Microsoft Habu Laser Gaming Mouse (Black) Reviews

• The Microsoft Magic

  
  By A12BL8PMLAG5HX on 2006-12-22
  As I walked out of the store with the Habu, I joked with a friend of mine (who works for Microsoft), that, knowing Microsoft, they have taken a decent mouse and applied their Microsoft magic to it to make it crash.
  
  I laugh now at my woeful naivete. Oh, it got Microsofted all right.
  
  Consider. You open your box. Inside there is a staid instruction manual, and an even staider troubleshooting insert, which says things like "Make sure you plug in your mouse, if it needs to be plugged in" and "Make sure you put batteries into your mouse, if it needs batteries", and et cetera, which tells you right off the bat they didn't really customize it for the product, since the Habu neither has an AC adaptor nor need of a battery or plurals thereof. BUT, as you shake the box to make all the last components fall out, a bright green inserts falls into your lap warning you quite explicitly that you need to install the drivers on the CD before you attach the mouse. Covering the USB plug on the mouse is a label softly glued to the connector, warning you with the same warning, making sure that the ignorant mouse-attacher cannot possibly miss the important fact that the drivers must be installed before the mouse is attached.
  
  Now, see, that's funny because if you do, in fact, install the drivers first, the Habu will never work on that computer. Ever. It will only detect as a normal USB mouse, and you cannot make use of the sundry utilities to, for example, change the sensitivity of the mouse, or the sampling rate, or option any of the other options. The Habu software will indeed load, dangling these tantalizing features before your eyes, but it steadfastly refuses to acknowledge you do, actually, have a Habu connected. In fact, as I found out online, the only way to make sure that your system does not become, to coin a phrase, "Habu-proof", you must install the drivers only after the mouse is already attached. Once the drivers are on your system, no amount of effort short of a line by line audit of the registry will allow your Habu to work as anything other than a plain USB mouse. You can choose to add/remove the drivers, you can try the updated software on the website, you can try updating firmware, et cetera and et cetera -- it will not work. The only method some person online found that worked is this: flash the firmware of the mouse with the firmware for another Razer product, uninstall and reinstall the drivers, and then reflash it to be a Habu. He said that he got occasional bluescreens of death now and again, and the mouse would occasionally lurch in an epileptic seizure, but that, for the most part, he indeed had a Habu working on his computer.
  
  In my opinion, he had an undead Habu, but I safely kept that opinion to myself.
  
  And, naturally, to make the Microsofting of the product complete, Microsoft forbade Razer from supporting the product, making their tech support people direct all calls to Microsoft's, where they can very unhelpfully fix nothing, as true to form. Microsoft's technical support webpages and wizards are always along the lines of twenty different ways of making sure all of your cables are attached. Keeping in their milieu perfectly, the Habu tech support page has nothing helpful, only suggesting that you might perhaps want to replace your mouse pad. And, under general support, it recommends installing the latest version of Microsoft's Intellipoint software, which, of course, does not support the Habu.
  
  As a fitting postscript, the process of uninstalling and reinstalling the Habu software several times killed my video card. Fortunately, modern medicine does work on Nvidia's products, and so my machine was not permanently blinded.
  
  Conclusion: Microsoft can indeed take their lessons learned in software design and apply them to their hardware process as well.
  
  

