It sounds superfluous, but it turned out to be one of my personal favorite features-it turns out we don’t hate glowing keyboards, we just hate the amount of glow, and this knob lets us dial in to a very subtle glow that we find really attractive. The left knob controls the level of key backlighting. They really give the keyboard a very “Star Wars Imperials” sort of look, but they’re quite useful. You can’t miss the two giant knobs on the upper right edge, though. The macro record button, mode switching button, and media keys finish up the top row. Next is the cruise control button: press it along with up to four other keys and let go, and the keyboard will act like you’re holding those keys down.
TECLADO GAMER MICROSOFT SIDEWINDER X6 SOFTWARE
First is the quick launch button, which opens the game explorer in Vista or the IntelliType software in Windows XP. Taking a look along the top edge of the keyboard we find all the special function keys. Good for those crowded tables at LAN parties or dorm rooms. Of course, the ability to remove the number pad gives you the nice option of simply having a shorter keyboard, if you’re the type that doesn’t use the number pad and couldn’t care less. But the real point is to use all those number keys as recorded macro keys, when in the keyboard is set to the 2nd or 3rd macro bank (more on that in a minute). What’s the point? Well, it’s certainly helpful for left-handed people that may want to do some quick calculating and feel more comfortable with the pad over there, or for those that want to use the number pad for movement in a first-person shooter or to select hotkeys in a strategy game or RPG (Role Playing Game). The first and most obvious feature of the X6 is the ability to simply pop the number pad off the right and snap it on the left. A few new features aren’t enough to earn high marks from us, though-you’ve got to get the basics right, too. This new sidewinder offers some interesting features, including nice big knobs to control the key backlighting and volume and the novel ability to detach the numeric keypad and hook it on to the left side of the keyboard. From the company that probably sells more keyboards than anyone else comes their first keyboard designed specifically for gaming (the Reclusa was a joint venture primarily designed and built by Razer). Now, finally, Microsoft completes the duo with its SideWinder X6 Keyboard. If it’s all about the mouse and keyboard, why not produce mice and keyboards with the SideWinder brand? Enter the SideWinder Mouse, followed up this year by the updated SideWinder X5. Late last year, someone at Microsoft had a good idea.
TECLADO GAMER MICROSOFT SIDEWINDER X6 PC
As joysticks and gamepads fell out of favor in PC gaming, the SideWinder brand faded, until Microsoft finally killed it off five years ago. They weren’t the best joysticks, but they were pretty good, aggressively priced, and easy to find. Back in the days when joysticks really mattered to all PC gamers, Microsoft came into the gaming peripherals market with a new brand, SideWinder, and quickly dominated the space.