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Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse  (Source: Razer)
Razer kicks Microsoft in the mouse with the 4000 dpi Lachesis

Most gamers understand the value of a good mouse when it comes to optimizing their game play. Certainly, a good mouse won’t make a bad player better, but a good mouse can help a decent player have more fun.

This week Microsoft revived the SideWinder name with a new SideWinder Mouse that had a paltry 2000 dpi. Paltry compared to the new Razer Lachesis, which is equipped with the new Razer 3G Laser engine good for a whopping 4000 dpi non-interpolated sensitivity setting. In addition to the high-sensitivity, the Lachesis also has a tracking speed of 60-100 IPS and can withstand acceleration of up to 25G during play.

Razer also uses the familiar on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment with one notable improvement, rather than using software to adjust the sensitivity levels, all adjustments on the Lachesis are done with hardware. That means you get true sensitivity settings, not settings resulting from interpolation.

The Lachesis uses an ambidextrous design that Razer optimized for a “claw” grip. Razer’s Synapse software handles the mouse programming and the Lachesis also has 32kb of onboard memory to store game profiles.

Ultrapolling at 1000 Hz provides a 1ms response time and the mouse has nine independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons. The data path on the mouse is 16-bit ultra-wide and uses the always-on mode to reduce lag.

The Lachesis only comes with a black body and is available with two lighting colors, Phantom White and Banshee Blue. The Lachesis will be available in October 2007 globally for $79.99.

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why oh why?
By Gul Westfale on 8/23/2007 7:38:36 PM , Rating: 2
why are these companies trying to outdo each other when it comes to weird design and weird names, but not when it comes to comfort and ergonomics? what good is a "gaming" mouse when you can't properly hold it for more than 10 minutes? or when the buttons are not placed in an easy to reach position?

the very best mouse i have ever used was the old MX500, and i'm now on the wireless MX1000 which is also great. i play a lot of games (mostly FPS and strategy), but i cannot see why i should buy either this new mouse or he MS one or even newer designs from logitech. i understand that they need tp introduce new product every once in a while to stay on people's radar, but changing things for the sake of change rather than actually improving something is retarded.

i know that some would-be l33t kid is gonna tell me now how he can actually tell the difference between 4000dpi (dipshits)and 2000dpi, but my current mouse is accurate enough for sniping and fast enough for fragging, it's comfortable, and the buttons on the side (for voice chat in-game, and that bloody parachute that never opens in BF2) are perfectly placed.

to each his own though, after all we all have different hands and the razer seems ambidextrous- good for lefties, then; but a leftie version of the MX1000 would be better still... ;)




RE: why oh why?
By Gul Westfale on 8/23/07, Rating: -1
RE: why oh why?
By Mitch101 on 8/23/2007 7:42:11 PM , Rating: 2
Gul I have to agree I just want a larger mouse not more functions and higher price tag. Someone has to make a mouse for those who dont have dainty girl hands. :)


RE: why oh why?
By DragonMaster0 on 8/23/2007 9:00:52 PM , Rating: 1
MX1000


RE: why oh why?
By GoodBytes on 8/23/2007 9:15:36 PM , Rating: 2
Yep! or a MX revolution.
Use uberOption tool, to hack Logitech SetPoint and have program/games profiles, and more flexibility on your mouse.


RE: why oh why?
By tuteja1986 on 8/23/2007 10:39:50 PM , Rating: 1
Ohh no i will have to buy this mouse too ;(

Mouse addiction has to stop :!


RE: why oh why?
By kitchme on 8/24/2007 1:55:01 AM , Rating: 2
Try methadone therapy. It worked for me.


RE: why oh why?
By Souka on 8/24/2007 2:26:29 AM , Rating: 1
MX1000 wireless? For FPS its wayy laggy... I have one at work and had one at home (sold to co-worker).

Running a MX518 at home if I recall correctly...good simple mouse.

BF2, BF2142, FEAR, Bioshock(new), CS-source, etc... MX518 is so much better.

My $.02


RE: why oh why?
By The Sword 88 on 8/26/2007 1:15:46 AM , Rating: 2
I have the MX 518. I have tried several mice and the MX518 is so comfortable, has the button in just the right spot, is nice and big, and has excellentperformance. I'll probably never need another mouse.


RE: why oh why?
By afkrotch on 8/25/2007 6:36:11 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Gul I have to agree I just want a larger mouse not more functions and higher price tag. Someone has to make a mouse for those who dont have dainty girl hands. :)


I wish they did make mice for ppl with daint girl hands, like mine. I'm a smaller person with small hands. My junk is huge though.


