Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Gaming Keyboard user reviews

Pros Great backlighting (red seems to be better than blue)
Backlight and volume knobs are great
Macro control and setup is the best I've seen (even better than Logitech G15)
Number Pad is superb
Looks great

Cons Keys need a little getting used to (bizarre surface)
No adjustable feet to raise the back of the keyboard

Summary First off, I'd like to say that I had been using the Logitech G15 for 4 years prior to buying this keyboard, and the G15 certainly served me well. But I wanted a change and the paint was wearing off on the G15's keys, so I bought the Sidewinder X6... and I'm glad I did.
To begin, I should state the obvious. The number pad is pretty cool, in that it is able to be placed on either side of the keyboard or be removed completely (on the fly). All of the number pad keys can become macros if it is on the left side of the keyboard... greatly increasing the number of available macros. Another minor feather that I like is the "Calculator Button" on the number pad, which came as a surprise since it wasn't talked about in any of the reviews that I had read and watched prior to buying it.
The keys themselves have a rather bizarre feel to them, like they're sticky or something... maybe it's just me. But other than that, they are excellent. The keys are half-way between traditional keyboard and laptop keys; as a result, they have an almost perfect traveling distance. Some reviews of this keyboard mention the quirks in the key layout... I don't see a problem with it at all. They [the other reviewers] generally do not like the long space bar (as a result of taking out the right "Windows" button), the displaced "Esc" key, and the full-length "Caps Lock" and "Tab" keys... none of these have been a problem for me. The red and gold backlighting is easy on the eyes and is evenly distributed to every key (can be a problem for some keyboards). Another plus that I found over the G15 was that when the backlighting is not active, I can still read the keys (when I used the G15, I had to always have it on during the day). The majority of the keyboard also has a nice glossy look to it (similar to the Logitech diNovo Edge).
The macro software is also excellent. I like the fact that you can control the time between key strokes. *Note: World of Warcraft players beware: you can get banned from WoW for using macros to unfairly use spells or abilities... this hasn't happened to me, just something to be careful about. The ability to disable certain keys like the "Windows" and "Application" keys is a nice feature too.
Ultimately, the MS Sidewinder X6 is an awesome keyboard. It may perhaps be a Logitech G15 killer. It may lack the G15's LCD screen, but I hardly ever used it anyway. And for the medium price range, you can't go wrong with the Sidewinder X6.

Pros Red backlightning is right
Detrachable keypad make it very versatile
Lot of macros can be created
Good typing characteristics

Cons Intellitype 6.3 lacks basic gaming features
A USB hub would have been welcome

Summary The hardware is very good, and the detachable keypad is very handy, especially with games that requires the right hand be kept on a joystick or the like (i.e. my stick in FSX). The red backlighting is far better than blue because the eye in the dark is more sensitive at these wavelenghts. The keys feels ok, although I guess they are a little "hard" and can be tiring in the long run. But I use it only at home and that's ok.
What I found really annoying is the Intellitype 6.3 software. It creates a file for each macro, making moving settings much more complex. It does not allow to set a repetition rate for a S-key, it just sends a single keypress and that's all. I still didn't find a way to remap +/- keys in FSX which are used to set several controls (radios, heading, OBS, etc.), so they repeat while I keep them pressed, that's makes the keyboard far less useful.
Also, one you assign a macro or something else to a key, there is no way to reset that single assignment - Intellitype can reset a whole bank or nothing at all - not very clever at all!
It looks like the Intellitype software was simply adapted from non-gaming keyboards and lacks important features a gamer keyboard needs.
The Sidewinder X6 is a very good piece of hardware, but deserves a far better software.

Pros This was my first Microsoft keyboard. I bought this model so the numberpad could be removed, giving me a shorter reach for the mouse (lessening shoulder pain). It's good for this purpose and has a nice touch when typing.

Cons Paint comes off keys too quickly. I've had my keyboard for about a year and about 15 keys are unreadable now because the black paint has CHIPPED off. Also the wrist rest is too deep. It would be better if it was removable.

Summary At the time of purchase, it was the only keyboard I could find with a removable keypad. I believe there are other models out now so I will be replacing this with a non-Microsoft keyboard as the paint on the keys just doesn't hold up!

Pros looks cool

Cons 1 key ghosting... logitech and razor beat them hands down on that
2 magnets with pcs... magnets screw with everything electronic in bad ways why would u ever use a magnet next to a pc

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