Off Duty Gamers

As an avid gamer, I tend to be pretty hard on my keyboard and mouse.  My last keyboard was the Creative Fatality eluminX keyboard.  It was fairly standard keyboard with the usual layout and keypad attached.  The primary requirement that I need is for the keyboard to be lighted so that I can play in the dark since my PC is in the bedroom.  This usually leads to me getting ‘aggro’ when I have the lights on and she is going to bed – not a good thing when you are in a tense moment of situational combat with my buddies or when I am still up working on some technical issue or surfing in general late at night.

The Creative keyboard I had was serviceable for my needs – but after a while the lighted keyboard started to dim and I was having a really hard time seeing them in the dark.  Not good.  So today I wanted to share with you what I purchased as a replacement to solve both problems; namely squinty eyes and the ‘aggro’ I was getting fumbling around after hours to see anything.

What I was determined to solve was my lighted keyboard problem but I also wanted to have a solid keyboard this isn’t going to peter out after a year like my old one.  I wasn’t looking for all kind of gadgets and gizmos to interfere with my work or play and if I got mad the thing would stand up to my frustration – know what I mean?

Enter the Microsoft SideWinder X6 gaming keyboard:

So I began my search and was intrigued by a number of various keyboards but with my fourth child due soon I didn’t exactly want to go overboard as my gaming mouse just died as well.  What I discovered that seemed to fit the price and my main needs was the Microsoft SideWinder X6 and I was able to purchase it online with a special deal with the new Microsoft SideWinder X8 wireless gaming mouse for a reasonable amount (more on that item in an additional review).

What I received pleasantly surprised me.  Here is a snapshot of what you would see:

Microsoft SideWinder X6 features:

• Switchable key pad with selectable gaming mode and standard keypad mode
• Two-color adjustable backlighting, red for keyboard and amber/red for keypad
• Macro keys; up to 30 programmable keys and 90 programmable options
• Cruise Control key (used like an autorun key but programmable to an action)
• In-game macro record button
• Mute button (I like this) with obligatory ‘multi-media’ buttons
• It’s solid and doesn’t move easily when playing

What you get basically a two piece keyboard and a CD with Microsoft’s Intellitype software (which I immediately went the web and grabbed the latest edition).  What is unusual about this keyboard physically is the detachable keypad that can be magnetically placed on the left or the right side of the keyboard.  Naturally the first thing I did was plug it into my system, which is running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, to see how it would respond to me before installing any extra software.  I was not surprised to find that it detects the keyboard but unless you install Intellitype, you will not be able to remap keys easily.

Now – I wanted to give you a chance to review the layout and describe to you the finer points of the X6 so I out together a snapshot of what it looks like on my desktop late in afternoon with some room light from outdoors.

Features in my own words:

Using the numbers I added to the picture here is how I see things;