RE: why oh why?
By retrospooty on 8/23/2007 8:08:43 PM , Rating: 2
must be... I started off at zero on this post.


RE: why oh why?
By retrospooty on 8/23/2007 8:09:29 PM , Rating: 2
err... I meant my post below (the one that actually has a point to make) =)


RE: why oh why?
By Hare on 8/25/2007 12:53:21 PM , Rating: 2
The comment system catches certain words which automatically drop the rating.


RE: why oh why?
By Wolfgang Hansson (blog) on 8/23/2007 7:54:09 PM , Rating: 2
I like to use high sensitivity settings when say operating a tank in BF2142 where the higher sensitivity makes turning the tank require less hand movement. For everyday use, I can't really be accurate with anything over 2000 dpi and prefer about 1800 dpi for normal work on my PC.


RE: why oh why?
By 3kliksphilip on 8/24/2007 8:08:44 AM , Rating: 3
I have a razer copperhead as well. I've seen 3200 DPI mice from other companies, so I'm not surprised to see Razer attempt to claim 'most DPI' again. I'm sure there will be a big difference between 4000 DPI and 2000 DPI, but I don't think that it will help. When I play with 2000 DPI my mouse hand moves about an inch to spin all the way around, and aiming at somebody's FACE is a difficult and shaky affair. Soon we won't have to move our hands at all!


RE: why oh why?
By retrospooty on 8/23/2007 8:07:41 PM , Rating: 2
"i know that some would-be l33t kid is gonna tell me now how he can actually tell the difference between 4000dpi (dipshits)and 2000dpi, but my current mouse is accurate enough for sniping and fast enough for fragging"

Agreed, I couldnt care less about the 4k dpi. I have a copperhead I use for gaming and its great, but the button layout is a bit uncomfy when the fight gets hectic... the "Nine independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons" of the Lachesis (is that evil cheese?) sounds promising though.


RE: why oh why?
By bunnyfubbles on 8/23/2007 8:21:08 PM , Rating: 3
Why oh why to people make judgments and conclusions based on zero experience?

Or do you already have the SideWinder, G9 and Lachesis to come up with an accurate review of how they actually feel to use? (claiming they look fugly is ok, seeing as how we do have access to pictures)

You are down-voted because people think your posts aren't worthwhile.


RE: why oh why?
By Gul Westfale on 8/23/2007 10:16:25 PM , Rating: 2
well i know from personal experience that i do not like MS mice (i have several), i don't like the shape of the new logitech mice, and this ridiculously named razer thingie looks to continue razer's previous designs by being ambidextrous, and ambidextrous means it's not really designed for righties.

if you are a fanboi that's OK, like i said i knew the would-be l33ts would be angry :)


RE: why oh why?
By jajig on 8/24/2007 1:40:18 AM , Rating: 2
Ambidextrous mouses are important for some people that share their PCs. It is unfortunate IMO that there are so few ambidextrous mouses, a person like me generally only has only the bottom of the barrel to choose from.


RE: why oh why?
By bunnyfubbles on 8/24/2007 1:45:21 AM , Rating: 2
You're certainly allowed to judge a book by its cover, your potential loss I guess.

but if you know you don't like something to begin with, then why come in and post anything?

one of your main criticisms was ergonomics, yet you've never held one of these new mice - yes, you appear to have had some experience with some of the "newer" mice from some of the companies in question, but that doesn't make you an expert on these absolute new designs.

of course then there's also the fact that just because something looks fugly doesn't mean it isn't ergonomic - in fact some of the most comfortably ergonomic things can tend to be fugly because such designs tend to stray away from uniform design, its where the function (how well it works for the user) of the product takes precedence over the form (how it looks to the user). Designers also have to keep a wide range of people in mind when they design something, so just because it doesn't fit you doesn't mean it doesn't fit a majority (you could very well have freakishly sized/shaped hands, but you don't care because you are you and that's all that matters). Heck, that's part of the reason Logitech is trying out an interchangeable hull grip system with their G9 so as to better cater to a wider range of users - it looks like they'll have a grip for fingers and a grip for palmers for starters.

Razer has almost exclusively catered to finger grip users, they don't exactly stick to ambidextrous designs because they don't want to alienate ridiculously small percentage of people who use the mouse with their left hand (many lefties, myself included, use the mouse with their right hand), and you seem to make obvious that you're not a finger grip user but are instead locked into a palm type grip. O.K., that's perfectly great and all, but that means you don't exactly have much room to comment on because this mouse clearly wasn't designed with users like you in mind. Sucks for you I guess.


