[roders]

Has anyone got any recommendations for a good gaming mouse (the more buttons the better + scroll wheel preferably ), I've just bought a "MS Intellimouse Explorer", & after admiring it's looks and actualy using it properly I've realised it's S**t .
It skips and does all sorts of strange things, & before anyone asks yes I have the latest software for it, I think at best it's a design floor (optical eye B*ll*cks) & at worst it could actually be broken! Anyone else had any similar experiences?

[blizzard]

I believe that there is a company bringing a dedicated (well, almost, anyway) gaming mouse to the Mac called the Boomerang or the Boomerslang or something like that. Do a search on the net or on one of the big Mac sites and you should be able to uncover a little more info.

[Evangellydonut]

currently, all optical mouse sufferes from accuracy problems when it comes to gaming, especially FPS games. You'll just have to setting for one that uses a traditional mouse ball...or a trackball...Logitech makes good mice with mouseball, and combine that with a good mousepad (3M or this other kind which I forgot the brand of...), you should be set.

[reader50]

The Razer Boomslang is what blizzard was thinking of. Optical tracking of a mechanical ball, with 1000 dpi or 2000 dpi accuracy depending on which model you buy.

Note that Razer has not finished the Mac drivers as far as I know. To make full use of the mouse, you will need USB Overdrive ($20 shareware).

I use a Logitech 4-button mouse with wheel. The Logitech drivers are only fair, to use the wheel in UT I had to buy USB Overdrive myself.

[roders]

Thanx for the info & URL (I t was harsh trying to find this little bueaty with sherlock!) for the Razer Boomslang, this just what I'm after.

I'm sure this isn't the kind of advice you're looking for, but have you tried upping the sensitivity on your Intellimouse Explorer? At the default mouse sensitivity in the finder, for example, I found my intellimouse explorer skipping frequently, but when I brought the sensitivity up to a higher level, I found that it practically never skips.

I'm a relatively hardcore Q3 player, and I've yet to encounter any of the skipping problems you talk about with the intellimouse, even when doing insane mid-air flick shots on DM17. I've always played with a high mouse sensitivity though, so if you aren't used to it, it might take a little practice. The improved precision of the optical tracking does wonders for my rail skillz as well, even with a high sensitivity.

The Razer Boomslang looks cool as hell, but I don't think I could go back to a non-optical mouse. My old mouse (Kensington Thinking Mouse) can't even come close to the precision my Intellimouse Explorer has, even with my Everglide pad.

[roders]

I've only briefly tried the Intellimouse in Q3 & UT, because the first time I used it in the finder/desktop I noticed these probs, it skips a lot generaly, and not constantly ccasionaly but reguarly it will suddenly go to the very edge of the screen & stay there for a little while regardless of how much I move it it, & then after a short while It will come back to life.
These probs are bot due to me moving the mouse to quickly or lifting it of the surface I'm using it on (in which case it is supposed to stop moving).
I'm gonna change the sensitivity & see if it works, but I've already managed to get a full refund on it + I've ordered a Razor Bloomslang, but thannx for your help (everyone).

Good luck with the Boomslang. They haven't finished the drivers yet, so as far as I know, here are your likely issues:

1) Mouse wheel and extra buttons won't work in anything except inputsprocket games, including the finder.
2) Insane sensitivity. The Boomslang samples at like ten+ times the rate of an ordinary mouse. Without new drivers, this means that your computer is going to think the mouse is moving somewhere around ten+ times faster than it actually is. This might sound bizarre, but I read reports of it a while ago.

I'm looking forward to your reports, and hoping that it works out well for you. Don't forget to pick up a top-of-the-line pad to go with your elite mouse. I reccomend the 3M precision mousing surface or the Everglide pad. The PMS has better grip, but it wears out after about 6 months of serious use. The everglide, on the other hand, gives a more "smooth" feel, and is made out of a durable dishwasher-safe hard plastic. Either one will cost you around $15, and will feel much better than any cheap cloth, plastic, or foam pad.

[roders]

Oh s**t, looks like I jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, but let me get this straight, the Bloomslang IS recognised by Inputsprocket?
If it is that's cool, it's a bit annoying that I cant't use it in the finder but hopefully I'll be able to work round that.

[reader50]

I would expect the Boomslang to be recognized in the Finder for mouse movements and the left button. The right button may or may not get noticed, and the wheel will be ignored.

An update to InputSprockets several months ago caused InputSprockets to fully recognize the wheel on my Logitech, so I no longer needed USB Overdrive for UT. Based on that, I would expect the Boomslang to be fully supported by InputSprockets.

The last time Apple attended a gaming expo (forgot which one) all the demo Macs were set up with Razers.

Finally, you can hook up as many mice to USB as you like. I keep the puck mouse hooked up for everyday use, as well as the Logitech wheel for gaming. Use either mouse interchangeably.

[roders]

Thanx for the info, it's chilled me out a bit. I'd like tto kow which inputsprocket driver version you use 1.7.3 (as I do) or 1.7.4 which I believe has now been pulled from Apple 's site & is unavailable for download (so if you use/need 1.7.4 can you give me any idea as to where I can get a copy, or email me the installer?)
Thanx.

[reader50]

I use InputSprockets v1.7.3, just like you. I downloaded the 1.7.4 version before it was gone, but never installed it. Too chicken to find out why Apple pulled it, 1.7.4 probably had bugs or something.

Was 1.7.4 really pulled, or is it just missing? It's what I've been using ever since it came out with no apparent problems.

[roders]

No offence but do you think a system software download/update would just go missing?
Yes it has been pulled, I had a few problems with it so I downgraded to 1.7.3 which is the only version availble for download from Apple at this time, don't worry about using 1.7.4 if it works fine for you then stick with it , & if you have any probs in games that could be realated to GameSprockets you know what the prob is & how to sort it.
As for the future, Apple may release 1.7.4 again (fixed) or probably another revsion on from that I guess.