http://www.belkin.com/uk/support/article/?lid=enu&pid=F8GFPC100&aid=9072&scid=293

Belkin released beta drivers for Vista 32/64 vor N52 and they work pretty fine on my Vista 64 bit PC.

So, if compatibilitity is the only thing, no need to buy the small upgrades the N52te offers compared to the regular N52.

Cheers

As for the ability to store profiles, well, I’m really only an FPS player, no RTS or MMORPG. I have about 3 macros bound in total so saving my profile(s) isn’t important. I suppose it’ll be a big plus for the average LAN party gamer though.

As for the D-pad, I’m in the same boat as you Mephysto except I wasn’t brought up on NES, it was a Sega Master System. Can’t say I use the D-pad in the traditional style though, I use it to jump and have a few macros bound to the other points. WASD along side.

Vista compatibility may tempt some, but I like my OS to Operate.

n52 FTW (unless it breaks and I can’t find another one).

I just recieved my n52te and i absolutly hate it, it tips backwards when the hand rest is extended for larger hands and the macro creator program is the bigest disapointmen i have ever seen belkin put out.

I’m going to go see it i can buy a few more original n52s to tide me over until a compeditor puts out something that i can actualy use.

I think this will be a solid improvement actually. Backlighting and a thumbstick cover for the d-pad aren’t the only differences. The newer model also sports the ability to save profiles in the hardware, so you can take it with you from system to system (read: LAN parties) without having to reprogram everything.

The n52te will also be Vista compatible. The original n52 is not supported under that OS, don’t forget… which is something to rather strongly consider. Anyone who’s looking to upgrade from XP to Vista in the future should keep their eye on this gamepad, because this is the one you’ll be able to carry over without running into compatibility issues.

As for my opinion:
I suck with WASD, so the n52 was a dream for me. Thanks in no small part to its console-style d-pad (of which I’ve been used to since 8-bit Nintendo), it’s allowed me to keep pace with those expert keyboardist players, making PC gaming feasible and fun for me.. when before it, I would have never considered playing at all.

The n52 is my baby. So you better believe that $70 price tag or not, I’ll be picking up this upgraded wonder without so much as a second thought….

It looks no different to the current n52, which I’ll be sticking to unless a solid review turns up something worth “upgrading” for.

I don’t like the thought of an annoying blue glow in the corner of my left eye while I’m trying to pop some heads, either