Genovation ControlPad CP24 USB HID

I was worried whether or not it would be worth the cost, but almost immediately I knew it was a stellar purchase. I've used this for many different tasks. One was updating the operating systems on several computers where I work. I was able to bind to three keys the key sequences to check information on each computer, and save a bitly link to go straight to the update website. I move between several computers on a regular basis, so having a consistent interface everywhere I go with media keys (voume, play/pause, etc), common key combinations I use (closing windows, moving up a folder, other simple things), and other repetitive things (I have a 37 character email address) is immensely helpful. The driver installs within a few seconds and just like that, I have a familiar interface to work with. I don't operate in spreadsheets very often, but the one time I did, this control pad saved me a lot of time scrolling (one button moves me over 7 spaces kind of thing), copying and pasting without worry of RSI issues, and other things. If you use spreadsheets a lot, this opens a lot of productive possibilities for you. The changeable keycaps make it easy to program and then hand to someone else to use. Speaking of the keys, the cherry mx mechanical switches are fantastic, and give you a satisfying "kachic" every time you use it. Cons: The programming interface is a bit clunky and not completely intuitive. It took me a few tries to get it just how I wanted it, and if you aren't familiar with macro key kind of language, it will take some research to get it to do just what you want it to do. There is no way to import the settings you have currently on the keys unless you have it saved on the internal storage device. If you don't have a backup of the file or don't save it, you have to reprogram the entire thing. The simple fix is to save it and make backups, so it more comes down to user error when this happens, but regardless it is a bit annoying. Because this simulates a human interacting with a keyboard, there can be inconsistent results in performing long sequences that require windows to open or programs to run. There is a delay program you can input, but even still it takes some tinkering to get it just so. OVERALL: The cons are minimal to me, honestly. I would recommend this to anyone who spends a lot of time on a computer doing repetitive key combinations. One of the best purchases I've made in a while. NOTE: I haven't used this with a Mac or on a Linux machine, so I am not confident it will work on them. I believe there is a different keypad that works with Mac, so look there first.