SideWinder X6
Detach ‘n’ Switch
The unique feature of the Sidewinder X6 is its switchable keypad that can be placed on either the right or left side of the keyboard. This can be quickly detached and reattached depending on the game or task you are using the keyboard for. How useful is this? We have received mixed reviews, with some gamers claiming much quicker keyboarding thanks to this option, whilst others are yet to find any suitable purpose for it.
Profiling & Custom Keys
The software provided to program the Sidewinder X6 is very handy, allowing you to set separate key assignment profiles for different applications you use. This is very useful when switching between gaming and work related tasks. Macros can be assigned to various different keys and this model also features a macro record function, offering great on-the-go macro creation.
The major downfall with the keyboard overall is an apparent conflict with the User Access Control that is employed in Windows Vista. This stops the pre-programmable elements of the keyboard working for programs that require admin access levels. This can be fixed by turning off User Access Control, but it’s certainly not ideal.
Mean Backlighting
The prominent red backlighting looks very cool, and the additional lighting on the WASD keys shows the extra thought that has gone into the X6. The brightness of the lighting can be adjusted and set to different levels in your custom profiles.
Key Format
The format and positioning of the keys is somewhat different from other keyboards and can take some getting used to. In particular people have complained about a smaller than usual escape key (with the F1 key where you’d normally find it) and some of the custom keys being too close to regular keys.
To Conclude This Sidewinder X6 Review…
If you are a hard-core gamer that will make use of full customization options, some completely unique to the X6, then this keyboard is a great investment. There are some inconveniences that you may have to get used to, such as software issues and odd key placements, but you can count this as a price to pay for superior functionality.
We suggest you take a look at these user written reviews to get a better idea of whether the Sidewinder is really for you.
