This review is from: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard (Electronics)
The X4 has a sleek design, and, at 48cm long, is no wider than most standard keyboards. This means it’s ideally suited to both hardcore gaming and everyday computing — which is a massive thing for me as I need a keyboard which does both reasonably well.
Like most SideWinder products, the X4 has a red backlight for gaming in low-light conditions, and a key along the top of the keyboard allows users to cycle though several brightness settings. I would have preferred blue or the ability to choose blue or red but that is reserved for higher end products and at this price I cannot grumble. The keys themselves have a pleasing bounce to them, and the travel distance is deep for a compact piece of hardware such as this.
The X4 has six macro keys, each of which can store three macros, allowing you to program 18 macros in total. A key at the top of the X4 allows you cycle through each bank of six macros. On-the-fly macro programming is simple enough just hit the record key, then the macro key you wish to assign the macro to, and finally plug in the keys you want recorded.
Although the keyboard will work as soon as you plug it into your computer’s USB port, installing the included software lets you play around with the more advanced settings which is where being a gaming keyboard comes in. You can customise the media keys; programme macro banks to automatically associate with certain programs; and set up macro repeating, so that macros continually repeat until you stop them.
The keyboard input time is around 2 milliseconds so pretty quick.
The Microsoft SideWinder X4 is a decent piece of gaming kit that effectively doublesas a gaming keyboard and an everday typer. At the current price its a perfect balance between price and featurs and is onyl let down by the uncomfortable wrist rest, though that is down to personal preference I suppose.
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This review is from: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard (Electronics)
Having owned many Microsoft periheral products in the past, including keyboards, and after reading the review here I was finally tempted to purchase this keyboard.
The finish and look of this keyboard is excellent, and would look great with almost anyones gaming rig. Macro programmability on the fly is quick and simple, and works well. All the function keys and media keys are well positioned for my use, and integrated nicely with the rest of the layout.
If I have one complaint, its the overall size of the keyboard. Perhaps I should have considered this more carefully in my purchasing decision. However, I do find the key spacings cramped for my large hands. Prolonged typing or gaming, can cause muscle strain on my fingers and around my knuckles.
Products ergonomics is a very personal thing, and this shouldn’t distract you from the great functionality and built quality of this keyboard. My only counsel is if you have large hands, long fingers or a combination of the two, like myself, see if you can ‘try’ one in a store first to make sure its a good fit.
For the average gamer, I can heartily recommend it.
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This review is from: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard (Electronics)
I spent quite a long time looking for a keyboard that was similar to the one I already had (and old DELL one) so I wouldn’t need to get accustomed to the new key sizes and layout etc. I looked at the G15, G11, G110, some Saitek’s amongst others. This stood out. Great value for money.
The macro keys on the right are handy and don’t get in the way at all. They are also very easy to assign using the software that comes with the keyboard. With six keys and three different banks it gives you a total of 18 different functions you can assign to the left of the keyboard.
The keyboard response is very good, the keys go in a good distance and you know for sure when a key is pressed. It also features anti-ghosting which is fantastic for frantic online FPS games. It sends exactly what you hit and when you hit it, no more movement lag.
The extra media keys are also a highlight, play/pause, skip back/forward, mute, volume down/up. They are all very nifty if you need to hit something quick. They “Calculator” key above the numpad is a nice little thing for those quick calculations.
The back-lighting is one of the main reasons I purchased the board and it works like a dream. In the day time you can just turn it off. When the lights go out and you don’t want to keep your room lit you can select from 3 different intensities of red to choose from and all of them make the keys very easy to see.
My only problem is that the board seems to be a bit of dust hound, especially on that glossy surface in between keys. Nothing a soft cloth won’t take care of though. Does not warrant removing a star.
All in all this is a great keyboard that works well from everyday emails to online gaming. Would buy again if it broke.
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Just right,
The X4 has a sleek design, and, at 48cm long, is no wider than most standard keyboards. This means it’s ideally suited to both hardcore gaming and everyday computing — which is a massive thing for me as I need a keyboard which does both reasonably well.
Like most SideWinder products, the X4 has a red backlight for gaming in low-light conditions, and a key along the top of the keyboard allows users to cycle though several brightness settings. I would have preferred blue or the ability to choose blue or red but that is reserved for higher end products and at this price I cannot grumble. The keys themselves have a pleasing bounce to them, and the travel distance is deep for a compact piece of hardware such as this.
The X4 has six macro keys, each of which can store three macros, allowing you to program 18 macros in total. A key at the top of the X4 allows you cycle through each bank of six macros. On-the-fly macro programming is simple enough just hit the record key, then the macro key you wish to assign the macro to, and finally plug in the keys you want recorded.
Although the keyboard will work as soon as you plug it into your computer’s USB port, installing the included software lets you play around with the more advanced settings which is where being a gaming keyboard comes in. You can customise the media keys; programme macro banks to automatically associate with certain programs; and set up macro repeating, so that macros continually repeat until you stop them.
The keyboard input time is around 2 milliseconds so pretty quick.
The Microsoft SideWinder X4 is a decent piece of gaming kit that effectively doublesas a gaming keyboard and an everday typer. At the current price its a perfect balance between price and featurs and is onyl let down by the uncomfortable wrist rest, though that is down to personal preference I suppose.
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|Good keyboard, but cramped in use (for me).,
Having owned many Microsoft periheral products in the past, including keyboards, and after reading the review here I was finally tempted to purchase this keyboard.
The finish and look of this keyboard is excellent, and would look great with almost anyones gaming rig. Macro programmability on the fly is quick and simple, and works well. All the function keys and media keys are well positioned for my use, and integrated nicely with the rest of the layout.
If I have one complaint, its the overall size of the keyboard. Perhaps I should have considered this more carefully in my purchasing decision. However, I do find the key spacings cramped for my large hands. Prolonged typing or gaming, can cause muscle strain on my fingers and around my knuckles.
Products ergonomics is a very personal thing, and this shouldn’t distract you from the great functionality and built quality of this keyboard. My only counsel is if you have large hands, long fingers or a combination of the two, like myself, see if you can ‘try’ one in a store first to make sure its a good fit.
For the average gamer, I can heartily recommend it.
Was this review helpful to you?
|Great keyboard, very useful.,
I spent quite a long time looking for a keyboard that was similar to the one I already had (and old DELL one) so I wouldn’t need to get accustomed to the new key sizes and layout etc. I looked at the G15, G11, G110, some Saitek’s amongst others. This stood out. Great value for money.
The macro keys on the right are handy and don’t get in the way at all. They are also very easy to assign using the software that comes with the keyboard. With six keys and three different banks it gives you a total of 18 different functions you can assign to the left of the keyboard.
The keyboard response is very good, the keys go in a good distance and you know for sure when a key is pressed. It also features anti-ghosting which is fantastic for frantic online FPS games. It sends exactly what you hit and when you hit it, no more movement lag.
The extra media keys are also a highlight, play/pause, skip back/forward, mute, volume down/up. They are all very nifty if you need to hit something quick. They “Calculator” key above the numpad is a nice little thing for those quick calculations.
The back-lighting is one of the main reasons I purchased the board and it works like a dream. In the day time you can just turn it off. When the lights go out and you don’t want to keep your room lit you can select from 3 different intensities of red to choose from and all of them make the keys very easy to see.
My only problem is that the board seems to be a bit of dust hound, especially on that glossy surface in between keys. Nothing a soft cloth won’t take care of though. Does not warrant removing a star.
All in all this is a great keyboard that works well from everyday emails to online gaming. Would buy again if it broke.
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|