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-color 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.

Product Details

• Color: Black
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: AGB-00001
• Platform: Windows
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 3.11" h x 9.61" w x 17.24" l, 1.53 pounds

Features

• 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-color 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 drive and can be easily shared.

From the Manufacturer

Overview:

Ready for the next dimension in gaming performance, custom tuning, and action? Then grab on to the Microsoft SideWinder 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, ingame macro recording, a full media key set, automatic and manual mode/profile switching, two-color dimmable backlighting, and much more. Plus, at the touch of a button, it doubles as your high-performance keyboard for everyday computing.

Features:

Switchable Key Pad Flexible design, choose right side or left side configuration. Switch between standard key pad and macro pad in gaming mode.		Mode Switching Manually toggle the keyboard from standard mode to either of two gaming modes.		Macro Keys Assign up to 90 macros.
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.		WASD Gaming Keys Have front-face lighting for enhanced visibility.		Two-Color Adjustable Backlighting Lighting dial adjusts the brightness of the keyboard and key pad.

Additional Features: Automatic Profile Switching: The keyboard detects the application you are running and applies your custom profile to the application. Media Keys: Play/Pause, Previous Track, Next Track, and Mute. Volume Control Dial In-Game Macro Record Button: Record any sequence of keystrokes–even standard chat messages. Macros are stored on your hard drive and can be easily shared. Quick Launch Key: Instant access to Microsoft Games Explorer (with Windows Vista) or IntelliType Pro keyboard properties (with Windows XP).

System Requirements: Windows Vista/Windows XP 100 MB Powered USB port CD drive

Customer Reviews

Good keyboard but could be better easily
I got this keyboard to replace my G15. I have had both G15s so this is my third gaming keyboard. In general the keyboard is very nice, but I suggest consider what game you want it for. I purchased the keyboard for Warhammer Online, to help me with the extreme number of keys that need to bound for your abilities.

The first thing to be aware of, is the macros are driven by software driver. There is also a deficiency in the drivers that do not allow the macros to execute in games that require administrator mode in Vista. I know, I know this probably isn't a deficiency in the driver but in the game software. All I care is it doesn't work in Warhammer unless I disable User Access Control (UAC). Also this is a result of the decision to support macros via driver.

Also the num-pad switching position is nice, but I haven't found a use for it. If your hands must always be on the a,w,s,d for moving, then the number pad is too far out of reach to reach easily. I have yet to come up with a creative, and trainable solution but am going to keep trying. There has to be gold in there somewhere. (The num pad can be made to be all macro so I will probably start down that route.)

OK Those are my negatives, the positives:

The keys press firmly and nicely. The volume knob is very nice. And the dual lighting on the keyboard is very nice. I have a hard time finding these keys but I figure that is just a training issue, but the alignment feels different (I hit ~ a lot when going for the 1 key).

It goes very nice with my MS Gaming Mouse, although I have not found any particular synergies. The Macro keys on the left are nice but I still find them hard to get to with a pinky if I'm required to work my movement keys.

So all in all, a very good keyboard with a few issues with my play style and/or hand size (I have long fingers). I would give it 5/5 if weren't for the driver issue that interferes with my play patterns.

Great idea (removable key pad), with BIG design flaw
Pro:

1. removable key pad
2. good key press experience
3. short key travel, but not as short as laptop keyboard
4. backlit looks great in dark
5. macro capability

Cons:

1. Key blocking issue: when I press and hold "Ctrl" + "W", I couldn't hit "R". Which mean I couldn't reload weapon while crouch and move forward in FPS. Some people told me that they couldn't reproduce the problem with their keyboard. So what does this mean? Lottery, good luck winning a "good" one if you want to "participate".

2. key pad connection mechanism: The way this keyboard secure the connection between the keyboard and key pad is by using 2 big and strong magnets. Since when magnet play nice with electronic devices? I had a brand new Logitech G9 mouse that only used for 1 and half week old. The mouse was working perfectly fine until I got this keyboard; the mouse's right button stop working 2 days after I got this keyboard. Coincident? Maybe. So I return my mouse for exchange and used my Logitech MX1000 while waiting for new G9. Guess what? All the suddent MX1000 wasn't working properly; The mouse refuse to move and not respond to any mouse button click. What I realized was, since I had the key pad switched to the left side of the keyboard, the magnets on the right side were getting really close to my mouse. If I move my MX1000 within 2-2.5 inches away from the right edge of the keyboard, the mouse won't response. Coincident again? Not really. If I move the mouse 5+ inches away from X6, it works again. After replacing X6 with Logitech UltraX keyboard and the keyboard from Dell, this issue never happens again.

