Name: oreozz
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Posts: 1421
Location:
Posts: 1421
Most keyboards made these days are just a bunch of plastic keys that tap a rubber dome that is under the key to signal the press. Simple, cheap to make, effective is the thought process. This design ranges from the cheapest to even your G15 or Razer-brand keyboards.
There is another type of keyboard though. Instead of the rubber domes from the first type, they have some switches inside("mechanical keyswitches" they're called!) which vary in type. The idea I guess is to emulate older keyboards which had a louder type click as well as better response. Anyways, these keyswitches made from cherry have colors which describe the range of resistence + clickiness. Keyboards are indeed serious business!
What is the difference realistically you ask? I have 3 keyboards today to help with this question.
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Generic Logitech Media Keyboard
Sitting infront of most peoples' desks right now is probably something along these lines. There's nothing that makes it terrible most likely but there are flaws!
Feel:
Like every other generic keyboard feels. For some reason attracts dirt, probably because the plastic has some kind of noticable texture to it.
Features:
I've never understood media keyboards. I've never met a person using their keyboard f-keys as shortcuts to open word. Why does this thing have no scroll lock key? F-lock is useless and sometimes I forget it exists which makes for an annoying multirestart attempt to get into safemode :(
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Scorpius M10
Unheard of outside its niche buyers which are all keyboard fanatics, it uses "blue cherry" keyswitches. That means it has slight resistence and a notable click at the halfwaymark down on a key.
Feel:
Clicky. I ended up having to open the keyboard up thinking there was something messed up with the spacebar, but I realized there's some kind of design flaw that makes the spacebar and backspace get slightly stuck and feel funny every once in awhile. This is a widespread thing with their newer versions I assume based on some other people with the same problems. The keys are angled differently than any keyboard I've ever used in my life, which isn't a bad thing but definately feels different.
Features:
Standard layout. It has something called n-key rollover, which means you can press massive amounts of keys without it messing up(most keyboards do about 4!).
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Das Keyboard Professional
Some people end up randomly hearing about this one due to its popularity. It's likely the most popular performance keyboard. It also uses those blue switches.
Feel:
Clicky again. The build quality is undoubtedly superior the M10, no issues with the keys at all. I prefer the angle of the keys to be normal apparently because the press feel is a lot better even though they use the same switch. Remember the textured plastic of the first keyboard? This one has magic dirt repelling smooth plastic keys. I'm not sure how they did it.
Looks-wise it beats pretty much any keyboard out there as well. It's god a glossy reflective black coat with blue leds. I'm not much of lightshow keyboard, so it beats an Eclipse and other variants for me.
Features:
The most feature-packed of the bunch. It has n-key rollover just like the Scorpius. It also has 2 USB ports on the side, if you use many front-side case consuming usb devices(ipod, camera, thumbdrives) it is convenient when you have no more left! It's corded for response time purposes, but the cord is long enough to get pretty much anywhere in a room assuming no tangles.
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The big picture:
Keyboards don't have much that can vary between them. Most of them do their job. The Das Keyboard undoubtedly does it better though, as I'm sure after using it that it's the best keyboard around.
It was made for those who type a lot(which includes most of us!). It isn't however, marketed as a "gaming" keyboard. But what is considered a gaming keyboard? Most of them are just your standard keyboard with a fancier shell and some macro keys that no one uses. Quality should be the deciding factor and the Das Keyboard has it.
Edited by oreozz at 02:47 CST, 22 December 2008 - 30121 Hits
Glowing Keys
Gold Plated USB Connections (Which do nothing more)
Macro Keys
Some Stupid LCD Screed at the top
Did I mention Glowing stuff?
Frankly, look at top games. CS, SC, Quake, WC3, that kind of stuff. You never will need ANY of those features, EVER. Keyboards have little to none input delay as it is.
The problem I find, is that companies like Razer are trying to target the gamers with specific tastes in genres like FPS. Look at the Lycosa Keyboard, or the Fatal1ty keyboard. Great for Quake and CS, if that's ALL you're going to do. Typing is a bitch, and it's HORRIBLE for any form of RTS game too.
Unfortunately, there is zero legitimate marketing for a gaming keyboard. It's all extra crap that in the end, you get to show off to your friends. You're kidding yourself if you're going to actually use a stupid LCD screen at the top of your keyboard in game, or honestly believe a gold plated USB connection is indeed better.
I use a BenQx700 keyboard, got it cheap from NCIX. Designed by BMW (Kind of cool really) it's super nice, and works for both RTS and FPS, and is amazing for typing. $20.
The ones you listed above would be great for any gamer really. Well, any gamer that has some common logic to know spending more then $30 on a keyboard doesn't make you play better.