• Good mouse, terrible software

  
  By A30D25YPVD6MS5 on 2006-12-07
  This mouse feels very good in my hand. I have slightly smaller than average hands, but it seems like it would fit a bigger hand just as well. I have been trying a lot of different mice, and this is the first mouse ever where I can comfortably press the side buttons with my thumb without shifting my hand. The alternate side buttons are a great idea. This mouse combines the best of both worlds for me. The fast sensor from Razer allows me to have a fast cursor speed without the cursor jumping over pixels. Microsoft gets credit for the great ergonomics. (I am switching from alternating between the Razer PROv1.6 and the Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000.) This mouse has a huge weak spot, however. The software that comes with it is really ugly and unprofessional, and looks like it does not belong on my computer at work. It looks like a videogame, and is also hard to use. But that's not the worst -- I can't even get it to work! I have followed the instructions that came with the mouse, and it failed to detect it. I then uninstalled and reinstalled the software, having to reboot each time. I then followed the online instructions from Razer to try the software for their Copperhead mouse instead -- no luck! Finally, I e-mailed their support department and they tried to walk me through reinstalling the software again, followed by trying to install the Copperhead software instead. It still doesn't work, and I am waiting for another response from them. The mouse works well otherwise, and I am able to set it to the 2000 dpi mode with the two buttons next to the scroll wheel. I am able to adjust the cursor speed with the Windows standard mouse control panel. However, all the "advanced" functionality is dead in the water at the moment. I noticed that the bundled software gives you the option to turn off the glowing edge, and I'd really like to do that. Update: For those of you claming user error, I followed the instructions issued by Razer tech support to the letter, and was still not able to resolve the issue. I removed all traces of my previous mice and all traces of the software. It was indeed a firmware-driver incompatibility issue, because afer I kept trying the new version firmware/driver package every time it was released, the fourth one I tried finally worked. The driver now talks to the mouse. That's the good news. The bad news is that I almost wish I hadn't -- the driver software is absolutely awful and unusable. All of the controls are tiny and unclickable, and the software is confusing. Earlier today, I somehow disabled the middle mouse button, and have not been able to re-enable it since. I have been in the software industry for ten years, so I've seen my share of bad user interfaces. This one is not the worst I've ever seen, but it's close. The drivers ruin this otherwise great mouse. Second Update: I finally got the software to work, but it slowed down my computer and actually caused Windows to blue screen (i.e. total system crash) several times. I have since removed the software and have been happily using the mouse with its limited basic functionality. I am still happy with this mouse, but cannot give it more than 3 stars.
  
  

• great mouse, software needs work

  
  By AO1RKJ13O9OYI on 2007-01-01
  First thing, the drivers are poorly implemented. I followed the directions on the razer site and once I got everything done and I thought I was in the clear, I rebooted and I could never get the mouse to be seen by the drivers. again.. so I started searching for fixes and read this is an issue with these mice.. great! I returned my last razer mouse because the drivers were buggy.. sort of the same issue also, wouldn't detect the mouse sometimes.. anyways, I see not much has changed. But I was determined to get this working because I fell in love with the feel of it.. So, I did get it all working finally, but this what I had to do:
  
  --> uninstalled all Habu software..(which is just the driver pack)
  
  --> installed the 2.01 drivers from Razers site from a clean slate.
  
  --> said YES to the windows warning about non WHQL drivers
  
  --> then said NO to the reboot now option and went into the firmware folder (part of the driver pack) and installed the new firmware!! (with /no/ reboot).
  
  --> after the firmware is successfully installed, it tells you to unplug and re-plug the Habu.. do that, /then/ reboot.
  
  NOTE: It's very important to not reboot before attempting the firmware update because the OS and the drivers see the mouse ONLY after the driver install but after a reboot with the old firmware the mouse was never detectable by the drivers again.. it was very frustrating! anyways.. it seems any of the Habu/Razer drivers will only detect a mouse after a reboot with 2.01 firmware installed. My mouse had 1.0 firmware..
  
  I as I said, and the more I use it the more I love the feel of the Habu.. so much like the old IME 3.0 which I still adore.. the only mouse which really just felt like a key in a lock with my hand. The buttons click is awesome and the wheel is PERFECT (resistance for up/down and depress center). The side (thumb) buttons come with an alternate panel which has the two buttons more out of the way.. I have yet to try it but that's a nice extra.. the mouse tracking is spot on! very precise and very smooth.. me likey!
  
  giving it 4 stars because the mouse is awesome now that I have the drivers working, but wow that was frustrating.. it's a mouse for crying out loud.. it should be a no brainer install. whew.
  
