Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard
- Switchable key pad – Flexible design, choose right side or left side confi guration. Switch between standard key pad and macro pad in gaming mode.
- Two-affect adjustable backlighting – Keyboard keys are red, and key pad and Macro keys are amber in Game mode. Lighting dial adjusts the brightness of the keyboard and key pad.
- Cruise Control – Use Cruise Control to continue an action without having to hold down the key or keys assigned to the action. You can use Cruise Control with up to four keys at a time.
- Mode switching – Manually toggle the keyboard from standard mode to either of two gaming modes. LEDs show the selected mode.
- In-game Macro Record button – Record any sequence of keystrokeseven standard chat messages. Macros are stored on your hard guide and can be easily shared.
Product Description
Powerful. Programmable. Gaming Keyboard. Ready for the next dimension in gaming performance, custom tuning, and action. Then grab on to the Microsoft SideWinderTM 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/profi le switching, two-affect dimmable backlighting, and much more. Plus, at the touch of a button, it doubles as your Ready for the next dimension in gaming performance, custom tuning, and action? Then grab on to the Microsoft SideWinderTM X6 Keyboard¿the powerful companion to the Microsoft line of award-winning SideWinder gaming mice.
Buy Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard
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First let me say that I’m always a small hesitant to review Microsoft harvest and not give them a favourable rating as a knee-jerk due to the large amount of MS Shills and MS Stooges that patrol these pages voting unenthusiastic on anything that’s not 5 stars. These companies are always getting in distress for this and Belkin is currently in the news for just this kind of thing … and right here on Amazon.
So … without further gilding the lily …
I have to say that the product was … far … from what I expected.
As soon as I took the keyboard out of its Rubik’s Cube like packaging that it came in, I started to scratch my head and furrow my brow.
I’m no weirder to the many different Gaming Keyboards / Keypads that are on the market. I’ve included a few ‘real’ gaming keyboards at the bottom just for the sake of comparison.
After seeing the keyboard, really, the first question was: why?
I can presume some people meeting around a boardroom table when Microsoft unveiled the prototype of this product and they saw it for the first time. The sound of side-splitting laughter must’ve been deafening. Someone might’ve said: `Is this what Microsoft thinks gaming is? What are they looking to play on this? Minesweeper?”
Maybe Microsoft wanted to combine a standard plug-in keyboard, keep up all the basics and tweak it slightly to make a cash-pitch to the ever-expanding gaming market. In a statement, it’s not only grotesque to look at, but a lot of the `thought out’ useability is pretty useless. Here:
1. Why do I need a volume control knob the size of a tractor truck tire?
2. Let’s double a terrible thought and offer up second tractor tire connected to a back-light dimmer. Why?
3. Why are the extra function keys un-ergonomically positioned and tedious looking?
4. Why is Microsoft depending on me to program Macro commands instead of just giving me the actual keys to do the task?
5. Why is this thing not wireless?
6. Why is this the heaviest keyboard I’ve ever held in my hands?
Backlight? Huge deal. That’s not anything new. Well, maybe for Microsoft it is, but for the bulk of us, we probably have a few backlit Keyboards in our arsenal, both wireless and usb/ps2.
Interchangeable 10 key pad, that’s again – not wireless, just in case you’re a lefty and not a righty. Not impressed.
If I needed a gaming keyboard, I’d probably get one of the following instead:
Ideazon World of Warcraft Keyset for Zboard Keyboard
Ideazon Zboard Gaming Keyboard
Ideazon Merc Secrecy Illuminated Gaming Keyboard
SteelSeries Zboard Limited-Edition Wrath of the Lich
Fang Gamepad by Ideazon
Ideazon Reaper Edge Gaming Mouse – 3200 DPI
Belkin n52te Tournament Edition SpeedPad
This keyboard cascade woefully small and just seems like a terrible thought all the way around. Microsoft should stick to fine-tuning their Operating System, improving on Office 2007 or just getting their act together. These side projects of theirs are absolutely embarrassing. And with the amount of hype this keyboard had, someone should be certainly terminated.
This thing was touted as ‘The Mother of All Keyboards’ recently in the trades. Puh-leeeze!.
… …
Rating: 2 / 5
I’m not a gamer — I bought this keyboard primarily because I wanted my QWERTY keys closer to my trackball on the right side without having to buy a micro-keyboard. In this respect it’s exact. I have the number pad on the left side and it connects with a satisfying, magnetic snap. For the record the connection on the number pad looks similar to USB but is in fact a different interface. I had entertained the thought of using a USB cable to place the number pad elsewhere on my desk but no huge deal. If I choose I really want that I can disconnect the Sidewinder number pad and buy a standalone one.
The F* function keys are very thin, and the rest of the keys are on the small side, but the switch action is nice and quick. I’ve always used and liked MS keyboards and the build quality of this one doesn’t disappoint. There are no raisers underneath to tilt the keyboard up but that doesn’t bother me. There are but stout rubber pads to keep it from sliding around.
FYI for Mac OS X users — I’m using Leopard 10.5.5 and the IntelliType driver software does not recognize the Sidewinder particularly. It reports that there is no Microsoft keyboard attached to my computer. The only customizable keys listed in Key Settings are the F* function keys. Unless I’ve done something incorrect this means only the basic functions of the X6 work in OS X. Controls that do work for me: backlighting & dimmer knob, volume knob, number pad keys (except Num Lock & Calculator), music keys (Play, Previous & Next, at least these work in iTunes, even when the app is not in focus), Windows key (acts as the Apple key as per normal). Keys that don’t do anything: S* macro keys, Macro Toggle (1|2), Quick Launch (Sidewinder logo), Cruise Control (running man), Macro Record, Bank Switch (1-2-3). Also for some reason Scroll Lock and Pause at the top right act as the OS X screen brightness controls instead of F1 and F2.
All in all I’m pleased with my buy. I hope Microsoft will update IntelliType to enable the advanced X6 features in OS X, especially the S* macro keys, although I’m not holding my breath. If you want both the number pad on the left side AND some macro keys to use in OS X you might consider the Kensington SlimBlade Media Notebook Set with Wireless Keyboard, Laser Mouse, and Numeric KeyPad (Graphite) K72279US which is more expensive, wireless and comes with a mouse, but which they claim is compatible with OS X (Microsoft makes no such claim about the X6).
Rating: 4 / 5
So the website says the item is in stock right now and when I ordered the item but both Amazon and Deal Barn says it is out of stock? even though the site says differently…Thank you
Rating: 1 / 5
SO. i opened the box and was amazed by th quality first off.
Its very practical, i especially like the cruise control button.
Rating: 5 / 5
This gaming keyboard works well. The detachable numeric pad is a nice feature and allows for righties or lefties to utilize it as they see fit. The keys are silent and seem like they will be durable. I haven’t tried any of the macro programming yet, but it seems like a splendid feature. The backlight is also a nice feature for those long nights. It’s a pretty excellent product from Microsoft.
Rating: 4 / 5