Belkin n52te Tournament Edition SpeedPad
by Belkin Components
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List Price: Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Belkin n52te Tournament Edition SpeedPad
Customer Review: My favorite, so far, regardless of its faults =]
Summary: 3 Stars
All computer gamers should be using a secondary device, instead of a keyboard, for actual gaming. Particularly because most/all of these devices let you do more than press one or two keys with your thumb (space-bar and maybe alt? lol), arguably one of the most useful fingers we have! I have also coupled the n52te with the Razer Naga Laser Mouse; which again, most mouses leave you with one or two thumb-keys, essentially making my thumbs useful again (and certainly this applies beyond just gaming). Also, the two look great on the desk together!
During this review, keep in mind I have had the Belkin n52 for many years, happily! :D
The look and feel of the n52te is impressive, the shiny black finish is metallic, but only the keys/d-pad/scroll-wheel are scratch resistant at all. Otherwise, everything seems to be an upgrade from the n52. The keys are better arranged height-wise, and are larger (the same diameter and texture as the Apple Keyboard MB869LL/A (which is my primary keyboard). The single thumb-key, that is above the d-pad (D-PAD FTW!!), depresses easily, as you would expect it to, and has a smooth mirror finish like the units casing. The d-pad has a removable nub, which is similar to the top of the PlayStation analog stick. And the 'space' key, below those, has a much more textured feel than any of the other keys, which as other reviewers have noted wobbles a bit and is overall not recommended for any function that may require an immediate response. The LED/shift-state indicators are very bright and I have mine covered with some tape to soften the harshness lol. Also, one of the LED indicators has-to be on, if the device is plugged in. The n52 has a default 'key-state' (giving it 4 shift-states total, 1 more than the n52te) where the LED indicators are off. The backlight, however, is perfect and illuminates the scroll-wheel well.. its just bright enough. The scroll-wheel has a good texture but it's a bit hard to click, and makes a noticeable sound when you do). The hand rest feels wonderful. It can be set in two positions (the one as is the packaging, or about an inch further back) or removed heh.
The feature I am especially impressed with is the on-board memory <3 Once you program it you can disable all the n52te software/drivers which free's up system memory, and you can move the device to any computer yet still have your custom keymaps!!! Speaking of the software.. its usable, but thats about it.. a huge step back from the n52's driver.. but not having drivers running in the background makes up for it in spades =D
I will be writing a review for the Razer Naga at some point and should denote that it seems Razer's products are fragile, and their drivers can certainly be better too.
Customer Review: n52te != n52
Summary: 3 Stars
Once upon a time there was a gaming peripheral called the n52...
...and if it wasn't for that product, I might be able to give the n52te higher marks.
Now, before I start into bashing on this product, let me say that it does offer several new and exciting features that the original did not. For one, the palm rest now has two different placement options, a huge plus for those with bigger hands. Next up, the D-Pad has a detachable nub that transforms it into a joystick; very cool! Additionally, if blue LEDs are your thing, the n52te is far more blinding than the original ever was.
I have owned the original n52 for many years now and consider that purchase to be far and away the best money ever spent towards PC gaming. Sadly, I didn't have the foresight to buy up a couple spares before they were discontinued (a mistake I will not repeat with the Razer Naga, tyvm) and recently I have been having issues with the microswitch for the 'big orange button.' The n52te had been sitting in my Amazon cart for what seems like forever when it finally dropped to a price that I just couldn't say no to. I wish I had.
Since it's release, I've heard nothing but complaints about the Razer software powering this product. Upon reading reviews, though, it seemed to me that all the major issues were ironed out in late 2008. Having used the n52te for several weeks now, I would agree with this statement. The software has been entirely bug-free since I installed the newest software and flashed the latest firmware..... but it still falls well short of the software in the original. Everything just feels needlessly complex. Making simple macros takes forever if you are anal about your delays. Switching between favorite profiles is much more of a hassle and the loads are not instantaneous like they were with the original. There is no default keyset, effectively reducing the number of potential keys on this thing by like 26. All in all, it just pales in comparison.
As for the device itself, I only have one complaint. While it is obvious that someone took a serious stab at improving the design overall (compared to the original, it feels more soft and warm and the keys feel less like $5 keyboard keys and more like high-end laptop keys) they might have done so without considering the innards. On my n52te, the single most important key on the whole device (key 03 or what would often be 'W' in WASD games) does not make proper contact with the circuits beneath it when fully depressed, forcing me to mash the key harder than I otherwise would which quickly leads to hand fatigue. I am beginning to notice this on two other keys as well, though not nearly as bad. This one issue may end up being the deal-breaker for me.
Customer Review: Not perfect, but a nice upgrade from my n50
Summary: 4 Stars
Please note from my title that I upgraded from the n50 and not the n52, so what was an upgrade in many categories for me may not be for the average n52 user.
That being said, there were several things I really liked about this controller and only a few things I didn't like. Overall, the construction is solid and the controller is comfortable to use. I have experienced none of the rocking that some have reported. I have not tried to remove the optional joystick, so I cannot attest to whether the supposed hole that is left in the directional pad is as bad as some have said. I also don't use more than three shift states, so losing one shift state wasn't a loss to me. The space button does have some "quirks" in that you must press near the center or it does not respond. However, all other buttons were extremely responsive. The backlighting option is nifty, but I found myself turning it off after a while because it was a distraction. I do miss the scroll wheel having an "on/off" state, but that was changed for the n52 as well and not just the n52te.
