Microsoft busts out SideWinder X4 anti-ghosting keyboard
By Laura June 
posted February 1st 2010 11:07AM
posted February 1st 2010 11:07AM
Microsoft's just outed a new gaming keyboard -- the SideWinder X4 -- which promises to hold up in even the most intense situations. Boasting what the company says is the "most advanced" anti-ghosting technology around, the X4 allows the pressing of up to 26 keys at once for the ultimate gaming moves. Other features include macro recording and auto macro repeat functions, plus profile and mode switching allows your 'board to remember all your moves for different games. So, you probably want it right now, but you're going to have to wait a little longer -- the SideWinder X4 will arrive in March, and it'll run you $59.95. Full press release is after the break.
REDMOND, Wash. Feb. 1, 2010 What gamers request most is better control in-game, and today Microsoft Hardware launches the SideWinder X4 Keyboard, a keyboard designed to give gamers more control over their gaming experience with the industry's most advanced anti-ghosting technology. Developed by the Applied Sciences Group, this new technology ensures gamers' most complex key combinations will be recognized by the computer to keep the game in action. The new keyboard also offers other advanced gaming features such as macro recording, mode and profile switching, and adjustable backlighting.
I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost
The Applied Sciences Group, an interdisciplinary research and development team that works across the Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division doing applied research for Microsoft Hardware, Microsoft Surface and Xbox 360, developed the anti-ghosting technology with gamers in mind. The advanced technology takes anti-ghosting to the next level by allowing gamers to press up to 26 keys at once. Because each key is scanned independently by the keyboard hardware, each key press is correctly detected regardless of how many other keys are being pressed at the same time. The SideWinder X4 Keyboard excels where other keyboards fail, letting users execute key combinations and taking full advantage of their skill and speed.
"We're always looking for new and novel ways to enhance people's interactions with their PCs," said Steven Bathiche, research manager of the Applied Sciences Group at Microsoft. "We know that ghosting can be a problem for gamers, so we wanted to develop a way to eliminate this issue and improve the overall gaming experience, and we've succeeded with the new anti-ghosting technology in the SideWinder X4 Keyboard."
Precise Gaming Keyboard With Advanced Features
The SideWinder X4 Keyboard also offers more of the features gamers need to stay at the top of their game. Macro recording lets them string together multiple moves into one press of a button, and the new automatic macro repetition feature lets them repeat the macro over and over as needed with one key. Mode and profile switching also provides easy ways to customize the keyboard for different games and users while adjustable backlighting lets gamers select the lighting level that meets their needs.
Pricing and Availability
The SideWinder X4 Keyboard will be available in March 2010 for the estimated retail price of $59.95 (U.S)1 and will be available for pre-sale on Amazon.com later this week. The SideWinder X4 Keyboard is backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty, and more information about this and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About Microsoft Hardware
For more than 26 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About the Microsoft Applied Sciences Group
The Applied Sciences Group (ASG) is an applied research and development team dedicated to creating the next generation of computer interaction technologies. The interdisciplinary group focuses on the synergy between optics, electronics and software to create novel human computer interfaces. The ASG is part of the Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft and mainly supports projects for Microsoft Hardware, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Surface. It also works closely with Microsoft Research.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
1 Actual retail prices may vary.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost
The Applied Sciences Group, an interdisciplinary research and development team that works across the Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division doing applied research for Microsoft Hardware, Microsoft Surface and Xbox 360, developed the anti-ghosting technology with gamers in mind. The advanced technology takes anti-ghosting to the next level by allowing gamers to press up to 26 keys at once. Because each key is scanned independently by the keyboard hardware, each key press is correctly detected regardless of how many other keys are being pressed at the same time. The SideWinder X4 Keyboard excels where other keyboards fail, letting users execute key combinations and taking full advantage of their skill and speed.
"We're always looking for new and novel ways to enhance people's interactions with their PCs," said Steven Bathiche, research manager of the Applied Sciences Group at Microsoft. "We know that ghosting can be a problem for gamers, so we wanted to develop a way to eliminate this issue and improve the overall gaming experience, and we've succeeded with the new anti-ghosting technology in the SideWinder X4 Keyboard."
Precise Gaming Keyboard With Advanced Features
The SideWinder X4 Keyboard also offers more of the features gamers need to stay at the top of their game. Macro recording lets them string together multiple moves into one press of a button, and the new automatic macro repetition feature lets them repeat the macro over and over as needed with one key. Mode and profile switching also provides easy ways to customize the keyboard for different games and users while adjustable backlighting lets gamers select the lighting level that meets their needs.
Pricing and Availability
The SideWinder X4 Keyboard will be available in March 2010 for the estimated retail price of $59.95 (U.S)1 and will be available for pre-sale on Amazon.com later this week. The SideWinder X4 Keyboard is backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty, and more information about this and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About Microsoft Hardware
For more than 26 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. More information about the Hardware Group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About the Microsoft Applied Sciences Group
The Applied Sciences Group (ASG) is an applied research and development team dedicated to creating the next generation of computer interaction technologies. The interdisciplinary group focuses on the synergy between optics, electronics and software to create novel human computer interfaces. The ASG is part of the Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft and mainly supports projects for Microsoft Hardware, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Surface. It also works closely with Microsoft Research.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
1 Actual retail prices may vary.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
@acme64
try using tl;dr
or your brain with a combination of F3 and the word "Ghosting" on that article...
