Even if you simply need to pair it with a SideWinder X5 mouse, it makes a good purchase. In the end, the Microsoft SideWinder X6 keyboard still gets our recommendation. It’s hard to avoid accidentally hitting it, and it makes the lower corner of the X6 a little too cramped. The position of the Esc key takes some getting used to, but it’s the length of the spacebar that really sticks out. There’s still a few niggling issues that need to be ironed out, and as noted earlier they’re either deal-breaking or simple-annoyance. There’s even a whole host of macros and additional features for those who need them. The keys themselves have excellent feedback, and the feel of the keys is as normal as one could hope for. It’s nice to see them do some new things, like the removable keypad, without sacrificing basic functionality. The SideWinder X6 keyboard, is a great effort on their part. They’ve taken in a lot of feedback, and have definitely improved their products. Microsoft seems to be doing better and better when it comes to their SideWinder line of gaming peripherals. The macro function even found some use with a couple of my favourite FPS games. It wasn’t quite on par with the Logitech G15 (generation 1) that I covet, or the Razer Lycosa that I reviewed but my experience was still fairly positive. That was better then trying to twist my hand to fit the cramped key position.ĭespite minor issues, my experience with the SideWinder X6 to be a good one. If there was any game where I needed to hold the Alt key down, I would just remap it. Three out of five times I’d hit the spacebar when trying to press the Alt key. I eventually got used to the position of the Esc key, but the spacebar was just a little too persistent. The only problem I had were the key layout issues I highlighted earlier. I found the key response to be on par with the keyboards from Logitech and Razer that I’ve used. The same experience that I had typing with this keyboard I had when gaming. The keys are nice and smooth, forgoing any weird rubber covering or strange materials. As for actualy typing, in the form of a blog post or review, the SideWinder X6 has a feel very similar to the Logitech G15, with a decent punch to the keys. The latest version of the Logitech G15 fails epically, which is unfortunate because the 1st generation G15 is flawless in this test. The SideWinder X6 fairs the best in this test, with the Lycosa not far behind. Razor Lycosa: HE QUIC BROWN OX UMPS OVER HE AZ DOG.Logitech G15 Gen2: THEQCKBRWFXJVERTHELAZYG.Microsoft SideWinder X6: HE QUIK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER HE LAZY DOG.It’s performed by holding down both your Shift keys, and typing the sentence: “THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG” while holding both keys. As I had mentioned, this is to test how many keys you can press simultaneously. The first test is the typing test, which is relatively simple, but tends to show off the flaws in most any keyboard fairly quickly.

Teclado gamer microsoft sidewinder x6