Introducing the Nostomo n50.

As with the n30, the n50 arrives in a very attractive black and orange box. Tearing this open like a five year old child opening his first present on his birthday reveals the controller, a software CD, a thin manual and a note giving Windows XP installation instructions:



This controller has a very distinctive look. A few more shots:



I was impressed by the looks of the n50 from the moment I laid eyes on it. At a glance its most prominent feature - the 10-key keypad - makes this look like
a one-handed keyboard... and, basically, that's what it is - with a few extra features, of course. Some close-ups:


From top left to bottom right these show:

• Belkin's label on the base of the unit.
  
• The throttle wheel.
  
• 3 rectangular LED's, used to indicate the shift mode that the controller is in - I'll explain later.
  
• The 8-way thumb keypad.

As far as features go, the only other thing I can think to mention is the palm rest in the middle of the controller. Belkin claim that this is adjustable, though it only seems to pull up about a millimetre before becoming detached, and if you do pull it up it moves straight back down again when you put your hand on it. You could say that I'm a little confused by Belkin's claim, then.

Introductions over; it's time for a play...