Microsoft launching SideWinder X6 keyboard this fall?

Say, is this a Microsoft SideWinder-branded keyboard? Looks like it might just be. It looks like it'll go by the name of SideWinder X6, and feature a detachable numeric keypad, programmable keys, and "cruise control" (don't quote us, this is from a translation) which emulates a steady keypress. It'll run $80 in September -- that is, if this doesn't just turn out to be pure rumor.

[Thanks, Husar]

Update: Reader RainMotorsports points out that the side profile looks, well, unconvincing. Certainly right, especially when you ask yourself where those giant knobs went. Hey, we never said this was a sure thing!

[Tinu @ Jul 19th 2008 2:00AM]

Keypad on the left side? Hmmmm. Not too crazy about that one.

[Tinu @ Jul 19th 2008 2:00AM]

I meant the numeric pad.

[finnith @ Jul 19th 2008 2:03AM]

Looks like it can be attached to either side, look at the right side of the keyboard.

[finnith @ Jul 19th 2008 2:05AM]

forgot to say that some people might want it on the left side.

[maty @ Jul 19th 2008 1:37PM]

Did you ever consider left-handed people might prefer it that way around? =]

[Bunson @ Jul 20th 2008 12:05AM]

I'd go crazy if it was one the left side. I'm left handed. It would be awesome.

[Wwhat @ Jul 20th 2008 10:59AM]

More and more games use the keypad as a shortcut menu thing, so there it might be handy on the left too, mouse in the right hand, game control in the left.
Of course you can buy an USB (notebook) keypad and achieve the same I guess, then you'd have 2 keypads on both side.

[Jhongerkong @ Jul 19th 2008 2:01AM]

Im guessing the cruise control just turns on caps lock, since its CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jul 19th 2008 2:02AM]

Bah, beat me by 5 seconds :p

Hive mind!

[Deed @ Jul 21st 2008 12:28PM]

It had better actually BE the caps lock button. Or to make this keyboard more extreme, include a push lever and an onscreen message saying CRUISE-CONTROL.

[happy_penguin @ Jul 19th 2008 4:44PM]

Cruise Control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v47gR-nQjR8

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jul 19th 2008 2:01AM]

Cruise control? Caps Lock? It is the cruise control for cool after all...

[Omen_20 @ Jul 19th 2008 12:26PM]

Could someone clue me in to this inside joke?

[Chris Macdonald @ Jul 19th 2008 3:38PM]

I AM COOL

[Wwhat @ Jul 20th 2008 11:05AM]

It's reflecting how it's 'cool to type in all caps' but tiresome to keep pressing shift OMEN_20, hence using the caps lock is 'cruise control'
http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/All_caps

[andres @ Jul 19th 2008 2:09AM]

DID SOMEONE SAY CRUISE CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!

[Goldaar @ Jul 19th 2008 2:14AM]

I love my Sidewinder Mouse (switched from the g7) and will be trying this keyboard out as soon as it launches (if it does, I am assuming it exists) to replace my Microsoft Pro 4000. Definately a good looking piece of kit and hopefully built like the mouse. Now I just have to wait for the Sidewinder X360 controllers (fans, led's, macro, who knows!)

[maty @ Jul 19th 2008 3:30AM]

Ditto, been waiting for a Sidewinder branded keyboarded to get with my mouse, was reluctant to get a replacement until they made one!

[collegekid13 @ Jul 19th 2008 2:19AM]

i'd press those buttons

[RainMotorsports @ Jul 19th 2008 3:31AM]

FAKE - Look at the side profile.

Both sides of the keyboard are not smooth and both sides of the keypad are not smooth. So whats with the smooth profile of the sideview? Its definitely not the front and the curvature its all wrong for a back view.

Someone messed up real bad when they did the side profile.

[Twitchy @ Jul 19th 2008 7:57PM]

Fake it might be, but I for one wouldn't mind having the numeric set on the left. Pity.

[GMFlash @ Jul 19th 2008 2:56AM]

Your comment is fake. The side profile is of the number pad only.

[Jeffrey Stimson @ Jul 19th 2008 3:57AM]

The Number Pad is not smooth as i said in my Post. It has interlocks on BOTH sides. Look very hard you wont see a smooth side anywhere to match up that image with.

[Mile @ Jul 19th 2008 8:42AM]

I don't want to look very hard. They prolly just airbrushed the anomalies out like they do on the cover of every magazine. Standard Industry Practice. Duh.

