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  • Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    What is the point of the fancy backlighting when the font it serves to highlight is so hideous? :-/
  • chrnochime - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Guess they expect owners to swap out the keys anyway :D
  • kurahk7 - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    You're right... they should had used Comic Sans
  • BrokenCrayons - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    Best comment I've ever read...I almost choked on my coffee.

    But yeah, the font on the keys is hideous and that was the first thing I noticed when I glanced at it.
  • superflex - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    The A looks like an R and the R looks like a gamma.
    What royal f-ing retard though this up?
    Might as well use wingdings
  • Morawka - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    fonts are user preference just like your taste for food.
  • Wwhat - Saturday, August 8, 2015 - link

    Except when it's lasered into your keys.. after which it's about poor decisions of designers.
  • Wwhat - Saturday, August 8, 2015 - link

    I'd like it better with comic sans (although admittedly I was never on-board with that running gag of hating comic sans anyway).
  • JKflipflop98 - Thursday, August 13, 2015 - link

    What kind of noobie chump actually has to look at the keys? Lrn2HmRw brah
  • d4nt3 - Sunday, October 18, 2015 - link

    I guess that's what you get when a product is "Designed by gamers..."
  • yhselp - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Thing is, Razer nowadays seem to consider themselves a fashion brand above all else. A while back they pretty much forced retailers to permanently increase prices of older and newer products alike. Word goes round that on the headphones' side they'd like to be seen as the new/next Beats. Judging by the increasing amount of teenagers sporting Krakens out in public here in Europe, it would seem that the strategy is working -- good luck trying to convince these kids that anything is better than Razer. I would imagine most of these products are bought as gifts and hence the inflated prices. It's sad for people that care, but it seems to be working out great for Razer... I personally haven't been excited about a Razer peripheral for quite a while now.
  • hansmuff - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Their marketing department is good, that's for sure. The only razer product I ever had was some mouse pad that was aluminum and had a rough and a smooth side. That was a good product, lasted many years. When I wanted a new one it was discontinued and a far inferior product sold instead.

    Been using NGen C4 since then and never looked back.
  • khanikun - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    Ya, Razer's mousepads are total junk today. My old Razer mousepad was great, but the surface has been worn smooth. I replaced it with a Razer Vespula. It's junk. The mousing surface has separated from the plastic base. I had to superglue it back down, but the middle of it started bubbling up now.

    I'm on the search for a replacement.
  • Morawka - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    try the Razer Sphex.. once you get one of these, you wont want a traditional mousepad again.

    Its basicly a thick sticker, that sticks to your desk, never moves, and comes in several surface options.
  • FMinus - Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - link

    I was gaming competitively a lot from the mid 90s to late 2000, Quake and such games, and after going through about 50 mouse pads, which all turned to crap after half a year or sooner, I decided to buy something more permanent and bought the Razer Manticore (Aluminium) and haven't changed a mouse mat since.

    Now that I think of, if could go to some metal works and buy a think sheet of polished aluminium for cheaper, but never the less, the Manticore is with me now for it's 4th year I believe and I don't think I'll ever buy a new mosue mat again, unless the aluminium all of a sudden disappears or it gets bend misteriously.
  • piiman - Saturday, August 8, 2015 - link

    Corsair has them. I have one and love it.
  • edzieba - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    " Furthermore, downloading the software requires that the user sign up for a Razer Synapse account and go through email validation. One cannot simply download the software/drivers, install them and be done with it. "

    Jeez, they're STILL doing this? Razer got slammed a year or so ago for pulling this nonsense with their mice. I'd have hoped they'd have learnt by now.
  • Stuka87 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Thing is, it works really well. I have a Black Widow Ultimate and an Imperator mouse (love them both) and the software works very well for me. It tells me when there is a new update, never requires reboots when patching, allows me to customize both in one control panel. I can understand there may be a small minority that game on their PC and don't have the internet, but VERY few games that I play are not online. So the online requirement has never bothered me.
  • HOOfan 1 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    If you like it, great sign up for it. They shouldn't be forcing people to do this though.
  • Flunk - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    I have a Razer Blackwidow keyboard and I find the software to be overwrought, buggy and rather pointless for a keyboard. Having to log in just to use it is insulting and pointless, if they want to do that it should be an optional feature. Also, since I uninstalled it Windows is constantly redownloading the installer and running it for me. Why it does this I have no idea, it's irritating.
  • Flunk - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    I feel I need to balance this out by mentioning that I love the keyboard, it's very solid and has lasted very well. The only thing I don't like is the glossy frame and I hear they've fixed that on the newer ones. I would be a bit leery about upgrading however, because they're switched from the original Cherry MX switches to knockoffs that they're branding as "Razer switches".
  • Stuka87 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    They aren't Cherry knockoffs, they are a completely different design (there are plenty of comparisons out there). And the stealth key switches are awesome. Cherry is JUST NOW (years later) releasing a keyswitch that is designed to match it.

