Yup, as the title says. And pardon me the spamming, I know this is a third thread like this from me in the recent days. I'll try to make this one the last.
First the problem, then the facts. The problem is that I can't go and paw stuff. I need to buy based on stated dimensions, official parameters, information from the Internet, reviews, peer opinions etc.
Now the facts:
I have large hands (>20 cm from wrist base to the end of the middle finger). Somewhat wider palms than most people but mostly long fingers. Really long. A 13 cm mouse does not yet a comfy palm grip make.
I have RSI, CTS, whatever it is, I have it. Pain is one thing to feel but a totally different problem when it interferes with productivity/precision/speed. I have in the past removed not only weights but even the weight trays and used additional teflon sliders. I can't peel smaller potatoes or grate vegetables without feeling awful pain and stiffness due to the awkward angles and clasping with fingers. I am prepared to sacrifice some results for the sake of comfort.
For many years I used standard issue (but reasonable quality) mice with max speed and max accel (or close) in Windows. Back in 800*600/1024*768 days, I played using barely noticeable movements to send the pointer across the entire screen. I couldn't be so accurate when resolutions increased and I've been in a mess ever since. Right now I use 1920*1080 (100% display).
So now, that I play without accelaration and with 1:1 via a fix, I am actually somewhat torn between trying to low-sens for precision/accuracy (I have some insane accuracy with low dpi mice after so many years) or high dpi (I can operate it but it's not a sure hit, I have to correct the course), and middle range dpi (which is kinda bland in offering neither the benefit of speed nor the benefit of accuracy);
With the Avago 3080 sensor (like MX 518) in a large-ish mouse, 2400 dpi feels the most natural to me, while 1600 is workable with smaller optical mice, 1200 with smaller laser mice, 800 or 1000 is too slow unless I crank up sensitivity, which is basically like interpolating the dpi anyway... But this low dpi is a last resort thing.
I don't particularly like the idea of angle snapping. I might be able to live with small prediction but I can't trust a mouse that makes a square out of an attempted circle. I take issue with gaming mouse marketing that focuses on the lack of accelaration but forgets to mention prediction.
I've been swayed by 1:1 but I honestly can't have a clue whether my particular mouse has 5% accel or not. I probably wouldn't be able to tell subjectively. I don't have an idea how large a problem it is
objectively. I only think I hate negative accel more than positive but I probably can't tell negative accel from insufficient drag (including by me). I will need to take somebody's word on this.
I'm somewhat torn between light weight and heavier weight but more teflon (I like both the freedom of light-weight mice and the well-grounded precision fluidity of putting all the additional weights in). Probably the health of my hands has to decide. I am slightly intrigued by the idea of lower dpi but lighter mouse and the effect of this combination on tracking/my accuracy as a result.
My favourite mouse of all time is still a traditionally shaped ball mouse that looked little different from all other mice used in the 1990's. I loved ball mice. It still feels weird to have a diode instead, even after so many years. But I'm digressing.
I've had a Logitech G9X. Great mouse but with the precision grip makes my fingers hurt because they are too long to be able to use it comfortably. Wide load grip has a similar issue plus lack of precision. The custom ID grip is too bulky to be precise in small-distance movements and generally neither unwieldy nor a proper palmer for me. Gripless is cool for control etc. but too narrow (58mm is definitely too narrow, more like 70mm would be cool).
I've had an A4-Tech X-748K with the same sensor as in the Logitech MX518 and a very similar shape to the Death Adder. Not a proper palmer yet but neither an easy-gliding tossable fast mover for RTS.
And RTS is the only type of game where I really care about the mouse. I don't predict playing a shooter any time soon and I'll still have the A4-Tech anyway.
In short, I need an RTS mouse.
I hate side buttons. I don't want them coming in the way of my fingers, it is a great, noticeable source of discomfort to me when I have to actively take care not to press them or shift my grip to accommodate.
While I might buy a mouse with side buttons still, I completely hate the very idea of additional buttons being put on the basic left and right keys. I want complete freedom and plenty of room etc. for my fingers.
I don't like or need macros. They are bannable in competitive gaming anyway. I don't need the ability to reprogram the keys either.
I appreciate good switches.
I don't really mind imperfections of execution that much but outright poor workmanship is not acceptable in a $60 product. I don't like ****ty builds, ****ty materials, and especially overpaying for them.
I have a hard pad (Steelseries 4HD). I can fork out for a cloth pad no problem but this pad would then become a wasted investment. And it cost me a bit. (As much as the A4-Tech mouse or a bit less). It was for the G9X. The pad was supposedly designed alongside the Xai, which was a Steelseries mouse with the same sensor (Avago 9500) as in the G9X. Supposedly best bad for laser and specifically for this sensor.
I don't have room on my desk for a pad larger than the above. This size of pad plus tenkeyless keyboard works great. Besides, I gotta work on the same desk and don't want to be tossing the pad out every time I need to reposition the keyboard for some serious typing. So can't really try 400-800 dpi and big shoulder swipes. Besides, I don't have the fitness for intense daily manual labour. Then again, that could be my only opportunity to ever get any muscle on my arm...