  I hope this helps some people who are thinking about this mouse!
  
  

• Good mouse and a software has been fixed by now

  
  By ACQXZS0F9JSXL on 2007-02-22
  This is an excellent gaming mouse, for those of you who actually bought it for uses other than browsning the internet. I play UT2k4, which is a rather demanding game in terms of speed and accuracy, and this mouse performs great. The feel is wonderful, and the tracking is great with ultra fast response.
  
  The first incarnation of the software was bugged, but version 2.01 seems to work fine. My only complaint is that I'm unable to permanently disable the scroller light which I find annoying. And so I have to turn it off every time I start my computer.
  
  I've used a number of gaming mice, including MX518, G5 and Copperhead. This bests them all in the sheer comfort and play. However this mouse is only good for right-handers. If you are a lefty, check out the Copperhead instead.
  
  A recent update: I find Razer's Deathadder to be somewhat superior even to Habu.
  
  

• Absolutely disappointed

  
  By A2EDWF2193N7V7 on 2006-12-20
  My mouse had always been logitech, now I bough this for a change and I am very disappointed.
  First the software have a lot of problems detecting the mouse etc, when I turn off the computer and I turn it on again, I have to unplug it and plug it again, if not, I cant use the mouse.
  So stay with logitech, I have this mouse since 5 days and I want a g5 already.
  
  
  
• Do NOT buy this mouse!!!!
  By A3H277X79HCBD9 on 2006-12-28
  I concur with the reviewer who wrote the "Microsoft Magic" review. Right out of the box you are presented with two different install approaches. Install drivers first...don't install drivers first. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Then lets move onto the frustrating task of flashing the firmware. After that, installing the updated drivers that appear to be the same old drivers. Then the Razor configurator program that will never appear. Ever. After 2 days I gave up and dragged out my old reliable laser mouse. Logitech, here I come.
  
  
• Not so great....
  By A2ZLY90KIQXXU4 on 2007-01-27
  I bought this mouse as a replacement for my Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer which I've had for almost 8 years now. It finally developed a short in the cord and cuts out occasionally. Other then that it still works perfectly. Imagine my disappointment when right out of the box I noticed that the bottom button bellow the mouse wheel on the Habu stuck in the down position the very first time it was depressed. Definitely not the quality I was expecting.
  
  I decided to go ahead and try to install it anyway. I was really curious to see if it was as tough as everyone is saying. IT IS!!! I consider myself pretty good with computers. I have built several of them. This was by far the toughest install I've dealt with. Even with following some instructions I found on the internet step by step, it still failed to recognize the mouse and upgrade the firmware. I finally had success (quite by accident) after uninstalling the Habu software, installing the software update from razer and then flashing the firmware. Basically follow the instructions in Adams review and you should be fine. I wish I had read them before wasting 3 hours of my life.
  
  So now it works. How good is it? The mouse itself is very comfortable. I like the interchangeable side buttons. I opted for the buttons further to the rear. The scroll wheel and left and right buttons all work fine and have a nice feel to them. The major complaint I have is with the two buttons below the wheel. The bottom one sticks and even the top button has a "cheap" feeling click to it. The tracking for the cursor is very smooth and precise.
  
  Now on to the software. The UI is ugly and tacky but is fairly straight forward and easy to figure out. The biggest disappointment here is with the standard options for the buttons. There are no options for forward, back, close or minimize. All of these were available on my 8 year old mouse. I ended up having to make and assign macros to each button to get everything to work the way I wanted. The macros function itself was a bit buggy. Sometimes they would work and sometimes not. After redoing them several times it seems to have "taken" and is working OK. It's just allot of hassle to go through to get to what I feel should be a standard option.
  
  Amazon is sending me a replacement. I will see if the sticky button was just a fluke.
  
