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Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical PC Gaming Keyboard
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- Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical PC Gaming Keyboard
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Top positive review
3 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent space-saving mechanical keyboard
ByBrendanon June 16, 2013
Let me start off by saying I wish Amazon sold the Stealth version of this keyboard, because I prefer MX Cherry Brown switches. That said, this is still an excellent keyboard, and it's even better if you like Razer's MX Cherry Blue switches.
Something I don't feel was adequately advertised is the fact that the keyboard comes with a velour-type carrying bag, which also has a spot for putting the detachable cable into. I was expecting to have to carry the keyboard and cable separately, but was excited to find out that was not going to be the case. Since I purchased this for use at DreamHack (a massive LAN in Sweden held twice annually), I won't be using it a huge amount, so I expect this keyboard to last me many years.
Some things people may not like are the way they print the keys, although I think they make perfect sense. The number keys and other keys that have different "shift" versions have the default character printed on the TOP of the key, instead of the bottom, like the normal letter keys. Standard key caps have it the other way around. I think it makes sense this way because it makes the entire keyboard look slightly more uniform.
it's worth noting that if you own the full-sized version of the BlackWidow, then you might be disappointed that there are no dedicated macro keys to the left of the main cluster. This might also be a plus for some. The Razer software however will allow you to reassign any key to do whatever you want, so it's not a huge issue.
It seems to also have the same weighty feel of the normal BlackWidow, which I think is an extremely important "feature" of their keyboards. Rubber feet only prevent slipping so much, and it is quite annoying to have your keyboard sliding around in the heat of battle.
Overall, excellent keyboard, high quality all around, and lots of attention to detail.
Something I don't feel was adequately advertised is the fact that the keyboard comes with a velour-type carrying bag, which also has a spot for putting the detachable cable into. I was expecting to have to carry the keyboard and cable separately, but was excited to find out that was not going to be the case. Since I purchased this for use at DreamHack (a massive LAN in Sweden held twice annually), I won't be using it a huge amount, so I expect this keyboard to last me many years.
Some things people may not like are the way they print the keys, although I think they make perfect sense. The number keys and other keys that have different "shift" versions have the default character printed on the TOP of the key, instead of the bottom, like the normal letter keys. Standard key caps have it the other way around. I think it makes sense this way because it makes the entire keyboard look slightly more uniform.
it's worth noting that if you own the full-sized version of the BlackWidow, then you might be disappointed that there are no dedicated macro keys to the left of the main cluster. This might also be a plus for some. The Razer software however will allow you to reassign any key to do whatever you want, so it's not a huge issue.
It seems to also have the same weighty feel of the normal BlackWidow, which I think is an extremely important "feature" of their keyboards. Rubber feet only prevent slipping so much, and it is quite annoying to have your keyboard sliding around in the heat of battle.
Overall, excellent keyboard, high quality all around, and lots of attention to detail.
Top critical review
4 people found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsGreat keyboard (updated)
ByRussellWilsonon July 12, 2013
July 12
This is a first mechanical keyboard that I have owned. Really enjoyable typing on it. I like the clicks from blue switch. The build quality is top notch, no flex at all if you try to twist it. back-lit looks great, fairly uniform thanks to every individual LED. However, I do have several minor issues/potential improvements for this keyboard.
Seems to me the first two rows of keys are always one or two levels dimmer than the rest, is this designed to be so?
When received, several keys are off. I put them back, not a big deal.
The front panel is not glossy, but it needs to be cleaned quite often to look great. The razer logo has scratches on it.
I wish the cable is detachable from the keyboard.
Last, the pictures on the product page is for windows version. I hope amazon fix it for future buyers. Update: I uploaded my image, go n check it out!
Caution: When you update the firmware (not the driver on the computer, firmware is installed on the keyboard), don't disconnect or abort the process. the keyboard will not be detected if you do these. It happened to me, MAC cannot detect the keyboard. Fortunately, my PC does. I switched to PC to install the latest firmware.
