Microsoft SideWinder X5 Gaming Mouse and X6 Gaming Keyboard Review by MetkuMods

Works like any other laser or optical office mouse. Benefits like adjustable sensitivity and two customizable side buttons do add more to the experience. Perhaps not the most stylish mouse for an executive office but certainly usable.

X6 Gaming Keyboard

With all these added macro keys etc. I find it very useful. As the backlighting can be turned off, the overall look transforms to something more subtle and not that eye catching. Multimedia keys are nice when listening music while working and as the quick launch options for example include Excel as one choice, you are set for some serious number crunching.

Only downside for longer term use could be a lack of angle/height adjustment. X6 will always sit flat on the desktop. That may not be a problem for most users as the wrist rest is quite deep but I'm sure this is not for everyone. On the other hand, the wrist rest is made out of hard plastic and doesn't contain for example a rubberized surface. This may not feel that comfortable when used for an extended period of time.

Gaming

X5 Gaming Mouse

2000 DPI is enough and laser seem to track nicely over variety of surfaces. One major problem for my own gaming habits is the lift distance. One needs to lift the mouse several millimeters off the surface before the tracking is lost. Many gamers like to set the sensitivity high so that they don't need to pick the mouse up back to the center of the mouse mat with wide turns. The style I'm used to calls for these movements thus making fast paced action a bit harder to control. This is something that you may get used to and learn to pick the mouse up further but still something worth mentioning.

Adjustable sensitivity is a bonus and two side buttons a definite plus. One might argue that the side buttons should be placed next to each other and not stacked up like this but I prefer the SideWinder way.

X6 Gaming Keyboard

Once you get used to the new keys on the left side of the keyboard, gaming becomes a real joy. There are a lot of games that do not need or benefit from these additional keys but for these, just take the numpad off and enjoy the added free space on the right side of the keyboard. You can take the mouse closer and perhaps improve the ergonomy and lessen those back pains that you might get later in your life.

Macro recording on the fly is great and backlighting makes it easier to find the wanted keys in a dark lit room at night. Volume adjustment with a rotary knob is precise and joy to use.

Uber scientific tests with a Notepad.exe confirmed that the keyboard can deal with six key events happening at the same time. Seventh and beyond will get handled once the six keys before them are released.

It is just plain hard to judge certain types of hardware. Mice is one good example of these. What fits ones hand can be terrible to another. What makes ones gaming experience more intense and "productive" may make another gamer to shoot his/hers on leg. In the end every gamer should go out and take the mouse for a spin before buying. Many stores have these things out from the box so one can feel what works and what will not work.

X5 is a nice product but as I didn't like the previous Sidewinder's shape/design that much, the same dislike reflects itself on this mouse too. The "butt" of the mouse is bit too high to my liking and I find myself taking the SteelSeries Ikari to my mouse mat instead.

X6 on the other hand was a pleasant surprise. It is made out of plastic and the X6 doesn't try to hide it in any way. This makes it sound kinda loose and "plastic" but for a gamer this is not an issue. Game sounds will hide these sounds easily.

Adjustable backlighting is a nice feature and I believe one of the selling points on this product. The fact that majority of the keys are at the same place and with the same size as on any other regular keyboard makes the transition to this keyboard very easy. Key press distance (travel) is somewhere between a laptop keyboard and a regular office keyboard so I believe it will be suitable for most gamers.

10.09.2008 23:14 japala

In English

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Questions, comments?

Kysymyksi�, kommentteja?

12.09.2008 11:56 Deophron

Mist� kyseisen n�pp�imist�n saa ��kk�sill�?

12.09.2008 12:28 japala

Verkkokauppa n�ytti myyv�n ainakin.

03.10.2008 02:09 kaakeli

kerroit arvostelussa ett� n�pp�imist�ll� voi painaa 6 nappia samanaikaisesti

testasitko samassa rykelm�ss� olevia n�pp�imi� vai eripuolilta?

toimiiko esim. FGHVBN rykelm� samaan aikaan ent�s QWASZX? jos toimii pist�n heti tilaukseen

nykyisell� n�ppiksell�ni toimii vain 2 samaan aikaan noista rykelmist� ja olen etsinyt 5 tai enemm�n rykelm�ss� toimivaa jo pitk�n aikaa mutta ne ovat joko aivan liian isoja tai kalliita

15.10.2008 19:38 Zeal

Itse ostin n�ppiksen juurikin t�m�n arvostelun perusteella ja ei voi kyll� katua yht��n. FGHVBN rykelm� ei toimi mutta QWASZX menee alas kyll�. QWEASD menee pohjaan joka fps peleiss� on ainakin hyv� juttu.
Stepmanian ja FPS pelien pelaaminen onnistuu ongelmitta ja Warhammer Onlinea pelatessa makrot ovat kiva lis�. Aluksi odotin, ett� makrot olisi aika turha ominaisuus(ostin n�ppiksen vain pienen koon ja taustavalojen takia), mutta ei niist� en��n halua luopua.
N�pp�imet tuntuvat kirjoittaessa hyv�lt� ja ylivoimaisesti paras ominaisuus on irroitettava numpad. Itse numpadia v�h�n k�ytt�v�n� pid�n sit� hyllyss� poissa ty�p�yd�lt� viem�st� tilaa, mutta Stepmaniaa pelaan numpadilla joka kiinnittyy ongelmitta n�ppikseen ilman mink��nlaista s��t��.
N�pp�imist�� ei voi kuin suositella varauksetta l�hes kaikille. Hieman korkea hinta voi olla joillekkin esteen�, mutta n�en n�pp�imist�n v�hint��nkin sen arvoiseksi.