  Pros:
  Nice Looking
  Comfortable
  Excellent tracking and precision
  
  Cons:
  Extremely difficult install
  Sticky button "cheap" feel
  Lack standard options for button assignments
  Expensive
  Lack of tech support
  
  
  
• Nice joint effort! Excellent mouse
  By A16HU152F0B3B on 2007-03-28
  I got this after the teflon feet of my logitech G5 wore out and the replacements that I got were pretty bad... Plus I wanted TWO side buttons instead of the one that the G5 has.
  
  The Software that this mouse comes with is pretty sweet. I don't have a need for 5 profiles to be saved in the mouse but if I ever do the option is there. The other thing is that I hate reconfiguring my mouse's resolutions each time I fresh install my OS, this mouse has onboard memory and keeps all this info for me(I just wish it would remember the setting I have for turning off the lights...). I also noticed that the resolution changing software is more responsive in some games than the Logitech Setpoint software is and has a smaller memory footprint.
  
  My only complaint is that it feels a litte cheap compared to the G5(not as solid). But I do like the way it fits my hands like Microsoft mice are known for.
  
  
• Top of the line mouse! (detailed description and update guide)
  By A2XU66WOC8JW6I on 2007-10-12
  I rarely comment on any products, but given the poor rating that this product has had because of poor driver & firmware execution upon its initial release, I decided to add a review.
  
  I'll start out by saying that I am a civil engineer, and I do a great deal of drafting and design at work. I am extremely picky about the mouse I use for drafting purposes, and recently (after a monitor upgrade) I went looking for a new mouse, due to the fact that at the high monitor resolution, I couldn't adjust my old optical mouse's pointer speed up fast enough to be useful for drafting.
  
  I went to a local electronics store, and picked up a wireless mouse & keyboard package from Microsoft, thinking that it would be a great thing to be wireless - what a mistake I made! I saw now that nearly every mouse manufacturer out there (I assume to keep up with their competitors) has a new side-scrolling/panning mouse wheel (that I can only assume is useless to 99.9% of the users out there) - I didn't think much of it when I purchased the package, but upon using the mouse, I realized that they made the downward click pressure of the mouse wheel much greater, to prevent accidental clicks when you use the side-scrolling feature, and it made the pan feature in AutoCAD difficult to use, and very hit and miss, as often the wheel would click into the side-pan mode instead of a down-click (useless in AutoCAD). This is absolutely horrible for AutoCAD, due to the fact that the downward center mouse click enables panning. There was also a terrible lag between clicking the pan function, and it actually enabling pan in AutoCAD - I'm sure due to the fact that they try to maximize battery life in wireless mice, so the response isn't instant as with wired mice. After 2 days of use, I promptly returned the setup.
  
  I started looking (and looking, and looking!) for a wired mouse to buy, but had a difficult time finding any good-quality wired mice without the side-scroll/pan feature. Finally, searching on an online retailer's website, I finally stumbled on Razer products, as well as the Microsoft Habu mouse (made by Razer). I passed it by previously in the store, because the packaging looked so ridiculous, and it was marketed as a gaming mouse. I figured it would be overloaded with buttons and side-scroll/pan features, being a gaming mouse. I was very wrong - I looked at the features, and noticed Razer products are absolutely no-nonsense mice - apparently they realized that 10 extra customizable buttons and side-scrolling/panning on mice are not only useless, but difficult to use and undesirable. I went to the store, clicked the display model a bit, and realized that I finally found exactly what I wanted.
  