July 15 Update:
I only had this keyboard a few days, but I found the right shift key is not clicky (most likely out of the box, and I did not notice until now), not sure what went wrong, the cap, stabilizer, or the switch? One star off
This is a first mechanical keyboard that I have owned. Really enjoyable typing on it. I like the clicks from blue switch. The build quality is top notch, no flex at all if you try to twist it. back-lit looks great, fairly uniform thanks to every individual LED. However, I do have several minor issues/potential improvements for this keyboard.
Seems to me the first two rows of keys are always one or two levels dimmer than the rest, is this designed to be so?
When received, several keys are off. I put them back, not a big deal.
The front panel is not glossy, but it needs to be cleaned quite often to look great. The razer logo has scratches on it.
I wish the cable is detachable from the keyboard.
Last, the pictures on the product page is for windows version. I hope amazon fix it for future buyers. Update: I uploaded my image, go n check it out!
Caution: When you update the firmware (not the driver on the computer, firmware is installed on the keyboard), don't disconnect or abort the process. the keyboard will not be detected if you do these. It happened to me, MAC cannot detect the keyboard. Fortunately, my PC does. I switched to PC to install the latest firmware.
July 15 Update:
I only had this keyboard a few days, but I found the right shift key is not clicky (most likely out of the box, and I did not notice until now), not sure what went wrong, the cap, stabilizer, or the switch? One star off
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ByRussellWilsonon July 12, 2013
July 12
This is a first mechanical keyboard that I have owned. Really enjoyable typing on it. I like the clicks from blue switch. The build quality is top notch, no flex at all if you try to twist it. back-lit looks great, fairly uniform thanks to every individual LED. However, I do have several minor issues/potential improvements for this keyboard.
Seems to me the first two rows of keys are always one or two levels dimmer than the rest, is this designed to be so?
When received, several keys are off. I put them back, not a big deal.
The front panel is not glossy, but it needs to be cleaned quite often to look great. The razer logo has scratches on it.
I wish the cable is detachable from the keyboard.
Last, the pictures on the product page is for windows version. I hope amazon fix it for future buyers. Update: I uploaded my image, go n check it out!
Caution: When you update the firmware (not the driver on the computer, firmware is installed on the keyboard), don't disconnect or abort the process. the keyboard will not be detected if you do these. It happened to me, MAC cannot detect the keyboard. Fortunately, my PC does. I switched to PC to install the latest firmware.
July 15 Update:
I only had this keyboard a few days, but I found the right shift key is not clicky (most likely out of the box, and I did not notice until now), not sure what went wrong, the cap, stabilizer, or the switch? One star off
This is a first mechanical keyboard that I have owned. Really enjoyable typing on it. I like the clicks from blue switch. The build quality is top notch, no flex at all if you try to twist it. back-lit looks great, fairly uniform thanks to every individual LED. However, I do have several minor issues/potential improvements for this keyboard.
Seems to me the first two rows of keys are always one or two levels dimmer than the rest, is this designed to be so?
When received, several keys are off. I put them back, not a big deal.
The front panel is not glossy, but it needs to be cleaned quite often to look great. The razer logo has scratches on it.
I wish the cable is detachable from the keyboard.
Last, the pictures on the product page is for windows version. I hope amazon fix it for future buyers. Update: I uploaded my image, go n check it out!
Caution: When you update the firmware (not the driver on the computer, firmware is installed on the keyboard), don't disconnect or abort the process. the keyboard will not be detected if you do these. It happened to me, MAC cannot detect the keyboard. Fortunately, my PC does. I switched to PC to install the latest firmware.
July 15 Update:
I only had this keyboard a few days, but I found the right shift key is not clicky (most likely out of the box, and I did not notice until now), not sure what went wrong, the cap, stabilizer, or the switch? One star off
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
Not Helpful
ByBrendanon June 16, 2013
Let me start off by saying I wish Amazon sold the Stealth version of this keyboard, because I prefer MX Cherry Brown switches. That said, this is still an excellent keyboard, and it's even better if you like Razer's MX Cherry Blue switches.