The software wasn't as bad as I had read before buying it. Yes, all the delays are preset. However, delays can be as little as 50ms and you can stack multiple delays between key presses. So unless you need a response time of less than 50ms, there shouldn't be an issue except that instead of the editor auto-timing your delay you'd have to figure it out yourself and insert the appropriate delays. I don't know about the one macro at a time issue. I know that I can fire a macro while moving with the directional pad and it works just fine, but I don't use two macros simultaneously. Overall, the software seemed more intuitive to me than the editor packaged with the n50. The fact that the profiles are persistent to the controller was a huge selling feature for me and has been a pleasure to take advantage of.
My general assessment based on what I have read and experienced is this...if you are upgrading from the n50, this controller is probably a very nice upgrade. The additional buttons and features were nice. If you are upgrading from the n52, you might want to look at what new features this controller brings and what features you lose. Some may find that the n52 does everything they need it to and this controller may be a disappointment unless you specifically want the persistent profiles or backlight features.
Lastly, bear in mind that there were some screwy shipment issues when on this controller early on. I am not sure what the situation is like now, but pay attention to the estimated shipment dates so you don't get hit with an unexpected delay.
Customer Review: Caveat emptor; "Evil Twin" is a dud.
Summary: 2 Stars
The n52te favored form over function, appearance over flavor, and design over usability. It is the "evil twin" of its more venerable sibling; the "bad sister" who entrances you with lights and a polished exterior, but who is by comparison only a shadow of her older sis beyond "skin deep."
Out of the box, this item does not "light up" as pictured; you must find a switch on the bottom of the unit - which you might expect "ON" by default, considering the product's marketing - before the lights begin. You might hope that fireworks would ensue, but prepare yourself instead only for frustration and disappointment.
After installing the software, you are presented with a clumsy configuration interface, which like the product favors flash over utility. Assignment of single keys is nonetheless straightforward; in this the UI does as well as its predecessor.
This is where the romance ends.
The task of assigning macros is an absolute, unequivocal, hair-tearing and scream-inducing nightmare.
1) You cannot adjust recorded delays; you must delete them all (which seems the ONLY function of the "select all delays" button), and reinsert each one separately.
2) Inserting keypresses/commands not originally recorded requires recording an additional action, whose sections (e.g. keypress, delay, key release, delay) appear at the bottom of the list and must be moved SEPARATELY (!) up the list.
If that doesn't sound enchanting enough, consider that you cannot select multiple actions and insert delays en masse; rather, you must:
1) select the action under which you wish to insert a delay by clicking it
2) select the desired delay, which is ONLY offered in 50, 100, 150, and 200 ms
3) click "Insert Delay"
4) de-select the action you just selected by clicking on it
5) repeat steps 1-4 FOR EVERY DELAY IN THE MACRO.
After spending half an hour experiencing this lesson in patience and terrible UI design, you think you're out of the woods.
Wrong.
You start the game, and the controller switches only sporadically between keysets, though you've ensured it's configured properly.
A trip to the n52te dot com forums ends with a search that uncovers nothing but complaints (outside of evangelistic excuses by admins who, despite having been registered for an entire year, have perhaps three dozen posts) and a registration form that never sends a confirmation e-mail.
Buying this piece of #@$!: $60-$70.
Trying to get it to work: 6 hours.
Smashing it against a brick wall: Priceless.
Customer Review: Better than everything else
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a veteran of computer gamepads, having tried Saitek Cyborg Command Unit and Logitech G13, even oldies but goodies such as the Thrusmaster Tactical Board. I play mostly real time strategy games such as the Total War series and Civ-IV. The n52te, even with several poor choices made in updating it from n52, is still the best choice out there for a game pad in my estimation.
The Bad (in hopes that someone in power will read this and get it right next time):
1. Clunky Software: Someone should tell Razer they do not know **** about what makes a good programming interface for a game pad. The old Belkin software for the n52 (before Razer introduced its mouse software) was much better. Nonetheless, you can get what you want done with the Razer software, even if takes longer than it should.
2. Fewer Shift States: Razer in its wisdom decided that eliminating the default shift state (or one of the four shift states) from the old n52 would not be missed. Bad idea. Eliminating 25% of the button options is not a good upgrade.
3. Faulty thumb bar: The thumb button/space bar (button15) is unreliable on the n52te - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You cannot assign anything important to it. At least this is not an essential button (unlike the faulty thumb control and sometimes other buttons on the Saitek Cyborg Command Unit).
The Good (these features are keepers):
1: Periscoping thumb control: The new n52te comes with an optional extension of the thumb d-pad control, to give it a more joy stick feel. I don't know if this was by design, but the optional extension can actually be pulled out only partially to rest sturdily at a quarter of an inch over the d-pad to give it even more leverage. This extension competes very well with the Saitek and Logitech thumb-joystick gamepad designs, and still allows the pure d-pad aficionado to dispense with it.
2: Good layout: The keys are not too many and easy to reach and locate by touch without making mistakes (unlike the Logitech G13). Another row of buttons above or off to the side somewhere (e.g., Saitek Cyborg Command Unit) might not hurt, but more buttons are not really that useful when you want to concentrate on the screen not your fingers.
3. Sturdy and Reliable: Aside from the thumb button, this pad works reliably with repeated use over a year in my experience.
4. Not a big thing, but the new soft-touch wrist pad is slightly more comfortable than the old n52 plastic design.