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Reviews -
Accessories
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Written by Scott Byers
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Saturday, 12 August 2006 |
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Page 2 of 5
This highly advanced input system consists of a brutally simple
device that even the most complete computer illiterate can operate with
ease. Simplistic in design, the DX-1 certainly isn’t going to wow the
gamer who buys only those devices that look like they just jumped out
of the page of a Spawn comic book, but once it has been plugged in and
set up for your tastes there is certainly no turning back.
Looking into the open box, the DX-1 is hardly impressive. The
unit looks like nothing more than a writing tablet with a long cord
hanging off the side, a few manuals, three strange pages of stickers,
and an unlabeled square box off to the side. What you won’t realize
until after unpacking the unit is that the magic truly lies in that
unlabeled box; 25 keys with an inexhaustible sticky surface to attach
to the clear DX-1 removable top-panel.
After about 20 minutes of placing the keys where I thought I
would want them, I was ready for the first test drive. As I load up
Deus Ex II, I imagine myself spending another 20 minutes to get the
keys configured to my liking, but much to my surprise the fun begins in
only a few short minutes. I didn’t even bother with the included
software for setting up the keys; the board took care of it all for me.
I looked through the controls I had set up already for my keyboard and
one by one I recorded them using the extremely intuitive and easy to
use macro recorder built right onto the DX-1.
By pressing the record button in the upper right of the board
(see images below), the DX-1 begins a metronome-like tapping to let me
know I’m in record mode. I then press the keyboard or mouse key I want
to use, and the DX-1 responds with a higher-pitched “tap” to confirm
that a keystroke has been logged. I then press the button on the DX-1 I
want to assign the command to, and the DX-1 then makes a noticeable
“Pop!” sound to confirm that the keystroke was successfully recorded to
the key. A few more recorded keys and “Voila!” almost instant gaming.
See images below.
The real beauty here is that not only does the DX-1 manage the
association with the game you’re playing and remember all your defined
keystrokes, but it’s a virtually maintenance free device with
absolutely no restrictions on keystrokes. Each application uses its own
key mappings for each of the individual 25 keys attached to the board,
completely transparent to the end user. There are no “Shift” modes, no
annoying executable association programs, and certainly no learning
curve. You put the keys where you want to feel comfortable and the unit
takes care of everything else behind the scenes.
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