Something I don't feel was adequately advertised is the fact that the keyboard comes with a velour-type carrying bag, which also has a spot for putting the detachable cable into. I was expecting to have to carry the keyboard and cable separately, but was excited to find out that was not going to be the case. Since I purchased this for use at DreamHack (a massive LAN in Sweden held twice annually), I won't be using it a huge amount, so I expect this keyboard to last me many years.
Some things people may not like are the way they print the keys, although I think they make perfect sense. The number keys and other keys that have different "shift" versions have the default character printed on the TOP of the key, instead of the bottom, like the normal letter keys. Standard key caps have it the other way around. I think it makes sense this way because it makes the entire keyboard look slightly more uniform.
it's worth noting that if you own the full-sized version of the BlackWidow, then you might be disappointed that there are no dedicated macro keys to the left of the main cluster. This might also be a plus for some. The Razer software however will allow you to reassign any key to do whatever you want, so it's not a huge issue.
It seems to also have the same weighty feel of the normal BlackWidow, which I think is an extremely important "feature" of their keyboards. Rubber feet only prevent slipping so much, and it is quite annoying to have your keyboard sliding around in the heat of battle.
Overall, excellent keyboard, high quality all around, and lots of attention to detail.
Something I don't feel was adequately advertised is the fact that the keyboard comes with a velour-type carrying bag, which also has a spot for putting the detachable cable into. I was expecting to have to carry the keyboard and cable separately, but was excited to find out that was not going to be the case. Since I purchased this for use at DreamHack (a massive LAN in Sweden held twice annually), I won't be using it a huge amount, so I expect this keyboard to last me many years.
Some things people may not like are the way they print the keys, although I think they make perfect sense. The number keys and other keys that have different "shift" versions have the default character printed on the TOP of the key, instead of the bottom, like the normal letter keys. Standard key caps have it the other way around. I think it makes sense this way because it makes the entire keyboard look slightly more uniform.
it's worth noting that if you own the full-sized version of the BlackWidow, then you might be disappointed that there are no dedicated macro keys to the left of the main cluster. This might also be a plus for some. The Razer software however will allow you to reassign any key to do whatever you want, so it's not a huge issue.
It seems to also have the same weighty feel of the normal BlackWidow, which I think is an extremely important "feature" of their keyboards. Rubber feet only prevent slipping so much, and it is quite annoying to have your keyboard sliding around in the heat of battle.
Overall, excellent keyboard, high quality all around, and lots of attention to detail.
ByE. H.on August 7, 2014
This keyboard is not worth the money. With generic keyboards costing $10-20, I expect a keyboard over $100 to be flawless. This one is not.
First is the absolutely terrible, mandatory, Razer software. You to create an account and install the Razer Synapse 2.0 software to even install or update drivers for the keyboard. Ridiculous. This would have been a deal breaker for me had I known about it. Synapse does nothing to improve the end user experience, in fact it makes it worse. The update process is slow and requires a reboot and at least twice I had to remove and reinstall the package because of an update gone bad, rendering some of the keyboard's features inoperable.
The larger problem I had is that after about a year I began to have problems with certain keys. The keys will either fail to register, or register twice. At first it was just one key, now its at least 3 and typing, and gaming, have become annoying enough that I am replacing this keyboard after less than two years of light use. I don't do anything but game on my PC and have gone a month, a few times, during that two years without even turning it on.
First is the absolutely terrible, mandatory, Razer software. You to create an account and install the Razer Synapse 2.0 software to even install or update drivers for the keyboard. Ridiculous. This would have been a deal breaker for me had I known about it. Synapse does nothing to improve the end user experience, in fact it makes it worse. The update process is slow and requires a reboot and at least twice I had to remove and reinstall the package because of an update gone bad, rendering some of the keyboard's features inoperable.
