Razer BlackWidow - Mechanical gaming keyboard

Razer has a new gaming keyboard available for pre-order now, the BlackWidow. Unlike their previous keyboards, this one uses mechanical switches rather than rubber domes or scissor switches.

The standard BlackWidow is $79.99 and is fairly straightforward; it has a full key layout with a numeric keypad, 1,000Hz polling/1ms response, as well as 5 programmable macro keys on the left side, and media controls.

There is also an Ultimate Edition, for $129.99 that features everything that's in the standard edition, as well as backlit keys with 5 modes, a USB pass-through port, and 3.5mm audio in and out ports.

I think I'm going to pre-order one. I love mechanical keyboards, and I've been waiting for Razer to come out with something better than the Lycosa. Now, standard or ultimate?

Standard: http://store.razerzone.com/store/ra...categoryId.49136200/parentCategoryId.35156900
Ultimate: http://store.razerzone.com/store/ra...categoryId.49136200/parentCategoryId.35156900
Mini-site with info: http://www2.razerzone.com/blackwidow

Pics:

Spoiler

Standard edition:







Ultimate edition:

 

Seems like a good keyboard for those who want a modern IBM Model M keyboard with bling.

I'd wait for a deal though. Keyboards and mice tend to drop in price fast.

 

Neither of the Razer planks feature an LCD screen... and paying extra just to have backlit keys doesn't make sense when you can get similar performance and features minus mechanical keys with the Logitech G15.

 

Hmm, I wonder what sort of key switches they are using in those things.

 

seems like a good keyboard but ive gotten used to the slimmer keys a laptop has so the transition back to the larger keys makes it a definite no for my laptop. for my desktop though i dunno if i could do without the lcd ive gotten used to on my first gen logitech g15. The mechanical keys dont make much difference to me since i dont type that fast

very disappointed at the lack of features in a 2010 keyboard priced at over $100 though.
ill have to test it out first though sinceit does look nice

 

Heres a good review about the keyboard check it out.
Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Review!

Very nice looking laptop imho I love how the lighting glows on the letters as well as the keys background. Im not a very big fan of the glossy finish parts... good thing those keys arent. Wish they release a version with a non glossy finish all over. It seems to have all the features you need for a keyboard. I hate those keyboards with all those "extra special" keys all over that no one really use. Just a waste of space imo. Im looking forward in buying one!

 

I think I may finally upgrade the ol Saitek!

I've been wanting a Model M but this looks like it might do the trick, I'll have to give it a test run.

 

im gunna say they are black cherrys..... just like the steel series.

 

I'd go for the Ultimate for the backlit keys, but only if I got a good deal on it. I've never used a mechanical keyboard before, at least not that I remember, but I've always heard good things about them.

The only problem I have, besides the price, is that I like low profile keys like the lycosa has. But I'm sure I'd get used to it after an hour or so.

 

Already confirmed the switch type. Cherry Blue for the phail... How is Cherry Blue supposed to be for gaming?

 

Ah I thought so (based on the specs and the sound).

 

As long as it's not the 'KERPLUNG!' switches I might give it a go. That's what these are claimed NOT to be, right?

 

This might probably be the noisiest gaming keyboard... And the Fn Keys are a fail, probably be a deal breaker for alot.

 

blues are way to loud,,,, wife will kill me for waking up the babies.... should have used black like the Steel series... this keyboard will be good for gamers who want attention... or bring attention to theirselves... hahah and by that i mean a punch to the face by people who are being annoyed.. I have always loved my happy hacking keyboard topre switch... I know paying 300 bucks after shipping is a bit retarded for a keyboard,, but this thing will outlast the next 3 -4 laptops i own,,, and oh does it feel good ont he fingers... and talk about space saving,, its awesome.

 

looks really nice, might get it

 

You're talking about the buckling spring keyboards. These are not it. But they are going to be noisier than your membrane-based keyboards.

And I'm glad to see a "gaming" company come out with a mechanical switch keyboard. I've seen so many "gaming" keyboards that use flashy LED's, macros, LCD screens, etc that cost quite a bit of money, but are crappy *KEY*boards.

The only two keyboards that I've ever thought were worth a damn are the Das Keyboard and the Deck Legend. Nice to see another company bring in a competitor into the field.

 

^Agreed. I used to own a Logitech G15 (the orange one), and sold it after less than a year. The features were nice, and the LCD was a neat idea, but the actual keys felt rather mushy; the generic Dell keyboard I had been using before that had better tactile response, and I'm still using it now.

 

Yeah - I was kind of curious as to why it got such high reviews. I found the keys prone to 'binding' after fairly light wear, with the 'new' key feel not that hot either. The Reclusa has been much better for me for a keyboard based on exactly the same tech.

 

I thought you were using a lycosa, and i have to say that keyboard has one of the worse tactile responce there is. Whats that word... Mushy.

 

The Lycosa uses scissor switches, similar to laptop keyboards. Much better than rubber domes in my opinion.

