Lazy + broke = ???

I'm after some feedback on the n52 and other gaming pad style devices.

The three classes I've played the most are warrior, shaman, and druid, in that order. Due to the warrior and druid's multiple bars I've never had much of a problem with keybinds. But on my shaman I had one hell of a time trying to get everything bound. I use W A D Q E R T Y F G Z X C V 1 2 3 4 5 6 ~, in addition to alt modifiers on some keys and shift modifiers on almost every key. I also have ctrl modifiers on half a dozen of them. Coming to a stupidly high total of key binds well in excess of 40. I think this is mostly due to many totems that aren't always used in combat, but when required you want to be able to hit a button and have them there.

Seeing only 17 buttons on the n52, three of which I'd be using for movement, what is the likelihood I'm going to get everything comfortably bound? Am I going to struggle using the d-pad modifiers for many different keys while moving at the same time?

I've been using the N52 for a couple years and I'm very happy with it. The one thing I have a recurring problem with is the scroll wheel getting stuck. I have it bound to shift and every so often it will get stuck on shift until I press it again. Is that just me spilling shit on my N52 or is it a problem with anyone else? It's probably the only thing that frustrates me about the N52 (chain lightning instead of water shield when we are about to pull a boss is bad). After hearing that the TE isn't really a big improvement I probably won't switch until this one's keys wear out.

My n52 mapping is basically as follows:

Directional Pad = movement
1-13 = spells (stance/form shifts assigned via Bartender)
14 = jump
mouse wheel = targetting
space = varies, sometimes other state shifts (quick swap to holy spells on my Shadow Priest, for instance), but usually used as a modifer for click2cast

I've been playing like this for a few years now, starting with WoW beta. I actually forced myself to get used to the 8D pad from the beginning, though, so I'm not sure how hard transitioning to that would be now, especially if you were required to be fairly deft at it (arenas, raiding, etc.)

[e] As far as sticky keys go, the only problem I've had is with the orange thumb button on the n52. That key was always sticky, though. Mousewheel has been fine for me and I use it regularly for targetting. And yeah, TE isn't really an improvement; stays in place better, nicer buttons, but the functionality is no better than the n52.

okay after a couple weeks of using the Saitek Cyborg pad's d-pad hat thing for movement instead of WASD or any keyboard type keys, I am absolutely in love. I think this is the best way to play a game. You can set your axis directions to do whatever you want and I think it works really, really well and frees up 4 hotkeys for me to use for useful skills. The only thing I have issues with is jumping while moving with it since the thumb used to be where I hit my jump so I've had to take my hand off my mouse to jump which I know is going to make me dive headfirst into some trash at the wrong time.

I think overall that the d-pad on the Saitek is far superior to the one with the N52. If you're going to try to use one for movement, I think the Saitek is totally the way to go. If you're not, maybe it's a wash, but I'd definitely give the d-pad movement a real try.

Wall of text INC:

I use a n52 at work for AutoCAD and (I used to use) a n52te at home for WoW. I also play a Warrior as my old main and a Warlock. Take this first as a research point because I can't confirm this on Windows, the n52 has 4 states on my work windows computer (normal, red, green, blue) but on my mac at home, the n52te only has 3 states since a color is always on. I would love to use my n52te at work still because of a few key points. The "fire" button on the n52 is really tough to press, I had to requisition a cheap mousepad underneath it to keep it in place. The "mousewheel" is tough to click over also. The negative for the n52te are the Dpad being much less tactile.

I used the n52te for WoW for two months and I honestly couldn't get that to become second nature with all my tricks. I used Trinity Bars to arrange my action bars to visually reflect the keypad layout even. So in the end, I'm back to my beloved version 1 G15 keyboard with a horizontal 18 button Trinity Bar with stance, shift, alt, and control states. On my warlock (your shaman), this is 72 keys bound to ~,1,2,3,4,5,6,T,A,S,D,F,G,Z,X,C,V,B. I couldn't get away from the default strafing layout so Q and E are still strafe, but I changed W to be "move backward" and I control forward movement, turning and voicechat with my MX518 mouse. I'm an avid keybinder and I can't imagine using over 72 keys. If you need more, IMO, I think you need to make some better macros or have a hidden-until-mouseover bar without keybinds that you click for rarely used buffs/abilities that you're not going to need to mash at to save your skin.

I've also already used 5 mice this year and none of them have held up to my logitech MX518 benchmark. Your mileage may vary, but I like these qualities for my big right paw: Large (high arch), Light, Good grip without accidental clicks (I pick up the mouse frequently). Can't live without those, but I always want to improve. More buttons than the MX518 is my current wish... I would love to bind a few extra keys to shift/alt/control so I don't have to use left hand key combos. Naturally, I tried the 9 button Razer Lachesis but in the end I only loved the way it looked, the texture and that it had 9 buttons. My hand was aching after a few hours of use and there wasn't a good place to grip the mouse on the sides because the buttons are very low to the base. I didn't have a chance to train my pinky finger to hit two of the buttons unfortunately.

Tried the Fatal1ty mouse, not bad really, but slightly uncomfortable. Durability was a problem on the left mouse button. Within three weeks it was double left clicking with a single touch or sometimes registering has a hold-click. Not useable.

Can't review the microsoft mouse I tried without remembering the name. It's discontinued and I got it on eBay. It had a contoured (edit: ribbed is a more accurate description) side grip, which was great, but it felt slow and clumsy.

