Belkin n52te Tournament Edition SpeedPad by Belkin Components
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Digital camera reviews of Belkin n52te Tournament Edition SpeedPad
Digital camera Review: Does not work with XP
Summary: 1 Stars
Tried getting it to work on XP 32 bit but it just doesn't work. Installed 1.x drivers, installed 2.x drivers, updated firmware but even though the OS recognized when I plug it in, it doesn't send keystrokes to any app.
Works perfectly on Vista 32bit and 64bit though.
Digital camera Review: Ergonomic and very useful
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm very fond of this device. It's more comfortable than using the keyboard because I can keep my arm at my side with a natural angle, like using a mouse. It fits my smallish hand very well and I have more keys within easy reach. I use it with a WASD type arrangement and don't use the thumb pad for movement. I removed the hat and just use it as four more keys I can map.
The software UI isn't very good but it gets the job done. If you are a novice computer use you may find it confusing but I doubt anyone buying a dedicated gaming peripheral will have much of a problem figuring it out. A very nice feature is that the configuration is stored on the device. You can bring it to another computer or reinstall your OS and not have to reconfigure it.
My complaints are minor. I'd like the keys to have more of a positive indent. They are kind of mushy. The bright LED is ridiculous. I taped over it.
I also have a Logitech G13 but the Belkin is the one I prefer. The Logitech has more keys but they are a stretch for my hand. The Logitech's thumb stick is better for movement but not to map as individual keys like I prefer. Most importantly, the Belkin is more comfortable. It supports all the weight of my hand and just my fingers extend. The Logitech requires me to support the weight of my hand.
In the Logitech's favor the software is much better and the LCD screen is very cool.
My first recommendation is to get some sort of gamepad. They're great. It'll be personal preference which one you find more comfortable.
Digital camera Review: Excellent Gaming Peripheral
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using n52te for about 2 years now and i love it. For both WoW and TF2, it's a great aid, though you really do have to take the time to map it correctly and to get accustomed to it.
For WoW i use the d-pad (minus the pop-off mushroom stick) for movement and all of the buttons are mapped to abilities. The thumb button is a shift modifier so i can quickly use twice as many keys. I use the scroll wheel for tab targeting and quick cancels.
For TF2 (and other shooters) i stick with wasd movement on the keys (thumb button for jump) themselves and use the d-pad to pick weapons.
Setting it up was easy. The hardware worked at base level as soon as it was plugged in. The latest version of the software and drivers improves the mapping and macro writing, but even the original worked fine for basic stuff. I followed the instructions precisely and the upgrade went smooth and easy.
When setting it up for different games, first bind all your keys in-game the way you want them for regular keyboard play and then map the n52te keys to those settings. That way if you have to play without it you won't be totally hosed.
After 2 years of pretty heavy use, my original has the paint worn off of some of the keys and the palm rest won't stay attached. All the keys still register just fine and feel like new. I could probably glue the palm rest back on, but it's not too bad without it and I just caught a deal and bought 2 more of these for $29 each. I'll be set for years to come.
Digital camera Review: Expensive, but very nice
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this from a local retailer on 3/24/2008. My son choose the Saitek PZ31A Pro Gamer which I purchased at the same time.
First, others have complained about buggy software. I have not had any problems with either software or hardware.
For each game you use this unit with, you'll want a profile. In each profile, you can map each key (minus one to actually switch maps) to three different functions, one for each mapping (which goes by color).
This isn't as useful as it sounds, but it's still nice.
The software iteself is extremely easy to use. There is a picture of the controller on screen, you choose a button, then choose what you want that button to do. Each button can be mapped to up to tree different keys, functions, or macros. Switching is easy, however, I've found that switching between keymaps isn't that useful during a game. While not in battle, switching has some usefulness, but when you are trying to kill that last demon, you don't want to switch maps just to get to another weapon.
There are fewer buttons than I would have liked, but realistically, the fourteen buttons available for the fingers of the left hand are about all that can be reached comfortably. There is also a scroll button which can be used for up to three different keys. (One key for scroll up, one key for scroll down, and one key for press.)
The scroll button can cycle between keymaps, something I believe only it can do. My one disappointment was that the scroll button can't cycle between other keys. For example, if I have weapon sets mapped to F1, F2, and F3, it would be nice to be able to use the scroll wheel to quickly scroll through my weapons.
The thumb controls three keys -- a lower key, an upper button, and a D-pad. Each can be mapped to anything you choose, including all eight directions available on the D-pad. The thumb can only do one thing at once, however. Don't expect to use the D-pad and another button at the same time. This is important if you choose a thumb key to momentarily shift to another mapping. Since my D-pad is set for movement, and the upper thumb button to shift, I can't do both at the same time.
A manual is included on the CDROM, but simple exploration with the mapping application will give as much information except for two things. The D-pad has a removable joystick, and the hand rest is adjustable/removable. In either case, you simply pull the component off the base. The hand rest can be moved back about an inch, or the whole thing used without it.
Now, I wanted to make a couple of comparisons to the Saitek I bought for my son. First, the software for the Saitek is difficult to understand, and the colors the software talks about aren't the colors on the keypad. It also has several more keys available, which sounds good, but I'm not sure it would actually work well in practice. The one thing I really like about the Saitek is that it has a shift key that can be pressed by the base of the thumb, allowing use of the joystick and shift key at the same time.
Finally, my son has had issues where in the middle of a game, it seems to lose its programming and the profile has to be reloaded.
As for the n52te, I love it. I bought it specifically for Hellgate: London, and once I got the keys mapped for it, it worked wonderfully. I have also experimented with a profile for Starcraft, and while I don't believe it works as well for that game, it still speeds up my commands.
Digital camera Review: Fixed all the problems I had with the original
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using the original n52 for a few years now and the only gripes I had with the original was the thumbpad was stiff and the keys had a generic feel to them... but evidently the thing was bulletproof (abused the crap out of it for years and it still works).
The n53te took everything about the old one and made it better. I was really happy they added the little extension to the Dpad because it makes it so much easier on the thumb. It looks a lot better, the buttons have a better feel to them when pressed. I've always bound shift to the bottom left key so it doubles the amount of keys I have (I play WoW). I was really impressed. It's plug and play. I tried using the software when I first got it but found it unneeded, most games let you bind the keys you want so it's just as simple as plugging it in then going to your game and deciding what keys you want where.
I guess the only con would be some of the keys. The ones around the thumbpad aren't the most useful. They seem to be at an odd position so I use them for mundane/unimportant tasks like view map and open bags; I don't want to have to stop moving to do something important. I would like an extra row of keys -- I just bought the logitech g13 to try that out (more keys) but it hasn't arrived yet so I can't compare them.
I've recommended this to everyone I play with, even lend it to them when I take brakes from the game hoping they see how much it helps. After my last break I gave mine away and now I literally can't play without it. It makes things so much more convenient and cuts down your reaction time. The way I describe it to people is Super Mario Brothers on the NES. Compare playing Mario Brothers with the Nintendo controller to playing it on a keyboard... it's frustrating and annoying.