 

I Just preorded the Ultimate a few min ago

I love mechanical keyboards, right now i have the abs m1 my first ever mech keyboard which is a cheep one but too me its a good one, I went from the saitek cyborg right down too this and it beats it in every way for key feel and sound and that nice tactile bump.


For now on i will never buy a membrane keyboard again lol


The razer problee will be my last keyboard for years, Thats if its good.. wont know that till i get it.

 

For the price of the blackwidow ultimate, I rather get a filco or steelseries g6v2. At least they don't use the crap cherry blue keys.

 

Why do you call them crap? Alot of people love the cherry blues for the sound and feel, which why im preordering. Filcos have cherry blue switch's but they also have a selection of others.

Ony thing about those 2 boards is they lack features, Sure they great boards but if im paying over 100$ and theres a board that has more features and cost about the same im gonna get that one.


Pretty much i don't used any those feature like blacklit sense i hardly look at my keyboard, But it is nice too have sense it has a led under each key like the deck keyboard.

And that extra usb can come in handy sense i used alot of them.. lol

And macros which can come in handy.


For 130$ i think its a steal if the board is built right and have no problems.

Sense the deck is 160- 170, and XArmor U9BL which is 170 too. which i was thinking of getting one of them at first till the razer showed up.

 

They look like nice keyboards. I find MX blues to be the best for typing. The SteelSeries 6GV2 is my favorite gaming keyboard the moment, I prefer its MX Blacks over the Blues for gaming since they have a more linear action. For general use I prefer the Blues, though; the feel is a bit more sophisticated.

One way or another, finally a decent (on paper) Razer keyboard. I thought their previous keyboards felt like garbage - imprecise and mushy.

I personally use an IBM Model M with buckling springs - best typing feel I have found to date.

 

Dealt with them for nigh on 10 years - on AT's, PS/2's I had as well as S/36, 38 and AS/400's I used to use - could never go back to them again.

I've always been curious, given their 'legandary status', if there are any proven biomechanical / ergonomic superiority for them?

 

how come there are no mention of realforce or topre here?

 

I use Lycosa... it works just fine for me. It depends from one person to the other guess, people like different things when they type. I, for one, can't stand those clicky mechanical keyboards. Used them when I was a kid, and buried them in my memory with 5.25"/3.5" floppy disks, CRT screens, and (lol) ball mice. RIP.

Oh and in no way would I now buy a non-backlit keyboard... I just like to see my keys in the dark.

 

i meantioned it on the first page....about hte happy hacking board that i use... it has topre switches... takes awhile to get use to,, but once u do, u will never go back...

 

Because they are on a different level price-wise.

 

what is ball mice?

 

I am using filco at the moment, I am thinking about upgrading to a topre, however some people at geekhack say that the topre feel similar to a membrane. Is that true? I don't want to spend $300 on a keyboard to find that it feels similar to a $10 keyboard.

Thanks.

 

Video review: YouTube - Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Review!

Edit: Didn't see it on the first page...

 

It has already been posted.

 

If you want a mech keyboard with backlight and the Cherry Blacks instead of the Blue there is an alternative.

Deck - Deck Keyboards

I feel they are overpriced but they are supposed to be top quality. One thing its known for is every key has its own LED, chances are other keboards like the Razer does not and that alone justifies the small price increase of the Deck.


Razer got my attention with the ultimate, the usb passthrough and headphone passthrough are real life nice to have features that would add some extra features to a keyboard to make me warrant having it over a standard mechanical keyboard.

The backlighting is nice. But $130 is still too much.

I cant use mech anyways too often my only time to play is during bed time and my computer is in the bedroom so it would keep the wife awake.

 

Straight from the Razer site:

 

Hmmm, well thats a good sign. Not to be a nay sayer but that still does not technically mean each key has its own led light source.

Since they can still be "individually lit with a universal light source" but I think they intended that each key has its own led.

 

I own a deck keyboard.

I have a Deck keyboard. They are fantastic. I bought mine for the mechanical switch motion and the durability aspect alone... the individual LED backlit keys are a plus. I 100% absolutely recommend them, if you are willing to spend that kind of money on a decent keyboard.

I used to replace my membrane-based keyboards every 1.5 to 2 years because of worn and "mushy" keys. I plan on keeping this Deck for 10+ years. I've disassembled the keyboard to clean it out before, and even rinsed it in a bathtub full of soapy water to clean out a soda spill.

The mechanical switch motion is so awesome that my 57-year old mother-in-law tried my keyboard, and bought one for herself. It looks a little weird for a middle-aged woman to have a flashy backlit keyboard. But she LOVES it.

My Setup - Computer, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Headphones, Headphone Amp


Close-up of keyboard

 

It does have a led under each key someone over geek hack showed the led right under the key when they was showing the cherry blue switch.


Heres the pic http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/Glampyre/PC/Razer/BW7G/CherryBlues.jpg