X-keys Programmable USB Keypads and Keyboards (80 Key, XK-80)

Yes, it's more expensive than others but worth it. Programming is easy and versatile. The keys feel good and solid. The backlight option is a definite plus. It allows both software-based macros and storing them in the hardware. You have two options for programming. One is more basic and is all you need for programming simple key combinations. It has some weight to it as well, so it's pretty beefy.I use mine with a train simulator. I'm certain it's great for other software that has lots of key combinations that are hard to remember. The potential use for this is unlimited that I can see.

This thing is simply amazing. It Just Works. You don't even need software-resident on your computer-- you can store the keys or keystrokes directly into the device's memory, and then? Never need to re-load the software again, if you don't want to.The software is pretty easy to use; basically you're given a simple graphic of the keyboard, which you double-click each key, to change it. I would be very nice if the software was "smart" enough to blink the corresponding key, when you did that, but as I understand it, the individual key lighting isn't addressable by the main keystroke-programming software. You use a separate utility for that feature. Oh well.When I bought this, I also purchased an assortment of double-keys-- some "tall" and some "wide". These are not interchangable! Depending on how you place the keyboard, these accessories will go left-to-right, or up-and-down across two keys. So you need a pack of each, if you plan on having some double-wide keys, and some double-tall. You can also purchase blanking plates, for unused keys, which can help to highlight your layout.I found the keycaps a bit tricky at first, to remove-- it comes with a little tool (a stainless-steel "tweezer"), but I kept pulling up the whole key--not just the key-cap. With some practice, I found just where to grab with the tool, to *just* remove the thin top-part, and not the whole key.I had ordered several sheets of key-labels, for hand-written legends. I used these at first, and they were okay. However, with 80 keys, it was tiresome hand-writing all those individual legends, to say nothing of my handwriting being too large for the standard sized keys.So I used yet another utility that came with the software, and painstakingly typed in all 80 legends, one key at a time. The interface wasn't too bad-- double-click on a key, click to select one line, two lines or three lines (max). The default justification is centered, but you can left- or right- justify too. I found if you leave it on 3 lines, but click on the middle of three lines, and only use that, it's a wee bit faster, per key.What I wish it had? Was multiple selection feature-- and apply the same legend to a set of keys, then you'd just need to *edit* individual keys some-- it would be much quicker, I think, to edit a minor change or sequence, than to edit each key individually.Even better? Specify a sequence, as in a special symbol is replaced with a sequence, starting with 1, then specifying an adder (usually +1) up to as many keys as is selected in sequence. Or start with "A" and going up the alphabet in sequence. That would have saved me a couple of hours.Once I got all the keys labeled, I simply printed it--on plain paper. The labels it came with? I found rather cumbersome to use, and do *not* recommend them at all. They have mild sticky--but only to hold them to the sheet! The label itself is plain paper, one removed! And between the small size, a mild static electric charge? It was rather a pain to get the keys labeled. With plain paper, I simply cut the individual labels apart with scissors-- an entire row, then individual keys as I was installing them. Very much a pain--and impossible to keep square. Oh well--the printed labels are ever so much better than my hand-written ones anyway.What I would love to see? Is Post-It type glue on a sheet of labels-- that *would* let you keep them perfectly square. I may see if I can find this as a larger sheet, that I can put through my laser printer.I should point out, that the labels are underneath a little plastic cover--so once you have them in place? They are protected, and ought to remain for the life of the keyboard.All in all, this is an amazing product! I would buy it again, in a second. Indeed-- I have considered purchasing a second one, to use as a dedicated directional keypad--but I am worried a bit, that the software would be confused as to which unit was which. So I purchased a different product for that role (keypad) (see my review on a Razor gaming keypad).One additional nit-to-pick: if you allow their programming software to remain resident (in memory at boot-up)? The light pattern you programmed, using the little lighting utility, is messed up the minute you re-start your computer. Then, you are obliged to re-start that utility--which immediately restores your pattern. My solution was to disable their software from remaining in memory-- you don't need it, if you use the "write to device" and "hardware mode".I recommend using hardware mode anyway: many games bypass the built-in software engine that Windows uses, and talk directly to the keyboard at the hardware layer. Such games would simply ignore the resident software key programming, and the keyboard would not work-- or worse, some games would see such software as a "cheat", and disable your game ID! But using *hardware* mode, all the keystrokes are saved to the keyboard's copious memory-- and the game simply sees it as another USB keyboard. To be sure, I have not tried the keyboard's ability to simulate a mouse, so if that is a feature you need, you may need to experiment.

There's nothing else quite like it to compare it with, and it's so immensely useful, that it gets a 5-star rating by default. Supporting this rating is PI Engineering's superb support staff, cross-platform programming software, "industrial quality" build and sturdy, firm feel of the buttons. It's also quite easy to customize the button layout using the supplied removal tool. The unit comes with a sampler pack of alternative button styles, and PI sells separately a useful variety of alternative keycap shapes and colors. They even sell button "blanks" which I use to provide tactile landing points for one-handed, eyes-off operation.The free version of ControllerMate software is immensely powerful. Button function and illumination can easily be made application-specific. Buttons can output single keystrokes (with or without modifier keys), long text strings (such as URLs), simulate mouse movements and clicks, and even trigger system sounds. The full version of ControllerMate (a bargain at $25 from orderedbytes.com) adds MIDI functionality (send and receive). One or more buttons can be programmed to act as a "shift" or "swap" function to provide multiple layers of functionality from every button. And backlighting of each button is individually addressable.I do have a few critiques, listed here under the banner of "FYI" and not in any way meant to "bash" this product.As mentioned in another review here on Amazon, backlight bleed can be a bit of a problem. If you've programmed illumination on a single button, the light bleeds in such a way that any button below it may appear illuminated too. Next... the USB cord is not detachable. While this shouldn't be a problem for more permanent installations, it might be a bit of a nuisance if the unit needs to be frequently moved (as is the case with my setup). Finally, the labeling utility is only available for PC. Being Mac-centric, I find this to be quite inconvenient. Though I have a PC, the labeling utility will only work if the unit is connected to it. This means I have to dedicate time to programming the labels rather than being able to do it on a more casual schedule while I continue to work on my Mac.Critiques aside, between the great feel of this unit, extensive programmability and great customer support, I don't hesitate to recommend this unit if you need to pack a whole lot of functionality into a compact surface area.