Corsair Vengeance K90
Design
The Vengeance K90 is a thing of beauty, machined from industrial grade brushed aluminum and bristling with raised backlit sculpted keys. Measuring 0.94 by 19.7 by 6.4 inches (HWD), the aluminum body of the keyboard makes it a bit too heavy for regular portability (3.1 pounds), but it makes for a keyboard that is stable and won't move when you don't want it to.
The keys are sculpted for a more comfortable feel underneath the fingertips, and are made all the more comfortable with a soft touch matte finish. The finish gives the keys a slightly grippy texture that also stays dry. An adjustable blue backlight lets you cycle through three levels of LED underglow, though you can't change the color of the backlight the way you can with the Razer Anansi ($99.99 direct, 4 stars). Other onboard controls include a knurled volume roller-knob, buttons for media control, Windows lock, and four buttons for recording and deploying macros. In addition to the full keyboard, function buttons, keypad and media controls, you'll find an impressive 18 programmable hotkeys— the Editors' Choice Razer Black Widow Ultimate $106.49 at TechForLess has only five.
The Vengeance K90 connects to the PC via USB 2.0, using two ports. The attached USB Y-cable is a thick, braided cord, with extra reinforcement where the cable will experience stress. There is also a USB port on the keyboard, letting you connect a flash drive or mouse without having to find a spare port on the PC.
The Cherry MX Red mechanical switches (found under the standard keyboard, arrow keys and 10-key pad) offer better performance, longer life, and a solid typing feel. The silicone dome switches (found under the function keys and macro buttons) may not have the same feel, but still offer accuracy and smooth performance. The mechanical switches offer better durability, but the keys using dome switches are used far less often than the keyboard proper, and durability shouldn't be a big concern. You will, however, notice a difference in typing feel. The mechanical switches provide springy feedback, need very little force to register a keystroke, and have a satisfying sound when typed—though still much quieter than a professional grade typists keyboard, like theDas Keyboard Model S Ultimate$146.95 at Office Depot. The dome switches, on the other hand, are nearly silent and fairly mushy.
The black matte plastic keycaps are offset from the machined aluminum base plate, and a black plastic extension for the macro keys only enhances the two-toned color scheme. The backlight glows through, illuminating each letter thanks to laser etched keycaps. A detachable palm rest reduces the chance of carpal tunnel, and the soft-touch finish matches the feel of the matte surface of the keys. A pattern of dots dimples the surface of the palmrest, which makes for a comfortable surface, but collects dust and crumbs.
Features and Performance
The keyboard is also built from the ground up for gaming, with 20-key rollover and a speedy 1-millisecond report rate. Anti-ghosting means that you can press any combination of keys simultaneously with no problems. There is also a Windows Lock key that lets you disable unwanted shortcut functions that might interfere during a heated game.
Macros can be programmed without having to deal with any specialized software. Instead, you simply press the MR (Macro Record) button on the keyboard to begin recording a macro, and press it again to end recording. You can not only program any of the 18 macro buttons, you can do it again for three different sets of macros, selected with buttons M1, M2 and M3, which swaps out one bank of macros for another.
For those who want more granular control of their profiles and macros, you can download the accompanying Vengeance Gaming Software, which provides an on-screen macro editor. The software is compatible with Windows (Windows 7, Vista, and XP) but not Mac—sorry Apple fans. The keyboard is equipped with 36kb of built-in memory, saving your profiles and macros to the keyboard itself instead of the PC, letting you take your customizations with you, even when using the keyboard with a different PC. Corsair also covers the Vengeance K90 with a two-year warranty.
The Corsair Vengeance K90 is the gamer's gaming keyboard—it's built to last, has looks that impress and intimidate, and offers so many customizable tools and onboard controls that it will enhance any gamer's command center. It offers all of the smooth mechanical performance of the former Editors' Choice Razer Black Widow Ultimate, but offers a wider array of custom options and macros. For the same price it offers a superb gaming experience, media controls, and a host of other features, like USB pass-through and 18 programmable macro keys. The Corsair Vengeance K90 snags our Editors' Choice award for gaming keyboards.
Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate
In that respect the new Das Keyboard Model S ($129.99 direct) doesn't just live up to its predecessors, the Das Keyboard II and the Das Keyboard Professional—it surpasses them. You'll need to pay (a lot) for the privilege of using the keyboard, but what a privilege it is.
As with the previous models, this Das Keyboard exists not to change your natural typing rhythm, but to remove all impediments that keep you from achieving your maximum levels of speed and comfort. It does this by way of heavy-duty, gold-plated mechanical key switches (rated for 50 million operations) that you can really hear—the kind of fulfilling, useful aural feedback that dome switch (usually referred to as "membrane") keyboardshave been squelching for years.
The Model S also retains the series' unparalleled quality of construction: Das Keyboards are among the most serious-looking and serious-feeling keyboards out there. It has the unapologetic dimensions of a full-size keyboard (0.95 by 17.95 by 6.58 inches, HWD) with a solid weight (2.6 pounds) behind it; a 6.6-foot cable, guaranteeing you'll be able to connect it to your PC regardless of your desk setup; classy, all-black coloring (matte on the keys, glossy elsewhere—you'll definitely want to hang onto the included buffing cloth to dispense with the fingerprints it will quickly collect) with elegant blue lighting for the NumLock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock notifications; the two-port USB 2.0 hub introduced in the last iteration; and now there's even full compatibility with KVM switches, so you can use the keyboard with multi-PC setups.
VidaBox Premium Wireless Keyboard with Laser Trackball
BY JEREMY ATKINSON
If you've shelled out for a home theater PC, don't try to get by with a standard keyboard and mouse. The Vidabox Premium Wireless Keyboard with Laser Trackball gives you a small but attractive and full-featured input device. Above the main typing area, a row of multimedia keys provides convenient control of movies and music. The trackball, though super-small, lets you move the cursor effortlessly, and two buttons provide full mouse capabilities. The wireless, which has a range of 30 feet, doesn't require a line-of-sight connection and works well, for the most part. In an environment full of wireless devices, though, you'll want to resync the keyboard from time to time to minimize wireless hiccups. Of course, since this is a compact keyboard (0.97 inches high by 12.83 inches wide by 5.04 inches deep and 1.13 pounds), you'll have to make some adjustments: There's no dedicated number pad, and the slightly cramped keys (some of which are in non-standard locations) along with the trackball take some getting used to. This input device doesn't match high-end HTPC keyboards like the diNovo Edge, but it will suit couch potatoes who don't type much.
Razer Anansi
Design
Gaming devices have never been known for their subtlety, and the Anansi is no different. Its glowing keys pulse with changing colors that will help illuminate your gaming experience when you're in a dimly lit environment. The .86 by 20.3 by 7.5-inch (HWD) frame has a soft rubberized finish that will help stave off fingerprint smudges. The full-size keyboard has a traditional style—as opposed to chiclet-style keyboard like the Apple's Wireless Keyboard ($79 direct, 4 stars).
The font used on the keys have a more futuristic look that has a bolder presence—perhaps to highlight the glow-effect. The keys have a similar soft rubberized feel as the frame. The typing experience felt a little mushier than I'd like. It would have been better to have something a little lighter and bouncier, like the mechanical, typewriter-like keys found in the Razer Black Widow Ultimate or even the Gigbyte K8100 (stay tuned for the full reviews). The 12 programmable quick-keys are well-placed and easy to reach. There are five keys that run along the left side of the keyboard and seven more underneath the space bar. When playing World of Warcraft, I found the keys under the space bar to be the most useful, as it was easier to go from moving with the WASD keys to targeting and, ultimately, attacking with the quick-keys below.
The function keys double as media buttons to adjust your sound or play/pause, stop, or skip while watching a movie or listening to music. Additional function buttons allow you set the keyboard to "game mode," which disables the Windows button; adjust the brightness level of the backlighting; and enable "sleep mode," which puts the computer to sleep.
Features
The Anansi has plug-and-play capabilities and the added option to download Razer's software with any Windows XP, Vista, or 7 OS0—sorry no Mac support. The Anansi's software is easy enough to navigate, having a full virtual layout on the keyboard in the user interface (UI). To change a key's preset function, you highlight the designated key on the virtual keyboard and select what function you'd like to assign to it. You may choose to have it launch a program, revert back to the keyboard's factory key setting, assign another key's function to it, switch profiles, or assign a macro.
