Microsoft SideWinder X5 Gaming Mouse & X6 Gaming Keyboard

Author: Jani 'Japala' Pönkkö Published: 10.09.2008 Manufacturer: Microsoft Product Group: Input In English Suomeksi

The X6 software

Control software embeds itself as part of the regular Windows Keyboard control panel. This results in a stylish, clean, simple and easy to use way of configuring the keyboard.

There are three different modes (banks) that can be toggled with the mode switch button on the keyboard. Standard bank will give a red coloring to the numpad and a gaming an amber one.

If the three different modes are not enough for all the programs you use, one can also have three separate modes per programs. Keyboard software will detect the running program and switch the key layout and setting accordingly. This greatly improves the versatility of the X6.

One can rename the banks if needed. I believe the next models of SideWinder keyboard will/should incorporate a LCD to indicate the currently selected bank.

When user wants to alter the functionality of a keyboard button, this is the selection menu for the first step. Default function for the key will be shown as the first selection. After that are the options where user can choose a function from the pre-defined list, launch an application or disable the key completely. This should give the majority of users enough control to make the X6 feel their own.

Pre-defined list contains the usual items like copy&paste, forward, back, macros, mail, access my documents etc.

Macro editor is the same for both the X5 mouse and the X6 keyboard. It is actually a powerful piece of kit and allows the event tweaking to the millisecond. When you record the macros by using the keyboard macro recording buttons, the macro is automatically inserted into this list and can be tweaked later on. One nifty feature allows one to export/import macros so gamers can share their creations with other gamers.

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