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Ergodex DX1 Input System
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Source nV News
Look at it! What is that thing? It's a bird, it's a plane! No, it's the Ergodex DX1 Input System. It can stop a speeding bullet...or at least allow your character to get out of the way of a speeding bullet. It can leap tall buildings in a single bound...as long as that key is bound correctly. This absolutely amazing device puts all other input systems to shame. It's the best input system I've ever used, kicking my Nostromo n52 Speedpad right off my desk. It has even replaced caffeine for me!
The DX1 consists of a rather large pad, about the size of a large mousepad. It has a clear plastic tray that you can attach up to 25 keys in any variation that you want, up to 50 keys if you purchase a second set of 25 keys. It is designed to allow the user to create a comfortable setup for the keys, and allow the user to define what each key does. It's more than just a game controller. It's more than just a set of keyboard button replacements. It's a fully customizable set of inputs.
FEATURES
Moveable Keys - place the keys wherever you want on them!
Highly Ergonomic - you put the keys where you want them down to the millimeter!
Single key macros.
Multi key macros
Text block macros.
File/URL launch macros.
Press/Release macros.
Macro timing to the millisecond.
In game macro creation.
Save your fingers and improve your game play
Great for professional application users.
INSTALLATION
Installation is straightforward. You install the software, and plug the DX1 into a USB port when the software tells you to. Whew! That was hard work! Now for the fun stuff—we get to position the keys on the tray. Each one of the keys has a sticky surface on the bottom, allowing users to position the key and "glue" it down to the tray. This is trial and error, and Ergodex realizes this. That's why they give the user the ability to move the keys around after they've already "glued" them down. To do this, the user simply twists the key, and it comes right off. The user should not pull straight up on the key, or pull back on the key, as these will cause the sticky surface to tear, and the key will have a hard time sticking again.
First Configuration
My first time sticking down the keys, I thought I would have a couple of lined rows of keys. After playing around with a couple of apps and games, I discovered that I really didn't like how I had the keys laid out. So, I adjusted the keys over and over again until I came up with a final layout that I really liked.
Final Configuration
Ergodex provides 2 sheets of stickers for application onto the keys. My wife immediately asked, "Can I have those?" No, no you cannot. The stickers have a wide variety of characters and icons, for applications and for gaming. There is a whole sheet of blank stickers to create your own identifiers. If putting stickers on the keys isn't for you, you can create a custom skin. A skin is a piece of paper you can put between the tray and the main unit to show what each key does. A skin may have information about what each key does, and can be switched out at any time. This is probably the way to go if you want to use your DX1 for many different applications, not just gaming.
OPERATION
When I wasn't playing games using the DX1, I was using it while browsing the web, playing with iTunes, or doing my finances in Microsoft Excel. The Ergodex Manager software comes pre-loaded with several different sets of macros, and the manager installs the ones it finds on your PC. For me, that included Microsoft Office tools, Internet Explorer, FireFox, iTunes and a couple of other media players. For each of these applications, the Ergodex Manager will automatically adjust the DX1 to use whatever macros you have set up for each one of those applications.
For instance, FireFox has sets of macros already defined for New Tab, Open Location, Close, History, Page Source, Go Back, Go Forward and Go Home, among many others. As a user, all you have to do is open the Ergodex Manager, select the FireFox profile from the drop down list box in the upper left of the screen, and drag whatever macros you like to the corresponding key in the key grid. Drag and drop, what could be easier?
This device is much more than a simple gaming input device. It's useful for anyone who ever has to use a large number of keystrokes, or remember a bunch of macros. I can find uses for software development under Visual Studio 2003 by just reaching over and tapping a key to get a predefined chunk of code inserted. I can find uses for any Web Browsers by adding macros for favorite sites to visit. The uses for Office users or for media or graphic artists are innumerable.
Don't get me wrong, that's all great, but most people will purchase the DX1 for gaming. I tested this thing with Guild Wars over several sessions. After each session (and sometimes during that session), I would tweak the key positions. I even bound a couple of keys to open a few of my sub-screens at one time, which was highly useful. It performed each programmed macro flawlessly, unless I pressed more than 6 keys at one time. That seemed to be the number of separate key presses that the DX1 could handle, and that should be more than enough for the regular gamer.
They even make it easy to create your own macros. Say, for instance, I wanted to click a button and automatically open my favorite website, nvnews.net.
Select the FireFox profile.
Right-click on a header from the left side
Select "Add New Macro"
Select the "Program/File/URL Launch Macro" radio button.
Name the macro "nVnews".
Click the "Finish" button.
Select "URL Launch" radio button.
Type in www.nvnews.net in the "Program or File to Open" text box.
Click "Accept Changes" button.
Drag the nVnews macro from the left side to any key you want to assign it to.
Create Your Own Macro
These are 10 steps that will become second nature to anyone who uses this product for longer than 15 minutes. If you are having problems with recording your own macros, check out their forums. There was an issue with trying to create a JavaScript macro for use in FireFox. I was trying to create a key where I could post to my del.icio.us, and the Ergodex Manager kept telling me that the URL wasn't formed correctly. I did a search in their forum, but couldn't find anything on the subject. It could be just something that I do not understand, and most people would not want to bind JavaScript functions anyway.
CONCLUSION
The Ergodex DX1 is easily programmable, responsive, and infinitely adjustable. This is the coolest device I have ever had the pleasure to use. There's nothing else on the market quite like it. The price tag is a little steep at $149 at CrazyPC, but this device is worth every single penny, and then some. This product has earned the coveted nVnews Grand Slam award. Special thanks to Nick over at CrazyPC and Ergodex for providing the sample. Pick one up over at CrazyPC.
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