Mice like Logitech's G5 Laser Mouse can give you precision control, which means that your gaming doesn't suffer because of your input device.

You usually get a free mouse when you buy a PC, but even if you don't, there are plenty of input rodents available for less than $10. Since this is the case, what is the draw for a mouse that costs more than $50 and doesn't even have wireless connectivity? Ask a gamer.

The textured grip of the G5 clings nicely to the skin, especially for those of us who get sweaty palms during long gaming sessions.

It's the underside where this mouse really shines. Logitech has put feet made of polytetrafluoroethylene (luckily you don't have to be able to pronounce it to appreciate it) on the bottom of the mouse, and it slides so smoothly on surfaces we almost expected to see a gloss on its base. Unlike some optical mice, the G5 maintained a signal even on surfaces with a lot of imagery and colors.

There's a weight cartridge at the base that lets you adjust the heft of the mouse within a 1.27-ounce (36-gram) swing. It's a nice touch that lets you personalize the feel of the mouse to your own preferences. Although it's not cordless, the 80-inch USB cable gives you plenty of length to plug the mouse into the back of your tower without feeling a tug when you start coming up short.

The optical engine inside the G5 is incredibly sensitive, with a resolution of up to 2,000 dpi. Even without installing the mouse software, you can switch between 400-dpi, 800-dpi, and 2,000-dpi resolutions on the fly, and you can customize those values with the software installed. It's perfect for using multiple weapons in a first-person shooter, such as moving from fast-twitch viewing to finely tuned movements of a zoomed-in sniper rifle at the touch of a button.

At a list price of $70 and a street price of around $55, the G5 will be outside the preferred price range for most users. However, for hard-core gamers who love to be able to tweak their gaming performance, it just might be worth the extra dollars for the precision feel and control that the Logitech G5 Laser Mouse can provide.

Pro: Extreme precision, adjustable resolution and weight.
Con: Expensive. For right-handed users only.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Logitech
6505 Kaiser Drive
Fremont, CA 94555
510-795-8500
http://www.logitech.com

Warranty
3 years limited