The larger problem I had is that after about a year I began to have problems with certain keys. The keys will either fail to register, or register twice. At first it was just one key, now its at least 3 and typing, and gaming, have become annoying enough that I am replacing this keyboard after less than two years of light use. I don't do anything but game on my PC and have gone a month, a few times, during that two years without even turning it on.
ByKarengailon January 20, 2014
Well I feel the need to update my review because very shortly out of warranty this wonderful keyboard simply stopped working. No prolonged illness, no gradual decline, just instant death. Not so much as a good-bye. It updated the synapse software and maybe that caused it to quit working, but it I have tried plugging it into a different computer and it still it is no recognized and does not power on. There is no option to get it repaired even if willing to pay. It has made me very sad indeed. I actually am considering getting another one because I loved it so much, but guess that would be foolish. A lot of reviews warned against the lack of support and Razer's poor customer service, but I was blinded by lust and ignored them. My loss. RIP Black Widow Ultimate.
I absolutely LOVE this keyboard!! I am not a gamer but do photo and video editing, animating and word-processing. I already own a Razer Naga mouse and have never once regretted that purchase so when I decided to look around for a backlit keyboard I thought I would give this one a look. I am quite a fan of Logitech (and their great support) and was considering the G710 but I wasn't loving that orangey surround on the left side and have had some trouble with Set Point in the past. Sorry Logitech, but it just wasn't speaking to me. I tried this out at out at Best Buy and fell in love!! I felt like I could easily type a Tolstoy-sized novel on it if I ever got around to writing one. I wasn't in love with the price however so I tried to resist it. I saw it again at Wally's World and almost put it on layaway but again I resisted (seemed like a lot of money for a keyboard and weren't they just a dime a dozen and do I really need a mechanical keyboard? What if I spill something on it?) I tried to not think about it but honestly it was calling me in my sleep and I found myself visiting it online more and more frequently. Then one day Amazon had it on sale and that pushed me over the edge. I ordered it and could hardly wait to get it, even visiting it again that night at Wal-Mart, just you know... to show my son what I had ordered. It arrived quickly (Love that Amazon Prime!) and from the moment I got it I've been totally thrilled! It worked perfectly with Windows 8 right out of the box. I did later install the Synapse software and although there was somewhat of a learning curve (for me anyway), I was able to successfully program the macro keys to work with the animation program I use and it has been a HUGE timesaver. You can set up software-specific profiles for the different programs you use but so far I've only set up the macro keys for Toon Boom. I am a little leery of updating the synapse software after reading some of the reviews but so far I've had no problems with it and the same program works with my Razer Naga mouse as well (although I have only programmed the function keys and have not yet tried to program the macro keys on the mouse.) Another nice thing is that the profile kicks in automatically when I launch my application, and goes back to default when doing everything else.
This keyboard is a joy to type on!! Razer uses Cherry MX Blue switches on this keyboard and while I have had no experience with the Cherry Brown, Black or Red, I can't imagine anything topping the feel of these! It takes only the slightest touch to register a stroke on these keys and my fingers fly effortlessly across them with absolutely no lag whatsoever. The easy touch and the tactile feedback is quite satisfying and the clicky clack of the keys is just plain fun! The sound reminds me of the days in high school touch typing class as a baby boomer, minus the hand strain. We learned on non-electric typewriters- "Tappity tap tap tap... and had to reach up and throw the carriage over at the end of each the line ("DING!") "Tappy tap tap... haha- This is reminiscent of the sound of those keys slapping against the paper- ahh the good old days. If you are sneaking around to facebook in the middle of the night then this might not be the keyboard for you but honestly it is not very loud. My Jack Russell doesn't mind the noise at all. The keys are perfectly shaped, curved, elevated and spaced in such a way that my fingers always seem to land perfectly on the exact right key. I find I can type faster, more accurately and with less interference from "Uncle Arthur" even when typing for prolonged periods.