@acme64
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+keyboard+ghosting
@acme64 http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+keyboard+ghosting
@acme64
Here you go:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+keyboard+ghosting
@acme64
What the hell's wrong with this blog... None of my posts are appearing and I bet they're all gonna appear later and I'm gonna look like a spammer.
Real gamers use mechanical keyboards.
@mjemirzian With PS/2 NKRO
Physical keyboards belong to the last century. A multi-touch keyboard could be so much easier to use for gaming because you wouldn't have to remember what each key does and you could customize the keys the way you want.
@yyy
PLEASE for the love of god tell me that was sarcasm...
@MastrCake
If you listen closely enough, you can hear all the gamers out there screaming in agony as they move to down rank you as fast as humanly possible.
Finally a keyboard that can keep up with my extreme typing needs, but I need to type 27 keys at a time, so i guess ill have to wait . . .
i prefer my X6... thank you....
Finally someone does this.
It is quite silly that on many modern keyboards, more than maybe two key presses cannot be registered! It's really stupid, actually.
I remember years ago when I called Logitech and asked what's up... and they admitted that my three key combo won't work. Come on...
I had to spend $50 on a Belkin n52 (anyone still have one?) to be able to game in my FPSes again.
Those were the days. Or... the days when physical keyboards just worked were even nicer. When you didn't have to worry about silly two key restrictions.
Whoa... Haven't seen a new sidewinder product in a while. In fact, not since April of last year according to the Sidewinder X3 mouse press release (which I Googled. I'm nerdy like that...).
Of course, people have been spoiled by the likes of Razer who releases a new product about every month.
Glad to see Microsoft hasn't abandoned it, they have some great stuff!
If it takes up less space than my G15, I may pick it up. I hate how much desktop space the keyboard I have uses, but I haven't been able to find the G110 in local stores while I've been at school. This would be much cheaper than getting a desk designed for sound design if I could limit hardware space but have macros set for specific functions to reduce keystrokes and make mixing easier.
@Elaith
Amen to that. I bought a G15 for the bling factor of the screen, but it doesn't even work with most of the programs that I use. Huge shame. It doesn't even work with the Zune software and the only decent use for the screen is changing your music while you're in a game anyway. I had been resisting pulling the trigger on an x6 and now I have to choose between that and this.
I see Microsoft's re-branding of Razer products continues to go well :P
@Hobsie
These aren't really rebranded Razer products anymore. As far as I know, the only Razer products they redid were the Habu and Reclusa, before they switched to the Sidewinder name and made their own technology.
The Habu had 1000hz polling rates like Razer mice, but Sidewinder has something more like 500hz polling rates. Am I saying it matters? Well, I don't know. But Razer, these are not.
@Hobsie
I'm afraid your wrong there, since the X6 keyboard all their gear has been designed entirely in-house.
Using 26 keys at the same time + head smashed to keyboard after getting pwn'd by a rowdy kid on multi-player online.....
Finally!
Been waiting for this for a long time. Didn't want to buy a Logitech one because they're ugly and bulky. I mostly just need the standard keys, maybe a few macros but no OTT LCD screen and what not.
I just hope the wrist pad is removable.
Does "adjustable backlight" mean "different amounts of red" or "choose from any RGB color" or what? I'd really love blue to complement the lights on my monitor.
@Old fogie late bloomer
Still red just the intensity/brightness for those late nights in mom's basement
@Gi
Ah, well, in my case it's the second floor, rather than the basement.... :-P
...or should I say starting with.
Finally, a keyboard that unleashes the full potential of Emacs!
Those quadruple-bucky-cokebottle commands are so 90's..
No back light? FAIL!
@TheJason
Reading fail
nice. a gaming keyboard that finally doesn't like a bad prop from a post apocalyptic B-movie. I like how the sidewinder branding has survived all these years,
Great product! $59.95 is very much a reasonable price since its features are outstanding. Currently, I lay on the standard $20 Microsoft keyboard but it has nothing on this piece of hardware. A small response for Microsoft saying they are better than Apple perhaps?
26 simultaneous key-presses intended for humans with 10 fingers? Now thats pure genius.
Oh good.
I can finally use emacs with its full potential.
Hmmm... I notice everyone is on about having TEN digits on their human hands and how much of a chore it would be to press 26 keys at once. I feel I must point out that gamers who use a keyboard ALSO use a mouse... Halving the actual 'hands on' amount! :)
Is it hight adjustable? The X4? Cost £50 and you could not raise it without sticking a book under it.
Finally, I'll be able to play Star Control on one keyboard without the dreaded 'press all your buttons to freeze the other players' cheat.
Well this is about as expensive as the ThinkPad USB keyboard, that has no Macors, no numpad, etc. But it does have a mouse built in. And the typing expirience is just amazing :)
This is perfect for Pac-Man!
I think my Sidewinder X6 keyboard holds up just fine.