Product Description
PC
Gaming Keyboard featuring Programmable Macros, Backlighting, and
Anti-Ghosting
Product Details
- Color:
Black
- Brand: Microsoft
- Model: JQD-00001
- Released
on: 2010-03-11
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.58" h
x 2.44" w x 19.61" l, 3.71 pounds
Features
- Advanced
anti-ghosting capability - Press up to 26 keys simultaneously without
ghosting - what you press is what you get!
- Mode switching -
Manually toggle from standard mode to one of two gaming modes; LEDs show
the mode you select.
- Automatic profile switching - The
keyboard detects the application you are running and applies your custom
profile to the application.
- Programmable macro keys - Switch
among three banks of six programmable macro keys to assign up to 18
macros per profile.
- Backlit keys - Adjust key-legend
backlighting with three illumination levels plus "off".
Editorial
Reviews
From
the Manufacturer
A powerful keyboard for serious gamers. The
Microsoft® SideWinder® X4 Keyboard has all the core must-haves for
serious gamers, including industry-leading anti-ghosting, a first-ever
Repetitive Macro key, in-game macro recording, a full media key set,
automatic and manual mode/profi le switching, adjustable backlighting
for playing in dim conditions, and more. Plus, at the touch of a button,
this customizable keyboard—the latest in the award-winning Microsoft
SideWinder line—doubles as a high-performance keyboard for everyday
computing.
Features:
 | |  | |  | |
| Advanced anti-ghosting capability
Press
up to 26 keys simultaneously without ghosting—what you press is what
you get! | | Mode switching
Manually
toggle from standard mode to one of two gaming modes; LEDs show the
mode you select. | | Backlit
keys
Adjust key-legend backlighting with three illumination
levels plus “off.” | |
Other
Features:
- Automatic profile switching
- The keyboard detects the application you are running and applies your
custom profile to the application.
- Programmable macro
keys - Switch among three banks of six programmable macro keys
to assign up to 18 macros per profile.
- In-game Macro
Record button - Record a sequence of keystrokes. Macros are
stored on your hard drive and can be easily shared.
- Automatic
macro repetition - Set your macros to repeat.
- Media
keys - Access Play/Pause, Previous Track, Next Track, and
Mute.
- Volume control
|  | |
System
Requirements:
- Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows® XP
(excluding Windows XP 64-bit)
- 100 MB hard drive space
- CD-ROM
- Powered USB
|  |
Customer Reviews
A very well made well backlit keyboard
I work in a dark room at
night, while my spouse sleeps. Occasionally I need to hit a letter,
function, number or some special key like "[". Being the poor typist
that I am, this usually requires either trial and error or worse turning
the light on enough for me to read the keys. The older I get, the more
light is required to actually see the keys.
My search was for a
well built backlit keyboard to help prevent my need for any other light
source. There is another model the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 that seemed
interesting, however on a search this model was available for pre-order
and seemed interesting.
My need is not as a gamer, just a
sometimes past bedtime typer. This keyboard comes with software from
Microsoft and on the USB cable over the USB connector there is a piece
of cardboard that says to install the software CD first. When opening
the box, the CD wasn't noticed by me. However it was there. It installs
Microsoft Intellitype. Which seems to do something for my PC, what I
have no idea.
After software install on Windows XP, my old
keyboard was unplugged and this new keyboard was put in. It has worked
out very well. The color is a solid red, and it is easy on the eyes.
This is an extended 102 / 103 key keyboard (it has some extra keys).
There is a non-detachable numeric pad. There is also a non-detachable
hand rest.
While the hand rest is comfortable, it would have been
nice to have it removable. Space is an issue in the area of my
keyboard, and the hand rest uses about 1/3 of the keyboard surface area.
The
black for most of the keyboard is glossy, the hand rest is matte and
has a textured feel. All keys are lit, with the exception of the space
bar. The space bar isn't hard to find even in the dark as its a large
area flanked by lit keys.
Only the tops of the keys glow, there
is no light leakage on the sides of the keys or on the base of the
keyboard. A choice of color would have been nice. Red isn't bad, I'd
have preferred blue.
Some keyboards have a key to orient your
hand for touch typists (usually a physical bump on the letter "J" if I
recall correctly). This allows you to orient yourself to the QWERTY
keyboard without looking. Unfortunately all keys are the same, and you
must learn by use which key is where.
This keyboard is a bit
louder than other keyboards. I do not much care for the noise. During
long periods of typing, my thumbs seem to get a bit sensitive to the
space bar. Overall when typing longish posts (like this review) my
fingers get more tired on this keyboard than on my very old basic dell
keyboard.
There are 6 keys labeled S1-S6 along the left side.
Additionally there is a menu key on the lower right of the main keyboard
close to the space bar. These are non-standard keys. What the S keys do
I have no idea, the menu key seems to work like the right click button.
Unfortunately hitting it a 2nd time doesn't undo the right click (it
doesn't take down the menu).
There are also multi-media keys, for
play / pause, skip fast forward, sound up and sound down also mute.
There is a key that changes a light from one of 3 positions, I suspect
its related to the game capability of this keyboard. There is also a key
to set the light intensity. There are 3 levels of light plus and off,
you change from one to the other by repeatedly hitting the light button.
A final non-standard button is the calculator button, which launches
the Microsoft calculator.