  I read extensively about the driver/firmware problems, and I tracked down a no-fail guide to updating the firmware and software on the Habu mouse before even attempting to connect it. I downloaded the latest software from the Razer website, and installed it without any problem using the no-fail guide (see below). I started using it, and all I can say is "Wow!" All of the functionality of my old mouse, excellent wheel click pressure, instant response, excellent tracking, fully customizable sensitivity in both x and y-directions, fully customizable buttons, and sensitivity settings so high that you can make the mouse useless! (For those of you who have no idea what they mean when they talk about mouse resolution (I previously didn't understand it either, before purchasing the product) is that basically you can set this mouse to 1 of 3 different resolution settings, which sets the overall sensitivity of the mouse. You can, however, still adjust the sensitivity of the mouse at any of these 3 resolution settings, to make the mouse less sensitive, if you find the speed too fast.) The "polling rate" also has three setting, which, as far as I can tell from mouse use and reading about polling rate on the internet, adjusts the number of readings the mouse submits to the computer about position, to make the mouse pointer more accurate and smooth. (To tell you the truth, I don't see much of a perceptible change when adjusting the polling rate from the smallest setting to the highest.)
  
  The only negative on this mouse is that there are internal lights with this mouse, which I found not only tacky but distracting. You can turn them off with the Razer configurator, but the lights always turn back on after a cold start, a reboot, or return from standby. You have to reset the lights in the configurator (even though the configurator reports the lights as set to "off") every time. This was obviously a firmware or software problem, and no worries - I contacted Microsoft tech support, and they are aware of the issue. Their development team is going to fix this problem in the next driver/firmware release.
  
  I find it horrible that the truly excellent hardware was plagued by initial software/firmware problems, doing a great deal of damage to user opinion's of the product. I wish Microsoft had more thoroughly tested the software before releasing the product, but I suppose there is always pressure to deliver products to store shelves before they have undergone thorough testing. Rest assured, after applying the latest driver and firmware update, you will have an excellent mouse in your hand!
  
  Here is a summary of the online instructions for updating the software (note: this guide assumes you already have the Habu mouse installed on your system with an old version of the software - adjust the guide accordingly if you just purchased the mouse and are doing a fresh install of the latest software from the Razer website).
  
  Installation Instructions:
  - make sure the Habu mouse is plugged in
  - uninstall all Habu software (which is just the driver pack), and reboot your computer
  - install the latest drivers from update package downloaded from Razer's website, from a clean slate
  - (if you get this message) say "YES" to the windows warning about non-WHQL drivers
  - VERY IMPORTANT! - say "NO" to the "reboot now" option, and navigate to the firmware folder (which is part of the driver package), and install the new firmware
  - after the installation program reports that the firmware was successfully installed, unplug and re-plug the Habu
  - reboot your computer
  
  NOTE: It's very important NOT to reboot before attempting the firmware update because the operating system and the drivers see the mouse ONLY after the driver installation. After a reboot with the old firmware, the mouse was never detectable by the drivers again. It seems that the Habu drivers will only detect a mouse after a reboot with (at least) version 2.01 firmware installed.
  
  
  
• Poor quality construction Erratic behavior and low head-shot scores
  By A2FBWLUA7E97JY on 2007-02-25
  I wanted to like this mouse. In the past I have never had problems with MS mice.
  
  The first Habu I got for Christmas and having been warned I went directly to the website to get the latest drivers for it. Driver install was no problem. However, the wheel button would depress down and not return. After a few weeks of trying to get it to loosen up I returned it and got a new one. The new Habu's wheel button worked but the buttons to adjust the dpi were sticky - I could increase the dpi but not decrease it. Also the second mouse is not detectible by the mouse configuration software although the driver for the mouse seems to work. The jittery-ness and lack of control while gaming with the Habu is disapointing. I understand that the laser mice really are poorer at tracking than the earlier "light" mice. I didn't believe it before but the proof for me is in the poor game performance - no matter the dpi.
  
  The swappable plate to configure thumb buttons is cool but you can quickly learn to use either configuration so I isn't that useful. Sorry can't recomment this mouse to anyone.
  (added 11/30/07) - after every attempt to hack the registry and updating software and drivers this is still a mouse that feels good in the hand but is horribly inaccurate. Just don't buy this mouse.
  