RE: why oh why?
By rdeegvainl on 8/24/2007 2:30:48 AM , Rating: 2
"but if you know you don't like something to begin with, then why come in and post anything?"

Same can be said to you. You obviously didn't like his post, so you decided to post.

"one of your main criticisms was ergonomics, yet you've never held one of these new mice"

Also, just because someone hasn't used something, doesn't mean they don't know their own personal preferences, sure I've never worn a hat with spikes on the inside, but if I saw one, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't like it.

"but that means you don't exactly have much room to comment on because this mouse clearly wasn't designed with users like you in mind"

Just because it wasn't designed for someone doesn't mean they can't comment or have less room to comment. Cause then if I make a product nobody but me likes, all I have to do is say everyone else isn't the target audience, that doesn't make the product is any better, it just means no one else will use it, and they have every right to say that they won't and also, if they wish, why they won't. Even if the reasons why not are the exact reason why others would.


RE: why oh why?
By elmikethemike on 8/24/2007 2:27:56 PM , Rating: 2
there should be a limit on the amount youre allowed to type here. Honestly, if your reply is longer or as long as the original article, youre simply trying to hard.


RE: why oh why?
By Adonlude on 8/24/2007 4:29:44 PM , Rating: 2
Its name is actually very fitting, especially if you play PFS's. Read some greek mythology.


RE: why oh why?
By npoe1 on 8/24/2007 11:36:01 AM , Rating: 2
I haven’t seen a mouse or a keyboard review. I guess that there isn’t much to review or maybe I need to add new websites to my list.


RE: why oh why?
By Alpha4 on 8/23/2007 11:00:01 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The buttons on the side (for voice chat in-game, and that bloody parachute that never opens in BF2) are perfectly placed.
LMAO. So true. I bound my middle mouse-button for parachute and "back" button for voip. In times of great need I find myself spamming the mouse button and # 9 but the POS still won't open.

Just remember:
quote:
Pressing "9" once is never enough.

~ The Pwned Life


RE: why oh why?
By Capt Caveman on 8/24/2007 8:00:56 AM , Rating: 2
A MX1000 does not cut it for serious fps gaming. I have both a MX1000 and G7. It's night and day. The MX1000 is used for everything but gaming. My G7 outshines the MX1000 in every facet outside of buttons when it comes to gaming. And I'll be upgrading to the G9 when it comes out.


RE: why oh why?
By Souka on 8/24/2007 12:40:23 PM , Rating: 1
I agree...always makes me laugh a bit when people bitch at these "special" mice and state their MX1000 is "good as".

Funny cuz they haven't used the mouse (like the one in this post)...

Anyhoo... In my personal experience I find the MX1000 too lagged for regular gamming use...prefer my MX518 which does the job fine for me.

:)


RE: why oh why?
By bhieb on 8/24/2007 9:25:26 AM , Rating: 2
I totally agree, make a bigger more comfortable mouse.

Oh and make it wireless for pete's sake. I use and old logitech wireless setup and it works great. In fact I ordered a MX518 to see if it would be better, and it still sits in a drawer today. I probably will get the sidewider simply for the 2 vertical thumb buttons. I don't know why there is such a stigma with wireless gaming mice. I play maninly BF2, and I would not say I suck (130+ Bronze, Silver, and Gold stars through 400 hours). But not once have I had to blame my mouse for a low score. Now granted I have had to blame it for a few deaths when the battery dies, but I keep some AA's in the desk anyway.

On second thought I may not get the sidewider, but another pedalx foot pedal. Afterall my thumb can only do so much, and my feet are just sitting there. Currently the one I use is set to activate the mic, but a parachute one would be nice too.


RE: why oh why?
By Armorize on 8/24/2007 6:34:35 PM , Rating: 2
I hear that. I just finally upgraded from my mx500 to a g5, the "on the fly" dpi changing doesnt really float my boat. Its a good idea but doesnt seem to be practical at all. Especially since I play with low sensitivity settings. I'm playing tug a war with myself by having low sens settings and on the fly sensitivity changing just doesnt seem to be sitting well with me. 4000dpi.... were starting a dpi (mhz) war with mice.


Control?
By Mitch101 on 8/23/2007 7:40:24 PM , Rating: 2
Can anyone control this mouse with pinpoint accuracy?

Any time I set my DPI up higher than 1200DPI it becomes too difficult to control even if I up the ability in the game to assist.

Maybe I am getting old.




RE: Control?
By Gul Westfale on 8/23/2007 7:46:03 PM , Rating: 3
we are not getting old. we are merely leveraging our experience to create new synergies in a more mature platform.

