Microsoft’s latest Sidewinder mouse is geared toward the entry-level gaming crowd, retailing for just $40. It looks plain and fairly boring. For your money, you get some performance though. It features a 2,000 DPI laser sensor that can be changed to 800 DPI or 400 DPI whenever the need arises.

You also get eight more buttons crammed into the ambidextrous layout. This USB-powered gaming mouse will be bundled with the Intellimouse software for Windows PCs for quick and easy macro programming. You’ll be able to get one when the Microsoft Sidewinder X3 hits retail shelves this May.

I can remember back when Microsoft was a big name in gaming peripherals. Years ago, Microsoft was big in the gaming peripherals and had a slew of joysticks aimed at flight simulation and other PC game genres that were popular in the market. As companies are apt to do, when the SideWinder joysticks popularity started to wane the whole line was axed.

Not so long ago Microsoft pulled the SideWinder name from the trash bin and stuck it on a gaming mouse that was actually quite good. Today, Microsoft announced a couple more gaming goodies that will carry the SideWinder moniker. Some photos of the SideWinder X6 keyboard were leaked a couple months back, and were believed by many to be fakes.