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

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.

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.

The product is well constructed, the software works (I am on a MAC) and this has help me immensely with my work. I prefer to use the mouse as little as possible, so the ability to trigger 80 macros with this extendo keyboard is a game changer for me. I also ordered a pack of the key lens inserts. I wanted a neater solution than writing on them by hand. I could have measured and laid out as template to print directly on to the X-Keys sheets, but I was impatient. Instead I printed and cut out .48 x .48 inch stickers, that I then stuck on to the key lens inserts. The key lens inserts are SLIGHTLY tricky to install, as they fall out easily when you put the key lens back on—but that's easily solved by just knowing that and adjusting to it. This company has won my confidence enough for me to order custom keys lenses once I settle into what I need. Now I just need to find a stand for it...

I am a long time user of the CH Products Multi Function Pad. Unfortunately, that product was discontinued almost a decade ago and after years of pounding on it to kill monsters, I needed to find something else. (Incidentally, X Keys, you should get a license to the MFP and bring it back, many gamers are hungry for that product!). Anyway, back to the X Keys product: Positives: Keys seem well made and sturdy. Hopefully they will stand up to long fights with dragons and the like. The programming software is pretty easy to figure out. The two colored back light is nice Can add delays between keystrokes in macros The paper key designations are placed under a key cover, so they will not get dirty / bleed from extensive use. Zero problems installing either the hardware or the software in Windows 11 Negatives: This is a traditional keypad. Once a key wears out you will be stuck with a dead one. While the software was relatively easy to figure out, there is no manual. I had to contact tech support to get more esoteric questions answered. While you can add delays between keystrokes, they are limited to 500ms increments. No playing around to get the minimum delay that a game will recognize. The non-sticky key covers you get are very limited. One page of colored symbols, which does not include the whole alphabet and is missing keys people would want -- such as "esc," "enter," "alt," etc. The first page you get is colored, with black, green and red key covers. That sounds great, but the second page you get is blank, white key covers. So, if you use the pre-prepared sheets your keyboard will have a variety of different colored keys on it. Some may consider this a feature, I don't. There is no software for printing out new key symbols easily. It would be preferable if the blank key cover sheet came in a 8 1/2 * 11 sheet that you could put in a laser printer. Treating it as a Google document, X Keys could easily make a template for us to easily print out our own key messages. While I think the cost of the pad itself was ok, the cost of accessories is ridiculously high. Key blockers (a tiny piece of black plastic) cost $1 a pop. They probably cost the company around 2 cents per to manufacture. So, all in all I give it 4 stars. it is easy to use, will likely serve its purpose and is the best programable keypad I have found currently available for playing MMORPGs. Some misses on the software and the cost of accessories drop it from 5 stars.

I have been using an xkeys 58 key model since they first introduced it maybe about 20 years ago, or at least almost (I can't even recall when I first got it). I use it for writing patents (I program a key for each number in the drawings - so that when I press the key it types both the number and the name - thus making sure I call the same number by the same name every time. I also have it programmed for CAD commands. Ii also use it for other legal tasks. In all, it has saved me a LOT of time and effort over the years. Unfortunately, my model was not compatible with Windows 10, so I just upgraded to the 80 keys new version. It is fantastic. I should point out that the company has thought about their older users. All except the VERY EARLIEST versions are upgradable to use with the new software mode. But, as I said, mine was the very earliest model. Can't fault the company for not forseeing Windows 10 that long ago. Anyway, the new model does ALL of the things I wished my older one could do - such as the ability to program in mouse movements and buttons, etc. More importantly, the setup can be stored and recalled, so that I can keep the keyboard setup stored with a patent file and recall it when later I do an Office Action. Any complaints I have are so small as to be insignificant. (For instance, I wish they had a special command so that you could EASILY program a key to recall the default lighting setup.) It has PROVEN to be very durable. It is easy to program. Most of all, it is extremely useful.

I found that this 80 key model is very good. There are two modes to saving key configurations and macros. The onboard memory of the keypad has a finite amount of memory. Where if you save the key layout on the PC, you can store a lot more macros. If however you do this anytime you press the programmed key on your keyboard, it will end up doing the macro. You will basically be writing a script in notepad and saving it as an AHK file. Otherwise known as auto hotkey. You can adjust the delay time between the key presses as well for programming more than one key after another. There is also the ability to combine keys together such as control + another key, alt + another key, shift + another key. So it is possible to get a lot of binded keys for this device to be able to do with one keypress. You can make goto statements in your script to start another macro if that key has a macro programmed for it. I have only done this a few times as you have to give enough of a delay for the macro you referenced through the keybind to complete. Otherwise you will be having inputs interfering with each other before it completes. Anything you run on your PC will work, as long as you match they keys that are mapped for whatever software you are using. Have to be aware of what keys you shouldn't use for mapping that may be used already. As some I found can't be used. It is a trial and error process to find all the unused keys. I only wished the internal memory of the keypad could be increased to a higher amount and once programmed didn't need the software and could plug it into another device once programmed.

