Are the days of keyboard gaming dead? Is it true, can I play most any game with just a gamepad and mouse/trackball, with a minimum of programming and setup? I sit here and look at the Saitek Pro Gamer Command Unit, and I see the potential future where I may set my keyboard aside and commit wholesale mayhem and carnage with a small dedicated controller instead of 'playing piano' with it's much larger cousin. Saitek has a history of making strong, long-lasting gaming controllers. I've beat their original cyborg joystick in the ground after many years of use. Saitek also has it's own style in it's controller design philosophy - most every joystick, keyboard, and pc wheel looks like they were inspired by the Terminator movies. Maybe they were, I don't know. The Pro Gamer Command Unit (henceforth referred to as the PGCU, because I'm too lazy to type it out each time) does have that same open, industrial look to it, and after dropping it on the floor a few times (I'm a very thorough tester) I can attest to its durability. Let's get the basic info out of the way then move onto features.
Specifications:
Keyboard Interface: USB 2.0 port
Product Dimension: 8.25 x 6 x 2 inches (21 x 15.25 x 5 cm)
Backlit device for First Person Shooter (FPS) & Real Time Strategy (RTS) gaming
Ergonomic keypad with laser etched keys so characters are visible in any lighting environment; ideal for late night gaming session and LAN parties
4-way analog hat switch
20 buttons including space, shift function and 3 mode states for up to 144 programmable commands
Adjustable thumb control area has 2 way tilt mechanism, slides forwards and backwards, pivots up and down
Windows 64-bit USB drivers available
System Requirements : USB 2.0 Port, Windows® 2000/XP Home/Professional/x64, Pentium® III/Athlon® 1GHz or higher, 128MB RAM, 100MB of hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, Sound card and speakers for multimedia controls
Features:
Saitek Smart Technology Programming Software (SST) is the software Saitek supplies to configure your Saitek controller for enhanced functionality.
Quick and easy setup in any game
Personalize the controller settings for your favorite games
Configure your controller with an on-screen 3D model and interface
Multiple setup option for each controller - ideal if a controller is used by several people
Program special moves with sophisticated timing features
Special game setups available as 'Profiles' from the Saitek website and on the Smart Technology CD
Download the latest version of Saitek Smart Technology software from the Saitek website
