New Keyboard For Gamers From Microsoft

A new keyboard has been launched by Microsoft to cater to the special needs of the gaming community. The new device is called “SideWinder X4 Keyboard”, and will be available from March 2010 in retail stores, and on Amazon.com beginning February 2010. The price tag of the keyboard is USD 59.95.

The main feature of the new keyboard is that it recognizes the most complex key combinations and thus saves the gamer the tedium of having to press multiple keys for one single game move to keep the game going. This is called “Anti-Ghosting” technology in gaming parlance. Gamers can now press up to 26 keys at once, concurrently, and each key press will be correctly detected by the underlying hardware.

Further, the keyboard has an inbuilt facility to perform macro recording where multiple moves can be stringed together into one key, so that pressing just that one key is all that is required to let loose that entire chain of commands into the game. There are facilities to switch between and across modes and profiles, and the gamer can customize the keyboard the way they want. Adjustable backlighting lets gamers select the appropriate lighting level.

Read more about the latest technical gizmo from Microsoft, aimed at the gaming community, here.

Microsoft Launches Latest Mouse

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corporation has announced the launch of Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000, the latest in mice technology.

Available for USD 49.95, the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 comes with a limited three-year warranty. The kit comes with an installation CD, USB and an AA alkaline battery. The mouse requires 100 Mb of hard disk to install, and can be installed on any of Microsoft’s XP / Vista OS flavors.

The mouse measures about 6 cm wide by about 10 cm length. Working on BlueTrack technology, the mouse can work on surfaces ranging from a granite kitchen countertop to the surface of the living-room carpet. The device comes with a Nano transceiver which can be plugged in while on the go, or stowed in the mouse. Being wireless, the device relies on a single battery for power, which can last for as long as 10 months, and which can be switched on or off by a manual switch. The wireless frequency of 2.4Ghz ensures reliable connection with the computing device up to a 30-feet range.

The mouse provides 4-way scroll, five buttons that are programmable, rubber side-grips and a magnifier.

Read about the latest launch in mice technology from Microsoft, here.

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard Review

Logitech a few months’ back released a slim backlight keyboard that is designed after apple’s new keyboards. When I say it’s thin I mean THIN! It’s about a quarter of an inch or 2.5cm. The keyboard is backlight but however to get that the keyboard had to wired. The rest of the keyboard is fairly simple with few function buttons’ Logitech kept the design simple and pleasing to the eye.

The Design is Microsoft Aero glass like with a thin piece of clear plastic surrounding the edge of the keyboard. This provides an elegant yet clean look for the keyboard. The keys themselves are laptop style meaning they have little travel and a very springy action when pressed.  The keyboard feels pretty well built but does have some flex in the middle. I have decided over time that this flex is for ergonomics and not a design fault. 

The keys themselves are designed for over 10 million strokes which is quite a lot for a keyboard today. As I mentioned before the keys feel very springy and don’t have a lot of travel that makes typing quick and precise. The keys feel solid and have little shift or play to them. The backlighting has 4 Modes Brightest, Bright, Dim and Off. The backlighting works well and keys are easy to read. I haven’t done extensive testing because I don’t use backlighting, as I don’t look at the keys while I type.

I would recommend this keyboard to anyone who likes the apple ones but wants something backlight and an overall better experience who isn’t afraid 

Microsoft Explorer Mouse Review

Reason for purchase, I bought the mouse, because I had a Microsoft Natural Wireless 6000 and it had one of the old Huge Receivers that never really quite worked. I have been using the Explorer for about a week now and I have to say it’s very easy to get used to and I love the rechargeable batteries.

Bluetrack technology is a new technology invented by Microsoft for use on irregular surfaces, the technology does work very well and just as advertised. I tried it on granite, Jeans, Leather, non Finished wood and even glass. It worked really well on everything but glass, mind you it did work a little but not well. The mouse has 5 buttons including the scroll wheel. The Microsoft drivers work well on mac and in windows. I’d like to mention that Microsoft has beta drivers for windows 7. These drivers allow you to quickly changes and configure your buttons.

The mouse remains comfortable throughout extended use and buttons are well placed, The scroll wheel is made of metal and is very smooth, Microsoft doesn’t use the notches on their scroll wheels so it doesn’t have incremental scrolling like your probably used to, I however like the way Microsoft does it better. It’s silent and moves nicely. The mouse has a snap in USB receiver which makes it easy to take it with you. Since the mouse is rechargeable Microsoft includes a nice little charger with it that goes into the bottom of the mouse.

Overall I’m pleased with the mouse, I wish they had some more buttons maybe, but for most people 5 is more than enough. Bluetooth would have been nice, I wish more mice and peripherals supported this technology.

Microsoft Sidewinder X5- Gaming Mouse

Microsoft’s new SideWinder X5 Mouse is a more toned down version of 2007 CNET Editors’ Choice-winner The SideWinder Gaming Mouse. Where the original model was a full blown gaming powerhouse, the new Sidewinder X5 seems little tacky and expensive for the $60 price tag Microsoft has put on it. As per the reviews it seems it has not gone down well with the targeted customer base who are willing to use  the more basic version of the product at a cheaper cost, Both in its design and functions the product has failed to satisfy the consumers who are leaning towards the same-cost-much-better Logitech’s G5 Laser Mouse .

As far as the Physical appearance is considered the Sidewinder X5 is more or less the twin of the last year’s Sidewinder. Covered in moisture resistant material,two distinct round thumb size buttons on top and three sensitivity switching buttons run down the middle line along the big scroll wheel, lesser hard angles and Microsoft has indeed improved on the sculpture of this one. Definitely more comfortable than it’s predecessor.

As far as the specifications are concerned the SideWinder X5 has most of the core features PC gamers ask for. The sensitivity settings for the dpi buttons can be customized in the range from 200dpi to 2,000dpi, with 400, 800, 1,000, and 1,600 stops in between. But the software does not let completely customize every button on the SideWinder X5. The dpi buttons have control over the sensitivity, quick launch button is not easily identifiable or of any help. There are no hardware macro-recording functions or the weightkit(which is available in the Logitech G5) in the sidewinder X5.

Amazon UK: Microsoft Sidewinder X5 (PC)
 

Amazon USA: Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse