DailyTech - Microsoft Unveils SideWinder X4 Gaming Keyboard

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Blog: Gadgets Microsoft Unveils SideWinder X4 Gaming Keyboard
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - February 2, 2010 12:11 PM

7 comment(s) - last by bldckstark.. on Feb 4 at 4:31 PM

Microsoft SideWinder X4 (Source: Microsoft)

Keyboard up for pre-order on Amazon this week

Gamers often want different features in their peripherals than your average computer user. Keyboards that work well at the office often can't live up to the needs of playing PC games. One of the biggest problems with many keyboards is ghosting.

Ghosting happens when a key is held down while playing a game, such as the "W" key, for a long time and when the button is released the function the key performs continues to be executed. Microsoft has announced a new gaming keyboard called the SideWinder X4. Unlike its bigger brother, the SideWinder X6, the X4 doesn't have a removable number pad.

The X4 is a more basic keyboard that uses anti-ghosting technology allowing the player to press up to 26 keys at once. Each key of the keyboard is scanned individually and can be detected no matter how many keys are pressed.

“We’re always looking for new and novel ways to enhance people’s interactions with their PCs,” said Steven Bathiche, research manager of the Applied Sciences Group at Microsoft. “We know that ghosting can be a problem for gamers, so we wanted to develop a way to eliminate this issue and improve the overall gaming experience, and we’ve succeeded with the new anti-ghosting technology in the SideWinder X4 Keyboard.”

Other features of the X4 keyboard include macro recording and an automatic macro repetition feature. The keyboard also has mode and profile switching to customize the macros and features for different games. Backlighting is adjustable for brightness allowing for better vision in bright or dark rooms. Microsoft will ship the SideWinder X4 keyboard in March for $59.95. Amazon will start taking pre-orders on the X4 this week.

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Good price

By chmilz on 2/2/2010 12:36:56 PM , Rating: 2

That's a good price for a quality backlit keyboard that isn't ugly as sin.

RE: Good price

By Omega215D on 2/2/2010 1:00:23 PM , Rating: 2

I have the Sidewinder X6 with the detachable number keys that doubles as macros. The keys are solid with good feel and are pretty quiet. The problem is that some ghosting is apparent though pretty rare as I mostly play shooters. The X4 promises to be able to register 26 simultaneous key presses. Overkill but still good for the price.

This looks better than the X6 though and I could do without the removable number pad.

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RE: Good price

By MrBlastman on 2/4/2010 3:39:38 PM , Rating: 2

Looks like a great keyboard, though it would be even better if it did not have a windows key on it. That silly thing should be removed from all gaming keyboards.

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Just what I've been looking for...

By Epsil0n00 on 2/2/2010 7:52:03 PM , Rating: 2

This is perfect for people like me that have 13 fingers on each hand!

Mechanical Key Switches

By CurseTheSky on 2/2/2010 9:36:40 PM , Rating: 2

The first keyboard to offer Cherry blacks with overall good build quality (brushed aluminum, like those Enermax keyboards!), a "normal" key layout (no L-shaped Enter key, no single-sized backspace), and n-key rollover all for a reasonable price ($50-80ish) will get my money. Backlighting would be a plus, too.

Macro keys? Meh. I had the original blue G15 and the newer orange G15 - I may have used the macro keys a total of ten times over the years.