SideWinder X8 Gaming Mouse to use BlueTrack (Note: Wireless!)

When MS pulls its curtain back on the SideWinder X6 as the company's new flagship gaming keyboard, there seems to be a missing piece there because a mouse with an equally radical design is nowhere in sight. The X5 is obviously for the budget conscious gamers as it obviously appears to be a stripped down version of the original SideWinder mouse. So, it's no surprise to us when MS formally announces it's working on a mouse worthy to take on the Logitech G9 or Razer Lachesis.

MS' secret mouse is the SideWinder X8 that utilizes the new BlueTrack optical sensor technology to achieve "image processing of 13,000 frames per second, 75g max. acceleration and 120 inches per second max. speed." Perhaps the most radical attempt on this mouse is relying on 2.4Ghz RF connection for so-called wireless freedom. LAN party goers traditionally stay far away from wireless stuff due to the inherent heavy RF traffic in the venue. MS claims 30 hours of play time via a single charge over a USB cable. The X8's scalable resolution settings from 250 to 4000 dpi should please most gamers. Vertical side buttons, replaceable mouse feet, macro-record button, and tilt wheel are among some of X8's features. Unfortunately, the $100 X8 won't come out in time for X'mas holiday rush as due date for the mouse is reportedly next year February.