the Habu.

However, there's still the Copperhead, which features an ambidextrous and lower elevated design - something that I kind of missed. Not to mention the backward/forward buttons on the left side! Can anyone else, besides N3mi5is, anyone care to comment on the durability and build quality of the Razer Copperhead?
 
N3mi5is said:
Haven't noticed any tracking/accuracy problems either, but I keep mine at 2000 dpi at all times. I also use 1.7 in all source engine games. Wonder if it's only an issue at lower dpi's?

Nevermind, I use 3.0 sensitivty. 1.7 is brightness.
Click to expand...

It is only an issue at high physical mouse movement speeds, so implicitly it is at lower DPI's. The reason for this is because you're less likely to move your mouse/hand fast at a high sensitivity, since your movements are already amplified so much. At lower sensitivities/DPI settings, you must cover more distance in a shorter amount of time to cover the same at a higher sensitivity/DPI. The sensor must be accurate/quick enough to detect the differences in a surface at a much higher rate to avoid capping the acceleration that is possible.

Trust me when I say the Copperhead has terrible negative acceleration. Sometimes it outright fails the detection and thinks it has gone in the opposite direction of movement. You just need to move the mouse fast enough. And yes, I have routinely moved my hand fast enough during a typical gaming session. One of the many reasons why I ditched my Copperhead years ago.

I am very wary of Razer products these days. I have mentioned this in a thread a while ago, but I think it is worth mentioning again: Razer has all the parts necessary to make what I believe to be the ULTIMATE mouse. The problem is, every single mouse they have seems to have only one part of the ultimate mouse. They seem to be quite comfortable in releasing new product after new product without any reflection on their previous products and to actively improve on their previous designs. It's just new new new with them, rather than better better better. OMG IT HAS 5782 G FORCE FIELD TECHNOLOGY WITH 1 GB OF RAM TO HOLD ALL OF YOUR ELEVENTY BILLION PROFILES. What? How does this make it a better mouse than your last piece of crap?

Really, the best piece of advice I can give you is for you to actually try out the mice, and by try, I don't mean simply go to Best Buy and hold the mouse in your hand and see if it is comfortable for 30 seconds. Try to find friends with the mouse you want to try out, and ask them if you can borrow it for a weekend or something. A mouse is something you're going to use constantly, and problems often aren't apparent until after hours of use.
 
N3mi5is said:
Haven't noticed any tracking/accuracy problems either, but I keep mine at 2000 dpi at all times. I also use 1.7 in all source engine games. Wonder if it's only an issue at lower dpi's?

Nevermind, I use 3.0 sensitivty. 1.7 is brightness.
Click to expand...

1.7 @ 2000 dpi is VERY high sensitivity. Playing at 800 dpi with 1.7 sensitivity is the same as 2000 dpi and 0.68 sensitivity.

I have been using the SteelSeries Ikari Optical and it's been great. About the same shape as the IE 3.0 and has amazing tracking (1600CPI, 1000Hz bus, simple design). Whatever you do, do not get a laser mouse if you play with low sensitivity. The tracking and negative acceleration is awful.
 
Of that list I would vote Copperhead or Death Adder. Razer mice fit your bill and I have a Diamondback prior 3G still going strong. One side note, you should count off all Logitechs, the G9 fits your bill nicely (no hump, very light with no weights and has the buttons you want) and I actually like it more than the Diamondback. My one complaint about Razers is the drivers tend to be a little unstable when compared to the rock solid Logitech drivers.
 
Deathadder is too light for my liking and the build quality is garbage
 
Go to your nearest best buy and try out the DeathAdder in your hands, you'll have a better feel for it.

vote goes for the deathadder
 
Blackstone said:
I think the Diamondback 3G might be the "Deathadder internals in copperhead body" that Snowman was talking about.
Click to expand...

Yes Snowman had some good input on the DeathAdder..saying he favors the MX518 over it is a bold statement to me, IMO, as I *HATED* the MX518/500. And from what he describes of how he holds the mouse, that's sort of how I grasp my mouse as well. Heh, funny about people mentioning to go to Best Buy to test drive it...didn't even think those jokers carried it. Sure enough, however, they do. I may give it a whirl, but honestly, I have a feeling that from what everyone is saying, it will be way too bulky for my liking.

In regards to the Diamondback 3G, I did research that. Only reason I didn't put it in my list is that it looked like it didn't have backwards/forwards thumb buttons on only the one side. Rather, it looked like it split backward/forward navigation to each side of the mouse. Then I did a double-take and it does appear to have both, button 5 & 4, on the one side (http://www.burnoutpc.com/images/reviews/3G/soft5.jpg). However, again looking at a closeup image, I only see one elongated button (http://www.hardwarezone.com/img/data/nnews/2007/8715/File/Side500.jpg).