;)


RE: Control?
By hadifa on 8/23/2007 8:00:36 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe I am wrong but higher precisions are required in higher resolutions. Somebody playing on 1920*1289 would require to have a higher dpi than 1024*768!


RE: Control?
By Alpha4 on 8/23/2007 10:49:44 PM , Rating: 2
I think you're referring to the field of view in a 3D shooter or RTS. If you're playing with a high FOV where everything seems to stretch from the middle of the screen than you need higher sensitivity for motions to feel comfortable. Higher resolution only allows you to make out objects further away, in which case lower sensitivity is required so that you can center a crosshair on far-off targets easier.


RE: Control?
By bunnyfubbles on 8/23/2007 8:27:32 PM , Rating: 2
Are you doing what I think you're saying you're doing? You're upping the DPI and then you up the in-game mouse sensitivity? If anything, you do the exact opposite...set your DPI high and then lower in-game mouse sensitivity until you find a comfortable setup.

As far as desktop use, yes, higher dpi mice are going to be more useful for higher resolution desktops. But just because the mouse offers 4000dpi doesn't mean you're going to have it pegged on 4000 for everything. Heck, with 32 intervals (125 dpi a peice), it is going to be pretty easy to dial the mouse in to whatever setting you're most comfortable with for whatever the situation.


Turn off Acceleration
By Communism on 8/23/2007 8:01:48 PM , Rating: 4
I know that the feature "acceleration" has been on mouses since forever, but it was usually for compensating for the horribleness of the mouse

ie. not being able to move around the screen fast AND be precise at the same time

well, since using my G5 (and G7 before it crapped out) i have turned acceleration off and left software sensitivity at normal and put the polling rate at 1khz and put the hardware sensitivity at 2kdpi and on my 1680x1050 screen it is perfect for gaming, as i can be as precise as my hand allows and still be fast enough.

I guess for those of us with uber-precise hands (i'm not one of them) and who like to play at rezes of 1680+ the ability to turn off acceleration and leave the mouse at max dpi will improve their ability to target, as the acceleration has always messed me up a little bit when i have tried to get a bead on someone.

btw. ultrahigh rezes are usually used in RTSs and those usually have less drawback to using high dpi as your hand does not have to be as accurate, while you can still have far more (percise) actions per second as the time it takes to move around the screen is cut to just about nothing (depending on your hand eye coordination of course :D)




RE: Turn off Acceleration
By skyyspam on 8/24/2007 12:33:36 PM , Rating: 2
I agree, my MX518 supports "on-the-fly" sensitivity changing, but I have never used that function. Instead, I map the sensitivity buttons to game functions, which I find is a much better use for extra buttons.

On that subject, why can't they build me a mouse with more buttons? I like having ten total on the MX518, but I'd like more.

MX518 for life. :)


RE: Turn off Acceleration
By Omega215D on 8/24/2007 1:57:47 PM , Rating: 2
I like my revised Logitech G5. While gaming the LEDs allow me to see where my DPI is at instead of making me guess like with my MX518. Maybe more mice should come with some kind of indicator.


Sorry, but my MX518 kicks ass
By Mithan on 8/23/2007 9:40:21 PM , Rating: 2
A 4000 DPI mouse?
Yay.

However my MX518 is very satisfactory and I frag people left in right in all the online games.

Oh ya, I use it at 800dpi. OMG!




RE: Sorry, but my MX518 kicks ass
By Snowy on 8/23/2007 10:24:25 PM , Rating: 2
I must agree with you, as I have an MX518 myself. It's not the amount of DPI, but how you use it.

There is pretty much no reason anybody would use 4000dpi. It's beginning to be "more dpi = better marketing", which is the exact opposite of what I'd like to see. I'd rather see mice have better tracking accuracy, just like I'd rather see hard drives get faster, and not bigger.


RE: Sorry, but my MX518 kicks ass
By Axbattler on 8/23/2007 11:52:43 PM , Rating: 2
Let's face it though,Mhz wars, core wars, megapixel wars - a big number (noise/heat being exceptions) just makes it easier for the average consumer to pick between two device.

We'll probably see "First 10k dpi mouse!" in due time.
Well, it's not overly harmful as long as it is adjustable and they make the appropriate ergonomic/functional adjustment too.

Oh yea, I don't mind speed, but I certainly would not mind big hard drives either.


