hmmm...interesting. if i didnt have the original G15 and wasnt planning on gettin a sidewinder x6, i may be more interested in this. the lack of macro keys on the side discourages me. i have adapted to the 3x6 layout and cant go with anything less.
Will then you are going to be horribly disappointed with the X6 since it only has 6 physical "X" keys....hence the 6.....



I have the first G15 as well, bought the MS sidewinder x6. Installed software, made hotkeys and tried it out. Wanted to take it back off within the first 30 minutes, but gave it a few days to see if I would ...eventually like it. I did not. It now sits in my closest of useless crap. It does not auto-repeat. I do not like how you set-up keys with it. I think logitech's software is alot more usable for how I play and what I want to do. Maybe it will be more to your liking, but honestly, the MS sidewinder is a big step down from the G15. Another thing, I was unable to remove the MS Sidewinder X6 software from my computer. It is still loaded and would not come off with an uninstall or delete. I am sure I can get it off, I just haven't messed with it much yet. Still.....I am a bit miffed that they make it a problem to un-install their shit.

Why order a $199 keyboard that only has 12 programmable keys when you can have a $169 xkeys keypad with 58 programmable keys? I ordered one of these 5 or 6 months ago and you would have to pry this from my dead cold hands.
Because I want a keyboard for typing with intergrated programable keys to use on my main account box that doesn't really use that many programable keys since playing that account requires alot of moving around, adaptation, lots of mouse clicking and then finally hitting 1 hotkey that auto-repeats? Plus, I am a sucker for new shiny toys and I already have 6 X-Keys pro's for my box support accounts, since those are almost controlled exclusively by hotkeys.