The keyboard is quite solid and feels very well built. Those who "hunt and peck" and use the feet on the back of the keyboard to slant the keyboard for easier viewing will be amazed how solidly it grips the table with absolutely no wobble or movement of any kind. It has a USB, audio and microphone pass-through on the side of the keyboard and a very impressive looking and solidly-connected braided cable coming out of the back.
The backlighting is GREAT and easily adjustable by using fcn + f11 or fcn + f12. A nice touch is the green backing surrounding each key which looks very nice even when keyboard is asleep and provides a nice glow when combined with the backlighting reflection. You also can turn off the backlighting entirely if you prefer, but why would you want to? It is just too lovely.
The only problem I have is that whether for esthetics or possibly d/t engineering constraints, only the main characters are backlit and the secondary shifted characters are not backlit. In addition, they are very faintly marked, making them hard to see in regular light and virtually impossible to see them in the dark. It can be hit or miss finding these keys in a poorly lit room. This is not a deal-breaker but can be aggravating at times. I would like to have a small "show secondary" key or switch somewhere that would light up your ~!@#$%^&*()_+ <>?:"{}| keys if you are typing in the dark and can't remember where they are! That might not be feasible from an engineering standpoint, but one can wish.
I have only had this keyboard for a couple of months and so far have had no problems with it although I did have a hiccough installing the Synapse software- It was telling me that I had no Razer products installed- but Razor support was great and quickly replied the same day with a solution which worked perfectly. I also had an issue with my mouse last year and after sending my proof of purchase was quickly sent an RMA (although as it turned out, it was a PEBCAK error so I ended up keeping the mouse).
I have to say that while I bought this keyboard mostly for the ergonomic function of the mechanical keys as well as the backlighting, it does look quite fetching on my desktop paired with my Razer mouse which has the same green backlighting. OK OK I have the Razer mouse pad as well- I admit it, but the whole thing screams, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!" (I actually got the pad for a song on Ebay after losing one bidding war and then finding it again two weeks later for less money on a very slow boat from China so don't judge me). I love, love, LOVE this keyboard and can't imagine ever going back to a non-mechanical keyboard. I am spoiled for life!
I absolutely LOVE this keyboard!! I am not a gamer but do photo and video editing, animating and word-processing. I already own a Razer Naga mouse and have never once regretted that purchase so when I decided to look around for a backlit keyboard I thought I would give this one a look. I am quite a fan of Logitech (and their great support) and was considering the G710 but I wasn't loving that orangey surround on the left side and have had some trouble with Set Point in the past. Sorry Logitech, but it just wasn't speaking to me. I tried this out at out at Best Buy and fell in love!! I felt like I could easily type a Tolstoy-sized novel on it if I ever got around to writing one. I wasn't in love with the price however so I tried to resist it. I saw it again at Wally's World and almost put it on layaway but again I resisted (seemed like a lot of money for a keyboard and weren't they just a dime a dozen and do I really need a mechanical keyboard? What if I spill something on it?) I tried to not think about it but honestly it was calling me in my sleep and I found myself visiting it online more and more frequently. Then one day Amazon had it on sale and that pushed me over the edge. I ordered it and could hardly wait to get it, even visiting it again that night at Wal-Mart, just you know... to show my son what I had ordered. It arrived quickly (Love that Amazon Prime!) and from the moment I got it I've been totally thrilled! It worked perfectly with Windows 8 right out of the box. I did later install the Synapse software and although there was somewhat of a learning curve (for me anyway), I was able to successfully program the macro keys to work with the animation program I use and it has been a HUGE timesaver. You can set up software-specific profiles for the different programs you use but so far I've only set up the macro keys for Toon Boom. I am a little leery of updating the synapse software after reading some of the reviews but so far I've had no problems with it and the same program works with my Razer Naga mouse as well (although I have only programmed the function keys and have not yet tried to program the macro keys on the mouse.) Another nice thing is that the profile kicks in automatically when I launch my application, and goes back to default when doing everything else.
