Microsoft Reportedly Discontinuing SideWinder Brand (Again)
The tech heads over at VR-Zone.com claim Microsoft is pulling the plug on its SideWinder line. If true, this would be the second time Microsoft discontinued the SideWinder brand. The first time came in 2003, and the SideWinder brand stayed in a coma up until Razer helped resurrect it in 2007. Now it appears to be down for the count.
VR-Zone says poor sales aren't to blame this time around, and instead Microsoft's retiring the SideWinder label because of increased competition in the gaming peripheral market. Razer is just one of many in what's now a crowded field of participants that include the likes of Logitech, SteelSeries, Mionix, Saitek, and more. It seems like everyone is making gaming devices these days.
Where Microsoft goes from here is anyone's guess. VR-Zone points to the possibility of Microsoft scooping up a smaller competitor, but we have a hunch the Redmond bunch will be more content to focus its efforts on the console side than worry about competing in the PC game peripheral market.
Image Credit: Microsoft
Comments
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nadako
March 03, 2011 at 6:29am
now i have the keyboard and it is really nice just dont have the mouse
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bjoswald
March 01, 2011 at 10:28pm
Probably because someone in their marketing department realized overpriced gaming hardware is pointless. If you can't kill people, loot boars or fly a plane with a regular keyboard and mouse (or whatever you use), then you either have the reflexes of the toddler or have "special needs". I cant' think of one good reason for an average person to spend over $100 on a goddamn mouse. It's ridiculous. In fact, I'd almost be willing to buy a Potty Putter instead, because that way, I'd be doing something fun while flushing my money away.
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pepo123
March 01, 2011 at 11:18am
Still using the original sidewinder mouse for three years now. I love it... I better stock up because i dont think i can go back to logitech now.
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pepo123
March 01, 2011 at 11:18am
Still using the original sidewinder mouse for three years now. I love it... I better stock up because i dont think i can go back to logitech now.
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hammeredtoast
March 01, 2011 at 9:34am
I like the Sidewinder brand. I have, I believe, the X6 something mouse, or an X5, or whatever. It fits my hand flawlessly. I consider it a "real" mouse. I feel that there is no way that Razr stuff can actually be ergonomic.
I have that argument with many mouses on the market. They are too slender. I'm not a big guy. I'm, like, 160 pounds and 6 feet tall. I just have no idea who's buying slimmer mouses.
I'm pretty sure you don't pluralize "mouse" to "mice."
Whatever.
Hopefully Razr absorbs, at the very least, the mouse designs from Sidewinder. I loved that stuff.
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D00dlavy
March 01, 2011 at 10:01am
Try the DeathAdder, from Razer. The best mouse they've made, IMO.
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McNamys
March 01, 2011 at 9:25am
Nice try for their second attempt but Microsoft once again came up short when it came to hardware. I purchased the X6 keyboard and promptly returned it. Too many issues with installing their software (Win 7 64 bit) and found that many others had the dreaded 1603 error installing the software. Great keyboard, loved being able to move the numeric keyboard to the left side but the software install issues on a new windows 7 system was a dealbreaker
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