My old keyboard died a death of tea spillage so I'm looking out for a new keyboard, its a nightmare because the keyboard is a vital piece of gaming kit and yet its pretty much overlooked in reviews as such.
So, what, for a reasonable price, is the best gaming keyboard?
And by gaming keyboard I don't mean it has to be all wacky colours and strange media keys, it can be a 90p standard 105 for all I care but it has to have good tactile keys, I prefer light rubber sheet for a very light press with a soft impact yet fast popup.
I have some basic criteria:
1) Standard layout, preferably with with English rather than American mappings
2) Decent tactile keys as illustrated above
3) keys must be responsive over the whole surface of the key - i.e. space bar etc must have same response and performance if you're using the far edge or the middle.
4) Must be able to handle multiple key press
5) Is preferably backlit, but this may be stretching it a bit.
6) Wired, none of your wireless nonsense, we're talking serious gaming not pansying around on wow.
7) Should preferably disassemble easily for cleaning.
8) if it comes with a wrist rest it must be removable, I pivot my wrists on the table so that my arms are supported, a wrist rest actually CREATES rsi by putting more strain on your arm.
9) a decent amount of travel, so traditional or close to traditional keys, not the thin laptop style keys.
I have tried:
Cherry :- fails criteria 3, 2, and 5
Nexos :- the most horrible keypress in the history of keyboards - fails 2
Saitek :- keys are just a bit naff, backlight weak, otherwise meets criteria but i'm not bowled over by it.
OCZ Alchemy Elixir II :- Fails 3
Razer :- Fails 1 (American only)
Any thoughts on the ultimate uber keyboard for the most discerning of gamers?
So, what, for a reasonable price, is the best gaming keyboard?
And by gaming keyboard I don't mean it has to be all wacky colours and strange media keys, it can be a 90p standard 105 for all I care but it has to have good tactile keys, I prefer light rubber sheet for a very light press with a soft impact yet fast popup.
I have some basic criteria:
1) Standard layout, preferably with with English rather than American mappings
2) Decent tactile keys as illustrated above
3) keys must be responsive over the whole surface of the key - i.e. space bar etc must have same response and performance if you're using the far edge or the middle.
4) Must be able to handle multiple key press
5) Is preferably backlit, but this may be stretching it a bit.
6) Wired, none of your wireless nonsense, we're talking serious gaming not pansying around on wow.
7) Should preferably disassemble easily for cleaning.
8) if it comes with a wrist rest it must be removable, I pivot my wrists on the table so that my arms are supported, a wrist rest actually CREATES rsi by putting more strain on your arm.
9) a decent amount of travel, so traditional or close to traditional keys, not the thin laptop style keys.
I have tried:
Cherry :- fails criteria 3, 2, and 5
Nexos :- the most horrible keypress in the history of keyboards - fails 2
Saitek :- keys are just a bit naff, backlight weak, otherwise meets criteria but i'm not bowled over by it.
OCZ Alchemy Elixir II :- Fails 3
Razer :- Fails 1 (American only)
Any thoughts on the ultimate uber keyboard for the most discerning of gamers?