I used to have a simple Microsoft wheel optical mouse until I purchased the mx518. The main reason that made me look for a better mouse is the lack of dpi on the Microsoft mouse (it has 400 dpi). The mx518 can be set to function at 1800 dpi, which noticeably improved precision of mouse movements. Of course you have to be a gamer or a computer drawing artist to fully appreciate this precision. For example, the game counter strike source highly depends on what mouse you use. I can say for sure that two people of equal skill will experience a significant difference between their scores if one uses a high dpi mouse and the other uses a low dpi mouse. Another advantage of this mouse over others is its shape. It is a mouse made for medium to large hands (depending on how it is held). The side indents in the mouse for thumb and pinky support are a nice feature which will keep your had suited for longer hours of gaming. As far as different types of grips go, this mouse can be held with a hybrid between a claw grip and a palm grip. I mostly use it in a claw grip because I find it more comfortable for quick movements when playing fps. I set up the two side buttons to switch between songs in wmp, which is a great feature to have when gaming. Lastly I'll comment on the design and durability of it. The bullet hole look of the mouse is not as emphasized as it looks on the advertisements. At first I didn't like it and wanted a plain color, but now that I have it I'm glad for its uniqueness. This mouse feels very durable and I think that it will last me forever unless some accident happens and it gets crushed. In conclusion, this mouse is perfect for hardcore gaming due to its comfort and relatively high specifications and any other type of use that would last a long time and require high precision movements.