Genovation CP24-USB CONTROLPAD for Mac

This is a programmable keyboard for computers. You can program each key to do what you want within reason.While you need a special application to program, the control panel works like a keyboard without special drivers installed once it is programmed. Unplug from computer and plug it into any other computer and it keeps its programming. No software needed after programming. This was critical for my purposes. For security reasons, we can’t install special drivers typical of most control panels or macro keyboards.They keyboard fells like an old mechanical keyboard however the keys are flat not curved for fingers. This allows labels to be placed under the key caps.The keyboard was easy to program. It took just a few minutes. It can imitate a standard keyboard or a multimedia keyboard with a mouse. The computer just sees it as a standard human interface. Yes It can simulate a mouse but only in the sense you can make it click and move the cursor like a mouse. However since there is no driver there is no intelligence such as click the ok button. Just click right or left mouse button and scroll x points up or down. This is perfectly fine for me.Macros are limited to 200 bytes per key. Special functions like mute, open Windows or flash LED are available. Time delays are also available. Some functions take two or more bytes. Macros can be set to repeat if key is held down. Manual is comprehensive and readable. It was written in English for English. It was not translated. It describes advance use like assigning an application to a key.Read carefully on how shift, alt and control keys are programmed into a macro. You get unexpected results if use these and then you don’t undo theses keys in your macro. They are logically kept pressed until you tell the macro to release the keys.Comes with Word and Excel label templates. Tip: it is easier to put the label in the cap cover and then push the key into the cover rather than laying the label on the key and trying to place the cap on the key. The label won’t slide off.Comes with extra keys and key puller.Two features I wished the controller had. 1) allow one key macro to call another key so as to chain macros together. 2) Sine the controller is programmed through the application, I would like to define the device’s name myself. Computer sees the keyboard named as “congrolpadbm24cp”. In my world, changing the name to something meaningful would make reporting easier. Neither feature is a show stopper.I very much like this keyboard. I really only needed 8 keys so I programmed there other keys to work like a numeric keypad.

I'm actually reviewing two products at once:- Genovation ControlPad CP24 USB HID- X-keys Programmable Keypads and Keyboards (24 Key, XK-24)I'm doing this because they are an apples-to-apples comparison and I ordered both so I could determine which one I liked better. I'm not going to tell you which one I picked because I believe they are so close to each other, it would be unfair.Here are the PROS that apply to both:- Good build quality. They're both hefty enough to feel like they're built well- Good compatibility. Immediately detected by Windows (10) and set up with zero issues- Good software. They both come with easy-to-use macro softwareRegarding the Genovation product:PROS:- Mechanical keys that feel wonderful- Very 'tight' build. The keys are symmetric and look very nice- At the time of this review, cost about $50 less than X-KeysCONS:- The description is a little disingenuous regarding the "programmable LED". It is literally a single LED. I read it as "programmable LEDs" meaning the keys light up. They don't.- No backlit keys, which to me is important.- Not nearly as feature-rich as the X-Keys when it comes to labelingRegarding the X-Key product:PROS:- Tremendous flexibility with labeling, including custom keys and labels (additional charge)- Backlit keys- Extremely friendly and responsive support. I sent an email asking about the custom options and received a response within minutes.- Small business. They're a small company (maybe Genovation is, too) and I like supporting small businesses.CONS:- Backlit keys are only programmable to two colors- Keys are membrane and not mechanical, so the don't feel as reponsive- Build quality isn't quite as "tight" as Genovation - a couple of keys were a little crooked- At the time of this review, cost $50 more than the Genovation productI believe either purchase is worth it and both are good products. I rated them both at 4 stars so as not to give away which one I went with. I knocked off a star on the Genovation for not being as feature-rich as the X-Keys, and I knocked off a star on the X-Keys for not having mechanical keys and for very slightly inferior build quality.