Belkin Nostromo Speedpad n52

The Belkin n52 is the successor to the n50 Speedpad. Like the n50, the n52 is a mixed bag of plusses and minuses. Belkin has marketed the n52 as the n50 "remodeled by gamer feedback," with added buttons and functionality. They've also said that it'll give you "Faster and More Intuitive Frags!" or some other market-eze. I had wanted the original n50 for quite a while to help me out when playing MMOs and RPGs (AO, DAOC, NWN) and shooters (NOLF, Deus Ex). When I finally decided to buy one, I heard that Belkin was shortly releasing the improved n52. So I grabbed one, and here's the scoop.

Installing this thing was a snap, and using the profile software is also amazingly easy. In only a few minutes of use I was making my own custom profiles. Macros are easy to write. The profile software has a few bugs in it, which I won't get into here. Hopefully Belkin will fix this stuff in the next few weeks. The bugs I describe are really just inconvenient - they won't stop you from using the product.

Construction is a mixed bag on the n52. In it's favor, the n52 generally feels sturdy as hell and doesn't move a bit during heavy play. Despite this it's a compact little thing - I have a cramped desk and I managed to easily fit the n52 between my keyboard and the edge of the desk. I have big hands and the unit fits comfortably under my palm with my fingers resting on the buttons. The hand rest fits right into the curve of my palm and makes the whole thing feel very ergonomic and natural. The hand rest is supposed to be adjustable but I think some n00b at the factory glued mine down, because I can't make it move the slightest bit.

More strong points: Belkin expanded the n50 quite a bit by adding new buttons. The n52 has a total of six new buttons: four new keyboard-type buttons were added in a row under the original ten; a big orange button was added over the directional pad; and a "thumb bar" was added on a little extension that sticks out from the unit on the right side. The original n50 speedpad had a throttle wheel that a lot of people described as useless; this has been replaced with a very useful mouse wheel. In addition, Belkin has apparently heard gamer feedback that the directional pad on the n50 was junky and inaccurate; the n52 features a big, sturdy, and seemingly very accurate directional pad that I really like using.

But the drawbacks: Unlike the regular keyboard buttons you're used to, the action on all the buttons is a little stiff. I don't know if this is intentional design or what - maybe they were thinking that the control will get heavy wear, so some extra stickiness is actually good? The keyboard-style hotkeys are kind of sticky when I press them, and sometimes I have to press twice to get the button to register the keystroke. To push the new orange button by the directional pad, I have to grip the front of the controller with my fingers for leverage. Finally, the "thumb bar" also takes a bit of pressure to activate, and has sometimes not fired unless I push it very deliberately in the "right way."

Likewise the mouse wheel has a funny, cheap feel to it. Clicking the mouseclick action on the wheel is a little harder to do that I'd prefer, and the wheel itself rotates too easily and doesn't lock firmly into place like a normal mouse wheel does.

The stickiness of the buttons leaves me thinking that I won't be using it in shooter type games - I can't be pushing a key over and over in shooter games that require instant reactions. If the buttons loosen up a little over time, perhaps I'll change my mind.

Still, I'm very happy with the n52 despite the flaws I've described. Using it in AO, DAOC and NWN, the thing is nothing short of miraculous. Having all of your crucial commands literally "at your fingertips" without any fumbling, reaching, or looking at the keyboard is a very, very nice thing. Hitting a button and having a macro run a series of keystrokes, saving a lot of time and distraction, is also a godsend. My impression is that it would be great in any RPG / MMORPGs and RTS type games - ones that don't require much sensitivity and reactivity, and benefit a lot from short macros due to their complex command systems. After only using it for a few days, I can't imagine playing without it.

[ EDIT 12-17-03: This thing has been plenty responsive for shooters. I've bumped my rating up to 5 stars. Although sticky, the buttons work great, and my sense is that Belkin was trying to build this thing as tough as a brick - and they succeeded. A month and a half after buying it I cannot imagine playing ANY game without it. It's a truly phenomenal product. ]


Great controller - once you learn how to move the handrest!   March 19, 2004
Michael D. Aldridge (Spring Hill, TN USA)
139 out of 141 found this review helpful

The reviews on here and elsewhere mention that you should give the handrest a "good yank" to adjust it. Well, I yanked and yanked, and it didn't budge... until I finally figured out that it doesn't slide back and forth! It lifts upward, off the unit! Lift it up to remove it. Then, you'll see two sets of holes - a set closer in to the keys and a set farther away from the keys. So, the hand rest has two settings. And, you can just keep it removed if you don't like it.

I figured that if I can have this much problem trying to slide the hand rest out instead of lifting it up, then others might be having the problem too. Instructions are nowhere to be found on here, on the Belkin Web site, or in the boxed instructions.

Unlike the other reviews, the keys on my unit are quite flexible... the stiffness is very minor. The unit is quite responsive. Plus, it seems to be very solidly built. The rubberized pad on the underside of the unit keeps it from sliding around too much on my desk.

Being a tech, I tend to dislike using the software that comes with most hardware - printers, mice, etc. But after installing the Nostromo software, I found it to be pretty cool (looks like it takes up about a 4MB footprint). It's easy to use - plus, once you've got the keys mapped out for a game, you can set it up for automatic mode, so that each time that particular game is launched, that key map profile is automatically loaded dynamically. No manual switching of profiles is required!


