The back of the Side Winder is quite raised and comes up into your palm. We think this is to discourage you from moving the mouse with your fingertips. It is, however, oddly comfortable with a dynamic handling suited perfectly for gaming. You will be at a disadvantage if you have miniscule hands or are left handed though. The design is geared towards large-handed, right-handed people.

The G9 is lower, shorter and less of an imposition to the entire hand. It’s also a little more ambidextrous than the Microsoft version. That doesn’t mean that us “sinister”-lefties get a break, it just takes a little getting used to… Unlike its counterpoint it’s easy enough to drive around with your fingertips. Be warned though - piloting this thing with an open hand can cause you to form an evil, claw-like pose. Using it like this for too long causes cramping. It also has to be said that the G9 is well adapted for dynamic handling.

Taking advantage of its removable case, the G9 can also be very comfortable. The smooth case offers more flared edges where your fingers can rest, and so is suited to relaxation of the hand. This relaxed position is actually much more enjoyable than with the Side Winder, which doesn’t allow your hand to relax.... The ability to rest your hand indicates to us that this is the option for those who need it for prolonged use. The grooves for your fingers allow for a more firm grip. Our only criticism is that the ridge that should go under your ring finger is a little inconvenient. The grip-case seems to be made to be handled with the tips of your fingers, presumably in a more frantic fashion. This shows us that it’s well adapted for playing games or finishing last minute powerpoint presentations.

Overall we found the G9 more versatile. The downside is that you have to change its case when changing from calm use to more strenuous activity to exploit its full potential. With its smooth case, it wins hands down over the Side Winder Mouse in terms of comfort and is perfectly suited to office work. If you predominantly use your finger tips the G9 is perfect for this provided it’s sporting its rough case. Finally, it is only when playing games with your whole hand on the mouse that the Side Winder triumphs in terms of design.