Can someone clear up for me how how the side buttons actually are and perform?
 
The Deathadder is sweet. I picked one up from Best Buy about a week ago and unlike my previous gaming mice the Logitech G9 and G7 this mouse feels like it was custom designed for my hand. The weight is perfect and it has the smoothest tracking I've ever experienced. I am using it on a Steelpad 5L which I'm not sure if it is a good pad for this mouse or not but no complaints so far from me. I only wish I'd had one of these when I used to play CS:S obessively.
 
Death Adder + 1.08v Firmware = IME 3.0 on crack.

They finally removed the damn prediction. It was the only thing holding the death adder back from being the absolute perfect replacement for the 3.0.
 
Anyone know why the polling rate on the DeathAdder is set to 500 by default?
 
Don't forget logitech has great warranty service. I had my rev1 g5 for 2.7 years. It stopped working on me so I talked to logitech. They told me to test it in another PC. Didn't work still and they just sent me a new rev2 g5 just like that.

Like people said, the only other good options are deathadder and habu.
 
j0j081 said:
Anyone know why the polling rate on the DeathAdder is set to 500 by default?
Click to expand...

Some USB ports have problems with the connection dropping out sometimes if set to 1000 (my 680i board had that problem)

Anyway, +1 for DeathAdder. I like it because it's the same shape as IME 3.0, I never got used to the shape of logitech mice.
 
^ Bump. Can anyone tell me about the Razer Diamondback 3G's side buttons?
This image shows the Diamond back has FOUR buttons on the sides (2 on the left, 2 on the right). Yet, all other images, like this one, shows only what looks like one button. Does this mean the one button has two functions? Anyone care to elaborate?
 
I use microsofts laser mouse 6000 (I think first gen one) no lag and works great for quake live and 3d modeling, and best of all no stupid shape, perfect for claw grip.
 
i still have two Intellmouse Explorer 3.0's (one is kinda broken from slamming it down on the desk, lol....as a result, the right mouse button is SUPER easy to click....like you can almost click it just by breathing on it), and they still work great. i also have one of the "new" IE3.0's, and it is working great as well. i'm so used to it after using it for 7+ years that i can't even imagine gaming with another mouse.

and i absolutely HATE the scroll wheel on the Logitech mice.....the detents on the scroll wheel are too soft, and quite frequently, the web page i'm on will scroll up/down, even when it doesn't "click" over to another detent on the wheel....when that happens, i have to turn the mouse over and semi-forcefully bang the wheel button against the desk to get it to stop doing it. and it happens ALL. THE. TIME. the only reason i use it is because that's what we have at work (MX518). if i could install drivers on my desktop at work myself, i'd swap it out with an IE3.0 in a heartbeat. i mean, they're infinitely better than the shitty mice that our Dell systems at work came with, but the IE3.0 to me, is about 1000x better than that.....
 
Deathadder for me as well. I have 4 diffrent high end mice sitting in a drawer collecting dust. None of them even comes close to the Deathadder in terms of comfort or playability.
 
I picked up a G9x last week. Its logitech but avoids the normal logitech criticism because of its different shape and size. Its a good mouse if you have the hands of an asian schoolgirl.

I'm going to buy the larger custom handgrip from the logitech site when I find an appropriate image to put on it. Even the 'wide grip' is too small for me for extended use (6+ hours...I'm a gamer, what can I say).

pros:
-two different ways to use the wheel - with 'ticks' or smooth scrolling, button on the bottom to switch between. ticks are solid, scrolling is glass-smooth (I use ticks)
-as accurate as it gets. 200 to 5000DPI, polling can be set to 1000 max. Coming from a well-used MX518, its a very noticable difference. DPI switch on the mouse under the left click (nice place for it - on the MX518 it was around the wheel in an annoying location)
-comes with custom weights, which is less dumb than it sounds. I put 14grams towards the front and it feels 'just right'
-very customizable, and your settings get saved in the mouse's memory (yes, it has memory) so you can use them on a linux PC or whatever without software installed.
-comes with 2 different size grips, one for baby hands and one with a wider grip

con = expensive


xSnowmaNx said:
Really, the best piece of advice I can give you is for you to actually try out the mice, and by try, I don't mean simply go to Best Buy and hold the mouse in your hand and see if it is comfortable for 30 seconds. Try to find friends with the mouse you want to try out, and ask them if you can borrow it for a weekend or something. A mouse is something you're going to use constantly, and problems often aren't apparent until after hours of use.
Click to expand...

The best advice in this thread. The 'Best Buy test' is useless - you only get to palm a mouse for a few minutes and its not even hooked to a computer!
 
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