Great Photoshop Accessory   January 27, 2006
Richard Drdul (Vancouver, BC)
30 out of 30 found this review helpful

I haven't played a computer game in 25 years (really!), but I love this game pad nevertheless. I use it with Photoshop. I wanted to be able to keep my right hand on the mouse, as it was slowing me down moving my hand between the keyboard and the mouse all the time.

I have programmed the n52 Speedpad with a combination of single keys (such as Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Del, +, - and the left and right square brackets) and multiple key combinations (corresponding with frequently-used Photoshop keyboard shortcuts). Rarely do I need to use the keyboard any more - just to enter file names and rename layers.

The n52 Speedpad is a great Photoshop accessory. I can work faster and more comfortably. It takes up very little desk space, doesn't cost much, and works exactly as advertised. Highly recommended!


Give that hand rest a good solid yank and all is well.   January 20, 2004
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

Yes, this is a review of the N52.

I bought the N50 a few years ago when it first came out and it was and still is great, but it had some things that should have been changed. The D-Pad was awkward, if not useless as a directional controller (though it worked fine as crouch/jump/whatever). The "throttle" was not usable in most video games (joysticks for flight sims have throttle). Each color mode had to have a key dedicated to it (couldn't use one key to swap configurations). It could have also used a few more keys.

However, Belkin seems to have listened to gamer peeves that were posted on gamer sites all over the web and fixed the things listed above. Wow, a company listenning to customers? What a concept!

The N52 now has a more functional D-Pad (though I still prefer the main keys) and two thumb buttons. Four more main keys have been added in a row below the original main keys. The throttle has been replaced with a scroll wheel (which can be programmed to any keys or actions you want). You can now use a single key to change configurations on the fly (yay).

My only complaint with the N52 is that the keys need a good deal of "massaging" before they lose their sticky stiffness. Also, the hand rest comes stuck pretty good to the unit (in a very uncomfortable position for normal/large hands), though a good solid yank up will free the stuck pegs, allowing you to move it to the second set of holes.

After abusing it for a week and setting the hand rest further back, the N52 becomes my pick for best FPS/RTS accessory on the market.


Best PC Gaming Device In History   October 8, 2004
Logan Morley (Durango, CO)
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

The Belkin Nostromo n52 is by far the most innovative and amazing gaming device I have ever used. I previously owned the n50 (see my review here on Amazon), and bought this updated model to see if it is as amazing as people say. I have subjected this device to numerous tests, used it in a number of programs and games, and found it to be truly the most amazing gaming device ever. This n52 device far surpasses the old n50, adding 4 new finger keys (for a total of 14), two new thumb keys, and a greatly improved 8-direction-D-pad and scroll wheel (which can be clicked). Also, the software is truly amazing, allowing you to fully customize the n52 controls any way you want, and set up to THREE (red, blue, green) other on-the-fly profiles in ADDITION to the "main" one you chose (so a total of 4 total control profiles, all intstantly switchable at any moment by touching the key that you define as the "switch" key). It all sounds complex, but don't be scared, it's a sinch. Plus, the n52 comes out of the box with the basic WASD setup, and typical FPS controls already programmed. So if you are just itching to get in some Battlefield or CS, just plug it in, and start playing, because the defualt n52 controls are identical to your keyboard. But the constimization of this beautiful controller is half the fun. I even set mine up to be able to TYPE! That's right, it has a total of 104 possible programmable keys using the switch buttons you define (which you can set to "temporary or toggle"). After about an hour, just out of curiosity, I was able to type a word document. But playing games, particularly FPS games, is where this device shines far above any other technology on the market. You become seamless with the game, you forget you are even using a controller, your mind doesn't have to think about reaching for the Drop-gun key, or the Flashlight key...your hand just reacts perfectly in the cradle of the n52. My only complaints are that, as other people have stated, the two new thumb keys are stiff, and a little distant. But I was creative and just made one my "flashlight" key and one my "drop-weapon" key...because I use the the D-pad directions to jump and perform other critical, common actions. But the point it, MESS WITH IT, it's meant to be customizable...if you don't like something on it then you become the controller programmer and make it the way that you need it. I recommend for better control to just massage out the stiffness of some of the keys, and make it truly fluid. It only takes about 5 minutes, and I got mine so fluid it doesn't even make a sound when hitting a key.

All-and-all, I have really one thing to say...BUY THE N52! This device should come standard with computers or computer games, you'll see what I mean when you use it yourself. You will NEVER use a keyboard again after you buy this. IT goes far above and beyond anything on the market, and will give you the extra edge you are looking for to compete in the online battlegrounds of CS, Battlefield, or any other game.

I would also recommend the Logitech MX500 or MX510 series of corded mice with this gamepad. And if you have an extra penny, check out the Adesso Viper Mouse, or the BFG Boomslang 2100 Mouse here on Amazon.

Overall, the n52 Speedpad is easily the greatest gaming device ever invented, even compared to its earlier brother the n50, this gamepad blows away all other competition. Buy it, love it, and never look back. Sincerely -Logan