non keyboard/mouse input devices

[El Gallo]

I have been living in the dark ages with my keyboard and my mouse for some time now.   I want to get one of those programmable input devices before I whore my life out to WoW or EQ2.  The only ones I have heard anything about are the nostromo speed pad and the MS strategic commander.  Does anyone have any experience with these or similar devices?

[WonderBrick]

I have two of the newer Nostromo speedpads(N52, I think).  I like it alot, but I confess I have not used it much.  I have a friend that uses his all the time, though, and likes it.  Part of my reluctance is that I play on so many computers, I don't want to get used to a propriatary device.  But if I start playing a macro-intensive game again, like UO, I love that I have it as an option.

The only other comments I have about it is that it is well made, the software is flexible enough.  

My only complaint(other then my self-imposed propriatary issue), is the orange thumb button is not a button that seems to be made for split-second reaction time.  But you have so many buttons to use, that is hardly an issue.  I bought two of these speedpads, and the orange button is somewhat stiffer then I would like on both.

I am happy with my purchases, if that says anything.

[Soukyan]

I have been living in the dark ages with my keyboard and my mouse for some time now.   I want to get one of those programmable input devices before I whore my life out to WoW or EQ2.  The only ones I have heard anything about are the nostromo speed pad and the MS strategic commander.  Does anyone have any experience with these or similar devices?

I use a Nostromo N52. It comes in quite handy. Certain games it's great for (used to use it alot for DAoC) and others it's just so-so, but I like it.

[Joe]

http://www.fu-fme.com/

[El Gallo]

Hawt.

[chinslim]

I've bought all sorts of devices, including the Nostromo pads, and nothing really beats mouse/keyboard.

I recently picked up the Saitek PC Gamer's Keyboard for $50 and it's really nice.  Silver to match all my other equip, blue glowing backlight, very nice tactile feel to the keys(and my previous keyboard was an IBM), and an addon programmable 9-button+shifts keypad for them macros.  Even if I never use the add-on pad, this keyboard is very nice by itself.

[Moroni]

For keyboard needs, I have used this for a while. The keys are actually very reactive and do not get squishy like a laptop.

http://www.zboard.com/us/ind

[Signe]

For keyboard needs, I have used this for a while. The keys are actually very reactive and do not get squishy like a laptop.

http://www.zboard.com/us/ind

Your link is useless... but, then, so are most Zboards.

(If your talking about their original, it's ok... but I hate the set up and the way it looks)

[Resvrgam]

Does anyone have any experience with these or similar devices?

At this year's GDC I came across the folks at ErgoDex and got a chance to play with their DX1 device.  These guys may be onto something and you may want to check this little thing out.  I found it VERY easy to use and it wasn't intrusive with a billion Systray residents.  The 3D Studio MAX/Flash/First-Person Shooter possibilities are amazing.

Brief Blurb about it
Blurb Continued

[Arnold]

I bought a Nostromo for UO, but then I realized that all my UO macros wouldn't fit on it and I'd have to jump between it and the keyboard, so I decided not to use it.  I never tried it for FPS games.

[WonderBrick]

I bought a Nostromo for UO, but then I realized that all my UO macros wouldn't fit on it and I'd have to jump between it and the keyboard, so I decided not to use it.  I never tried it for FPS games.

There is a toggle button that lets you setup the 10+ main buttons, and then hit the toggle button to allow you to shift those 10+ keys and let them be used as 10+ more macros.  There are a total of four shift-cycles, basically giving you 4x the number of keys you see on the device.

[Phred]

I have had a Nostromo N50 for years. I use it mainly for it's programmability but the few times I've tried to use it for a movement device in fps type games it has caused more problems for me than it's worth,  and it was cheap. The switches they use are very stiff, not in the good way like the old IBM ps2 pc101 keyboard but a constant pushback as you press down. I found it was causing my already strained partial RSI in my left hand to act up very quickly from the force needed to push down the keys. Also the key spacing is definately on the large hand side, whereas I have smaller hands so not all the controls are easily reachable as intended. If you find a Fender Jazz Bass easier to play than a Fender Precision you probably wont like this as an example of hand size issues.

[geldonyetich]

Input devices?! Lets talk output devices!  Standarize shutter glasses, bizatch!

(Never used a non-standard input device... unless joysticks count in this day and age.)

[El Gallo]

I bought the n52 and have liked it the hour or two I tried it.  I am sure that I am just scratching the surface of the macro system, but I think it will be useful for WoW to save some button mashing.  I may even be able to keep up my wife's character close to mine in level with it [read: I am a two-boxing whore].

I also got one of those "on its side" mice and my wrist and forearm love it.

[Yegolev]

Nostromo N50 @ newegg.com for $19.50:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826169001

EDIT: N52 @ amazon.com for $29.99:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DC643/104-7426380-2255916?v=glance&n=172282

Somebody can stick that corpse picture in here if they like.

Edit by schild: You know how we roll.

