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.
Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard (Source: Engadget)
Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse (Source: Engadget)
DailyTech - Microsoft Unveils SideWinder X6 Keyboard, X5 Mouse
