Looking to replace a Microsoft SideWinder X4 with something newer

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1

Hello.

I’m looking to replace my 13 y.o. keyboard with something newer (if I can actually find something that meets my criteria).

The keyboard I currently use is the one of the title and the one on the image (to get an idea for features and layout).

What I really like about this particular model is that it has dedicated button for media control, volume control, backlighting level and also a dedicated calculator button (which I use A LOT).

  • I care about the dedicated buttons, the layout (I don’t know what it’s called), the inclusion of some sort of backlighting and the size (having a full num-pad and all). I don’t really care about technology, input latency, gaming features, mechanical or not and RGB.

Nothing is wrong with the keyboard as of yet but I’m looking to have a list of replacements to turn to if this one unalives itself (or even to buy now and keep them in a box until needed)

Do you have any suggestions? Thank you

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2

I personally use a Max Keyboard with blue backlight and Cherry MX Blue switches. I have had it for at least 10 years. It had dedicated function keys for media and 8 macro keys as well. Now it looks like they do fully custom keyboards now.

3

Thank you for your suggestion. I browsed their website a bit but I need to look more into them. However it seems it will be a bit difficult or costly getting their stuff in Europe (where I am)

4

Ah. Well in that case, you are much better of with something like DAS Keyboard and the like as they are EU based.

5

Das
Ducky
Cherry

1 Like
6

Thank you both for your input. First look doesn’t seem very promising given the dedicated buttons I want, but I’ll give it a shot.

7

I think you should stop trying to find dedicated buttons for what you want on a keyboard and buy a Stream Deck instead for your buttons. Much more useful for what you want and to grow. Each button is also an LCD screen, so you can use the very easy to use software to load whatever icon you want to the button, such as brightness up and down icons like on your keyboard or volume up and down. Same for a calculator icon, etc etc. You could even go with a Deck+ model to put your volumes and brightness adjustments on a knob with media control buttons above the volume knob. Then you can get whatever keyboard you like and keep all your control on a much more advanced and controllable piece of hardware specifically for it.