I think you meant to say that anolog stick is better for movement than a keyboard. Because beyond that, keyboard offers way more potential in setting up hotkeys and whatnot. I have small hands but I still have easy access to about 20 keys with my left hand only, add the shift/control modifier and that goes up to 50-ish.

I wouldn't mind seeing a keyboard-arcade stick hybrid for gaming lol

That's my setup too. My PC has a 55" monitor.

I bought an Xbox 360 controller to try, but the lack of accuracy compared to a mouse for looking around was too frustrating, as well as the inability to remap it for a southpaw setup. I also hated the position of the left thumbstick. I do like an anologue stick for movement, though.

I've been considering trying a Logitech gamepad (better thumbstick location, more symmetrical and programmable for lefty-remapping)... sometimes I don't like the whole keyboard on my lap, and a more compact control scheme would be nice. If I could only find something that rivalled the precision of a mouse.

You can, theres a few devices that allow keyboard and mouse on xbox, its borderline cheating on fps games like cod though due to the accuracy/turnspeed + still having the console auto aim helping.

Microsoft tested the idea a while ago, they had a bunch of average players using keyboard/mouse play against a proper counter strike team using controllers, after the outcome they decided against allowing it ingame.

Edit for clarity.

PC games are not made for pads, the graphic power differ to much from PC to PC, so they can't fine tune pad controlles and graphic resond for PC games like they do with console games. On consoles the graphic (kamera movement, fluidity ect.) are made to work as well as possible (that's why games like Halo are so great with pads, the movement and kamera resond very well). To achieve the same pad feeling on a PC as with a conolse, it takes time to fine tune the settings, so it's as smooth and responsive as with consoles.

But with a powerfull enough PC, the graphics and controlles shouldn't be to hard to fine tune, so it's as good as on a console (if not even better)

- with the mouse you can move faster (turn fast) and "pin point" easier (makes head shoots easy) and the keybord can hold more hotkeys than a pad

- with the pad you can walk/strave/look/aim all at the same time smoother (the graphics can be enjoyed better) and the trigger buttons have a better feeling (and the vibrations can give a better feeling)

???
This makes absolutely no sense.

Graphic has nothing to do with controls, and PC games, which are ports from consoles actually are made for gamepads.
Also if it's not smooth, you have to turn down the graphic settings or have to get better hardware.
Still it has nothing to do with the controls. Mouse + keyboard doesn't make stuttery FPS better.

I've tried with a controller. A very generic one works, linking controls to keys with xpad is astoundingly easy, even for me.

Not sure I'll stick with it, though. *shrug* It is a relief for combat : I never ever got used to keyboard/mouse controls for that part. Especially now there's dual wield, gamepad's so much more natural.

But I can't get really used to the sticks thingies for looking around - it's much smoother and more accurate with the mouse. Those sticks are verrrrry clumsy - although it might stem from the generic-ness of the gamepad.

Bottom line is, I get the appeal. And I've played hundreds of hours of Morrowind and Oblivion on keyboard.

PS2 was the last console I played much on. I never got used to joystick controls. I have been a strong proponent of keyboard & mouse over a game pad. However, I have been playing Skyrim on my brother's PC with an xbox controller for the past two days and this game plays much better with a controller. I was quite shocked by how I preferred the controller of k&m. The only thing I miss is hot keys.

Well, Skyrim is not a shooter (you don't need that fast precision, even with magic or bow), and then the mouse-lagging is just very annoying.

N52 TE + Mouse > Keyboard + Mouse > Xbox Controller

I am long time PC player only bought an xbox last and only for the Kinect really, however i have really been converted to the xbox controller mainly due to the force feedback and that i cam play the game leaning back in my big expensive chair and not have be leaning over my keyboard. the only downside is that with the controller plugged in the keybaord does not work at all and getting to invetry chracter menus etc is long winded. if ther was controller + KB option it would be perfect.

Well, IMO I say either is plenty viable, it's just a case of what you are used to.

However in pure gaming terms, keyboard and mouse are superior - more buttons. Not being able to hotkey on the console is a bit of an ache in the groinal region. K+M is also superior on FPS games as the mouse is a much better tool for target acquisition than a joystick. Fact. I'm a console gamer and I'm more than happy to acknowledge that.

I would say if you want to then stick with the new setup OP, your hands will adapt in time - muscle memory is a wonderful thing!

Easy for me although worst problem for me is you can't bind the movement coontrols to numeric keypad which i have used for ALL games i have ever played on a PC so instead there bound to cursor keys.

Just bind movement to keys ur comfortable with and it soon becomes second nature to move with keys and mouse.