I've just impulse purchased a new MS Intellimouse Explorer 3. The old version was my beloved gaming mouse from my old Quake playing days - now sadly long behind me with two children. Luckily my old mouse still works so I'm able to compare the two. A while ago, after I left heavy gaming, I tried out the MX518 and then settled on the Copperhead. So I'm in a lucky position of comparing all of them. They are all sitting lined up in front of me as I type. This isn't an indepth review but just a few thoughts on them after using the new IE 3 tonight.
I also tried to buy a HABU but this was a high street shop and they didn't have any. That's a pity as it would have been nice to compare them all.
MS IE 3 - Old vs New
Well you've probably seen the pictures. They seem almost identical apart from colour. The old model is silver with grey sides , buttons and cable. The new version is grey with silver buttons and black details and cable. The cable is also thinner on the new model. The new colour does seem to suite more modern systems as a lot of machines are now black - although I still have silver and it still matches quite well.
In use they again feel almost identical apart from a slight improvement in sensitivity with the new model. Although still not up to the standards of modern mice.
In use they are the same. The main buttons are crisp and the the side buttons still feel very loose - probably a little too loose for some people but the point is there is no noticable difference between the old and new models. The wheel is very similar although my old model' wheel actually feels a little more precise - maybe this one will "bed in" after some use, considering the amount of use my old one had. Despite one of the key features of the new mouse being a smoother slide action due to revised feet, they don't feel very different. It still feels a little scratchy on my desk. The new model is slightly better, however. But not up to MX518 or Copperhead standards as discussed below.
MS IE 3 New vs MX518 and Copperhead
I prefer the look of the IE 3 when compared to the MX518 and Copperhead. But this is obviously subjective. Although I must admit it does look a little "old fashioned" now. In use the MX518 screams quality. The whole mouse feels taut and precise. It has a lovely movement and probably the best buttons of all the mice. Out of the MX518 and Copperhead I always preferred the Copperhead because of the shape - I loved it's neutral shape and the way I could lightly grip the rubber sides and guide it around with very little effort. The copperhead quality is also superb and only very slightly behind the MX518.
There is no question that the MX518 and Copperhead are streets ahead in sensitivity. But personally I always had to turn the sensitivity down to get them feeling right. So for me that advantage isn't a great one. So then it comes down to personal choice. The wheels and buttons on them both are certainly better than the IE 3 (whose wheel does feel clunky in comparison). They are both smoother to use on a plain desk with no mouse mat, although teflon pads would fix that on the IE 3.
I could never quite get on with the MX518 in gaming. It was great in Windows but in games I just don't like the way the bottom of the mouse on the thumb side splayed out. It means I don't feel in total control of it as my grip isn't quite right.
I love the Copperhead and have used it constantly for around a year. But two things let it down for me. Firstly the stretch to the wheel is just a little far for my (small) hands. I've got used to it to some extent but never 100%. The second reason is the firmware... I've never been able to fully resolve the USB power-on problem, resulting in occasional hard resets being needed to kick it into action (by pulling out the cable and plugging it back in). This is one concern I have for the HABU - will it suffer similar problems? Personally I just can't see a reason why a mouse needs onboard memory and processing. It just leads to these kinds of problems.
And then I return the the MS IE 3. Admittedly it's probably because I have previously spent years using the old version. but it's like coming home and putting a comfy pair of tracksuit trousers on to lounge around the house. It just feels right to me again. Although around a year of using the Copperhead has shown me how much modern mice have moved on in terms of precision and build quality.
Build quality - MX518
Gaming feel - Copperhead
Comfort - MS IE 3 New
Nostalgia - MS IE 3 Old
Most people will probably prefer the MX518. Some heavy gamers may prefer the Copperhead.But the IE 3 sits in my hand comfortably, doesn't have the Copperheads firmware/driver issues and "just works right". It will be the mouse I now leave attached. The old IE 3, MX518 and Copperhead will, for now, be moved back to my spare parts box. As most heavy gamer will appreciate, the best mouse is a personal thing. It isn't necessarily the best built or the highest sensitivity but how you get on with the mouse. The IE 3 has deservedly gained the reputation of the "pro gamers mouse". It doesn't quite seem as good going back to it now and if you are used to the MX518 or the Copperhead then I don't recommend moving "back" to an IE 3. But for me I love this mouse again and will be sticking to it
I also tried to buy a HABU but this was a high street shop and they didn't have any. That's a pity as it would have been nice to compare them all.
