Microsoft Sidewinder X4
By Jenny • Feb 9th, 2010 • Category: Uncategorized- Photo: Microsoft
The next in Microsoft’s line of gamer-friendly keyboards is the Sidewinder X4. Its key selling point is its industry leading anti-ghosting keyboard.
Feature set
At an estimated £49.99, gamers can pick up this keyboard that will allow them to press 26 keys at once. While this may sound excessive, it is not uncommon for games like real time strategy titles to require several key inputs at once or in quick succession. The problem – which has been called ghosting – is that many keyboards don’t register these inputs, and the Sidewinder X4 fixes this problem. Microsoft claims a layer of touch sensitive material that acts as a multitouch interface fixes this problem. Regarding onboard features, the keys have adjustable backlighting, dedicated media keys, programmable keys and macro keys for recording and repeating commonly performed actions.
- Photo: Microsoft
Who Else Is This For?
Though the Sidewinder was built specifically with gamers in mind, it is useful for anybody who needs fast key strokes recorded. Power Photoshop users who use a myriad of shortcuts, developers who often have to input several keys in quick succession for testing purposes and, even for musicians who, given the keyboard’s touch-like capabilities, can programme the keys to behave like touchpads in audio applications.
The Feel
The keys feel hefty and the keyboard is very robust and firm, something users who’ve become accustomed to flimsy budget keyboards will notice immediately. The spacing of the keys is well suited to people with large hands, but scales down nicely as well. The keyboard is set to release in March and it is currently unconfirmed whether the keyboard will be available in different colours.
A fair assessment of a keyboard is only possible after protracted use, and it is too soon to be concluded whether the Sidewinder X4 lives up to it’s promise.
Tags for this article: microsoft, keyboard
