The Razer Deathadder is a somewhat expensive mouse, with the latest version (Razer Deathadder 3.5G) usually available somewhere between €45 and €60. Therefore, I think it deserved a better bundle. The box it comes in looks quite cool, but you won't find much more than the mouse in there. I think we can all live without the CD containing the drivers, since most people would download them from Razer's website anyway, but at least an extra pair of mouse skates would be a nice addition.
The first thing you notice about the mouse when you remove it from the box is its size. It's quite big, measuring around 13 cm in length. It's also a bit on the heavy side, which will take some adjusting. The shape is asymmetric, with a larger "hump" on the left part of the palm rest and a steeper decline on the right. This means that, if you're a lefty, you should look for the left-handed version (also available), since using it with the left hand will probably be quite uncomfortable. Using the correct version, you'll notice that the asymmetric shape works quite nicely. Your hand feels comfortable, especially if you're a "palm gripper" (which means laying your hand "flat" on the mouse). "Claw grippers" will also be able to use the Deathadder without difficulty, although you'll notice that it's not as comfortable - especially if you're like me and change between grips without realizing it. It also has a long braided cord, but the only thing you'll really notice about it is that it doesn't get in the way - which is pretty much the main thing we want in a mouse cord.
After connecting the mouse to the PC, two blue leds will start emitting light. The scroll wheel's led is always on, while the logo on the palm rest keeps slowly fading in and out. You can disable them using Razer's drivers, but you can't force the logo to stay fixed. Initially, I thought that its constant fading would be distracting, but I realized that, most of the time, I don't even notice it's there, since my palm completely covers the light. As a plus, the blue is a perfect match for the leds on my Lian Li case, so it does look rather cool with them on.
Now that we've covered how it looks, let's see how it feels. The Deathadder has two types of materials covering it. The top side has a rubber-like coating, which is quite comfortable and allows you to properly grip the mouse. Some reviews complained that it made the hand feel a bit warm and sweaty, but I didn't notice that. The side, however, isn't as nice. It has a really "plasticky" feel to it, making it considerably less comfortable. It also lacks the "gripping" nature of the top cover, so the fingers occasionally slip slightly. Some reviewers complained about how "gunk" accumulated on its side. What they called "gunk" is a mix of dirt and dead skin cells. Although it's normal for your body to leave this behind, I've noticed that it does pile up a lot more than usual on the Deadthadder's side due to its material. This isn't exactly a deal breaker, but expect having to clean up the sides often.
The two primary buttons have slight indentations, which fit your fingers perfectly when using the "palm grip". One thing you'll definitely notice is how light they are. It only takes a minimal amount of pressure for them to click, which can be really good in games - while playing Counter-Strike, I did a few kills purely out of reflex, that I'm sure wouldn't have happened with a regular mouse, as I didn't really exert much pressure on the button. However, this also has a down side: it’s possible to accidentally fire your weapon, which can be annoying in games where friendly fire is activated. This extra sensibility can be a problem as well during regular use, since you might end up clicking where you don’t want to or selecting instead of clicking. The extra pressure required in other mice is a better option for day-to-day operations. This is more noticeable for “claw grippers”, since the pressure placed on the fingers when moving the mouse might be enough to trigger an accidental click. Either way, it’s something that you’ll end up getting used to, even if you’ll always notice it.
The scroll wheel, which also acts as a third button, has a nice rubberized texture. It also has indentations, so finger slipping while scrolling is nearly impossible. The wheel offers a slight resistance to movement, which is enough to allow you to “feel” how much you’ve moved it. I prefer a little more resistance, but this is just a matter of personal preference. What I really don’t like about it is the middle click. Due to the small resistance offered by the wheel and pressure required to click, middle clicking is sometimes followed by accidental scrolling, which can be annoying. It doesn’t happen always, but it happens often enough for it to be considered a hindrance. Other than that, the wheel works nicely and its placement is also spot on: if I move my index finger from the left button, it’ll hit the scroll wheel with its top third, which is perfect.
Apart from the top three buttons, the Deathadder also has two thumb buttons on the side. They’re reasonably large and require some pressure to click, so there won’t be accidental clicking if you happen to grip the mouse a bit too tight while moving it. As default, these buttons are assigned to “back” and “forward” commands, although I never use them for that effect since I prefer regular mouse gestures on the browser. The “back” button has perfect positioning, sitting right under the thumb. This can be tremendously useful in games, as you can press it without moving the rest of the hand. For example, I have it assigned to the “melee” attack in “Battlefield: Bad Company 2”, making knife kills awesomely easy. The other button is quite similar in shape, but the placement is worse. To use it, I have to lift my palm slightly and move my hand. This means that, if you’re like me, you probably won’t make use of it in regular conditions, which is why I set it up to make up for one of Deathadder’s biggest absences: DPI switching buttons.
