Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Gaming Keyboard with USB Port

I purchased this with the intention of replacing my all wireless Keyboard and Mouse set up I have had for years. Buying this with the Sidewinder X8 Mouse I was very happy with the feel of the entire Keyboard. Having my first lighted keyboard is fun for playing late at night, and is easy to find and use the keys in the dark. During the day I will turn the backlighting off in the hope that if I do that the lights will stay functional longer. (Note: My previous mouse and keyboard set has lasted over 6 years of moderate - heavy use) The keystrokes are just the right amount of resistance for me, and did not take long to feel comfortable with. The macro commands are easy to set up and come in handy with various different programs. The primary reason I chose this keyboard over others was the movable number pad. I am always a fan of versatility so when I saw that I was sold. I have tried it on the left and right and have decided to leave it on the right side for the time being. (Note: I am right handed) I will happily recommend this keyboard to anyone from a gamer to a business professional. The sheer amount of functionality is daunting at first, but given some trial and error you figure it out and everything is smooth from there. Besides who wants a simple keyboard?

I do moderate amounts of gaming on my PC and this keyboard suits my needs perfectly. I like the ability to remove the number pad to make the keyboard smaller. The action on the keys is great and gives good feedback, great for writing a paper or for gaming. The tuning knobs for the keyboard are very useful, as are the media buttons on the top. The arrow keys and the WASD keys are very comfortable to use. The backlight is also a cool feature when I feel like gaming in the dark. I can't comment on how easy the macro keys are to use because I don't use macro keys, but they never seem to get in the way, so an A+ for placement. Overall a good all-around keyboard. Some may prefer the action of mechanical keyboards, but this keyboard beats every keyboard in its price range.

Positives: Packaging of the keyboard was excellent, but it could have been improved on with a window to tease potential buyers. The keyboard looks absolutely fantastic with its new bold stealth fighter like design or it can be associated with Darth Vader. It is the gaming keyboard for Sith lords! The number pad is detachable and the magnet that holds the two parts together is pretty strong so you will not detach it by accident. This is my favorite design and the main reason why I chose this keyboard over all other gaming keyboards. The keyboard has a flat laptop like design which may or may not be what you want. There is a dial / wheel for the back light and also for the volume! I highly prefer a dial / wheel design over buttons. The back light has a true red color while the back light for macro keys are amber. Has a few media keys and also has a calculator key (on the detachable number pad). Has cruise control, mode switching, macro keys, etc for gamers who may chose to utilize those. 3 year warranty! (Logitech G15 - 1 YR | Razer keyboards - 1 YR | OCZ keyboards - 1YR | Saitek - Hard to find..., but either 1 or 2 YRs) Negatives: The keyboard has a flat laptop like design with less gaps between keys, than standard keyboards. This makes me look down to see where I am going to type much more often compared to normal keyboards. Perhaps with more time I will get used to the X6, but I prefer typing on the G15 compared to the X6. The esc key is not above the ~ key whereas the esc key is above the ~ key on probably all other keyboards. This is one of the more annoying aspects of this keyboard. The reason is Microsoft decided to make the F keys longer than normal... Would be nice to have switchable colors so it can match certain desktop setups, such as a blue back light. I would prefer green since it is the color of good ol' paper back money. :) Yes, I would also very much like a dark green lightsabre instead of a red/blue. Might accidentally snap the connections between the keyboard and number pad (be careful). There is no keyboard feet/legs/stands on the top back side so you cannot adjust the height. It may take some getting used to for some users. I'm not sure on the exact number of keys that can be hit simultaneously, but so far I have had absolutely no problems in any game. Edit: Just found out it does indeed have a moderate sized flaw in that the user cannot reload while crouching and moving at the same time... Notes/other thoughts: I went from using a Logitech G15 (blue) to this. The G15 was a great keyboard, but it was quite long and I never used the LCD. I loved the volume dial / wheel on the G15 so getting another keyboard with the dial / wheel was a must. The X6 keyboard is isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) friendly unlike the G15. I ruined the pain job on two G15 keyboards since just a bit of isopropyl alcohol can make the paint smear. Since the X6 does not have a LCD screen I would love to one day try out the dishwasher method to clean the keyboard. This cleaning method worked well with other standard keyboards, including a Saitek Eclipse, but I was too afraid to try it with the G15 (LCD). I would imagine pairing the X6 with the Microsoft sidewinder mices would give a better gaming setup in terms of having a uniform look. I have not tried and do not intend to try out the macro keys so I am unfamiliar with how well it functions and if the software is user friendly. If needed to be the number pad can also function as macro keys. It would be awesome if the detachable number pad was wireless so I would not have to reattach it to use it. Conclusion. The Microsoft sidewinder X6 is an excellent gaming keyboard geared towards users who want a keyboard that has a cool stealth fighter or Star Wars dark side look, and also is bundled with a lot of gaming and practical designs. The most distinguishable feature compared to other gaming keyboards is the detachable number pad, for the user that needs a little extra space. There are a few downfalls (i.e. laptop/notebook flatness w/ lack of adequate space between keys) or conflicts with user preferences (i.e. back light color), but overall I would give this keyboard an 8.5/10. *The biggest downfall is the lack of feel while typing which makes me have to look down in order to find the correct keys. A huge negative for gamers who need to react quickly in a competitive setting.* Edit: Listed in the negative section, but... "Just found out it does indeed have a moderate sized flaw in that the user cannot reload while crouching and moving at the same time..." I would take another star off of my review for this reason, but unfortunately I cannot edit the number of stars.

Total crap for several reasons: 1) powerful magnets on both side of the keyboard to hold on keypad. MAGNETS? REALLY? Keep away from wallet, phone, all other computer peripherals...starting to see a problem? 2) No feet to elevate, only sits flat on desk and cant be raised to an angle. Why? Because F*** you, that's why. 3) Weird key layout. Hard to hit Ctrl key as it is about half size. Terrible layout. Save yourself the trouble and get something else. This keyboard is garbage.

One of the biggest problems I have come across with any Microsoft hardware is longevity. The X6 didn't have that. I had the keyboard for less than a month and the page down key stopped working. I use the page down key to communicate in a program called "There". I supposed the W A S D keys would have gone next. Also on the X6. the coating on the keys you use mostly will wear out very fast! This is a nice keyboard with lots of gaming keys I loved it but now it sits in the closet. I had the "Media Keyboard Pro" as well and it stopped working completly! I just bought the Comfort Mouse 3000... The right mouse button died on me. Hope you have better luck than I did.