I am just a little OCD about the cable. I can really feel when it gets stuck somewhere or bent or whatever else that even slightly affects traction/movement. Okay, more than a little OCD.
On the other hand I fear wireless because I don't want battery strength to interfere with transmission power. In short, while the mouse dying is one thing, the mouse changing its properties when battery is low is much, much worse. I am not OCD about this. OCD does not begin to cover it. I want my mouse consistent in all circumstances.
Additionally, I want zero lag. I mean zero. Fully instant reaction. I'm not even sure I can really feel 1000 polling but I always want the maximum theoretical responsiveness I can get.
I don't want the sensor to sleep when not used (energy saving turning it off), either. Always on is a must.
Max budget on one mouse is not a problem (unless the thing costs 200 bucks or something). Cycling through 5 mice is. I don't even care for price-to-quality ratio
that much if the thing has good quality. I just want to max out on the quality at this point in my life. It only feels bad to pay for a ****ty build by a trendy manufacturer that's obviously overcharging if this is the case.
Razer is generally out of the question. I've boycotted them ever since spotting the "Cult of Razer" thing, which I find very offensive. Fandom is one thing, faux religious worship is way too far. Otherwise Spectre would be my ideal choice (yes, I've heard about all the problems but still), I'd look at DeathAdder, Imperator and maybe Abyssus. Things being as they are, I am willing to use these Razer mice as points of reference but buy products of different manufacturers with similar parameters.
Non-****ty scroll wheel would be a plus. Something that won't die and preferably won't squeak. If A4-Tech can make a completely silent and nice-feeling wheel on a cheap mouse, companies that charge four times as much per mouse have no excuse.
Last but not least by any means: Interpolation is a no-no. I might as well just crank up sensitivity in Windows on an office mouse with better ergonomics and save 75% of the money.
Okay, this is last: I feel subjectively more confident, familiar etc. with optical than laser, although I am capable of instantly noticing the superior quality of a good laser sensor above a good optical sensor. As I said, I'd probably go for ball if still available anyway. Too bad it isn't.
But to elaborate on the RTS angle before we move on:
need fast response (clickfest, in other words) but also need great accuracy (because the clickfest needs to hit on target);
need to be able to micro over small distances (laser has advantage here);
it would be cool to achieve the sort of balance to never overshoot or undershoot again but this is damn hard with 1920*1080;
need comfort, stability, need to be able not to have to switch grip (out of pain, stiffness or to change speed of movement or level of movement precision) but also to be able to do it if needed/wanted (comfortably change among palm, claw and swipe/fingertip when better for the situation but not when the mouse ergonomics begin to be a problem).
Solutions I'm considering:
Buy
Ikari Laser, I can't operate a laser mouse at a full 3000 dpi anyway and this is the only or almost only profiled mouse I'd consider buying.
Stick with the A4-Tech. It's been with me since 2008 and it'll probably be going strong in 2018 too. But the shape is making me constantly shift my grip and is limiting my speed. Switching to G9X improved my reactiveness and precision. Even though I still liked the optical sensor better and felt more subjectively confident with it (despite having worse results objectively).
Stick with the G9X, except I'd need a new unit because my old one, which I bought just slightly used (for half the price) has become unreliable due to cable problems. Benefits include saving the usefulness of the custom grip I've already bought, as well as having two spare grips to play with (e.g. by power-teflonising them to my heart's content), plus familiarity, but I shudder to think about my fingers being so noticeably too short for it. Which means pain and sometimes non-ideal grips (palm slided down/back to avoid uncomfortable finger placement).
Buy
Kinzu V2 pro. A polka dot sized tossable thing. I know the sensor is imperfect and suspected of interpolation. Same with Kana.
Buy
Sensei (although I fear the metal surface could feel yucky when sweating) or
Sensei Raw (rubberised or glossy, I really can't decide), wait for
Sensei MLG edition (to max out on switches, coating and whatever, including perhaps a better sensor).
Buy
Saphira (I trust White-Ra and he's and old-schooler like I am, plus the sensor is the most advanced optical thing in the market)
Buy
Theron (large and above all wide but does it really need to have a protruded backbone line?
)
Wait for
Level 10 (the BMW mouse) for good or bad
Perhaps
Zowie AM or
Mico but I'm unimpressed by their build quality, prediction and overpricing (the last one may be importers but still)
Perhaps get an old mouse (like real Intellimouse or Logitech G1 or whatever, or even a modern office issue Logitech with the exact type of ergonomics I like, and crank up the sensitivity to make up for the low dpi. Even at the cost of skipping some pixels. For the record, I'm a big fan of the M90 lowest of low Logitechs, except for the 800 dpi.
Please note I'm theoretically familiar with most stuff in the market. Theoretically means parameters. I probably know the approximate or even exact sizes etc. of the most known models by heart. It's not like I've touched the things, though, which is a huge part of my problem. Just can't go to a shop and start pawing like that around here. Besides, I'm just at a loss here, I can't seem to figure myself out on this one. I don't want to cycle through 10 mice like I did with keyboards.
Thanks a bunch. I value all responses. Don't have to be precise, if you feel like you can provide a couple of paragraphs of loose insights instead of a straightforward answer, then that's cool and great.
