By Alfred Siew, a freelancer writer

AT A time when rival mouse makers have entered the crowded - though still lucrative - gaming mouse market with new critters, Logitech has chosen to keep to a trusted formula.

Its new G9x, as its name suggests, is nothing more than an upgrade over the excellent G9.

The updated version is simply the same mouse except that it is even more sensitive - up from 3,200 dots per inch (dpi) on the G9 to a claimed 5,000 dpi on the G9x.

This means that you can turn around even more quickly in a fast action game with a flick of the wrist.

Or if you are playing a real-time strategy game, you can move across a large 24-inch screen with a quick slide of the mouse.

How much that really translates into better game performance is up for debate, of course. When it comes to mouse sensitivity, the law of diminishing returns applies - there is an optimal point after which there are minimal benefits to be had.

Just as a great tennis racket would not make you play like Roger Federer, a mouse that boasts super-high sensitivity would not make you a top gamer overnight.

Like a good racket, however, the G9x feels natural in your hands and is a joy to play games with.

When I hooked it up to my PC to play World In Conflict: Soviet Assault RTS, it enabled me to switch focus from one part of the battlefield to another in double-quick time.

Next, I tried out Far Cry 2, a first-person shooter.

Here, I could turn around - often just in time - to face an enemy that has crept up on me.

I did so by using the G9x's Precision grip, basically a smaller plastic mould that you snap onto the basic mouse unit. This, to me, offered a better grip than the other "wide load" grip, which is perhaps made for users with larger hands.

The smooth movement is, of course, helped by satin-smooth feet that glide along mouse pads and table tops almost effortlessly.

I also like the option of on-the-fly sensitivity adjustments, which lets me toggle between fast movement (on the battlefield) and precise aiming (say, when you are playing a sniper).

There is also the built-in memory, which enables you to bring the mouse to an online gaming session with all its settings stored onboard, as well as customisable weights which you can insert into the G9x if you feel it is too light.

Final say

An update of a successful mouse, the G9x is still easy to recommend for all its winning features.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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