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Topic: After Hours

12 enormously useful products for the DIY-ITer [Gift Guide 2012]

Summary: In honor of 2012, we've selected some of the most interesting, helpful, and unexpected products for geek DIYers.

David Gewirtz

By for DIY-IT |

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X-keys XK-24 Programmable Keypad

Now, this thing is just neat. It's a USB keypad, but you can completely customize the buttons. The image above shows buttons that are all square, but you can have wide buttons or tall buttons, you can have buttons that display in different colors, and send different signals.

So, why would you want to do this? In my case, this creates a customized control console for video production, and pressing a single button allows a scene change. For gamers, it allows you to map keys to specific functions (i.e., in World of Warcraft, making key labels that match the various spells and abilities). And, of course, there are tons of uses for customized industrial control and other custom projects.

What I like: Great way to customize keyboard interface to special-purpose projects.

What I'd like to see: Wireless. And, oh, wireless. Did I mention wireless? Yeah, wireless.

Find it here a $129.95.

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Topics: After Hours, Tech Industry

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11 comments
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  • Unique and Thoughtful

    Unusual selection of DIY products not seen elsewhere. Good scoop.
    BSalita
    Reply Vote

  • if you want customizable keys...

    Go with the Razer Anansi. It currently doesn't have drivers for windows 8 (it works fine for Windows 7), but for $25 more, you get an entire keyboard where every key is customizable, including 10 extra keys specifically for custom macros.
    KBot
    Reply Vote

  • 32GB RAM

    re:"I looked everywhere for a notebook that could handle 32GB of RAM"
    Dell Precision M6700 Mobile Workstation can have 32GB RAM
    JanoLietac
    Reply Vote

    • Also 32GB RAM

      As can the HP Elitebook 8560w, also.
      bhahbh
      Reply Vote

  • SyncBack Pro

    Using it for over 5 years to back up our servers and workstations. Very simple and reliable.
    Tomas M.
    Reply Vote

  • Another article I will not read . . .

    . . . because it uses ZDNet's World War II surplus slide show viewer that flashes and jumps all other the place. Seriously, I watched a slide show on my phone this morning on a Microsoft site that was smooth as silk. Why is the ZDNet web site so pathetic?
    FDanconia
    Reply Vote

  • running a VM on the Zotac box?

    Perhaps that's why it didn't have enough horsepower for your needs. The Hypervisor you're using may consume too many resources to show the true potential of the Zotac box.
    bhahbh
    Reply Vote

  • Oh, so THAT'S what you were doing with your hand in your lap!

    Was wondering.
    daboochmeister
    Reply Vote

  • SSD

    I'm very surprise that you didn't include SSD! It is THE single most effective item that a DIY person can add to their machine.
    slam5
    Reply Vote

  • SATA/IDE HDD Docking Station

    StarTech also has a cable with power supply that has a multi connector with SATA, HD IDE, and Floppy IDE to use bare drives directly from a USB port. I am a tech and use that thing regularly. Works surprisingly well for as cheap as it is.
    I would recommend that over that box thing.
    MoeFugger
    Reply Vote

  • It's about looks

    They both do exactly the same thing, except one is a wire and the other is a wire within a case. Some techs prefer a Mad Scientist bench, with wires and parts on display, while others want a neater looking workspace and all wires hidden. Where I work, we have both personalities. As it turns out, the "Mac" guy (neat and ordered) wants the box. The "PC" guy (rather cluttered) uses the cable (whenever he can find who borrowed it last).
    Worth2Cents
    Reply Vote
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