The Deathadder 3.5G is a 3500 DPI mouse. However, unless you’re a high-sensitivity gamer with robot-like reflexes, you won’t be using it at full 3500 DPI. You’ll either tune it down to 1800 DPI (which is what I did) or lower the sensitivity. Although you can use the Windows drivers, installing the Deathadder’s drivers is recommended, since they have an on-the-fly sensitivity option that’s quite useful. You just need to press the button you’ve assigned to it (in my case, the fifth mouse button) and scroll the wheel up to increase it or down to decrease it. This works amazingly well, allowing you to quickly change sensitivity settings without having to mess with settings menus. It’s not as good as dedicated buttons and it costs you one button on the mouse (you can’t assign keyboard keys to it and won’t be able to use that mouse button for anything else), but it’s something you’ll be using more often than you might think. As an example, I use 5,5 sensitivity on the Windows desktop and while playing Battlefield, but 10 with Counter-Strike and Left 4 Dead 2. So, when loading those games, I just scroll the wheel up and, after I’m done playing, I simply scroll it back down. One flaw, however, is that the overlay is only displayed when the application doesn’t use the full screen mode… so it’s a bit harder to set a specific level when in-game (unless you already know its feel) . However, if you want to just move it to 10, simply give it a couple of whirls. This is also useful in graphics software, such as Photoshop or GIMP, as the ability to switch sensitivity might help when changing your precision needs.
This takes us to moving the mouse. How’s it like? Well, it’s quite accurate. It does take a while to get adjusted to it due to its size and weight, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll realize how smooth this mouse is. The pointer goes where you want it to go, no matter how slow or fast is the movement. No complaints regarding the sensor. The shape also helps quite a bit. However, if you’re used to lighter mice, you’ll need to readjust your style. Before the Deathadder, I spent a couple of months with a really light mouse (around half its weight), so, for the first couple of weeks, the Deathadder seemed clumsy and way too heavy. However, after I got used to it, it just feels right.
One thing to keep in mind is to properly configure the Deathadder. In the Windows settings, set the sensitivity options to the middle, so they’ll be neutral. Then, use the Deathadder’s drivers to actually change sensitivity. Set the DPI setting to something you’re comfortable with (don’t be afraid of not using the full 3500 DPI, 1800 DPI is more than enough for most people) and adjust the sensitivity on the fly. If the game provides a raw input option, make sure you use it, since you’ll be taking full advantage of the Deathadder’s awesome sensor. Don’t use mouse acceleration, play with the DPI and sensitivity settings instead.
The drivers also give you the possibility of configuring up to five different profiles, which you can select by pressing a button located on the bottom of the mouse. The only use I see for this feature, however, is if you share your PC with someone else who handles the mouse in a completely different way and requires a different DPI selection. The location of the profile swap button forces you to lift the mouse when you want to press it, so it isn't something you'd do on the fly. Personally, I think the vast majority of users will never use this feature.
In short, the Deathadder is a great choice for gaming. The sensor’s accuracy, coupled with a really good shape and sensitive buttons, will give you an edge over opponents using a regular mouse. I felt an improvement once I got adjusted to it and that’s pretty much what you can ask from a gaming mouse. It’s also a good choice for daily usage, even if this isn’t its intended role. The extra-sensitive buttons and the scroll wheel may annoy you occasionally, but the comfortable shape makes up for it. If you’re not a gamer, there are better options for half the price. If you’re a gamer, however, the Deathadder is like a roadster you can drive to work every day: really cool for having fun and still offers a good compromise for daily use.
UPDATE: After around one and a half years of use, the left mouse button started showing anomalous behaviour: it would sometimes miss single clicks or interpret them as double clicks. After contacting Razer's tech support (which seemed to be quite nice), they told me to return it to the store so it'd be RMA'd. Less than a week later, the store contacted me again, mentioning that Razer had ordered them to refund my purchase - was a bit surprised, since I expected either a repair or a new unit. Since I had purchased it on sale, I'm currently considering going for a different model.
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