    Oh, and mine is not glossy, its mat.
  • drksilenc - Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - link

    they literally are... There are several reviews and teardown saying just this.
  • Morawka - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    my blackwidow Chroma Stealth has the Matte finish. love the silent keys too. wish amazon would start carrying it, had to order directly from razer, but i got a free set of Ferox speakers with the keyboard and they are decent..
  • Deelron - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Weird I have a Naga and Anansai on my gaming machine and it wants me to reboot every time there's an update (at least it did under Windows 7).

    That being said I haven't had a problem with either outside of a Windows update optional update for the Naga a while ago, which I happily removed and did without.
  • khanikun - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    I know my Black Widow Ultimate and Black Widow Tournament need a reboot after updates about 95% of the time. It doesn't force a reboot, nor does it need a reboot to keep using the software. You just have to relaunch it after the update. Then reboot whenever. That's what I do.

    For many, the requirement to have an account is just stupid. I don't mind it, cause I have two keyboards and it's nice being able to easily grab the macros that I create on one machine, from my second machine.
  • Morawka - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    yeah it works great.. format a PC? no problem, your profiles are synced. Going to a tournament? no problem, your lighting and macro's go with you.

    The alternative to this, is putting embedded memory on the keyboard to store these profiles. That raises costs, and complexity. Razer has some good software now-a-days. not just the keyboard/mouse stuff. Razer Comm's is pretty slick, and cortex is amazing once you give it a try.
  • drksilenc - Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - link

    Corsair has all of it stored in memory and it costs as much as razer... They also have a pc app that you just backup your profile and transport it.
  • meacupla - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    Try running two computers withe same synapse account.

    It will constantly complain that your profiles are not synced.
  • Gigaplex - Saturday, August 8, 2015 - link

    None of the features you just described requires an online account.
  • FMinus - Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - link

    You're the lucky one.

    Every single cold boot, the mouse need about 10 minutes to start working correctly with Synapse installed. Without synapse, any mouse with additional buttons like the Naga or Ouroboros are kind of useless so I have to run it - which makes my mornings with coffee sitting in front the screen with the mouse jerking around for 10 minutes kind of disastrous.

    That being said, for me the Razer mice have had a longer lifespan as any other brand, that's why I keep buying them, but if this cold boot crap isn't ironed out soon (because it's happening for about a year) I will have to look for something else. And I'm not the only one with those issues.
  • Wwhat - Saturday, August 8, 2015 - link

    Reason enough for me to never ever get a razer product. Even when you can probably find ways around that nonsense, there is a principal to the thing too. And requiring that account probably means it comes with spyware too, so no, not for me or anybody with half a grain of sense.
  • Refuge - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Shit, if it is identical I would have taken a picture of the new logo, the under plate, and the new O button. Slapped a link to the review a year ago, and then called it a day man.

    I'm sure you had to have something more interesting or at the very least, a better use of your time than this review. Right?
  • chrnochime - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    They didn't have time to even spell check their first paragrah where "botique" sprung up, so I guess they're too busy doing something else.
  • SirGCal - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Well...
    1) 10 key rollover isn't enough, I hit that all the time. I had a 12 key and had to give it up. N key is preferred but I have some 20+ keys that work fine also.
    2) More importantly, the F keys are in the wrong location. F1 should be roughly directly over the 2 key and there should be a space between F4 and F5 and another between F8 and F9...
    3) Razor switches instead of the trusted and proven Cherry? I think I'll pass... Especially for the price.
  • Stuka87 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    The keyswitches in the Black Widow Ultimate Stealth (Which I have) are awesome. My favorite keyswitches that I have used. They are far quieter than any cherry switch I have used (Although I have not used all of them) and they have a very nice feel. I have zero complaints about the keyboard.

