Gaming Hardware: Keyboards

In my previous blog I briefly reviewed some brilliant gaming mice, now it's time to look at some keyboards.

The first keyboard we'll be taking a look at is one of the most popular in the industry, and no other than the Logitech G19.  Uniquely designed for ultimate gaming performance, the G19 will keep you informed with the keyboard's LCD.  The built-in 320x240  LCD screen is capable of showing health and ammunition for in or out of games.  The LCD screen is capable of running widgets like Twitter, image slide shows, YouTube videos, VOIP, and more.  Most games feature native support for the LCD screen, but others may require a patch or plug-in to work properly.

To make the keyboard more convenient, a cable management system, two high-speed USB 2.0 ports, and media keys have been added. Each of the twelve G-keys allows up to 3 key presses, for a total of 36 key presses. The Game/desktop feature allows the Windows keys to be shut off to avoid any unnecessary game interruptions.

Specs:
12 programmable keys
320x240 LCD
2 x USB 2.0 ports
Cable management system
Media keys
Game/desktop feature
Price: $199.99

Next up is the Razer Tarantula.  Arguably the best LAN keyboard on the market, the Tarantula has 10 macro keys and allows up to five gaming profiles to be stored using the keyboard's onboard memory. Profiles can be quickly switched using the On-The-Fly Sensitivity profile switching.

Other features that make the Tarantula worthwhile are the anti-ghosting capability, which allows a maximum of 10 keys to be pressed simultaneously, compared to the 3 for a conventional keyboard, media keys, two USB ports, Razer Battledock for add-on accessories, and headphones in and out jacks.

Specs:
Anti-ghosting for up to 10 keys
32KB on-board memory
On-The-Fly profile switching
1000Hz polling rate
Headphone in/out jacks
Media keys
2 x USB ports
Price: $99.99

The next keyboard in the lineup is the SteelSeries Merc Stealth. The Merc Stealth has a variety of impressive gaming features, one of which is powered by the Z Engine, which allows programmability for every key on the keyboard. Significantly larger than other keyboards, the Merc Stealth is packed with 34 dedicated gaming keys, all of them located to the left of the keyboard. The dedicated gaming keys come in different shapes and sizes for easy recognition without having to look at the keyboard.

The backlight has three different illumination colors (blue, red, and purple) and can be set to three different illumination modes (subtle, ambient, and intense, with the option to switch off the backlight). Similar to the Razer Tarantula, the Marc Stealth has two USB 2.0 ports, a microphone, and headset jacks.

Specs:
Z Engine allows the programmability of all buttons
Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games
3 colour illumination
2 x USB ports
Anti-ghosting capability for up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes
34 dedicated gaming keys
Price: $89.99

The next keyboard is one from Saitek, the Cyborg Keyboard. The Cyborg offers 12 programmable gaming keys and the option to independently light the WASD and NumPad keys often used for gaming. The backlight can be set using shades from red to amber and green. The Set and Forget system ensures that illumination colors stay the same, even after a system reboot.

The wrist rest and keyboard rake angle can be set to accommodate a wide range of users for a comfortable gaming experience. The Cyborg offers a 'Cyborg' mode to instantly switch off the Windows key and quickly configure the illumination colors.

To make the keyboard ultra-resistant to gaming wear, Saitek fitted commonly used gaming areas with metal-plated key caps. Furthermore, the keyboard is fitted with USB, audio, and microphone sockets.

Specs:
Multi-colour backlighting
Touch-sensitive and backlit dashboard
Independently programmable WASD keys
Instant disabling of the Windows key
12 programmable buttons
USB, audio, and microphone sockets
Price: $79.95

Next is the Warrior XXTreme from Wolfking.  The Warrior XXTreme makes use of a 2-in-1 hybrid keyboard that gives you complete control using only one hand.  Using a circular 'QWERTY' key layout, all the main keys for FPS and RPG games are easily accessible.  The Warrior XXTreme has 52 keys on the gamepad plus an additional 47 'QWERTY' keys and controls.

For use in low light conditions, the keyboard has a "blue moon" backlight and is precisely weighed for comfortable use on your lap.  The keyboard's communication keys allow users to easily stay in touch with one press of a button.  Also featured in the Warrior XXTreme is a flexible 3-layer silicon membrane to reduce the noise made by the keyboard.  Two USB ports are located at the back of the keyboard to plug in other USB devices.

Specs:
2 x USB ports
Communication keys
Noise-reducing technology
"Blue moon" colour backlight
52 gamepad keys + 47 QWERTY keys
Special one-handed design
Price: $79.99

Hope you enjoyed all the keyboards. Until next time.