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Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard  (Source: Engadget)

Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse  (Source: Engadget)
SideWinder X6 keyboard has movable number pad

Today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany Microsoft made the SideWinder X6 keyboard official. The new X6 keyboard's most innovative feature is the ability for the number pad to be moved to the right or left side of the keyboard.

This is an interesting feature for gamers, who can move the number keypad from the right side where it normally sits, to the left side of the keyboard where they can access the number keys without having to remove the right-hand from the mouse. In addition to the movable number pad, the SideWinder X6 also offers the ability for gamers to program up to 90 macros per game and bind them to dedicated macro keys as well as the fully programmable keypad.

The keyboard features mode switching that allows toggling between standard mode and two different gaming modes with LEDs to signify what mode is active. The keyboard also supports automatic profile switching to detect the application running and apply custom profiles to the keyboard.

Microsoft also added features specifically with the gamer in mind including a new Cruise Control feature that continues a key action without having to hold down the key or keys assigned to the action. The new Cruise Control feature works with up to four keys simultaneously. The SideWinder X6 also features in game macro recording and macros are stored directly to the computer's hard drive.

Other features of the X6 keyboard include WASD gaming keys with front-face lighting for enhanced visibility as well as full backlighting. The keyboard features two different backlighting colors with red backlighting identifying standard keys that are not programmable and amber backlighting identifying keys they can be custom programmed with macros. The SideWinder X6 also features a complete array of media keys and controls for volume and backlighting.

In addition to the SideWinder X6 keyboard, Microsoft also announced a SideWinder X5 mouse. The SideWinder X5 mouse has nine buttons with five of them being fully programmable. The mouse sensitivity is adjustable on-the-fly up to 2000dpi. Both the SideWinder X6 keyboard and SideWinder X5 mouse will be available in September. The SideWinder X6 keyboard will retail for $79.95 and the SideWinder X5 mouse will retail for $59.95.

When Microsoft relaunched its SideWinder brand in August of 2007, the first product was a SideWinder mouse for gamers that featured adjustable sensitivity, an LCD screen, and adjustable weight. The new SideWinder X5 mouse lacks the adjustable weight and LCD screen displaying the sensitivity setting of the mouse.

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What's with all these mice...
By MrBlastman on 8/20/2008 12:55:34 PM , Rating: 2
That have a fat, bulbous end where your palm lies? For gaming - it sucks!

I'm sure many will not agree with me - but - at the highest level of playing (expert, semi-pro and pro), you don't hold the whole mouse in the palm of your hand and move your arm, nor do you move it with your wrist.

No, you move the mouse with your fingers using a claw grip. It is far more accurate and yields better results.

But, as long as these mice makers keep making the spot under the palm significantly fatter (and higher up) than the spot where your fingers lie, the upper echelon of gamers suffer. But why? Simple - it penalizes you for using a claw grip because in down motions (bringing the mouse towards your body), your palm hits the top of the mouse, messing up the movement. This screws up your gameplay.

I have a Logitech G9 and a Logitech MX 500. Sure the MX 500 is kinda bulbous at the palm area, but no where near as pronounced as the G9. What do I use? The MX 500 because it doesn't hit my palm like the G9 does.

Remeber the original Logitech design? You know - the 3 button mouse that was really fat where your fingers were but narrow at the palm area? THAT was a good design. Lets get back to that, shall we?

I'm sure many gamers would flock to that old-school layout (of course with modern tech such as extra buttons and a mousewheel).




RE: What's with all these mice...
By FITCamaro on 8/20/2008 1:03:59 PM , Rating: 3
I play games for fun and don't recognize anyone who calls themself a "professional" gamer. I view them as unemployed people who've devoted themselves to something that was supposed to be enjoyed.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By MrBlastman on 8/20/2008 1:16:16 PM , Rating: 1
Ok, lets put it another way... ;)

The people who typically get <3-1 Kill to Death Ratio in games where people on average are lucky to get a 1:1 ratio or a 1:1.5. Say, in a game like Team Fortress 2 for instance.

At times, they'll have a 5-1, 6-1 or even higher on average.

... and they do all of this while only playing the game maybe an hour or so a night. Not chronically like some people do for 40 - 80+ hours a week.

As amazing as it sounds, it IS possible to be that much better than everyone else and not have to play 24/7 - especially in a skill based game like TF 2. If you can casually play a game at your leisure and still stand out from the crowd, that says something.

THESE PEOPLE :P I think you can truely call them experts in their class.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By nosfe on 8/20/2008 1:32:11 PM , Rating: 2
The people who typically get <3-1 Kill to Death Ratio in games where people on average are... kids under 17yo who play all day long and don't give a damn about ergonomics or carpal tunnel syndrome or anything of that sort


RE: What's with all these mice...
By MrBlastman on 8/20/2008 1:40:19 PM , Rating: 3
Keep thinking that.

Some of us can do it in our 30's and only play maybe an hour a night at most.