[Azazel]

Does anyone have any experience with these or similar devices?

At this year's GDC I came across the folks at ErgoDex and got a chance to play with their DX1 device.  These guys may be onto something and you may want to check this little thing out.  I found it VERY easy to use and it wasn't intrusive with a billion Systray residents.  The 3D Studio MAX/Flash/First-Person Shooter possibilities are amazing.

Brief Blurb about it
Blurb Continued

I checked the links, but they say nothing besides "wow this is teh awesome!!1"

It looks like a stylus with lego bricks on top of it. Not very practical. Actually, it looks downright retarded.

[Merusk]

The jist I got was that you can program the 'lego bricks' to contain any macros you'd use.  Apparently you can then just plop them on the board and press when/ wherever.  Nifty toy, but I don't make extensive use of macros so I'm not sure how useful it is.

[MisterNoisy]

I like this.

18 macro keys, programmable in 3 sets, for a total of 54 macros, and a spiffy LCD display that shows CPU and memory usage, unless the game has built-in support for the keyboard, in which case it displays game-related information.  All the keys are backlit on top of that, and it's really comfy, if somewhat gauche looking.  2 USB ports to boot.  I retired my N50 permanently after getting this keyboard.

Worth it for the backlighting and macro keys alone - the LCD is just gravy.

Also, you can turn off the Windows key with a switch.

[Shockeye]

That G15, is the wrist-rest just crappy plastic or some kind of vinyl/faux leather covering?

The cushioned wrist-rest on my Microsoft wrireless elite premium whizbang keyboard is what keeps me using it.

[MisterNoisy]

That G15, is the wrist-rest just crappy plastic or some kind of vinyl/faux leather covering?

The cushioned wrist-rest on my Microsoft wrireless elite premium whizbang keyboard is what keeps me using it.

Just a piece of satin-finish plastic.  I don't use it.

[Shockeye]

That G15, is the wrist-rest just crappy plastic or some kind of vinyl/faux leather covering?

The cushioned wrist-rest on my Microsoft wrireless elite premium whizbang keyboard is what keeps me using it.

Just a piece of satin-finish plastic.  I don't use it.

I hate when companies do shit like that. Why not put a comfortable cushioned wrist-rest on a keyboard with all those bells and whistles?

[HaemishM]

I like this.

18 macro keys, programmable in 3 sets, for a total of 54 macros, and a spiffy LCD display that shows CPU and memory usage, unless the game has built-in support for the keyboard, in which case it displays game-related information.  All the keys are backlit on top of that, and it's really comfy, if somewhat gauche looking.  2 USB ports to boot.  I retired my N50 permanently after getting this keyboard.

Worth it for the backlighting and macro keys alone - the LCD is just gravy.

Also, you can turn off the Windows key with a switch.

PopTart uses that keyboard, and I think I could get it from her when I pry it from her cold dead hands. It's got a nice set of 2 USB ports on the top that make for a great placement when you use a USB mouse.

[Arnold]

I bought a Nostromo for UO, but then I realized that all my UO macros wouldn't fit on it and I'd have to jump between it and the keyboard, so I decided not to use it.  I never tried it for FPS games.

There is a toggle button that lets you setup the 10+ main buttons, and then hit the toggle button to allow you to shift those 10+ keys and let them be used as 10+ more macros.  There are a total of four shift-cycles, basically giving you 4x the number of keys you see on the device.

I know.  It still wasn't enough macros for me, when I played UO.  I'm sure it would make a fine device for an FPS.

[Strazos]

That's a whole lot of keyboard.

[Merusk]

RISE FROM THE GRAVE..

So, been thinking of getting a Nostromo n52 for myself (or rather telling the wife to buy it for my birthday, since she gets pissed when I buy things like that around this time of year.)   Anyone have anything else I should be looking at, or is the nos still one of the primo devices out there?

[MisterNoisy]

RISE FROM THE GRAVE..

So, been thinking of getting a Nostromo n52 for myself (or rather telling the wife to buy it for my birthday, since she gets pissed when I buy things like that around this time of year.)   Anyone have anything else I should be looking at, or is the nos still one of the primo devices out there?

I like the d-pad on the N52 for shooters, but if you're just looking for programmability, the Logitech G11 gives you that in a more tasteful (though LCD-less) form factor than the G15.  Keeps the Windows key-killing switch and great backlighting of the G15, and doesn't add yet another peripheral to clutter up your desk.

[Yegolev]

I don't use my Nostromo n50 as much as I thought I would since I have stopped playing EVE, but I like it.  I don't know how programmable that Logitech keyboard is but the fine-tuning I can do with timings on the n50 makes me giggle.  I just don't play anything right now that demands the heavy-hitting programmability of the n50.

My only complaint about the n50 is that it's not terribly ergonomic.  Could be fixed with the n52.

[Ookii]

You're going in the wrong direction, this is the way to go.

[Yegolev]

Once again, I blame the Wii.