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!

Fabulous for just about anything - works GREAT on a Mac! (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I spend a lot of time on my computer, for games as well as more serious pursuits. The n52 has been a surprisingly valuable and wonderful peripheral.

Though the n52 does not include Mac drivers or software in the box, these were easily downloaded from the Belkin web site, and they work great. Within a matter of minutes, I had the Nostromo set up for shortcuts in my major apps - Safari, Photoshop, etc. I use it a lot when web browsing, using the "cursor" keys to navigate through pages and browsing history, the directional pad for horizontal/vertical scrolling in a page, and a couple of other keys for cycling through tabs.

For gaming, the n52 has also proven to be handy. It didn't take long for me to get it set up the way I like for Unreal Tournament 2004. I have cursor keys set to movement, various other keys set for my favorite weapons, and the directional pad set to jump or toggle the secondary fire mode. After a few hours of playing, I got to the point where I was actually playing BETTER using the Nostromo - probably because everything is all in one place, and it just "feels" like I have a more direct connection to the game.

Anyway, the long and the short of it is this: the Nostromo n52 is incredibly useful whether you play games or not. I use it for gaming and for getting Real Work(tm) done, and it's proven its worth in both areas. I've generally had bad experiences with Belkin hardware, especially on the Mac - but the Nostromo is a definite exception. The drivers and configuration software are first rate, and I'm extremely happy with the whole package. Highly recommended!

Not For Rights (Rating: 2.00)
Review : This Is very Bad Get A Joystick Or Stay With the Keyboard, And if you are a righty this is not for You, the only good thing is It Can Be Good For RTS Games Like: Empires Dawn Of The Modern World And I have A Life This Is SO BAD I AM Making A review + it got lead in it SOoooooooo

Great device (Rating: 4.00)
Review : This is a great little gaming device. The macros and it's application are terrific. Definately a worthwhile investment if you're a fps gamer.

My only complaints are these:
The thumb-button that is supposed to represent the spacebar is too far away from the keys. You have to really stretch your hand to reach it.

Like everyone else has said, the orange button above the thumb-pad takes too much force to press. It's virtually useless unless you can get it to soften up some.

Other than that, I love this little thing. I wondered whether or not I would when I was playing my first few games, but now i am sure i made a good investment.

A must for the serious FPS Gamer (Rating: 4.00)
Review : This device provides a good combination of ergonomics and functionality. It is certainly more comfortable than a standard QWERTY board.
I have only two complaints. The big red thumb button requires too much force to push. To get it to work will almost always force the entire pad to slide to the left if not countered by holding down the unit firmly. Because of this, I would only find this button useful when pressing other keys at the same time is not needed. The other problem is the thumb switch, which mimics the placement of the "space" bar on a QWERTY board. This key is much farther from the other keys than it needs to be and also is a bit "finicky" in how it responds.
In conclusion, the Nostromo is well worth the money for anyone who spends considerable time with a FPS. I have only been using it for a few hours now and already I have seen improvement in my game and less fatigue on my "keyboard hand".