  
• Fantastic Mouse
  By A2RSZITYP9GQFV on 2006-12-29
  One of my cardinal rules for setting up input peripherals is: "Install it, then download drivers off the web". If you do this, the mouse will install perfectly. My advice is ignore MS's paranoid warnings about installing software first, because the mouse will work regardless. Use Windows Update and the drivers will update to what's unnecessary for you.
  
  In terms of the form factor of the mouse, it feels very natural in my hand. The on the fly resolution switching is a little funky, and of little use in a real-world sense, but it's certainly handy in gaming and graphics situations. The buttons click firmly and loudly for solid feedback. The rubberized surface of the mouse also feels very nice. One problem I ran into with my Logitech mice is dirt collecting on the surface for a lovely grime that collects over time. I'll see how this mouse handles multiple grubby hands over time.
  
  My -1 star is for the deceptive image for the mouse. The blue light around the rim is not as clean and consistent as the marketing photo would have you believe. It is actually broken up quite regularly by the plastic clips that hold the mouse together, and therefore make a spotty line. It looks a bit cheap.
  
  Thumbs up from me for this mouse, I highly recommend it (from a longtime Logitech user).
  
  
• Good with problems
  By A32WEQZLYV2F2N on 2007-01-24
  Its the best feeling mouse I ever used but the software has problems.
  
  
• Best gaming mouse, with a tough install.
  By A3AYVUVN3MTKDL on 2007-02-21
  What "Not so great...., January 27, 2007" said about the software for this mouse is not true.
  
  Windows button 4 is back, windows button 5 is forward, and the rest of the commands he wanted are in advanced functions, in three context menu's below the macro area.
  
  IGN even didn't notice that Windows Button 4 and 5 are back and forward.
  
  Some people think they're so great.
  
  Install is tough though. Lot's of reconnecting, and disconnecting, even if you do the install 100% right.
  
  Revision 2 of the mouse won't have this problem. So maybe wait for that one.
  
  Razer has this problem with most of their mice. You have to wait for revision 2. It's a sad but true tale, even for Operating Systems.
  
  I bought this mouse with a G5, and returned the G5, and kept this.
  
  It really eats it alive after the tough install IMO.
  
  
• Microsoft Habu Gaming Mouse
  By A1SA30WCN3AGS1 on 2007-05-12
  After receiving the mouse I found that it was very wide in my hand. Also, I couldn't get the Vista drivers for supporting it for 64bit OS. I found the click buttons to be very stiff when dpressing them (not very precise). Final thoughts: I have been using a Logitech G5 for the last year and had high expectations for the Microsoft Habu. It just doesn't stand up to the Logitech G5 (at all!). I put the Habu in a drawer where it will remain until I sell it at a garage sell. But Logitech--Way Better for gaming...
  
  
• Microsoft Habu Laser Gaming Mouse
  By A12AVP1IEU1EOW on 2007-01-10
  Pro's- Looks great, very precise movement, excelent performance and software.
  
  Con's- one of the resolution buttons sticks occasionally, the pointer isnt great in accuracy.
  
  Overall a nice mouse worth the money.
  
  
• Excellent All-Purpose Input Device
  By A22J6L1NSD0U5B on 2007-01-31
  Despite other reviews, I have found no problems with this device. The initial installation can be tricky, but if you READ the directions included with the mouse, it works perfectly fine. The UI is perfectly fine and gets the job done. Once programmed into the mouse, it is no longer needed anyway.
  
  My only gripe is the adjustability for the mouse jumps large hurdles, from 400 > 800 > 1600 > 2000 if I recall properly, not considering polling rate. After getting used to the settings, it isn't an issue anyway. On the fly adjustment works great.
  
  The border LEDs are fairly consistent and not very blotchy in specific areas only as one might expect. Excellent feel to the mouse and great touch. Overall, highly recommended.
  
  
• Habu Mouse
  By A2061EDIIKXXGH on 2007-03-08
  Great mouse for gaming. Everything is great on it but I ran had a little trouble with the driver update and the firmware update.
  
