Razer to Release Deadly Mechanical Keyboard
Mechanical switches keyboard fans rejoice!
Keyboards just aren't what they used to be. Those who know computers and care about how their keyboards feel will know that getting one with mechanical switches is preferable.
Those who have been in pursuit of such a keyboard know that there are multiple sellers who offer mechanical switches, but now a big peripheral maker is jumping into the fray. That company is Razer.
Razer announced at GamesCom the BlackWidow mechanical gaming keyboard, which the company said that it has been working on for the past 3 years. Like the other Razer keyboards, the BlackWidow features fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording as well as five additional gaming keys.
Razer claims that most mechanical keyboards in the market today are standard mechanical keyboards rebadged as gaming keyboards that feature stiff keys that cause key actuation fatigue, but that the BlackWidow features a "uniquely tactile mechanical key architecture that provides each key on the keyboard with a crisp response and tactile feedback similar to a mouse click."
The key actuation point is actually halfway through the full travel distance, rather than near the bottom on traditional mechanical keyboards. Razer also says that the keys have one of the lightest actuation forces for all keyboards making it type and click much faster than other mechanical keyboards in the industry.
"The Razer BlackWidow is the world's first mechanical keyboard that has been engineered from ground up for gaming," said Robert Krakoff, president, Razer. "Imagine every single key on the keyboard with the precision of a mouse click – no more pressing of keys without knowing for certain if they have been actuated. Precision clicking coupled with an optimized lighter key actuation force, this changes the way gamers will play from now on."
The BlackWidow will be available in September 2010. Also available in the same month is the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, a step up from the original edition with the added features of individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting, 3.5" audio and microphone out jacks as well as an additional USB port.
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The regular version will retail for US $79.99/€79.99 and the Ultimate will be $129.99/€129.99.
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XD_dued As I was reading I was expecting some massive price, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it isn't entirely unreasonable.Reply -
Grims So, are thy saying every other keyboard they have sold were standard mechanical keyboards rebadged as gaming keboards?Reply -
velocityg4 The backlight is pretty neat. But at that price I would expect an ergonomic keyboard. As for key presses my $20 Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 is mechanical enough for me. When they say partial press and really easy to press down keys. I picture a lot of errors when touch typing as fingers just resting on keys accidentally depress them from the slightest touch.Reply -
joebob2000 sirmorlukSounds great!Reply
clickclickclickclickclickclick What? clickclickclickclickclickclick I can't hear you clickclickclickclickclick my keyboard is too loud! clickclickclickclickclick -
L0tus At $80, I'd rather wait for the reviews. And at $120, I REALLY struggle to find the justification...unless you're a pro-gamer or something, this is just excess gone wrong.Reply -
husker It is nice to see that the design of keyboard is fairly conservative and they are not just marketing it to kids who want some kind of off-beat radical looking gizmo.Reply