Belkin n52te

[Minou]

Does this fit for left-handers? Nothing is mentionned about this in the feature list, but as I can judge by the picture, it is made for a right hand only.

[Pernicious]

@Gritz
Hey, thank you very much for that. I kept getting lost trying to decide how to set mine up. I love your idea about using the bongos to mimic the n52te's layout, genious. The most difficult Issues I've had was trying to remember what spell I assigned to each button. Having 3 years of playing the game a certain way has really made it difficult to change. I currently have macros with shift modifiers on them. I discovered that macros with shift modifiers don't work so well.


For anyone else with this issue, here's whats going on.

I put a macro on button 1 if Action bar 1
/cast [modifier:shift] immolate;
/cast shadow bolt;

On Action bar 2, button 1 I have the summon mount button.

So, on the n52te I push button 1 and fire off a shadow bolt. Then i hold down the button i assigned shift to, and click button 1. It summons my mount rather than casts immolate. Its pretty obvious why its doing this, my Action bar 2 is keybound to shift-# states. so shift 1 matches with the first action bar slot. So anyone else having that issue, that will clue you in to whats going on.

Now I just need to dump all my macro's, and actually drag my spells around my spell bars to match up with how i want things set up.

action bar 1 - normal
action bar 2 - when holding shift
action bar 3 - control... etc.

[Gritz]

Originally Posted by MrUnderpants

Gritz, how do you like the newer version...i have heard that its actually a bad device compared to the old one. Apparently the software for this one is actually limiting the useability of it.

Since I run it on a Mac, the software is totally different than the PC version. I have heard that the PC Razer software for the n52te is terrible though for macros.

From the Mac side, since I don't use the shift states or any device macros (I only use it assign keybinds), it works fine for me.

Comparing the n52 (old) and the n52te (new) physically; here are my opinions:


+Backlighting - cool, but eye candy only

+Top keys (1-14) - much shorter travel. I really like not having to press as hard to activate the keys. Also, the surface feels more tactile.

-Mousewheel - Seems to have been moved back on the device, needs more finger gymnastics to use.

+/- Top trigger (above D-Pad) - easier to press, slightly more 'mushy,' (though some will say that original orange button was too stiff). Totally a matter of preference, I don't prefer one over the other.

-D-Pad - After I got the circle off the top of the D-Pad it felt much better, but I still prefer the original D-Pad. It's much easier to mistakenly hit down-right when you intend to hit just down or right. More sensitive, I guess, is the term I'm looking for.

+Palm rest - has a more tactile surface than the original. Less 'sweaty palm' moments. (tip - to move the palm rest, pull it straight UP from the device - it's anchored with 4 straight pegs. Yes, it took me a long time to figure this out :P )

+/- Thumb pad (button 15) - Some people have reported that they need to hit closer to the center on the n52te, and that hitting it off-center doesn't work. I have not noticed a difference, but I use it for tab targetting, so I can't really tell if it's not firing every time (ie, you won't pick up a new target, no matter how many times you press tab, if your enemies are behind you or out of range).

-Shift States - there are only three shift states in the n52te (R, G, B), instead of four on the original n52 (none, R, G, B). Since I don't use shift states, this is a non-issue for me. If you are used to the 4 shift states on the n52 though, stay far, far away from the n52te - you'll lose 1/4 of your key bindings.

Side note: the blue shift-state LED is f^%$*^ing bright. Like purple spots in your eyes bright. I put a piece of masking tape over mine.

Conclusion: If you use 4 shift states and complex built-in macros on your n52 - don't buy the n52te. If you are buying your first n52, go with the n52te.

*** Information added 3 Minutes and 5 Seconds later... ***

Originally Posted by Minou

Does this fit for left-handers? Nothing is mentionned about this in the feature list, but as I can judge by the picture, it is made for a right hand only.

It fits in your left hand, but I'm guessing that lefties use their left hands for mouse control. If you're used to using the mouse with your right hand, then you're all set. If you mouse with your left hand, then no, you won't be able to use the device comfortably.

*** Information added 8 Minutes and 5 Seconds later... ***

Originally Posted by Pernicious

@Gritz
I currently have macros with shift modifiers on them. I discovered that macros with shift modifiers don't work so well.

Yup, that's the major drawback to my setup - you can't use any of those cool 'all in one' macros that call on using shift/alt/control to modify the spell or spell target. That's why I have to have 4 different Devour Magic hotkeys :/

[Pernicious]

Gritz,

You mentioned that you took that little flat ball off of the directional pad. how'd you do that exactly? I'm at work atm, but i seem to recall it being fixed on pretty good if not physically part of the pad.

Also, how do you key bind the shift states? I was trying to figure that out last night to mess around with it. I didn't see anything I could use to toggle one state to the next.

[Gritz]

I didn't key bind the shift states in either the n52 or n52te. I don't have a need for them, since ctrl/alt/shift are my 'shift states.' The black circle on top of the D-Pad came out, though I thought I was going to lose a fingernail or two before it finally came out. Just pull it straight out.

On the mac software, there are bindings in the list for (from memory, so wording might be different)

Cycle Shift states (that lets you press one button to go from blue->red->green->blue, etc)
Temporary shift state Red (so you're in 'red' as long as you hold down the assigned button)
Temporary shift state Blue
Temporary shift state Green
Shift state Blue (pad stays in red shift state permanently, until changed)
Shift state Red
Shift state Green

Not sure how it's set up in the Windows software though.

[Pernicious]

Gritz,
Thanks again for the advice, I plan on monkeying around with it again tonight to see if i can get a new layout working for me. you've given me a few good ideas that I plan on adapting to my play style.

I'm thinking of using a shift state change for key binding town type activities and just random information screens such as opening bags, my profession windows, talents, quest log, and the like. That way i can still key bind all my spells and keep the "shift" and "ctrl" functions as shift states for while i'm in combat or danger zones, but also change things over completely while in towns and cities.

[Gritz]

Good luck, Pern - I haven't taken it that far yet (I still have z-m bound to their original keys). If I were to start fresh now, I'd probably do it with the shift states, but I'm too lazy to start over again

Once you get it figured out, if you could post your setup it would be greatly appreciated!