Alla oramai tradizionale Games Convention di Leipzig, in Germania, Microsoft Hardware ha presentato al grande pubblico la tastiera SideWinder X6 Keyboard, che in accordo al produttore, "è la keyboard per gaming più versatile al mondo" dal momento che permette, tra l'altro, di "attaccare il key pad (i cui tasti sono tutti programmabili, ndr) alla sinistra o alla destra della tastiera" in base alle esigenze del giocatore. SideWinder X6 Keyboard, inoltre, permette di programmare fino a 90 macro per game; in altre parole assicura il pieno controllo "al volo" del titolo che si sta eseguendo, oltre ad offire in ogni momento la possibilità di passare dal game ad una applicazione desktop come Excel e viceversa.

Microsoft ha anche mostrato il mouse SideWinder X5 Mouse, perfetto per l'abbinamento con la SideWinder X6 Keyboard; tra le peculiarità del dispositivo segnaliamo la dotazione di 9 pulsanti, di cui cinque programmabili, tra cui il pulsante Quick-Launch, che lancia al volo il Windows Vista Games Explorer.

SideWinder X6 Keyboard e SideWinder X5 Mouse arriveranno sul mercato nel prossimo mese di Settembre; l'MSRP delle device è pari rispettivamente a $79.95 e $59.95.

SideWinder X6 Keyboard

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SideWinder X5 Mouse

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Today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft Hardware debuted the SideWinder X6 Keyboard — the most versatile gaming keyboard on the market with the first-ever switchable key pad that can be attached to the left or right side of the keyboard for ultimate flexibility. To round out the SideWinder line, the Hardware team is also announcing the SideWinder X5 Mouse, a fast, powerful gaming mouse designed to give mainstream gamers a competitive edge.

The switchable key pad makes the SideWinder X6 Keyboard ideal for gaming as well as productivity, as the key pad functions as a standard num pad in normal keyboard mode, but becomes a programmable macro pad in game mode. Complementing the unique versatility of the keyboard are features specifically designed for gaming, including the capacity to store up to 90 macros per game and backlighting that helps users get immersed in the game.

"We know that consumers don't want to pull out and set up a second keyboard for a gaming session, so we created a device that was perfect for both gaming and regular computer use," said Kevin Flick, user researcher for Microsoft Hardware. "With the switchable key pad, gamers will have a fantastic, customizable experience whether they're playing their favorite game or creating Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations."

Powerful Versatility
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard's switchable key pad allows gamers to program up to 90 macros per game with the help of a set of dedicated macro keys as well as a fully programmable key pad. With mode switching, gamers can instantly go from Microsoft Office Excel to their favorite game — and place the macro pad on whichever side they prefer for gaming. The X6 also offers the following features to take advantage of its adaptability:

• Mode switching lets gamers manually toggle the keyboard from standard mode to either of two gaming modes. LEDs show the selected mode.
• Automatic profile switching detects the application that is running and applies the custom profile.

• New Cruise Control feature continues an action without having to hold down the key or keys assigned to the action. Gamers can use Cruise Control with up to four keys at a time.
• In-game macro record button lets gamers record any sequence of keystrokes — even standard chat messages. Macros are stored on the PC hard drive and can be easily shared.
• WASD gaming keys, the most commonly used keys for gamers, have front-face lighting for enhanced visibility.
• Quick-Launch key gives one-touch access to Windows Vista Games Explorer, allowing gamers to quickly see the games in their PC's game library.

SideWinder X5 Mouse
Today, Microsoft also announced the SideWinder X5 Mouse, a fast, powerful gaming mouse designed to give mainstream gamers a competitive edge. The nine-button gaming mouse is designed for handling with vertical side buttons, adjustable sensitivity switching up to 2,000 DPI, five customizable buttons, and a Quick-Launch button that instantly launches the Windows Vista Games Explorer.

SideWinder: It's Only the Beginning
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard is the first keyboard to join the popular SideWinder family of gaming products. Established in 1995 and revived in 2007, the SideWinder line is known for its top-notch PC gaming peripherals, including mice, game pads, joysticks and steering wheels.

Pricing and Availability
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard and SideWinder X5 Mouse will be widely available in September 2008 for an estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.) and $59.95 (U.S.), respectively.3 The products are available now for pre-sale on Amazon.com and will ship in September when they are widely released. The SideWinder X6 Keyboard and SideWinder X5 Mouse will be backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft Corp.