I think the Logitech G500 is ~50 (I don't remember, I got mine for $30 from amazon), I really like it, no issues at all with it.

I have heard nice things about the CM Storm Spawn. It's also 39 dollars atm :3 http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-Spawn-Switches-SGM-2000-MLON1/dp/B004RJJMBI

id get zowie am black (normal, not GS)
maybe g400, or another DA if he likes that...

another deathadder

on the subject of mice
is the g500 noticeably better than the g400
i've been considering getting a new mouse for a while, even though i'm on no video games mode atm

seconded. I love my zowie AM

noticeably worse imo. in the g500 the sensor isnt in the middle (its mounted towards the front of the mouse) which is just crap. this ruins the mouse for me.

also the laser sensor is inferior to the g400 optical, and its front heavy without weights or just straight up heavy if u put them in. I dont like the three sidebuttons very much (this is opinion). the scroll wheel is pretty sick on the g500 tho ill give it that. if you dont game anymore I think the g500 scroll wheel would be amazing for spreadsheets :]

g400 is pmuch flawless

Zowie EC 1 or 2 eVo depending if you palm or claw grip, respectively. I have the EC2 and I really love this mouse.

get him a 120hz monitor instead.

avoid this mouse if you plan to use windows 7, read below, still not fixed a year later. I love the shape of the spawn but I can only use it on my XP machine.

http://www.cmstorm.com/forum/showthread.php?2949-Spawn-Ventrillo-Skype-Mumble-Compatibility-bug

No, the g500 is just the laser version of the mouse. It's fine if you have a hard mousepad, but other than that, it jitters a lot on cloth. It's a good mouse though; I got my dad one and he likes it a lot.

Go with another DA. Buying a mouse for another person sounds kinda terrible unless you REALLY know them. If he chose to buy a DA to begin with and he's still using it in it's semi-broken form then I think it's a safe bet to get him another DA instead of roll the dice with a mouse he may not want. I personally really didn't like the Logitech mice shapes after using a DA.

Also if you do decide to get him a different mouse, do NOT get him a small mouse like the Abyssus or CM Storm Spawn. If he's used to the shape of a DA then get him a decent large sized palm grip mouse along the lines of a DA/IME, etc. The switch from a palm grip to a claw grip mouse like the Storm Spawn or Abyssus is a really hard transition for some people.

Steelseries Sensei Raw is amazing

it's $60 from that site, though :\

Thanks for the help guys and yeah it would be most logical to just get him another Deathadder.

i am going to have to recomend the mouse i love, the deathadder. i have had it for 5 months now and it still works great and is a cheap price. but at times the software in annoying.

http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/2017/

some info about what mouse to pick. I personally love my deathadder, and the g400 was alright but both ones i tried had messed up scroll wheels, and honestly i like the deathadder better in general, after had using both of them for a while

you don't need to runt he software, just set it to 1800/1k and un-install. Heck, I set mine up on another PC then just plug it into my game PC so the software is never loaded on there.

There's a new deathadder 4g coming out soon.

http://itbbs.pconline.com.cn/diy/15799112.html
Not a Chinese rip-off. There are box shots from German forums.

No one know's how the new Avago S3988, will perform. It's again a Razer exclusive like the s3888. But there are reports it will ONLY support the Synapse 2.0 drivers, No memory on the mouse to save settings like the current DA's...Way to shoot yourself in the foot razer.

If not a deathadder, there's always the Avago A3090 based mouses. There are tons in market.