Today we
will be checking out the latest addition to Microsoft’s PC gaming
peripheral line – the Sidewinder X4. This keyboard is designed to be
the economy model for gamers. About a year ago we reviewed the
Sidewinder X6 and now we will check out its little brother.
Unlike
other Microsoft gaming products this keyword is entirely designed by
the folks at Redmond. The Microsoft Sidewinder X4 looks like a basic
keyboard with the addition of media and macro keys. The Sidewinder X4
is missing some knobs and buttons found on its bigger brother the X6
but should still has plenty of features to hold its own.
The main
selling point of the Sidewinder X4 is the anti-ghosting capability
designed for gamers. This means you can press numerous keys (twenty
six to be exact) at one time they should all be individually
recognized and picked up.
Microsoft
SideWinder X4 Keyboard
Reviewed
by: Tomas Ratas
Sponsor:
Microsoft
Tech
Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
A
virtual command center at your fingertips, this new keyboard gives
you powerful programming and versatility to enhance your work or game
play
Advanced
anti-ghosting capability
Press
up to 26 keys simultaneously without ghosting—what you press is
what you get!
Mode
switching
Manually
toggle the keyboard from standard mode to either of two gaming modes.
LEDs show the selected mode.
Automatic
profile switching
When
a game or application profile is assigned using the software, the
keyboard detects the game or application you are running and applies
your custom profile to the application.
Programmable
macro keys
Switch
among three banks of six programmable macro keys to assign up to 18
macros per profile.
In-game
Macro Record button
Record
any sequence of keystrokes—even standard chat messages. Macros are
stored on your hard drive and can be easily shared.
Automatic
macro repetition
Set
your macros to repeat.
Backlit
keys
Adjust
key-legend backlighting with three illumination levels plus “off.”
Media
keys
Play/Pause,
Previous Track, Next Track, and Mute.
{mospagebreak
title=A Better Look at things}
A
Better Look at Things:
The
Sidewinder X4 comes in a red and black cardboard box same as most
other Sidewinder branded products. On the front of the box is an
image of the keyboard with silhouettes of various gaming characters.
The back of the box lists the keyboard’s features along with a
photo of the Sidewinder X4. Inside the box we find the keyboard, and
installation disk and manual.
The
keyboard is composed of plastic that is piano black meaning
fingerprints and dust will be noticeable very quickly. The keys are
backlit by red LEDs to provide a devilish appearance especially when
playing with it in the dark.
is a
one-piece unit as opposed to the Sidewinder X6 which has the
detachable number pad. Also missing are the X6’s two large round
knobs replaced by volume control and a back light buttons. Online
there are mixed opinions about the X6’s large knobs, I personally
found them to be useful.
On the
left side of the keyboard is a column of six assignable macro keys
labeled S1-S6. These keys are designed for recorded gaming macros,
which can initiate a sequence of keystrokes with just a push of a
button. There are eighteen macros in total that can be assigned;
above these buttons is the bank select button. This button switches
the Sidewinder between standard and two gaming configurations with a
light panel adjacent to the button indicating, which profile you are
using. A Sidewinder logo can be seen between these macro keys and
the macro select button.
Above
the keyboards function keys from left to right we find a Macro record
button, Play/Pause, Previous
Track, Next Track, Mute, Volume
Up/Down and the keyboard’s backlight control button. The rest of
the keyboard is standard fare with the QWERTY arrangement of keys and
a number pad on the right hand side.
At the
base of the keyboard is a textured heel rest. Flipping over the
Sidewinder X4 we see something that was absent from the Sidewinder
X6 – two
collapsible legs that help angle the keyboard for typing. This
missing feature drove me crazy on the Sidewinder X6, kudos to
Microsoft for bringing it back. The heel rest is smaller than the
one found on the X6 which many people found to be too big and
intrusive.
Unlike
most gaming keyboards that have a blue backlight Microsoft uses a red
theme. There are three levels of red backlight and one where the
backlight is shut off.
{mospagebreak
title=Installation, Testing and Comparison}
Installation,
Testing and Comparison:
The
Sidewinder X4 comes with Microsoft’s Intellitype Pro 7.1 software.
It can be used without it, but then you lose the ability to create
gaming macros. I looked at this software in detail in my Sidewinder
X6 review so I
will not get into specifics as it functions the same as before.
Using
the Intellitype Pro 7.1 you’re able to assign a single command or
macro to each of the eighteen macro key bank positions. These macros
can be programmed through an editor window or via the use of the
record button found on the upper left-hand side of the keyboard.
Unfortunately
the software not let the user change the default media player, so
controlling a player such as
iTunes requires the user to be actively in the application to
play/pause, skip, and fast forward tracks.
The
anti-ghosting technology allows up to 26 keys to be pressed at once.
This comes in handy with games requiring multiple key presses to
initiate a play sequence. During my testing I did not notice any
ghost key presses. I certainly can’t blame the keyboard for my
numerous deaths in games such as Team Fortress 2, COD and
Battlefield.
Initially
I did not like the feel of the keyboard, as the keys are low profile;
designed more like a laptop keyboard than a desktop one. But over
time I grew used to the feel of the Sidewinder X4’s keys and now
actually enjoy using it. Using the Sidewinder X4 for the past month
I found it to be a decent keyboard but it does not stand out from it
competitors or even other Microsoft keyboards.
{mospagebreak
title=Summary}
Summary:
For the
Sidewinder X4 Microsoft seems to have taken the basic keyboard design
and added some macros and multimedia keys; otherwise what you see is
what you get. The Sidewinder X4 is Microsoft’s low-cost, low-end
version of a gaming keyboard that falls short when matched up against
the Sidewinder X6 as well as entries from heavy hitters such as
Logitech and Razer. It has fewer macro keys than the X6 and lacks
USB ports that are found on most other gaming key boards.
The
Sidewinder X6 is priced slightly more than the X4, but is worth the
extra dollar investment. Personally I would go for the older model.
Hopefully the Sidewinder keyboard line will be the X10 and will have
some NEW and exciting features on that model.
DragonSteelMods
gives the Microsoft
SideWinder X4 Keyboard a 3.5 out of 5 score.
Pros:
+Programmable
Macros
+Back
lit keyboard
+Well
constructed
Cons:
-Fingerprint
magnet
-Software
is limited in programming media keys
-Standard
keyboard with some macro/media buttons.
review#638
Disclosure: This
product was given to DragonSteelMods for review by the company for
review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the
review, we do not, never have, and never will, accept payment from
companies to review their products.
To
learn more about our review policy, testing methods and ratings
please see this page.