MS IE 3 - Old vs New
Well you've probably seen the pictures. They seem almost identical apart from colour. The old model is silver with grey sides , buttons and cable. The new version is grey with silver buttons and black details and cable. The cable is also thinner on the new model. The new colour does seem to suite more modern systems as a lot of machines are now black - although I still have silver and it still matches quite well.
In use they again feel almost identical apart from a slight improvement in sensitivity with the new model. Although still not up to the standards of modern mice.
In use they are the same. The main buttons are crisp and the the side buttons still feel very loose - probably a little too loose for some people but the point is there is no noticable difference between the old and new models. The wheel is very similar although my old model' wheel actually feels a little more precise - maybe this one will "bed in" after some use, considering the amount of use my old one had. Despite one of the key features of the new mouse being a smoother slide action due to revised feet, they don't feel very different. It still feels a little scratchy on my desk. The new model is slightly better, however. But not up to MX518 or Copperhead standards as discussed below.
MS IE 3 New vs MX518 and Copperhead
I prefer the look of the IE 3 when compared to the MX518 and Copperhead. But this is obviously subjective. Although I must admit it does look a little "old fashioned" now. In use the MX518 screams quality. The whole mouse feels taut and precise. It has a lovely movement and probably the best buttons of all the mice. Out of the MX518 and Copperhead I always preferred the Copperhead because of the shape - I loved it's neutral shape and the way I could lightly grip the rubber sides and guide it around with very little effort. The copperhead quality is also superb and only very slightly behind the MX518.
There is no question that the MX518 and Copperhead are streets ahead in sensitivity. But personally I always had to turn the sensitivity down to get them feeling right. So for me that advantage isn't a great one. So then it comes down to personal choice. The wheels and buttons on them both are certainly better than the IE 3 (whose wheel does feel clunky in comparison). They are both smoother to use on a plain desk with no mouse mat, although teflon pads would fix that on the IE 3.
I could never quite get on with the MX518 in gaming. It was great in Windows but in games I just don't like the way the bottom of the mouse on the thumb side splayed out. It means I don't feel in total control of it as my grip isn't quite right.
I love the Copperhead and have used it constantly for around a year. But two things let it down for me. Firstly the stretch to the wheel is just a little far for my (small) hands. I've got used to it to some extent but never 100%. The second reason is the firmware... I've never been able to fully resolve the USB power-on problem, resulting in occasional hard resets being needed to kick it into action (by pulling out the cable and plugging it back in). This is one concern I have for the HABU - will it suffer similar problems? Personally I just can't see a reason why a mouse needs onboard memory and processing. It just leads to these kinds of problems.
And then I return the the MS IE 3. Admittedly it's probably because I have previously spent years using the old version. but it's like coming home and putting a comfy pair of tracksuit trousers on to lounge around the house. It just feels right to me again. Although around a year of using the Copperhead has shown me how much modern mice have moved on in terms of precision and build quality.
Build quality - MX518
Gaming feel - Copperhead
Comfort - MS IE 3 New
Nostalgia - MS IE 3 Old
Most people will probably prefer the MX518. Some heavy gamers may prefer the Copperhead.But the IE 3 sits in my hand comfortably, doesn't have the Copperheads firmware/driver issues and "just works right". It will be the mouse I now leave attached. The old IE 3, MX518 and Copperhead will, for now, be moved back to my spare parts box. As most heavy gamer will appreciate, the best mouse is a personal thing. It isn't necessarily the best built or the highest sensitivity but how you get on with the mouse. The IE 3 has deservedly gained the reputation of the "pro gamers mouse". It doesn't quite seem as good going back to it now and if you are used to the MX518 or the Copperhead then I don't recommend moving "back" to an IE 3. But for me I love this mouse again and will be sticking to it
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