Belkin N52 Gamepad
by David Nelson 
Nov 30th 2006 at 8:20PM
We talked a few months ago about the great keyboard vs. mouse debate, and in the comments quite a few folks swore allegiance to either the Belkin N52 Gamepad or the Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard. I asked for a G15 for Christmas, but after this review by Isobelle over at Not Addicted of the N52, I might change my mind.What I like about this review is that Isobelle doesn't just tell you that this little mini-keyboard would be great for WoW or Half Life 2, hand out some star rating and move on. Instead, Isobelle literally takes you step by step though his keyboard configuration, and his enthusiasm for the controller has me rethinking my G15 plan. And of course he includes some typical Not Addicted humor.
Now my question for you guys is this: This N52 is cheaper than the G15, and looks like it has a lot of the same functionality, minus a whole bunch of keys, which may or may not be important. So...which one is the ultimate WoW accessory? Should I leave well enough alone and keep Santa on his G15 mission, or should I try the N52? Any of you folks use either one?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Froidre Nov 30th 2006 8:46PM
I've been using the Ideazon Merc ( http://www.ideazon.com/us/products/mercgamingkeyboard.asp ) and love it. I researched the G15 and WolfClaw Type II before I chose this one. I find this board very easy to map the hotkeys to my action bars and other keybindings. I'm so tied to it, I'm useless when I try to play WoW on my other PC that has a normal keyboard.
spootym Nov 30th 2006 8:55PM
I had the N50 when it came out and mostly used it for FPS. I upgraded to the N52 and it basically added more buttons. When I became consumed by Azeroth I upgraded to the N52. My keyboard is now just for chatting. It does take some time to get used to. 3 keys can be mapped as modifiers that allow more button combinations. It also can record macros which I use for login. I have had no issues with it and it has a good feel under the hand. Tha main issue that I've found with it is availability. Ive regularly check Fry's and best buys inthe area and they never have any. Belkins site has had them on back order for a while. Good luck
David Nelson Nov 30th 2006 9:09PM
The prices on EBay seem pretty reasonable if I can't find one at CompUSA or Best Buy or somewhere.
Darrien Nov 30th 2006 9:16PM
16.99 + 6.52 shipping @ newegg.com
might be worth tryin'
David Nelson Nov 30th 2006 9:22PM
WOW.
I am ordering it ASAP.
Thanks Darrien.
Cutler Nov 30th 2006 9:23PM
I have the N52 gamepad, and I've been nothing but pleased with what it can do. Programmable macros, FTW! I have a laptop and the keyboard isn't exactly ergonomic, so I went out and got the N52. It works perfectly for anything I might be doing. First Person Shooters, WoW, I even have a profile saved for Windows that has "copy" and "paste" linked to single buttons. Plus with the blue, green, red, and standard modes, you have a lot of programming options. My main is a Druid and one of my buttons casts MoTW and Thorns on everyone in my party, individually/automatically, while another shifts into cat form, stealths, and tracks humanoids. Very cool. Also, the included software is easy to use and switching between profiles can be done by right-clicking the icon in the task bar. If you're looking for a gamepad I highly recommend this one.
Aled Davies Nov 30th 2006 9:28PM
Great piece of hardware but if you are running on MacOS X Intel then you are out of luck as the Belkin driver hasn't been updated to work on Intel and Belkin support people seem to be rather cagey about if or when an update will happen.
Metrogon Nov 30th 2006 9:54PM
I have a Belkin n52 and the best advantage that it has in my opinion is egronmics. The n52 feels much more comfortable than using any keyboard (including the logitech mentioned, and the wolf claw). The programming software is easy to use as well.
For the Mac (on Intel) users, there is a program you can buy (not for free, unfortunately, but fairly cheap) called ControllerMate that does support the n52, and allows remapping/programming/etc. any button on any input device attached to your computer (including the spiffy remote control that comes with the IMac). Read about it here:
http://www.orderedbytes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127
I have a friend that uses an Imac on Intel, and he loves this ControllerMate software.
Andrew Nov 30th 2006 10:00PM
Be careful of programming macros, blizzard has in the past banned people for programming macros on a keyboard. Although I'm sure that what your describing sounds fine, just becareful how far you take it.
Vordex Nov 30th 2006 10:12PM
Having both, i really suggest either :D I loved my g15, and the G keys made it nice and easy to quickly access stuff, but its not OSX Compatible. So i picked up a n52 since i can use the same setup on both OSX and WinXP.
Both rock, and the LCD of the G15 makes it very cool, you would be happy with either!
