My Nostromo N52te review

frostybrad · April 2nd, 2008

My thoughts on the Belkin N52te edition Speedpad

It almost looked to good to open, the box's exterior was pretty eye catching, and the flip lid allowed me to examine the speedpad without actually ripping open the box..

First impressions and whats inside the box:

The speedpad is just simply beautiful, from its soft rubber palm rest, to the shiny black paint on the exterior of the unit. On there previous version (N52), the palm rest was a hard plastic, and the speedpad was a combination of grey, black and orange in color. Needless to say the N52te is much classier and sexier looking in every way!!

Inside the box you find the Speedpad, driver cd, and a Quickguide for the installation of the unit. I still have not found the appropriate place the N52te sticker just yet!!

The speed pad has been improved in so many ways. As stated previously, the palm rest (which is adjustable) is soft and smooth, the scroll wheel has a rubber boot around it which allows for good traction on the finger (the previous version had a hard plastic wheel, which allowed your thumb or fingers to slip when scrolling).

The keys themselves are soft and responsive. They are not like the average keyboard keys, they are soft, similar to a laptop keyboard, where you cannot hear the key being pressed down.

The Thumb pad is awesome for control and feel. As seen in the photo, the thumbad or joystick feature is a huge upgrade form the N52. They went from the old Nintendo thumb controller with a concave shape, to the xbox control with the protruding joystick type control.

Believe it or not, I would have to say the biggest improvement is the bottom. On the N52 (right photo), there were 2 rubber pads which eventually became unglued and started to slide around on me. One of the pads eventually came off and was lost.

The new Speedpad has 6 rubber feet with are buried into the bottom to stop the feet from ever moving. With the help of my son, its easy to see the improvement

The glossy black paint job is incredible, showing every reflection!! Not too mention the switch which allows the user to turn on and off the blue backlit keys!!

Final thoughts:

After having used the Nostromo N52 for half a year, I didn't think I would ever use another speedpad. When Belkin announced the blue backlit N52te edition pad, I just couldn't wait to try it.

In my opinion, every part of the Speedpad has been improved from feel, to looks to userability. The n52te speedpad is a hit in our house, and gaming has never been more fun!!!

cheers!!

**RAID** · April 2nd, 2008

nice work brad, what games do you use this for?

polobunny · April 2nd, 2008

What mouse are using atm? I can hardly justify buying such a pad considering I have a Razer Deathadder with 5 buttons.

**stinger608** · April 2nd, 2008

Great review man!!!!

That is an awesome looking game pad, I just don't know if I could get used to such a game pad

frostybrad · April 3rd, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAID

nice work brad, what games do you use this for?

Cod2 and Cod4. Im basically a 2 game player.... they will get uninstalled at some point in time and then I move on.... but it does everyhting I need it to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by polobunny

What mouse are using atm? I can hardly justify buying such a pad considering I have a Razer Deathadder with 5 buttons.

I use the Logitec MX518?? (if thats the correct number). I use the mouse for Primary fire,secondary fire, reload, smoke gernade, gernade, switch weapon...

the speed pad handles everything else.... the thumb pad is ecspecially good when it comes to using the "lean keys"... leaning left/right, crouching, jumping is a snap with just a quick thumb movement with your thumb never leaving the button. You can't beat that when u have to lift your fingers everytime you press another key on a keyboard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinger608

Great review man!!!!

That is an awesome looking game pad, I just don't know if I could get used to such a game pad

A week to 2 weeks and you would be hooked!! Anyone can exspect a "degrade" in gameplay when trying to get used to it..... but after that.... at least for me.... a keyboard is way to uncomfortable now..... I dont think I could go back!!

theburan · April 3rd, 2008

I dont think I'd even have room for that on my desk, lol, my keyboard takes up all the free space i have as it is (and it's not even a big keyboard).

screwballl · April 3rd, 2008

I have wanted of of these for years now and could only find it one place locally and for $50... I saw a few online but never had the money to get one (like now) but the price was never much below the local retail prices.
I do just enough FPS gaming that I will be getting me one.... someday.... (unless you want to send me your old one

)

**One4yu2c** · April 3rd, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinger608

That is an awesome looking game pad, I just don't know if I could get used to such a game pad

Matt (Prolific_One) uses the Nostromo and swears by the thing. Though judging by his gaming performance, you can draw your own conclusion about the benefits of these types of controllers...

**PrOLifIC_onE** · April 3rd, 2008

Yes, I have the older N52. Just like he said, it takes a little getting used to but when I game, I move the keyboard aside and just use the N52 and my mouse. For those without the room, just place it aside when non-gaming. I use this thing for every game I have played in recent years. Like frosty, I pretty much just play FPS games, but I have used it for other types in the past. The keys are all programmable to each game/program (it detects which game/program is in focus and you use those programmed buttons). I now find it difficult to switch back to the keyboard when I try...

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEW!

**stinger608** · April 3rd, 2008

Thanks for the heads up guys, I may have to look into one of these in the near future