By Vanilla Thunder on 8/24/2007 11:15:50 AM , Rating: 2
I'm right with ya man. My MX518 is set to 400, 600, 800, and 1200 dpi in Set Point. The only time I touch 1200 is when I jump in a tank in BF2. Otherwise, I'm @ 800 on the ground, or 400 for sniping.

Vanilla


Reasoning behind tech hating?
By jtemplin on 8/23/2007 10:27:10 PM , Rating: 5
I have lurked here for a long time, and I guess I must be pretty bored now(writing a paper)...but I just cant help but pose the question:
Why do so many people who post on a tech news forum seem to be so against technological progress?
I can't tell you how many stories I have read where there are endless posts decrying the need/use for the new technology in question. Do those of you who hold these beliefs(ahem Gul?) consider yourselves minimalists, in that you only want what is necessary for yourself? Or do you subscribe to a more extreme statement: Agilent (or whatever company created this impressive sensor) should stop R&D and leave it at 4k DPI because anyone who claims to notice this is hepped up on sugar pills. Or perhaps you are in the camp that considers >60fps undetectable, so should nVidia force vertical sync on? Random examples and baiting aside: This is an open question to all who have recognized this trend and seek to understand it (and certainly to those who disagree with me!)




RE: Reasoning behind tech hating?
By Axbattler on 8/24/2007 12:27:07 AM , Rating: 2
As an end user, I prefer if they spend their R&D on something that would be of benefit of me. Now if a by-product the advancement increases the DPI then that's fine. Just like a by-product of the next graphic card's increased performance would result in more games passing the 60FPS barrier; no need to limit that.

Now of course, my 'perceived' need may well be different from others. For the companies to increase the DPI, their marketing department must think there is a group of users who sees it as a worthwhile addition. Not all of us share that view.

[Well, at least more DPI is not harmful save the cost end users would need to absorb; I can't say the same for the megapixel wars in P&S cameras]


Razer
By Shadowmaster625 on 8/24/2007 2:24:07 PM , Rating: 2
I have a 2000 dpi Razer. One thing I can tell you is that there's no way it can be 2000 dpi. My screen isn't even 2000 dpi, so how does it help? Also, I have the same trouble trying to move my mouse over by one or two pixels. What they need is better acceleration algorithms




RE: Razer
By Kenenniah on 8/24/2007 3:20:12 PM , Rating: 2
Mouse DPI has nothing to do with screen DPI. It's how many movement intervals a mouse can detect. In the case of 200 DPI, if you move the mouse an inch, it will have registered 2000 distinct movement points.


RE: Razer
By Kenenniah on 8/24/2007 3:34:45 PM , Rating: 2
Oops, of course that was meant to say 2000 DPI.

Think of it this way....if you move the mouse an inch, it will move your mouse pointer twice as far at 2000 DPI than it would at 1000 DPI. At higher sensitivities, you become more limited by the preciseness of your hand movements. So for some people, you can be more accurate using what is technically a less accurate DPI setting.


but
By Treckin on 8/23/2007 8:44:44 PM , Rating: 3
Although proported to be a gaming mouse, I know 3 people in my advanced digital design class who have already virtually bought the Sidewinder for its dpi. When editing pictures at ungodly resolutions on a 42 inch $10k screen, aliasing in your mouse path can be very frustrating...
Ill be sure to let them know about razors new offering. I currently use a razor viper, and before that I had their ill fated Boomslang (though I never had the issue with the buttons everyone else griped on). I forsee this as my next mouse.




When does it end?
By thebrown13 on 8/23/2007 8:46:27 PM , Rating: 1
240848209823 dpi? Nobody cares Razor, Microsoft > you.




RE: When does it end?
By sprockkets on 8/24/2007 12:09:25 AM , Rating: 2
Uh, guess what guys. Razor makes the mice for Microsoft. So, uh, yeah, they probably don't care.


Logitech has it right...for me
By BruceLeet on 8/24/2007 7:38:14 AM , Rating: 2
VX Revolution, comfortable and sexy :P there are other things that 4kdpi would be good for, those in the media field would appreciate this I'm sure




boomslang reborn
By rika13 on 8/24/2007 8:24:16 AM , Rating: 2
i recognized that shape immediately, its the boomslang from eons ago

boomslang with an HP laser sensor (yep, HP is the parent of agilent) and being it's a razor laser mouse, each one is check at the factory for defects (instead of testing one of a batch) because of safety concerns




Typo or is that really the name?
By peldor on 8/24/2007 1:43:41 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Ultrapolling at 1000 Hz provides a 1ms response time and the mouse has nine independently programmable Hype response buttons.


Hype response? I think someone in marketing may be trying to make a very sly joke.




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