The backlighting can be changed from the interface, from a "Spectrum Cycling" or to a specific color of your choosing. You can also set how bright you want it on or if you want it on at all. This backlighting feature can also help you recognize or keep track of what profile you're in.
Managing and creating macros (customizing key functions) is easy: You can record a stream of keys with or without time delays, and then go into the recording and insert a revised delay, delete, or change the key. The Anansi software also gives you a selection of basic commands, like cut, copy, and close window that should be more useful for the spreadsheet enthusiast.
If you're between game sessions or raids, you won't always have the opportunity to open up the macro editing program. That's why the Anansi has an on-the-fly macro editor. After pressing the Fn + ALT you may begin creating your key combination that will make up your macro. It does record delays. When finished, pressing the Fn + ALT keys again allows you to assign your string of buttons to any key on the keyboard.
The Razer Anansi is a well-designed MMO keyboard, with a well thought-out selection of quick keys in all the right places. While the typing expierence isn't as "springy" as I'd like, I consider it a minor nit in a great gaming keyboard, which is why it is our Editors' Choice for MMO keyboards.
Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mighty Mouse
The keyboard's dimensions are a trim 5 1/8 by 11 by 1/8 inches (HWD). At the top of the keyboard is a 0.8-inch barrel that arches the keyboard up a tad, serving as a riser as well as housing the batteries. The Bluetooth version of the keyboard is virtually identical to its wired version, except for the lack of a number pad. Despite its thin profile, you needn't be afraid of breaking this keyboard—it feels plenty sturdy. The white keys and an aluminum-colored frame coordinate with the iMac, iPod, iPhone, AirPort Extreme, and most other Apple gear.
In layout and feel, this keyboard resembles the MacBook's. The keys don't require much pressure, and they don't depress very far, making for swift and effortless typing, though it may take some adjustment for users accustomed to deeper key action. Ditching the number pad gives the keyboard a smaller footprint, but it's a feature many will miss.
For a straight keyboard, Apple's is comfortable enough, though power users who spend all day typing would do well to try something with a more wrist-friendly layout. Whether the less-ergonomic design is a deal-breaker will depend on your preference and typing habits.
As for the Mighty Mouse, it's visually deceiving. To the eye it looks like a one-click mouse with a scroll ball. Underneath the hood, it's actually a four-button mouse comprising two touch-sensitive spots at the tip, squeeze spots on either side, and the clickable scroll wheel. All of the "buttons" (meaning the touch-sensitive strips and the scroll wheel) can be programmed using the mouse utility program. If you're a heavy right-mouse-buttonuser (and most Windows users are) you may find the Mighty Mouse frustrating. The "secondary" touch strip will not be triggered unless your other finger is off the "primary" touch strip on the left-hand side.
Apple's utilities for the keyboard and mouse in OS X are excellent and tightly integrated into the operating system. In the "Mouse and Keyboard" section of utilities in OS X, keyboard buttons can be reprogrammed, mouse buttons can be reassigned, and battery gauges are displayed. But while the keyboard and mouse will pair easily with any Bluetooth-equipped Windows PC, Apple offers no utilities to reprogram the buttons or assign mouse-clicker controls in Windows. Apple should really offer utilities for Windows, especially since the company touts that its computers can be dual-booted to run Windows.
Using Bluetooth for the wireless protocol is a huge plus, as it eliminates the need for a USB Bluetooth dongle and lets you pair this keyboard and mouse with almost any Bluetooth-equipped PC. The Bluetooth link is trusty, and the devices paired easily.
After hours of typing, I can't say it was the most comfortable keyboard I have used, purely in terms of ergonomics. If you're an Apple fanatic, the strong set of utilities and Bluetooth make the super-slim Apple Wireless Keyboard and the wireless Mighty Mouse no-brainers. But if wrist comfort is important to you, I'd recommend the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000, with its "ergonomist-approved Comfort Curve" and recharging dock. And the silver 7000 will still complement the iMac's metallic look.
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