Lastly was a real shame. If you like wireless mice, I can highly recommend this for large-handed righties, but I couldn't find it without being packaged with a keyboard. The Logitech MX 3200 Cordless Desktop has one hell of a comfortable mouse. Sadly, the wake-up time drove me absolutely nuts. It's a mental thing, I know it's just a fraction of a second.

Good luck everyone, good hardware fit to your person is quite an experience. Next on my list when I have money to burn again: Foot pedals! =)

And the blue macro buttons are stupidly placed....

Actually I ended up not using the X-Keys much at all. Glad I got it for free. Its just not ergonomic or comfortable, and the keys aren't set in any intuitive manner. I've picked up an n52te and am finding it an improvement thus far.

I looked the thing up on Amazon.com, it seems too good to be true. 9 buttons! There has got to be some kind of catch. How does the sentitivity and precision compare to a Logitec mouse? How long have you had it? Is its durability good?

I use an N52 as well- this is my setup.

Buttons 1-10 are numbers 1-0.
Buttons 11, 12, 13, and 14 are -, =, [, ].
Mousewheel click is \.

All these are bound to a 5x2 and a 5x1 bar in bongos, and are represented on the screen one to one with their position on the n52, so that middle bar second from right button means hit middle row second from right key.

I have the dpad bound to movement, but I rarely use that since I mouse run for the most part. It does strafing while mouse running and i can use it to do something one handed while eating, but that's about it.

The upper red button is tied to vent.

On my mouse, i've got mouse wheel left and mouse wheel right set to target next and target previous enemy. mousewheel click is auto run, mousewheel up and down are zoom in and out, and the buttons at the front and rear of the mouse wheel do upper and lower trinkets.

I've got three side buttons on the mouse, which are bound to ctrl, alt, and shift. Combined with my fifteen button hot bar, that gives me 60 buttons if I set up shift states on both, and 45 buttons if I only shift state the top as I have with my druid, having the lowest bar always display forms.

I can expound on my button placement philosophy if people are interested, but basically I put the most spammed buttons towards the center three rows, and the least spammed down the right and left sides. I tend to put non tactical buffs under a shift state and have only during combat use commands under the non-shift state bars. Buffs and group version buffs are on a separate state but with the same button so that front side mouse + 06 versus the middle side mouse + 06 means fortitude in either case, but the front, being harder to hit, is the group buff that consumes a reagent and should require the effort.

I don't use the Lachesis, but I use the Deathadder, which seems to be a similar model with just fewer buttons. And I have to say, I don't think I'm ever going to buy another mouse, ever. Not only is it comfortable to hold, but the sensitivity settings are easy to configure and very precise. I've had mine for about 8 or 9 months now, and I haven't noticed any problems with it.

So you play a druid? :P

Can you load different profiles for different toons? If so, can you tab out of WOW and load a new profile while WOW is running?

Definitely need to try out that "Sandio 3D Mouse"..

Currently using new newer [Logitech G5 Laser Mouse] and not sure I need to have much more at my fingertips.
Playing a holy priest atm and have 9 spells bound to my mouse all with a one button push to cast using Grid and mouseover macros.

Greater Heal 1 - left tilt mouse wheel
Greater Heal 3 - right tilt mouse wheel
Greater Heal 7 - move wheel back
Flash Heal - move wheel forward
Renew - push wheel down
PoM - back left side button
Dispel Magic or Remove Disease - front left side button
Prayer of Healing - first button behind the wheel
Binding Heal - second button behind the wheel

not sure their is a efficient setup for healing in my book....if so I am willing to change

also using Clique to bind offensive spells to the mouse to cast on enemies only and [Fang Gamepad] on my left had for a few keybinds and movement.

I recently got the idea of using foot pedals to help with tanking. This would allow for a calm SS, Rev, Dev, Dev rotation without mashing the the shield block/heroic strike keys in between.

So I did some research and found this: Weapon however it seems very expensive and I don't want to fork over 60 dollars for functionality of 1000 macros I won't use (don't use the G15 macros). So, instead I hooked up my rockband drum set and mapped it in using Xpadder and am using the foot peddle to keep up shield block. I need to find some cheap foot pedals that don't come bundled with a bunch of software I don't want, and don't have to be plugged in to a video game drum set.

My trusty Logitech MX518 died the other day, so I am using my Logitech MX510 backup mouse which I usually use with my laptop, untill I can pickup a nice shiny and new Razer Copperhead.

The Copperhead has 2000dpi instead of 1600dpi, 7 buttons instead of 9, but I never really used all 9 on my MX518, I used 7 at max, and last but most importantly, its a laser mouse instead of optical.

Recently bought a 'claw' out of sheer curiosity.

So far its very fun to use, but im still getting used to it!

I loved mine, however it crapped out on me after about 4 months.

Use a G15 keyboard and a deathadder now.. happy with them

I bought the Sandio mouse, but I cannot program the buttons, only the joysticks. Do I need to download some special software?

i use an earlier model of the claw than the one pictured upgraded to a n52 for mmos but for fps i still go back to the claw.

Logitech G15
Microsoft 6000 Laser mouse gaming edition. fancy.

The two thumb buttons are considered mouse buttons 4 and 5 (pressing down the scroll wheel is 3), so you can just use those as is in the keybinding menu.

What keybinding menu? Within WOW?