    I personally have not overrun its anti ghosting limit. Although this really depends on the games being played. I also have no issue with the F-Key locations, I use them very regularly. There is a larger gap between each set of four than the keys in each group. So you can easily feel the gap between F4 and F5.
  • SirGCal - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    I hit the F keys out of muscle memmory, when they are offset like that, I'll be hitting the wrong ones. It's not about feeling a gap as much as nailing the right key where you expect it to be blind-folded and without any 'feel'. And I actually do type fast enough that the last 12 key anti-ghost actually had issues now and again. My 20 key and N keys have never had any issues. Although I do prefer the black and brown keys myself for speed. I like to hear the keys a bit. I don't like ultra-quiet keyboards. But also I have a pile of black and brown (and some red and blue even) cherrys for replacing. Just a quick solder job or less depending on the board.

    I have Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis which has since attacked my hands also. They are, while always in pain, effectively numb. Without the muscle memory, I'd never be able to type which I do for a living and can do very very fast. Also with the type of work I do I use a lot of complicated key combinations which can also include the F keys. They have to be standard placement or the keyboard is junk for me. My situation might be rarer then an average gamer obviously but on that note I also see no reason in spending the budget on high-end mechanical hardware just to pew-pew... I do game sure but as an afterthought to work. I buy a keyboard for speed and accuracy while speed typing and programming. Everything else is 2nd seat or lower.
  • xenol - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Do you have more than 12 fingers or type faster than 1000WPM?
  • teiglin - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    While I agree that the software is woefully inadequate for anything beyond the most basic macros, my (2013 I think) blackwidow ultimate stealth's macro recorder does pick up mouse clicks, but not mouse movement. It's odd that they would step backwards for a newer product.
  • SpeedMan88 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link

    Anybody tried the Logitech G910 keyboard? I'm not overly impressed by this Razer keyboard, but wondering how it compares to other keyboards in the gaming segment.
  • Stuka87 - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    I personally do not like the really weird shape of the keys. If you don't like this one (I would read their full review from like 1-2 years ago, this one was very short) then I would suggest going with corsairs. Its also a very good keyboard.
  • VeauX - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    I've tested it, I didn't like the keycaps and the armrest. I then bought a G710+ which I'm very happy with. Cherry brown with a damper for sound. The leds are white which I like though.
  • griffonknight - Friday, August 7, 2015 - link

    I have to disagree with the previous to responses. I have a G910 and have to say it's the best keyboard I've ever used. But then I like the unique keycaps and hate clicky switches. I also think the lighting solution is the best out of the ones I've tested. I agree that the armrest is pointless though, but it doesn't get in my way. Your mileage may vary.
  • d4nt3 - Monday, October 19, 2015 - link

    I borrowed a friend's keyboard when I was also scouting for a new keyboard and used it for 3 weeks. Coming from Cherry Reds and Blues, Logitech's Romer-G switch feels different, almost mushy but only when I bottom out, otherwise they're pretty springy and give an overall good typing experience. The in-curve shape of the key tops that's supposed to cradle the natural contour of our fingertips takes some getting used to, which in my case, is about a week. I did notice that I did experience some tingling sensation at the end of my fingertips if I mis-hit a lot of keys during a long typing sessions. This doesn't happen during gaming when my fingers normally sits on top of the home keys.

    If you do a lot of FPS gaming and a WASD advocate then you'll love what Logitech did in the G910 where the WASD simply pops. But I prefer ESDF myself and this is a minor annoyance for me. Still, I think the backlighting is its most amazing feature. Light shines through the centre of the key and very little escapes to the sides. This gives the effect of the letters floating when viewed in the dark. The light also has enough intensity that it's still visible even in bright surroundings. In my opinion, its the best lighting that I've seen. While the Razer Chroma is more 'in your face' in terms of it's color intensity, the G910 has a subtle elegance about it.

    In the end I opted for a different brand, but this is in no way a ding on this product. I just preferred my keyboard to have that clicky sound and the G910 is simply too quiet for me.

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