Posted 08/29/2008 at 04:53:37am

I've stuck with XP Pro for two main reasons:

1) I don't have any problems with XP and all my systems run fine, and
2) Almost every review out there about Vista has warned me to stay away from it.

Maximum PC has been one of Vista's most vocal critics, right from the beginning and consistently since. Hey, they even dinged the HP Blackbird 002 in their magazine review of it for the specific reason that it came with Vista instead of XP. I remember thinking at the time that it was silly to knock points off the Blackbird for using Vista since it came loaded with the latest DX10 hardware. (How are you going to show off DX10 with XP?) But then again, I've long been used to Maximum PC dinging products for occasionally ridiculous reasons. (Which is why I don't pay attention to the number score, just the text.) But it was also yet another in a long and thorough series of reminders from Maximum PC that Vista is just so terrible that yes, its presence is a good enough reason to take points off an otherwise fine product. Frankly, I've heard such an unwavering torrent of withering Vista criticism from almost all sources since the moment it was released that, after awhile, I stopped giving it much thought -- of course Vista sucks, doesn't everybody know that?
 
But reading these comments (and others recently) gives me hope that Vista may not be the horrible P.O.S. that we've been assured it is. Not that I am eager to run out and spend what money I've got on a new Windows license mind you -- XP hasn't given me any reason to ditch it as yet. But it is very encouraging to think that the future of Windows may not be as bleak as I've thought. Or as I've been led to believe? Or that I've been foolish enough to believe?

Anyway, thanks to the commenters using Vista for cheering me up today! That was unexpected.

Posted 08/29/2008 at 12:21:48am

I got the DeathAdder over a year ago based on a review that showed its sensor the most accurate in a large round-up of gaming mice. I got it to replace my trusty MX-518. I immediately loved the feel of the mouse, both its shape and the micro-suede-like matte finish. Also, not mentioned in the review here, the two thumb buttons are excellent. Razer has found the perfect shape and placement -- and button tension -- so that both buttons are just as easily accessed yet not accidently clicked. (The only mouse that has as good or better thumb-buttons, IMHO, is the MS Sidwinder with its over-and-under design. But that mouse isn't as comfortable to use overall.) The scroll wheel on the DeathAdder is a bit wider, and the detents a bit larger, than the MX-518's, and it has a bit more tension rolling it and is not at all loose-feeling. The middle mouse button is easily clicked and without any movement of the scroll wheel. And it tracks beautifully, as smooth as any laser mouse I've tried and better than most.

Anyway, my positive first impression was marred after I figured out how to set up on-the-fly DPI switching. It is less than ideal, as the review indicates. You have to give up one of the thumb buttons for that purpose, and then use the wheel to set to the level. So I decided to get a G5 (which has dedicated on-the-fly DPI buttons) and use the DeathAdder on my second PC.

The thing is, after a few months of using the G5 on my main rig I found I preferred the feel of the DeathAdder -- especially during marathon gaming sessions. It is simply more comfortable. (And that's saying a lot since the G5 has great ergonomics.) Though the decision really came down to me realizing that I never really use on-the-fly DPI switching during my gaming! This surprised me a little, since I loved the idea of that feature the moment I heard of it, and I thought I would use it a lot. But I have never gotten the hang of it or something, because it just didn't catch on with me, just like it didn't when I used the MX-518 (which I choose because of that feature!) I tried switching DPI more often during games, to sort of justify buying the G5 to myself, but I still don't find much use for it. If the DeathAdder came with dedicated DPI buttons similar to the G5, I still would probably never really use them. So I eventually switched back to the DeathAdder with the idea that when a game comes around where I feel the need for DPI switching, I'll use the G5. But that hasn't happened yet. (Besides, it's not as if the DeathAdder can't do on-the-fly DPI switching.)

So I agree with the basic summary of the review: if you don't find yourself using on-the-fly DPI switching in games much, then the DeathAdder should definately be on your short list.

Posted 04/16/2007 at 08:16:28pm

Stop with the BLEEPS! Are you listening to your audience? Do you care? Make a "safe for work and little babies" version if you like, but let us adults have access to Gordon sans censorship. Or tell Gordon to use a more interesting vocabulary if you must, but the BLEEPS are incredibly annoying. They distract. At least turn down the BLEEP sound effect if you insist on censoring your podcast like good little politically correct sheep. Your "hardcore" "no BS" rep is being BLEEPED out the window.

Posted 04/11/2007 at 05:30:10pm

I love Gordon's rants, but I hate the all the BLEEPS covering his explicatives. I am an adult. Is there a version of the MaximumPC Podcast that is not designed for little children? Oh, wait! Little children aren't likely to be your target audience here anyway -- so why again do you bleep out words that we all use everyday? It just calls attention to them more than anything else. What's the point? If you really think that your editorial reputation would suffer, then ask Gordon to refrain from profanity rather than BLEEP his words. It really detracts from my enjoyment of his rants.