4 ms·

Razer makes some nice mechanical keyboards (BlackWidow series) with optional backlight, Cherry MX Blue or Brown switches, extra macro keys (that can be bound to

by fsckin 13y ago

Razer makes some nice mechanical keyboards (BlackWidow series) with optional backlight, Cherry MX Blue or Brown switches, extra macro keys (that can be bound to any action), along with keyboard mapping software that works very well on Win/OSX. For $50-70 less than this, depending on if you buy on sale. I'm failing to see why this is a good option.

ne0phyte 13y ago
The build quality of the razer keyboards is rather bad. That's why. Also this features Cherry MX Clear switches and standard profile keycaps so you can easily get a set of replacement keycaps if you need or want to.
- fsckin 13y ago
  I've got two Razer BlackWidows (Blue at home, Brown at the office) and not seen any problems with build quality that you mention. I do believe that most keys on the BW can be replaced: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/keycap-compatibility http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/keycap-compatibility
- fernandotakai 13y ago
  I have a blackwidow, no build problems. I even spilled alcohol on it (scotch) and it's still working as expected.
  - jeremysmyth 13y ago
    Did you expect it to continue working? :)
ericabiz 13y ago
Ugh. I have a Razer one sitting in a closet; it really belongs in the trash. (I'm typing this comment on a Unicomp Spacesaver M, and I'm a die-hard mechanical keyboard junkie.) To compare a Razer to this keyboard (or even a Unicomp) is to compare a cheapo, bottom of the barrel smartphone to a top-of-the-line phone. The Razer feels terrible--the keys feel "loose", the typing feel is incredibly off, and above all the keyboard looks like it's made for a 14-year-old male gamer. (Which it probably is.) So no, I do not agree that this keyboard would have any comparison to a Razer. At least, I hope not.
- fsckin 13y ago
  Damn! That's quite a difference from my experience. I'll gladly add a 'YMMV' to my above statement. I've had my fair share of high end mechanicals: IBM M buckling spring, Filco/Leopold Cherry of all flavors, HHKB Pro2 and Realforce with Topre switches, along with long test drives with a Kinesis, among others. Both of my Razers do feel like they're built with slightly less TLC than any of the above, but not terribly so. The keycaps are made of a lighter weight plastic (they're certainly not an ABS double shot keycap, that's for sure), but that's about it. I've added rubber grommets to each key so they were a bit quieter and bottomed out more the way I like them to, but that's a more of a personal preference than anything. Maybe that alone is a good fix to make them feel a bit more solid? Perhaps they've got some shoddy QA for some or changed them in some way, but I really like both of mine.
scott_karana 13y ago
I'd buy the Razer BlackWidow happily, except that critically (for me) the Escape key is not mechanical. (Nor are the Function keys) Yes, I am a vi user. :-)
- zwegner 13y ago
  And you reach your pinky all the way up to the escape key? Try ctrl-[. :)
- fsckin 13y ago
  The escape key on the BlackWidow is 100% mechanical. You're thinking of the CoolerMaster ripoffs... ew.
  - numo16 13y ago
    > You're thinking of the CoolerMaster ripoffs As in CoolerMaster knockoffs or the CM Storm QuickFire line? I've got a couple of the CM Storm QuickFire TK's (1 at work, 1 at home), and they have easily just as good, if not better, of a build quality and feel as the filco's or ducky's I've tried around the office, and definitely better than any of the blackwidows I've tried (old or new model).
  - scott_karana 13y ago
    You're right, thanks! :-)
__chrismc 13y ago
I've used a Steelseries 7G for the last ~3 years. It's built like a tank, compared to the Razer keyboards I tried in-store before buying it. It doesn't have many fancy bells-and-whistles, but it's far and away the best keyboard I've ever used. I'll be sad to see it go when I move house and no longer have room for anything more than a laptop.

by fsckin 13y ago

ne0phyte 13y ago

The build quality of the razer keyboards is rather bad. That's why. Also this features Cherry MX Clear switches and standard profile keycaps so you can easily get a set of replacement keycaps if you need or want to.

fsckin 13y ago
I've got two Razer BlackWidows (Blue at home, Brown at the office) and not seen any problems with build quality that you mention. I do believe that most keys on the BW can be replaced: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/keycap-compatibility http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/keycap-compatibility
fernandotakai 13y ago
I have a blackwidow, no build problems. I even spilled alcohol on it (scotch) and it's still working as expected.
- jeremysmyth 13y ago
  Did you expect it to continue working? :)

ericabiz 13y ago

Ugh. I have a Razer one sitting in a closet; it really belongs in the trash. (I'm typing this comment on a Unicomp Spacesaver M, and I'm a die-hard mechanical keyboard junkie.) To compare a Razer to this keyboard (or even a Unicomp) is to compare a cheapo, bottom of the barrel smartphone to a top-of-the-line phone. The Razer feels terrible--the keys feel "loose", the typing feel is incredibly off, and above all the keyboard looks like it's made for a 14-year-old male gamer. (Which it probably is.) So no, I do not agree that this keyboard would have any comparison to a Razer. At least, I hope not.

fsckin 13y ago
Damn! That's quite a difference from my experience. I'll gladly add a 'YMMV' to my above statement. I've had my fair share of high end mechanicals: IBM M buckling spring, Filco/Leopold Cherry of all flavors, HHKB Pro2 and Realforce with Topre switches, along with long test drives with a Kinesis, among others. Both of my Razers do feel like they're built with slightly less TLC than any of the above, but not terribly so. The keycaps are made of a lighter weight plastic (they're certainly not an ABS double shot keycap, that's for sure), but that's about it. I've added rubber grommets to each key so they were a bit quieter and bottomed out more the way I like them to, but that's a more of a personal preference than anything. Maybe that alone is a good fix to make them feel a bit more solid? Perhaps they've got some shoddy QA for some or changed them in some way, but I really like both of mine.

scott_karana 13y ago

I'd buy the Razer BlackWidow happily, except that critically (for me) the Escape key is not mechanical. (Nor are the Function keys) Yes, I am a vi user. :-)

zwegner 13y ago
And you reach your pinky all the way up to the escape key? Try ctrl-[. :)
fsckin 13y ago
The escape key on the BlackWidow is 100% mechanical. You're thinking of the CoolerMaster ripoffs... ew.
- numo16 13y ago
  > You're thinking of the CoolerMaster ripoffs As in CoolerMaster knockoffs or the CM Storm QuickFire line? I've got a couple of the CM Storm QuickFire TK's (1 at work, 1 at home), and they have easily just as good, if not better, of a build quality and feel as the filco's or ducky's I've tried around the office, and definitely better than any of the blackwidows I've tried (old or new model).
- scott_karana 13y ago
  You're right, thanks! :-)

__chrismc 13y ago

I've used a Steelseries 7G for the last ~3 years. It's built like a tank, compared to the Razer keyboards I tried in-store before buying it. It doesn't have many fancy bells-and-whistles, but it's far and away the best keyboard I've ever used. I'll be sad to see it go when I move house and no longer have room for anything more than a laptop.