  
• Habu
  By A2UA06HY8R4XIW on 2007-03-09
  Not THAT hard to install for me, just install all software versions then the firmware you should be fine, mouse feels and works like a charm.
  
  
• Great mouse for the money
  By A2VIIL31Q4SVJO on 2007-05-14
  Yes, like the previous reviews said, there is an issue with the drivers/firmware BUT once you follow the directions listed below, it works like a dream. The mouse is responsive and feels great. It took me a while to realize what a great mouse this is, the precision for FPS is great, turn it up or down as you please ... the two little buttons that adjust the sensitivity are easy to use.
  
  For the money, this mouse is a steal.
  
  
• Incredible blend of Microsoft comfort and Razer functionality.
  By AR5VNVF4K06G2 on 2007-07-31
  I'm very pleased with this mouse. It's very comfortable and you can change the side buttons to fit you best. It's very smooth and the easy click sensitivity change is really usefull. The buttons seemed a little too sensitive at first, but they're great now. I recommend this mouse to anyone and everyone.
  
  
• Very cool
  By A2GIZTFZNP9C6E on 2007-08-04
  I really like it so far, it came with an extra side button so that you could swap them out to fit your hand best.
  Only complaint is that its front two buttons are a little loud to click.
  As for comments about it's software being bad, The software I got with mine works fine. No complaints here.
  
  
• Tough installation, great mouse
  By A2QIC4X43OU8BO on 2007-09-20
  I read the existing reviews and purchased this device anyway, hoping that the software/driver issues had been resolved. Be warned - they are not. I luckily found a well-written procedure to follow; I never would have figured it out myself. Subsequently, the mouse works fine. It has great response, good weight, and decent feel. The level of customization is superior. I recommend this mouse, just be prepared on the install, and take your time.
  
  
• Can't live without it!
  By AXR30A4JR1XN7 on 2007-11-24
  After using this mouse, I don't know how I ever gamed with my old, 2-button Kensington. Having the swappable side buttons is a huge plus and makes the mouse very comfortable for me. The buttons are very clicky, which I like. My favorite mouse was always the Intellimouse, and this is basically an Intellimouse on steroids.
  
  
• Could be a good alternative...
  By AGFR43I1VICB5 on 2007-12-08
  I've been a huge fan of Razer's gaming mice for a while now (they are far more sensitive than any other mouse that I've tried and fit my hand perfectly.) but while Razer's laser technology is second to none, their hardware tends to not hold up as well to constant wear and tear. I've owned two Diamondbacks and a Copperhead, and all three developed hardware issues in a relatively short period of time (with a year of purchase)
  When I read that Microsoft and Razer had a joint venture in the Habu, I figured it'd be worth a try. So far it appears to be a solid combination.
  
  The mouse is slightly larger than either the Diamondback or Copperhead. The buttons so far feel sturdier than Razer's typical mice. The cable appears to be sturdier as well. The sensitivity is easily on par with the Diamondback. I'd say it's marginally less sensitive than the Copperhead, but unless you're a hardcore FPS gamer, I'd say the difference is minimal. Rather than having two buttons on either side of the mouse, the thumb-side has two buttons, with the two additional buttons being placed in an indent directly behind the scroll wheel. The thumbside buttons come on a removable plate and can be replaced with larger buttons (this second plate is included, as are extra rubber feet for the bottom of the mouse)
  
  I downloaded the latest software and firmware directly from Razer's website, and had absolutely no problems with installation or use on Windows XP. Only time will tell if the mouse holds up to wear and tear, but I have high hopes.
  
  
• Top of the line Mouse
  By A3RX5CG7HYOYGT on 2008-01-22
  I really like this mouse. The precision control you have is amazing. To switch sensitvity settings on the mouse while you use it is pretty useful. The glowing blue makes it look awesome.
  
  

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