Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Gaming Keyboard with USB Port
by Microsoft
Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: MicrosoftFormat: CD
Release Date: 2008-10-02
Platform: Windows Vista, Windows XP
Model: AGB-00001
Color: Black
Product features:
- Dual Mode: Customizable for work or play
- Powerful Versatility
- Get Immersed
- Designed for Gaming
- 3 year Limited Hardware Warranty
- Roller Typing [Old Version]
- Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
- Mavis Beacon Typing 17 [OLD VERSION]
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard [OLD VERSION]
- Microsoft Word Home and Student 2007 [Old Version]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Gaming Keyboard with USB Port
Customer Review: Generally +'s, but a few -'s
Summary: 5 Stars
Positives:
++++ First off, the lighted keys on this one actually work and work well and you can adjust the brightness.. 3/4 way up is plenty bright and I can read the keys easily with out my glasses, or with out having to lean forward over the keyboard like I had to do with my Saitek Eclypse lighted keyboard (it wasn't nearly as easy to read as the MS X6).
++++ Key feel is excellent and the hand rest is comfortable.
The programmable keys can be very handy, not just for games, but for work applications, if you take the time to program them.
+++++I use a Wacom 13" wide table for graphics and before, with a typical wide keyboard, I had to move the keyboard off my pull out drawer while using the tablet. Now, I just remove the number key board from the X6 and the keyboard is only 16" wide, giving me room to put the tablet just to the right of it and I still have access to it for shortcut keys while using the tablet with it's pen with Photoshop.
++++Changing the numeric keyboard from side to side is fast and easy with the magnetic catch literally snapping it into position with a positive feel. This is a huge advantage when you want to play a game with your left hand free to use the numeric pad, but no room to shove the keyboard over to the left that far when the numeric pad is on the right side.
++The big knobs for the brightness and volume seem way to big, but function well and are handy. Haven't really used the media player keys much, but am sure they could be useful.
+++Installing was easy and just took a minute. Quality and build is excellent and the non slip feet make the keyboard feel much heavier then it actually is.. rock solid.
Negatives:
Like an earlier user stated, the escape key, not being just above the tilde key, is something you have to get used to, but it isn't that huge a problem to me.
The big problem is that the designers didn't take into consideration that when using a key board, your eyes subconsciously get used to where the left side of the KB is in gaging the key layout. So. if the numeral pad is always on the right side, you can get used to the key locations, even the escape key, because you subconsciously pick up on where the left edge of the keyboard is, but if you put the keyboard on the left side, when you've gotten used to it being on the right, it throws your key location completely off. I solved it partially by putting a 1/8" wide, metallic strip of tape on the keyboard vertical division bar between the vertical row of special "S" keys on the left and the keyboard. Now my eye/brain has a reference point, even when the key pad is changed, right side to left. What MS should have done is have a lighted strip at this location, like the keys, to get more attention, even in dark situations. The "S" keys are a different illuminated color, yellow, but they don't stand out enough to become a reference bar, especially in room daylight situations.
Great illuminated keyboard, best I have seen, well worth the cost and the switchable side, or removable keypad is very useful.
June 2010
Have owned this 6 months now and just wanted to follow up. This is an excellent keyboard and I changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars. Everything I said above still holds true, although I have gotten used to some of the complaints I had at first. What I'm most impressed with is how well the programmable keys can be used for not just games, but applications as well. Example, in Photoshop, while using the clone brush you hit the Alt key to place the origin of the clone. I get so fed up with accidentally hitting the windows key to the left of it, which I never use any way. So.. I just disabled it in the X6 software.
On my pull out key tray there is no room to slide a keyboard over far enough to the left so that I can use the number pad with my left hand while using the mouse or stick on my right. But with the X6, I jut put the pad on the left side of the keyboard, and problem solved. And I have a whopping 30 keys I can program or assign macros to. The 6 (x2) on the left side of the keyboard, and the 18 keys on the removable number pad which can be mounted on the right or left.
And, you can easily program it so it recognizes games or applications you start up and applies your key assignment to that program.
Again, this is the most readable illuminated keyboard I have seen yet and you can dim the keys to any level you want. I found they work great at about 75% of the way up.
My only negative at this time would be that the help file should include information specific to the keyboard you are using with photos, it would make it much easier to understand.
Description of Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Gaming Keyboard with USB Port
Ready for the next dimension in gaming performance, custom tuning, and action? Then grab on to the Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard-the powerful companion to the Microsoft line of award-winning SideWinder gaming mice. This breakthrough keyboard incorporates a host of powerful features, including a detachable key pad, in-game macro recording, a full media key set, automatic and manual mode/profile switching, two-color dimmable backlighting, and much more. Plus, at the touch of a button, it doubles as your high-performance keyboard for everyday computing.Digital Cameras and Photo Categories
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