My all-time favorite mouse for the past few years has been the
Razer Deathadder Black Edition (
DA BE). I am not a gamer; I use a mouse for general computing and for computational molecular modeling.
I like the
DA BE mouse for several reasons:
+ Extremely comfortable with my palm grip.
+ Smooth yet non-slippery surface that maintains a fairly dry (and warm) feel even with prolonged use.
+ No knobbly rubber side grips.
+ No LEDs.
+ Simple, with only 5 buttons.
+ Easy to click switches, including the scroll wheel.
+ Stepped (notched) scroll wheel that is smooth and quiet.
+ Optical sensor with up to 3500 dpi.
Just about the only thing I do not like about the DA BE is the Synapse software. I have not found it necessary to install the software, but from time to time it nags to be installed.
The DA BE is still going strong, but the contact points on the shell have become somewhat rough and discolored, and if the mouse should fail, this particular model is no longer in production. Although it can still be found on Amazon in dwindling quantities from some Asian vendors, the prices are quite high. Razer's newest models of the Deathadder line have added LEDs and textured rubber side grips -- features i do not want. Therefore, I have started looking at potential replacements. The new Ducky "Secret Mouse" caught my eye, in particular because it appears to be the first mouse with an outer shell made of PBT plastic, which would be expected to give the mouse a dry feel without resorting to some sort of rubberized coating.
I purchased the Ducky Secret Mouse from Mechanicalkeyboards.com (MK) for $68.00 shipped (to continental USA). It is currently bundled with a 800 x 250 x 3 mm Ducky Flipper Mouse Pad. I like oversized mouse mats like this one, but I do not need one at the moment, and I would have preferred to have the option to buy the mouse without the bundled mouse pad.
Some things I like about the
Ducky Secret Mouse:
+ Comfortable with a palm grip (but not quite as comfortable as the DA BE).
+ PBT shell -- feels dry (although cold) with just a bit of texture; no need for a rubberized coating.
+ Omron switches that are fairly easy to press and with an audible click.
+ ALPS encoder scroll wheel with notches that is smooth to operate.
+ Simple, with only 5 buttons.
+ No knobbly rubber side grips.
+ All settings (e.g., DPI and LEDs) are carried out with a bottom switch in conjunction with top switches.
+ Opens with non-hidden screws.
+ Extras: screws, teflon feet, and 11g weight.
+ Optical sensor (Pixart PMW3310DH) with up to 5000 dpi.
Features I could do without but that seem to be sought after by at least some gamers include tunable LEDs, adjustable weights, surface material adjustment, selectable USB polling rate, and switchable angle snapping.
The switch clicks are a bit louder than those from the DA BE. The scroll wheel is smooth and easy to click, and scrolling by pulling the wheel toward the user is quiet, but scrolling in the opposite direction by pushing the wheel away from the user often results in a chattering sound.
I also found that it was difficult to press the front side switch without activating the left click switch. In addition, although I like the smooth dry feel of the PBT body, I found that when I picked up the mouse, my thumb would slip upward. The side switches stop the thumb, but gamers who are lifting the mouse during play would probably want a rubberized grip in the thumb area.
Generally, I liked the
Ducky Secret Mouse. However, there were two things I did
not like that I hope the company will correct with future versions:
- Prominent Ducky branding on the rear of the mouse. The brand is not illuminated; it is apparently printed, but I do not know the printing method.
- The LED window on the right side of the mouse is a strip of non-PBT translucent plastic that feels clammy to the touch.
My ring finger rests on the translucent strip of non-PBT plastic, and when I first used the mouse, I thought that there was something sticky like label adhesive on the mouse. It was hard to believe that Ducky would have gone to the trouble and expense of making the mouse out of PBT and then adding a strip of non-PBT plastic where it could come into contact with the hand.
Overall, the Ducky Secret Mouse was a good first effort from a company perhaps best known for its mechanical keyboards and keycap sets. I especially admire Ducky for choosing to produce a PBT mouse. If they were to correct some of the issues noted above, they could have a real winner. As it stands, it appears that the Ducky Secret Mouse will not be the one to replace my Deathadder Black Edition (if it ever wears out). Other mice that I am considering include the Mionix Naos 7000, Mionix Castor, and Zowie EC1-A 2016 version. I am also considering the current versions of the Razer Deathadder, despite the fact that they have chosen to put textured rubber side grips on these models. If these potential replacements do not appeal, I will probably pay the premium for one of the few remaining Razer Deathadder Black Edition mice still on the market.