I've had this about a year now so I can give a full review of it. I got the pad with the intention to make a left handed keypad for my tenkeyless keyboard -- I'm right handed but the keypad pushes the mouse too far over on a regular keyboard. I also added some coding shortcuts like braces, brackets, parenthesis, etc. Then there is a group of selection keys for selecting text in various ways. I put the arrow keys in there and the page up/down, home/end keys. I added cut/copy/paste keys. Navigation shortcuts. I still had 3 full rows of keys left after all of that. I ended up labeling those as A-J in 3 different colors and I reprogram those as needed to suit my current task load. That gives me 33 keys to fully customize. I do have several hard set already to create a prepend to file names, in variable situations, that I use for file organization. Even after that, I still get nearly 30 keys to do whatever it is I want. You simply can't go wrong here. The only reason not to buy this model over any other is if you simply cannot maintain the mental inventory of what you've programmed or you will never need more functionality -- I always go long in that situation. Shorting yourself is more expensive in the long run. If you don't mind making and switching labels (the company provides blanks that you can customize, I used GIMP to edit them) you can get a smaller model and switch out more. I'm more of a nailed down type, so I want extra for temp stuff. The software has not shown any issues thus far, but I do not use the scripting issues as that was not my use case. 2018-12-16 This review is for the XK-24. My XK-80 review stands on its own, the pad still works great. The 24 I got for my workplace because the software shortcuts require too many hand gymnastics for me. I have really beat this thing up since I bought it in July 2018. Made my own labels from the blanks, had to do that. I want to note that I have had two contacts with customer service between both models, and both contacts went well: 1) I couldn't download their software at all -- problem was my nic had been fried, but it passed data, just corrupted data 2) The pad resets the lights to blue every time, even when programming. That is because there is a scripting setting enabled in the software that you should turn off in the menu area if you don't want scripted lights. I had muddled through and found the offending lines in their software and sent them the fix, LOL. At least their tech support knew what I was saying unlike many other companies tech support. I'm keeping the five stars between the two products.

the flexibility/ability to customize is amazing. but what i thought was going to be a 5 star product actually ended up being a 3 star product. reasons: 1- for mac, software is basic and limited. i was quite disappointed that they don't have their full functioning software for mac. 2- this is the biggest downside for me. i got this to trade stocks. day trading. speed matters. seconds could mean hundreds to thousands of dollars. last week, one of the keys got stuck in the middle of my trade! i couldn't get it unstuck and had to remember what keyboard shortcut i had assigned the button to. after i got it unstuck by taking the cap off and pushing on it with a screwdriver, i noticed that the spaces between the buttons aren't perfectly straight. meaning, buttons do not sit at a right angle- many of them are turned very slightly to the left or right. this is why the button got stuck. i'm not sure if i'd want to continue using this to actually enter/exit trades now. 3. this might be a preference, but the button are quite hard to press. i do like that they feel sturdy, but it's almost TOO hard to press. if you're thinking of using this for gaming or trading, or a task where you need to press the key many times consecutively, the resistance on the key is most definitely NOT optimal. 4. the resistance on the keys are NOT consistent. some are noticeably easier to press than other keys. 5. the big buttons i purchase from them (2 button key, 4 button key), do not work very well. they simply do not feel good to press- they don't seem very reliable. for 2 button key, it leans too much if you press either side, unlike a normal keyboard large buttons like ctrl, shift, or even a spacebar, where even if you press the left or the right end, it goes down mostly without the left or right side hitting first. not the case with this device. and the 4 button large key is completely useless. i wanted to like it and use it for an emergency "exit and sell all positions" red button, but it is just too difficult to press. not functional at all. 6. the instructions will say you use a plier to pull the key component out. yes that works, but it'll eventually make plastic soft or break, as it happened to one of my keys, if you are figuring out your layout and changes your keys out often. all in all, there is no competitor except stream deck, which is definitely worth the try, especially with it not needing to spend time making key labels for buying it from x-keys. stream deck is limited in # of keys however, and if you need many keys, currently there is no competitor. the quality issues i've mentioned above might be just my experience. but there are just so many different types of quality issues that i have a hard time believing this is an isolated lemon. was very excited to get it, but it most certainly did NOT live up to the hype/expectations.

I am extremely satisfied with this product, the build quality is excellent and the programming software is flexible and easy to use. I love the design of the key with the removable key caps to allow for easy application of legends and the interchangeable keys make it easy to create custom layout. I am equally happy with the vendor, the customer service is excellent, there was a MINOR mix up with my shipment and they not only responded quickly but they exceeded my expectations in resolving my concern and making sure I was satisfied, I highly recommend Xkeys keyboards and PI Engineering, I will buy from this vendor again.

May be a little on the expensive side but is a great piece of kit. Was bought to work with lighting control software to give me quick access to programming. Very easy to set up and also after a quick look at the webpage about led backlights got it working just how I wanted. Very useful in hardware mode as it then stores the keys/macros/shortcuts in the unit so you do not have to have the software on a computer. With the software running however you do get more options like text strings etc. to set to your keys.

I've customised and used it for vMix for over 2 months now - zero complaint! The keys have good tactile feedback, easy to pull out if needed and the software make printing custom label a breeze!

Great item, keys programmed to work with Davinchi Resolve

Deservs five stars but as you need extra configuration software to get it to run with X-Plane 11 I have just done 4 stars. Keys work nice and positively. Somewhat pricey for a game add-on but that's not what it was really designed for. It has a multitude of uses that I am only just scraping the service. Well done to Stick and Rudder Studios for creating the software to run with X-Plane.