Overall it is a well made keyboard, a
detachable hand rest would have been nice. My hope is over time the
sensitivity to the space bar will decrease. Most of the extra keys are
useless to me. I do really appreciate how well lit this is, and how
there seems to be no bleed through of light between the keys.
I'm
happy. Amazon sold this at a lower price than it is listed at today.
Today it is listed at $59.99, my price was $45.10. For $45.10 this was a
very good purchase in my opinion. With any luck as this device becomes a
bit more mature the price will settle down.
Awesome gaming keyboard
The Microsoft Sidewinder X4
keyboard is a fantastic keyboard and so far the best keyboard I have
ever owned.
Pros:
- The keyboard has an amazing blood red back
light and looks really good in the dark. You can choose from three
different lighting settings as well as turn it off.
- There are six
macro keys and you can program them to any key combination you want
using either the included Microsoft Intellitype software or by pressing
the record button for on-the-fly programming. There are also three
different profiles to separately store the macros for the buttons
allowing for 6x3 = 18 different macros.
- Keys feel good to type on
and keyboard can be inclined using latches on the back.
-
Anti-Ghosting technology. I haven't tested pressing 26 keys at once
(cause I only have ten fingers lol) but this keyboard certainly lives up
to its promise of registering 10+ keys at once.
Cons:
- Hand
rest cannot be removed but I have no problem with that. It actually
feels comfortable to both game as well as type on.
- Media keys only
work for Windows Media Player which is what I primarily use. This may
annoy those who rely on a different default media player.
Conclusion:
The Sidewinder X4 is awesome. I highly recommend it to both gamers and
those looking for a really good keyboard.
Enjoying it so far.
Can't say I've noticed some
of the problems that ElectroDragon mentioned (but I also don't use a KVM
switch). I've only had the keyboard for a couple days but I'll list the
pros and cons that I've noticed so far as a student and FPS fan.
Pros:
1.)
Keys feel great while gaming/casual typing. Now key feel preference is
very person specific, I know people who love mechanical keys and hate
"laptop style" keyboards and vice versa. Personally I like the feel of
the keys, it's a perfect middle ground for me between typing out the
occasional paper and casual gaming. It does feel a bit better while
gaming than if you're purely looking to type up novels, but overall I
prefer it to the Logitech DiNovo Edge I had previously (laptop style
keys, which was quieter but mushier). The keys feel solid even when
pressing down on edges or corners, the fluid motion is the same no
matter where on the key you hit.
2.) Simplicity/Design. Great
keyboard that has everything I want and not all the wild non-sense that I
don't (My old Logitech Elite seemed to believe I needed 10 media and
email keys). Looks good too, nice clean lines and edges. With a nice
weight to it, this keyboard appears to have excellent build quality.
Time will tell of course (3 Year warranty though whooo!).
3.)
Terminator color backlight. Can't say I see any pinkness in the
backlighting. With all the lights on in the room it does look more
orange than red (But then why would I need backlit keys), but at night
with minimal light it looks killer. Terminator red.
4.) Software.
I was wary about the software after reading some initial reviews, but
so far haven't had any problems. It is simple and does the job. Doesn't
even have to run in the background like Logitech software does. Just
open the utility, set your settings, close it and you're good to go.
5.)
Misc. The addition of a calculator button is handy; really wish I had
this while taking my Accounting and Finance classes (Balance sheets and
excel arrrrghhh). Textured wrist pad: prefer this to the slick or metal
ones I've had in the past, feels better under my palm. The 26key
Anti-Ghosting function is nifty (this requires the software fyi) but not
the reason I bought they keyboard initially. Even while playing MW2 or
BFBC2 I've never run into ghosting problems with my other keyboards so
that wasn't really a prerequisite but is obviously nice to have.
Cons:
1.)
OMG fingerprints. Pretty minimal gripe but I'm not sure why keyboard
makers insist on having shiny keyboards....my DiNovo was the same way.
Looks cool out of the box I guess, but after about an hour or two you'll
easily start to build up a nice collection of fingerprints. Would
really prefer to have the whole thing in flat black!
2.)
Wrist-pad. It isn't removable. Not a big deal since I wouldn't take it
off if I could, but some people might not like that decision by
Microsoft.
3.) Macro-keys mess with my mind a bit. Being used to a
normal keyboard, the macros keys to the left have thrown off my mind a
little bit. In my peripheral vision (like in 40yo virgin) my mind thinks
the macro keys are the: TAB, CAPS, and SHIFT column at times. So today
I've found myself being shifted over occasionally while I being typing.
Probably just take getting used to but figure I'd mention it.
4.)
WMP key. Now truthfully, I never use these media keys. Out of habit I
almost always open programs and applications without keyboard shortcuts.
This keyboard/software however only allows Windows Media Player to open
by default when you hit it. Sort of dumb, but continues the Microsoft
tradition of: favoring their programs over anything the customer might
want to assign.
So that's all I can think of right now. Certainly
nothing glaringly bad about this keyboard in anyway, but it also won't
blow your mind. If you're looking for a great gaming keyboard that feels
perfectly fine to also type on, then get the X4. Plus the backlight is
something different than the usual Blue or White you'll normally see.
You might find the features of the X6 to be a bit over the top too. Does
what I want perfectly and I'm happy with that!
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