Hello,

after my recent upgrade, i decided hat my computer deserved a new keyboard and mouse to go with the new hardware... (well, actually the old PS/2 keyboard and mouse wouldn't fit the all-USB motherboard)

so, i got for my birthday a Microsoft Sidewinder X6 keyboard, which i'm just trying out right now

i gotta say, it makes a world of difference having a better keyboard... my old one had really heavy noisy keys... i didn't realize how much of a hassle it was to use it until i upgraded... and i also realize that the keyboard, along with the mouse, is responsible for the 'feel' of the whole rig... so i'm really happy with the new one

this keyboard also comes with a number of features, that require it's drivers to be installed prior to working... so i haven't tried them out yet... and that'll probably take a while, since i'm away from home right now and i'm trying out the new keyboard on my laptop

the biggest feature here is the detachable numpad... it can detach from it's default position on the right side, and be reattached to the left of the main unit... this not only changes the position of the num keys, but also their function, when plugged to the left side, they automatically change to 'macro' mode.
also, it has an 'autopilot' feature (this i found really cool) that permits you to 'lock' a key and leave it as if it were pressed... ( great for games such as Armed Assault, where a great deal of walking is necessary)

next week when i come home, i'll try out the full potential of this keyboard... it doesn't make much sense to me to install keyboard drivers on a laptop   so that'll have to wait until i get back to my big rig  

sorry for the long post... but i don't know of any better way to test a keyboard other than typing

Cheers

So far i'm really liking it...

i had trouble with the Latinamerica layout though... (i bought it in Mexico) i couldn't get it to write some portuguese letters, like that c with a little tail on it (ç)

so i used the macro keys on the left side, and configured them to type in the Alt+XXX code for those letters, and problem solved!!

also, the detachable numpad is held on by magnets, it's really cool to see it find it's way to the connector by itself

Cheers

I pay £5 for my Plug-and-play Computer Keyboards...

When they regularly get full of Cake crumbs, Biscuit crumbs, Bread crumbs, Tea, Coffee, loose hair, small Rodents, Spiders, Pigeon droppings, sneeze debris, strange deposits from finger tips....etc...etc...

...I throw them away...

...and buy another brand new, shiny, £5 Keyboard...

...sorted... ...!

Paul...

...the fancy, expensive ones often "go wrong" after a short while....trust me......!

SubZer0 wrote on Mar 10^th, 2009 at 2:40pm:


i did that... but the problem is that the key layout won't match the keys if i change the keyboard language... i found that this solution worked best for me, now i have dedicated keys for everything

@ Paul: i've always had 5 pound keyboards... (although in brazil they cost way more than that)... and i' decided that i would treat myself to a really good one this time... to commemorate my new upgrade  

and, considering the price of hardware at home in Brazil (land of all taxes), this keyboard, which i bought in Mexico, came out for about the price of a regular one back there...

oh, and, as a rule, there shall be no eating near the keyboard from now on 

Cheers

http://www.itcsales.co.uk/acatalog/Dell-Mouse-0C8639-big-220.jpg

Best mouse I've ever had