The theory of the high-school kids being the best at gaming doesn't hold water anymore. I know a few late twenties to mid-thirties players that can more than pwn the rest of the "kiddies" out there with far less playtime.

It is all a matter of your manual dexterity and - mental thought processing ability. Think quickly, think often and think smartly... and you can do it too.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By nosfe on 8/20/2008 1:43:31 PM , Rating: 2
well of course there will be guys in their twenties that are good at games, because those trigger happy kids have to grow up too, they won't stay 16yo for the rest of their life


RE: What's with all these mice...
By MrBlastman on 8/20/2008 1:45:30 PM , Rating: 2
What about their 30's?

You aren't doing well to explain your case. It can happen.

I can give you evidence if you'd like.

Either way, my original post was about mouse design and I think it holds merit.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By nosfe on 8/20/2008 1:57:12 PM , Rating: 2
of course there will be exceptions, all the rules have them

mouse design is a matter of preference, as is design in general, you can't appease everyone. not everyone uses the mouse the same way, i for one also move my mouse with my fingers but its much more comfortable using it the old fashioned way


RE: What's with all these mice...
By MrBlastman on 8/20/2008 2:14:01 PM , Rating: 2
I agree, you can't appease everyone, which really is the purpose of my post.

Currently, there really aren't any solutions on the market for what I speak of. The majority of mice have a fat, bulbous end around the palm area - if not all of them.

So really, they are only appeasing that one type of mouse user. I think there is a market for the other, older-school style, it is just untapped.

I suppose I could always hack up an old mouse I have lying around and replace it with the guts of say a G9.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By ultimaone on 8/20/2008 3:32:02 PM , Rating: 2
Well you have to look around, not just at the big name players for mice makers.

Like this one, its basically the mx510 / mx518 design
But has high dpi and weights, tilt scroll wheel, macros, etc

http://www.cybersnipa.com/us/products/stinger-gami...

It'll be my next mouse, i currently own a mx510 as well.

Also i'm' 33 and can get high ratios in FPS, 3 to 1 typically. Just from experience playing, some of the younger players do better than me only because their reaction time is faster...ah to be young again :D


RE: What's with all these mice...
By LordanSS on 8/21/2008 2:25:12 PM , Rating: 2
I was used to using big, fat mouses, as they are the predominant shape unfortunately...

Couple years ago though, I got myself a Razer Diamondback. At first, it felt really awkward since I had to hold it differently. After I got used to it though, never going back. Love this thing.

Has my FPS shooting improved with it? Don't think so... it seems as I get older, my "skills" in certain type of games are going downhill. I prefer a good strategy game now (Company of Heroes, Supreme Commander), or RPG, over FPSs.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By markitect on 8/20/2008 2:45:06 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
of course there will be exceptions, all the rules have them


Not in thermodynamics!


RE: What's with all these mice...
By semo on 8/20/2008 4:28:23 PM , Rating: 3
especially in Homer's house!


RE: What's with all these mice...
By MozeeToby on 8/20/2008 4:04:44 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I know a few late twenties to mid-thirties players that can more than pwn the rest of the "kiddies" out there with far less playtime.


You mean far less playtime on that particular game. Let's face it, all FPS's require the same coordination and strategy. Even if the games are completely different, they are really 90% the same.

Hell, even if games are completely different genre's, general stategy can go a long way. Learning how and when to flank, ambush, or rush is applicable in almost every competitive game.

So, while you might be new to the game, you are very much so more experienced at gaming in general.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By afkrotch on 8/21/2008 2:52:44 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
You mean far less playtime on that particular game. Let's face it, all FPS's require the same coordination and strategy. Even if the games are completely different, they are really 90% the same.

Hell, even if games are completely different genre's, general stategy can go a long way. Learning how and when to flank, ambush, or rush is applicable in almost every competitive game.

So, while you might be new to the game, you are very much so more experienced at gaming in general.


Experience in Game A is greater than Experience in Game B, C, and D, if the tournament is based around Game A. Not knowing what weapons you have, how the weapons work, where weapons are located and not knowing anything about the map, and not knowing spawn points is a huge disadvantage.

If Player A has 2 years experience on Game A and Player B has 20 years experience in Game B, C, and D, odds are high, Player B will get his ass handed to him for a while. I'd expect Player B to have a hard time until they get accustomed to the game.

You're not gonna tell me you play Quake 3 the same way you'd play Rainbow Six Vegas, even if you think they're "90% the same".


RE: What's with all these mice...
By Flunk on 8/20/2008 5:38:48 PM , Rating: 2
I feel sad for you then, but I do have to agree on this. The mouse does not look very comfortable. The first "Sidewinder" mouse wasn't very comfortable and this looks basically the same. I'm keeping my G5.


RE: What's with all these mice...
By mmntech on 8/20/2008 1:26:45 PM , Rating: 3
Are you saying you don't consider Jonathan "Fata1ty" Wendle a professional? lol


RE: What's with all these mice...
By FITCamaro on 8/20/08, Rating: -1