Razer BlackWidow Gaming Keyboard Verions

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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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So there is the Razer BlackWidow 2013, the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate 2013, the Razer BlackWidow Stealth Edition, and the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth Edition 2013. What is the difference between all of these versions?! And also which kind of mechanical keys does each have? Any help is appreciated.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Sep 27, 2012
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The differences between them are pretty much that the ultimate versions have backlighting, and the stealth versions (I think) have the characters written on the side of the keys instead of the top. Though I'm not sure why you'd want that AND backlighting.

That being said, if you're looking for a mechanical keyboard, the blackwidows are pretty much the WORST of the bunch. They're very poor quality, use propitiatory keys so you have to buy their replacements, and simply feel like POS.

If you want a good budget keyboard, look at the Cherry 1800 or better yet, the Rosewill RK-9000i.

EDIT: Also, I can't quite tell, but is your profile a Lotus Exige? If so, very nice. My dream car is an Elise S. *sigh* Someday...
 
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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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Oct 22, 2012
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No my profile pic is of the McLaren P1.
 
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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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Also why is it such a POS? I have seen multiple reviews that have been quite positive and my friend has it and he quite likes it.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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When compared to one of the usually recommended mechanical keyboards, the difference is that the blackwidow's body is made of plastic, and low quality plastic at that - it'll bend if you push on it, or even if you're typing too vigorously.

That being said, if you really like it, go for it - but I just was doing a little research, and you should go for the ultimate edition of some sort, because the normal edition only has two key rollover, which is one of the things you're running from when buying a mechanical keyboard.
 
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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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Oct 22, 2012
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Hmm I see, do you have a mechanical keyboard or owned one that you would recommend instead?

 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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I currently own a Leopold that I brought over from England, but for a more achievable keyboard, I'd go with the Rosewill RK-9000i. It's an excellent keyboard for an attractive price. If you can afford more, then Ducky, Leopold, or a number of others are quite excellent, but are often hard to find, as they're imports.
 
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manofchalk

manofchalk

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May 11, 2012
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Far as I know all the Blackwidows use Cherry MX Blue switches, though the silent ones have o-rings that deaden the noise a bit.

I'm with Darksable, I suggest you look around a bit when deciding on a mechanical keyboard. the Blackwidows aren't that great in terms of mechanical keyboards, there are much better names on the market with far more options (especially in terms of keyswitches).
Ducky, Leopold, Topre, Mionix, Filco, Das, Steelseries and even Coolermaster now are the big names in Mechanical keyboards.

I use a Ducky DK9008 Shine II with Brown switches, which is available in the US I believe.
 
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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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Oct 22, 2012
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Why are they not that great? Could you please elaborate? Also which specific ones would you recommend? I don't particularly want to spend $200 on a keyboard, but I don't want to buy a POS either.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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I already answered both of those - look above.

 
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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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Everyone thinks differently, he may find different things that he dislikes about the BW or he might even have owned one. I am just trying to get everyone's opinion so I can make an educated choice as a consumer.

Also I did mean to get back to you on your reply. What exactly do you like about Leopold and why did you choose to buy one?
 
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manofchalk

manofchalk

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You dont get a choice of keyswitches with the Blackwidows, which is one of the reasons for a mechanical keyboard as you can get one that will suit you. For instance I use Brown switches, because I want the feel of a blue but without the noise. A more inclined gamer would go for a Red or Black switch, since they are a much more linear key press.

This is kind of based off a Razer Lycosa I had a while ago, might be different for the Blackwidow. Build quality.
The Lycosa was made of a thin plastic and I could easily see it breaking. My current Ducky keyboard, it weighs a fair bit and is built so solidly I bet I could kill someone with it and it would be fine.

Also the Razer Synapse 2.0 drivers, just ugh. Have to use it for my Deathadder (which I do love, Razer do good mice) and its not the best. Really annoying bit of software. My Ducky doesnt have any software, the base windows driver works it just fine and I still have full control over lighting options (which is great on this keyboard). If I want macro's I can download my own software for that.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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That's fine, just thought you might have missed my post, is all.

Honestly, the reason I went with the leopold is half serious and half not:

1) It's built like a tank.
2) It's about the smallest NOT tenkeyless keyboard I've found.
3) They have very nice looking completely blank keyboards, with black switches per what I was looking for.

I'm in the same position as manofchalk; I've gamed a fair bit on a friend's blackwidow and don't care for it; even after a couple months it was showing signs of wear, and it feels flimsy. However, I disagree with him on the mice; I went through several deathadders in rapid succession before I tried the black edition, which is much better built. Only reason I stuck with it for so long is because it's the closest to my beloved intellimouse explorer 3.0 I've ever found.

 
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One Cool Cow

One Cool Cow

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Oct 22, 2012
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I think I would also want browns, I want to game but I will type a bit. I don't want them to be completely silent but I have heard blues and they are just annoying.

I have heard both you and DarkSable mention Ducky but I am not sure if I want to buy a keyboard from a company I have never heard of. I will look more into it when I have the time, but I wonder why you both gravitate towards it, it must have something good. Well there are a host of different mechanical keyboard providers, but you seem to know your stuff so can you tell me perhaps companies to avoid and ones to take a look at, so I can see what appeals me?

Thanks

Also has someone been watching Linus Tech Tips (if you haven't he also used the ability to kill a person with a keyboard as a standard of quality)?
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Because Ducky has been doing it the longest and makes some of the best stuff out there. They're the rolls-royce of mechanical keyboards, period. If you find forums more specialized than Tom's, go to the mechanical keyboard section; they ALL know Ducky.

I did watch that episode of Linus' Tips, and laughed through the entire thing. :)
 
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manofchalk

manofchalk

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May 11, 2012
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Ducky is a Taiwanese company that only make mechanical keyboards, so unless your interested in mechanical keyboards you wouldn't have heard of it.

I gave a pretty comprehensive list of the big names in mechanical keyboards in my first post. Any board from them will be fine, but Ducky is just one of the better companies (and you do pay for it, my DK9008 Shine II cost about $150).

Yep, I'v pretty much watched all of Linus' stuff. Slicks massive endorsement of everything Ducky is pretty much the reason why I have one.
And yes, you really could kill a man with it. Its so heavy that when I first tried to take it out of the box I thought it was tethered or stuck down to it in some way.
 
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