1. Quick launch button.   This is used to bring up the ‘games explorer” window on Vista/Windows 7.  The idea is to make it easier to open the games you have installed on the PC but it only works if the game installs and icon in the games explorer and then you have to hunt for the icon the old fashioned way.  I remapped it to load up my current favorite MMO, Lord of the Rings Online, which I play with my oldest.  Otherwise, the default use didn’t seem to be very useful to me personally.
2. Cruise control button.  I like to call this the ‘autorun’ button.  You can map it by holding it down and pressing up to four different keys at the same time and act like you are holding those keys down.  I’ve not found a good use for it in the games I play yet but it seems like a good function to have.
3. Macro record key.  Press this key then press an unused macro key (see items 8 and 9 above) and then type whatever actions you want to make and press the macro key again to finish.  When you press the key you assigned, the action will be dutifully played back  (I wish my kids had this feature sometimes!).  I have found this feature to be useful for a variety of things.  For me in LOTRO, I use it to use various emotes that I normally have to type out over and over again – here I just assign them and press a button.  Very nice.  On an extended note for you techies out there; you don’t have to use these features just for games.  I have been also using these macros to assign them to various commands that I may use a lot from a cmd prompt, such as PowerShell commands that I am learning for my job or anything else in Windows that you may do repeatedly but without needed to type all the syntax out!  Bonus feature for me!
4. Mode switching button.  There are three modes for the keyboard, Mode 1 is for standard keyboard function including the keypad, and Modes 2 and 3 are for gaming. Use Mode 2 for one game and Mode 3 for perhaps another for example.
5. Multimedia keys.  The usual play/stop/pause/skip keys found for a keyboard of this type.  I never will use them most likely myself – with one exception – the mute button.. I love this thing.  It’s great for avoiding grief about how I am not listening when my wife comes down to talk to me so I can hit this button and turn and face her without any aggravation of having to dig for my remote for my speakers anymore!  Also – great for when the boss calls and you need to answer the phone quickly..  I am surprised how I like this little feature as simple as it sounds.
6. Backlight dimmer knob.  The two knobs at the top of the keyboard are solid feeling and easy to get to.  They work just like the dimmer switch you may have for room lights on your house.  Personally – I leave it maxed and don’t think I’ll touch this one much – but glad it’s here.
7. Volume control know.  Same look and feel as the dimmer – but more useful.  Turning the knob does not over-adjust the volume levels but smoothly brings it up and down.  Again – really great for those times when you get ‘aggro’ for being too loud or you need to answer the phone without reaching or clicking something else.
8. Macro keys and macro key selector button (small one in picture).  Besides the keypad buttons on Mode 2 or 3, these buttons are only used for recording macros to them.  In total, there are 7 buttons but can be assigned up to 12 macros but hitting the smaller button below them to virtually switch them over.  For example, you can use button S1 for a macro, then hit the bank button, and now S1 is considered to be S7 but is the same physical button.  I have dabbled with these keys and found that if I use macros I only use this side and not the keypad.  I wasn’t planning on macro use when I bought the SideWinder X6 so I consider this to be a bonus feature that i have found many other non-gaming uses for.
9. Removable keypad.  Functions as a regular keypad in Mode 1, and a macro keypad in Modes 2 and 3.  So far I use it like any other keyboard keypad – doing numbers..  I have tried it on the left but I found that it caused my brain to go haywire when typing as I was completely not used to the concept and kept moving my hands over to the left for some reason and mistyping.  We’ll have to revisit that or get therapy..  I also found that that if you don’t use a keypad you can simply stow it away if you have less space to work with on your desktop or tray.

I do have a few quirks that I’d like to mention before I wrap up.  When I first went to use the keyboard after plugging it in, I went to look for the feet to extend out like I have done for the last 20 years or so but didn’t find any.  So far this hasn’t been an true issue for me but I found it annoying.  Also I find the size of the ESC key to be difficult to use.  I often hit the F1 key or the S1 macro key on accident (the latter then proceeds to dutifully run the command assigned to it – aggravating when you are in Word or something!) and I wish they made the key more off-set or larger.

Summary:

The big question is did it meet my requirements; notably good backlighting and sturdy construction?  Definitely!  What I also got was some additional great features that I pointed out – like the macros I use for MMOs and real world tasks.  I don’t go crazy using them but can be a real convenience to use.  I also like that when I am using the keyboard, it doesn’t move without me giving it a pretty good shove.  It’s well constructed and the color of the lighting is very easy on the eyes, especially in a dark room but not glaring.  The color scheme also matches perfectly with the SideWinder X8 wireless gaming mouse that I also picked up.  I have read this elsewhere, but I agree with other reviewers that the color scheme is reminiscent of an Imperial console from the Death Star out of Star Wars or something – very cool!  The keys respond well and provide a good overall typing experience.

Would I recommend this keyboard to someone else?  If your needs are similar to my own, then I can’t see why you wouldn’t like the SideWinder X6.  You can buy it for around $60 online so it won’t break the bank and will satisfy both the gamer and the non-gamer alike especially if you play in the dark like I do!