Drunken Sa1lor Dec 1st 2006 1:41AM
The G15 Rocks! the only device you will ever need for WOW or anything else
Tryst Dec 1st 2006 11:15AM
The N52 is the best. I don't know how I would play without it!
Shat Nov 30th 2006 11:00PM
I use one of those to play WoW. I love it! I use the thumbpad for the skills I use often (SS, Frostbolt, etc.) Makes it alot more fun.
WarDragon Dec 1st 2006 9:05AM
I have had the N52 for almost a year and I really like it - find it indispensible for both my Lvl 60 Level 60 Lock and 51 Hunter. The great part of this device is it has a rotatation that allows you to cycle through 4 completely independent "layers" (I use the Blue layer for my Lock and the Red for my hunter).
That said - the software supplied with the device apparently was never completed or has errors. For instance, the copy and paste functions don't work. The tech rep at Belkin was not able to provide any help and was stumped with no explaination about why these functions didn't work.
Still I Love my N52 and would be totally lost without it ... highly recommended
Prauche Nov 30th 2006 11:21PM
I love my G15.
--Blue backlit keys make it easy for me to ruin my eyes by sitting in the dark at 2am.
--54 (18x3) programmable macro keys FTW!
And then, of course, I am able to not look like I'm too poor to have all the keys to my keyboard -- I had taken off the Windows buttons due to my sudden forays out of WoW and into Windows. The slider button took care of that.
I don't need anything else around my computer to make me look like a nerd thank you. Damn you Belkin for making me consider it!!!!!!
Bendyr Dec 1st 2006 12:10AM
I just bought an n52 on Amazon ($10 rebate). The great thing about the n52 is that you can use it to replicate the "fallthrough" macros, such as "riposte/ghostly strike/backstab/sinister strike" for a rogue, or "overpower/revenge/heroic strike" for a warrior. In my opinion, it was silly of Blizzard to remove these macros anyway since they were exactly the same as mashing three keys simultaneously and did not rely on any real dynamic combat information. Now you can retain that functionality, even after the ominous Tuesday patch.
isobelle Dec 1st 2006 12:40AM
*SUPERSTAR*!
i always get all fruity and do a double take when i check in on wowinsider (pretty much daily) and end up seeing one of my own articles linked here.
Sylythn Dec 1st 2006 1:04AM
I've got a G15, and I love it. The one major thing it has over the N52 is the LCD. What it's fantastic for is the Ventrillo interface. I have my LCD displaying who's talking, or who's in my room, or who I got whispers from, etc.
I actually haven't set up the G keys yet - I'm partially waiting till lvl 60 when I'm not changing layout/spells/builds every few weeks, but I've also had a tough time getting FlexBar programmed just so (I want it to mimic the G key layout so I have a visual reference on screen). The other issue is that you can't map to the G keys directly - they have to map to a key combination(unless it's scripting) that's binded in the WoW UI.
With my G15, and Razer exactMat, I don't have much room left on my keyboard tray for an N52. I use my computer for so much more than gaming, that I really prefer a traditional keyboard setup. I think I'd find it too awkward and too high a learning curve to use the N52.
Grendalsh Dec 1st 2006 3:15AM
This is like the third time an article on the N52 has popped up on WoWInsider.. Just buy one already! It rocks. It rolls. It slices dices, and otherwise makes it so you never need to reach for buttons except to chat.
While most folks seem to map all sorts of buttons to the N52, I prefer mapping it to my action bar. Far left buttons are Shift, Ctl, and Alt. Then the rest of the buttons are mapped for 1-9 in a grid, and -,= right under my index finger. 0 goes on the thumb pad, esc to the orange button, and directional movement to the D-pad. As the device layout is character agnostic, each character's action bars determine what the N52's buttons will do - creating character unique layouts with icons onscreen to remind what each button on the N52's will do - Not quite the Optimus 103, but not $1200 either ;)
Throw in the other 3modes via the scroll wheel, and you've got emotes, macros, whathaveyou, all accessible under one hand, without having to move your hand or look for keys.
I suppose the G15 would rock if you just HAVE to have that little LCD screen, and don't want to think outside the keyboard. Otherwise, well.. It's just another keyboard with buttons. You've got one of those. You don't have a left-handed configurable command console that makes using a keyboard moot for anything besides chatting.
KiTA Dec 1st 2006 1:46AM
I use both -- or at least did, before a soda killed my G15*. The N52 has some hard to hit buttons (the one at the thumb comes to mind), the G15's buttons are all easy to hit but you have to remove your fingers from the hold WASDF keys to do anything with them.
* Reminds me, I need to pencil a replacement into the budget for one of these months...