Decent Keyboard that's typical Microsoft
Preface : I am an avid gamer and 60+ WPM typist. I had been looking for an old Logitech G15 keyboard lately and decided to purchase Sidewinder X6. I run 7 instances of WoW with Vista Speech Recognition. This keyboard was to complement voice control through macro keys.

Detail :
1. Ergonomics
Touch typists are very sensitive to key mechanism. Click on the keyboard on the Sidewinder is soft but luckily click has good solid feedback. Each key is not mounted solid and gives a little. Key rocks side ways a bit unlike IBM/Fujitsu type old keyboard.
Keyboards do not have legs to angle the keys. It feels a bit flat to the desk. When typing, it is bothersome. Too many of current keyboards just aren't angled right.
Two Dials that control light and sound is good size and has decent resistance that works well.
Keyboard layout has fatal flaw. Microsoft put this X6 out as a gaming device. But they have placed ESC key in the wrong place. It looks like a compromise that Microsoft took for the looks instead of following traditional keyboard layout. This is fatal. I have clicked the F1 and my finger is wandering too much whenever I need to click ESC and that is fatal. Look at Logitech G15 and see where ESC should be at. If you are an avid gamer, do not buy this keyboard. You will be frustrated by the fact Microsoft so casually misplaced the ESC key.

2. Numeric Keypad
Detachable keypad is a good thing to have. Most of the time, you do not need it and removing it can reduce the space your keyboard takes up. There are 18 buttons including the dedicated calculator button.
Attaching mechanism is well designed. It uses magnet to pull two parts together almost automatically. The connection is solid enough that it will stay in place on the desk but when you lift up the keyboard it may fall off. Attaching and detaching does not affect the computer.

3. Quality
The keyboard is made of cheap plastic. They finished the same sheet of platic glossy in the middle and matte top and bottom. It is put together just good enough. If you press middle part of the keyboard, keyboard bends in 1/8 of an inch. Just to show how cheesy the keyboard is.
Lighting scheme of using orange for macro keys and red for normal keys works well with black keyboard.

4. Software
I was upset when I saw amount of HD space software required, 100MB. But the application did not actually used all that. It loaded itype.exe which was 2.2MB in size which took about 484KB of memory when loaded.
It uses keyboard properties in the control panel instead of using its own utility program. There is no hint of Macro features until you go to Key Settings tab and click on Assign/Manage Macro or Configure key. Then you are presented with Macro Editor.
Macro Editor is another huge disappointment. Macro Editor is just a glorified keystroke repeater. No other feature. You would think it could possible have Macro/Scripting ability. Nope. You will have to rely on third part software still like AutoHotKey.
BTW, there is no printed manual. Help file that supposed to help is not specific for this keyboard but a general help for all Microsoft Keyboard. So is the driver. ;)

5. USB
(Or lack there of). Initially I thought Microsoft was doing something spectacular with USB power that it could not simply spare extra power to give us 2 USB ports on the keyboard. But no, there is nothing fancy going on on this keyboard. 2 USB ports on the keyboard is very practical and it was simply taken out to save pennies for Microsoft. "period". You will miss that extra ports.

6. Conclusion
Microsoft Sidewinder X6 is not for the pro-gamers. It is designed and made for home consumer market. It is a good keyboard even though it is not the best. But if you are paying what they are asking, you should look for best keyboard that you can click away day and night. Its macro feature is a joke you will still be relying on third party software for that. I expected a lot because it was supposedly a product focused on gamers. I believe this keyboard was designed for teens who like fancy looking keyboard instead of providing a true utilitarian keyboard for real gamers. Buy it but without the expectation of pro gamer quality tool.

* Based on quality of its software and design, I believe this product was designed and marketed with sole purpose of diluting recent programmable keyboard market boom for gamers. Without any features that really had any thoughts and actual research in it, this product will quietly disappear into shadows soon enough. What good is macro when it really doesn't macro? Do you think they will let AutoHotKey hook into it? I don't think so. Microsoft isn't about making things work if it doesn't make money on it. I am regretting this purchase. I will update when other third party program actually make this keyboard useful.

** (Update) My keyboard driver crashed while playing WoW. Below is the error message I got. I am sure I am at fault not Microsoft. Poohaha.. How in the world they manage to crash the keyboard driver. So what happens when your X6 keyboard driver crashes? All your non-standard key don't work. Keypad don't work. You have to restart your computer.
"Runtime Error! Program****itype.exe R6025 - pure virtual function call."