Nostromo n-50 Speed Pad

You're hoping this device will fare better aren't you? I know you are, because I was too. I've been waiting for something like this, something that offers lots of keys in reach and supports your hand nicely. The Claw came close, though it suffered for the lack of an extra button for your middle finger and the buttons were a tad hard to press (though the designers will shortly be releasing a new Claw, look for a review here soon). So my hopes were high for the SpeedPad, but while they weren't dashed brutally against the rocks, my hopes were at least left beached on some wind battered shore, so to speak. Almost every aspect to the SpeedPad design is a case of "nearly, but not quite". The number of keys is perfect, but they're too big, the outer ones are too hard to reach and the keytread is far too squishy and unresponsive. The d-pad for your thumb offers four commands in one but it doesn't feel very responsive or accurate and pressing it downwards on my model would leave it ever so briefly stuck which is no good. The biggest failing is the scroll wheel which is in fact a throttle wheel for some inexplicable reason. For a peripheral so clearly targeted at the FPS gamer what possible use is there for a throttle? If I'm playing a game that needs a throttle it will be with a joystick. Even though it's very hard to reach without shifting your hand or swiftly dislocating a finger a regular mouse wheel would have been far more useful than a throttle. The palm support is also too flat - were it more raised towards the back it would have been much more comfortable.

By Pete Closs
Editor