[King_Antonius @ Jul 19th 2008 3:15AM]

I was just about to say the same thing GMFlash. Glad someone else is using their thinking cap. Now lets see if the Ed updates it again to point it out.

[Totally @ Jul 19th 2008 4:08AM]

Am I the only one who finds that keyboard ugly, they need to rework aesthetics.

I think it'll be mediocre at best based from my experience with the sidewinder mouse, which i upgraded from a G5, and was overwhelmingly unimpressed. It's plasticky, seems cheap, doesn't feel solid at all and appears to be designed for people with mechagodzilla hands, the ergonomics and button layout wouldn't be that bad if it was smaller, as is the macro is useless. The thing needs to go on a diet. The same day ups dropped it off at my doorstep i went out and bought a G9 which about 30% smaller than it. MS Sindwinder < G5< G9

[Loonie @ Jul 19th 2008 3:46AM]

For some reason, I read the last heading as "Microsoft launching SideWinder X6 keyboard: this fail?"

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2008 4:57AM]

Here's an English article about it...

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8414&Itemid=1

Who knows...it might be real...here's hoping.

[silverblackvoid @ Jul 19th 2008 5:46AM]

fuck optimus maximus. im having this one.

[g3n3tix @ Jul 19th 2008 5:52AM]

According to the French article, the "Cruise control" allows you to keep pressing buttons without you actually pressing them.

[Ignatius @ Jul 19th 2008 7:46AM]

So, now you can blame your keyboard for spamming. Awesome.

[Technex @ Jul 20th 2008 12:16PM]

I can do that too with a normal keyboard.

Here, let me show you.

Step 1. Hold onto the key you wish to repeat.

Step 2. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[NienorGT @ Jul 19th 2008 6:12AM]

The profile look is only showing the Numeric KeyPad, not the keyboard.

[Alex Kirby @ Jul 19th 2008 7:43AM]

Sidewinder = Ugly.
Just look at the mouse

[tatarynowicz @ Jul 19th 2008 7:46AM]

I assume Linux users by very definition can't use nor endorse use of Microsoft products, regardless of merit. If you consider this big, I guess you must be a Happy Hacker Keyboard user yourself. Well, to each his own.

[Roccobot @ Jul 19th 2008 8:53AM]

It looks horrible.

[Roccobot @ Jul 19th 2008 9:17AM]

it looks horrible.

[Thijs Haenen @ Jul 19th 2008 9:21AM]

Cruise control going wrong?

[Eric @ Jul 19th 2008 10:06AM]

in the top view, if you look at the buttons in the keypad, there are five going down the left side, the side photographed...supposedly. in the side view, you only see three, one of which is longer than the other. fail. and the keys seem to be white in the side view while they are grey in the top view

[Andre @ Jul 19th 2008 10:34AM]

Umm... why does it look like a boom box from the 80's? They've officially ran out of ideas. hahahaha

[z0phi3l @ Jul 19th 2008 10:45AM]

That thing is hideous looking


I bet it also costs way too much money

[StevieD @ Jul 19th 2008 11:21AM]

http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u17625/x6_flat.jpg

[Geeewhiz.com @ Jul 19th 2008 11:23AM]

Can you imagine if Apple would designed something like this? Where did MS find it's industrial designers? High schools and Devry??? It's so ugly that reminded me some of the early 80s to late 80s cheap boom boxes!

[Alex @ Jul 19th 2008 11:27AM]

Looks like a piece of shit.

[Dave Lee @ Jul 21st 2008 8:48AM]

Everybody loves new and cool e-toys ,but how much are you willing to pay?
http://www.buyrefurbtoday.com

[Stephen Jobs @ Jul 20th 2008 3:36PM]

why would anyone buy this monstrosity? Apple's new keyboards are wayyy better than these POS.

[CosterMonger @ Jul 19th 2008 2:14PM]

if someone could make a washable back-lit keyboard: that would be what I want and would buy.

$80 and they should add another number-pad

[Lia @ Jul 19th 2008 3:31PM]

In the picture with the numberpad on the right, it (the numberpad) looks oddly...blurry.

[Bunson @ Jul 20th 2008 12:07AM]

I like how it looks.

[Radek Pilich @ Jul 20th 2008 5:59AM]

Detachable numpad that can be attached either from left or right side of the keyboard. Applause! Most practical keyboard idea so far this year.