Razer DeathAdder Left Hand Edition review

If you like a wealth of customisable keys, other gaming mice will cater to your needs better than the DeathAdder. But, if you care more about the actual feel and performance of the mouse, then the relative lack of keys shouldn't bother you too much.

Left behind
As a leftie accustomed to controlling gaming mice with our right hand, using the DeathAdder felt unusual at first. But it quickly began to feel more natural.

Bear in mind that, if you're like us, you'll have to switch to handling keyboard presses with your right hand if you opt for the DeathAdder. Making this adjustment is considerably tougher than learning to use the mouse with your left hand, and it will take plenty of getting used to. You'll also have to reconfigure all the default key inputs every time you get a new game. Left-handed gamers will have to make a judgement call as to whether the extra control they'll get when using the mouse with their dominant hand is worth all that hassle.

The DeathAdder doesn't come bundled with any software, but you can download some from the Razer support site. The driver software lets you customise button assignments and tinker with the mouse's sensitivity. Pleasingly, everything is presented in just one panel, making customisation a doddle.

It's also worth mentioning that the DeathAdder is Mac-compatible -- something to bear in mind once Valve's Steam platform comes to Macs.

Conclusion
The Razer DeathAdder Left Hand Edition is an extremely comfortable mouse that provides a smooth and precise gaming experience at a reasonable cost. If you're already accustomed to using a mouse with your left hand, we would recommend buying the DeathAdder. But, if you've already trained your right hand to handle a mouse, then it's unlikely that a left-handed mouse, no matter how comfortable or precise it is, will convince you to switch. In that case, it might be worth giving the original, right-handed DeathAdder a go.

Edited by Charles Kloet