Pro Gamer Command Pad

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/prod..._gamer_pad.jpg

I question the utility of this and why you would want to get it over a $25 Nostromo N52 but hey - it's your call.

It's USB though so you can't multicast it to multiple machines through hardware without some serious engineering work to decode the USB signal, route it to a PS/2 signal..... or simply replace the board with a PS/2 board (like the X-Keys Matrix PS/2 board).

Anyway,

Product Features

* Pro Gamer Command Pad combines the controls essential to First Person Shooter and Strategy games in one unit making them fast and easy to reach in the heat of battle.
* Backlit keypad with choice of three glowing colors
* Ergonomic keypad with laser etched keys so characters are visible in any lighting environment; ideal for late night gaming session and LAN parties.
* 4-way analog hat switch
* 20 buttons including space, shift function and 3 mode states for up to 144 programmable commands.
* Adjustable thumb control area has 2 way tilt mechanism, slides forwards and backwards, pivots up and down.
* Standard USB Connector
* Works with virtually an OS including Windows, Mac and Linux

I'm pretty new to this whole dual boxing thing... actually so new that I've yet to do it.... but I've been using this controller to control my WOW characters for a while now. I moved to this from the belkin Nostromo n52.

They are exactly the same... I do like the tophat directional more than the regular directional pad on the Nostromo. Also there are a few buttons on the nostromo that I never used due to inconvenience... IE... the Mwheel and the Orange button.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/prod..._gamer_pad.jpg

My Binding setup is as follows:

Tophat directional bound to movement... WASD... FPS style.. IE 'A', 'D' = strafe not turn. I use mouse click turn.

Buttons 1-10 bound to Keys 1-0 --- Keybindings
Button 11 bound to Key 'End' --- Macro'd to Oh crap/Die button (NS+Heal/NS+Chain Lightning)
Button 12 bound to 'Shift'
Button 13 Bound to 'Ctrl'
Button 14 bound to 'Alt'
Button 15 Bound to 'delete' --- Bound to Mount Macro
Button 16 bound to 'pagedown' --- Bound to Bandage macro
Buttons 17-20 bound to F1-F4 --- Party selection

Buttons 15/16 require me to remove my thumb from movement... so I have these bound to 2 functions that require me to be standing still... Bandage and Mounting.

This binding setup allows me to have 40 hotkeys available. All useable without losing movement.... a + for PVP.

My Main is a elemental shaman...
buttons 1-0 are offensive spells...
shift + 1-0 are heals....
ctrl+1-0 = totems....
I have the ability for alt+1-0 but haven't figured a use for them (Most likely will be used to control my second character)



I had a very similar binding setup with my belkin.

My Belkin (actually both of them) are begining to be a little worn out, some of the buttons no longer respond as they did originally...

Is this a useful upgrade?

What's the control software like?

a point on ergonomics.. if those buttons are keyboard standard size.. i think theres a few too many buttons for it to be comfotable to press the buttons closer to your palm. i have big hands and trying to use WSAD(QE) FPS controls on a standard 101 keyboard gives me horrible RSI type cramps after a while. just something to consider.

if the point of a unit like this is to concentrate keys you use most often to be accessable without moving your palm. great.. but if you just want extra programmable keys i think i prefer the look of the x-keys for its flatter, easier to navigate design.. more like an extension of the keyboard rather than an attempt at an ergonomic palm rest.