This keyboard is a joy to type on!! Razer uses Cherry MX Blue switches on this keyboard and while I have had no experience with the Cherry Brown, Black or Red, I can't imagine anything topping the feel of these! It takes only the slightest touch to register a stroke on these keys and my fingers fly effortlessly across them with absolutely no lag whatsoever. The easy touch and the tactile feedback is quite satisfying and the clicky clack of the keys is just plain fun! The sound reminds me of the days in high school touch typing class as a baby boomer, minus the hand strain. We learned on non-electric typewriters- "Tappity tap tap tap... and had to reach up and throw the carriage over at the end of each the line ("DING!") "Tappy tap tap... haha- This is reminiscent of the sound of those keys slapping against the paper- ahh the good old days. If you are sneaking around to facebook in the middle of the night then this might not be the keyboard for you but honestly it is not very loud. My Jack Russell doesn't mind the noise at all. The keys are perfectly shaped, curved, elevated and spaced in such a way that my fingers always seem to land perfectly on the exact right key. I find I can type faster, more accurately and with less interference from "Uncle Arthur" even when typing for prolonged periods.
The keyboard is quite solid and feels very well built. Those who "hunt and peck" and use the feet on the back of the keyboard to slant the keyboard for easier viewing will be amazed how solidly it grips the table with absolutely no wobble or movement of any kind. It has a USB, audio and microphone pass-through on the side of the keyboard and a very impressive looking and solidly-connected braided cable coming out of the back.
The backlighting is GREAT and easily adjustable by using fcn + f11 or fcn + f12. A nice touch is the green backing surrounding each key which looks very nice even when keyboard is asleep and provides a nice glow when combined with the backlighting reflection. You also can turn off the backlighting entirely if you prefer, but why would you want to? It is just too lovely.
The only problem I have is that whether for esthetics or possibly d/t engineering constraints, only the main characters are backlit and the secondary shifted characters are not backlit. In addition, they are very faintly marked, making them hard to see in regular light and virtually impossible to see them in the dark. It can be hit or miss finding these keys in a poorly lit room. This is not a deal-breaker but can be aggravating at times. I would like to have a small "show secondary" key or switch somewhere that would light up your ~!@#$%^&*()_+ <>?:"{}| keys if you are typing in the dark and can't remember where they are! That might not be feasible from an engineering standpoint, but one can wish.
I have only had this keyboard for a couple of months and so far have had no problems with it although I did have a hiccough installing the Synapse software- It was telling me that I had no Razer products installed- but Razor support was great and quickly replied the same day with a solution which worked perfectly. I also had an issue with my mouse last year and after sending my proof of purchase was quickly sent an RMA (although as it turned out, it was a PEBCAK error so I ended up keeping the mouse).
I have to say that while I bought this keyboard mostly for the ergonomic function of the mechanical keys as well as the backlighting, it does look quite fetching on my desktop paired with my Razer mouse which has the same green backlighting. OK OK I have the Razer mouse pad as well- I admit it, but the whole thing screams, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!" (I actually got the pad for a song on Ebay after losing one bidding war and then finding it again two weeks later for less money on a very slow boat from China so don't judge me). I love, love, LOVE this keyboard and can't imagine ever going back to a non-mechanical keyboard. I am spoiled for life!
ByChristopher Heathon January 21, 2014
Ok, so I've used lots of keyboards in my time of typing, and I must say this is seriously the best one I've ever used. I'm a huge fan of Razer's. That is because they make products with great quality. This thing is a beast that will help your gameplay in another way or another.
To start out, let's talk about aesthetics. It looks freaking awesome because of it's green LED back lighting for all of the keys. For me personally, I really enjoy this. But for someone who doesn't like bright light, you can dim or completely turn off the LED back lightning off in Razer Synapse 2.0. This is a great feature. Now, this thing has a little bit of weight to it, but that's to be expected.
This keyboard also has lots of keys. In Razer Synapse 2.0, you can customize every key to your liking. This is huge if you like to play games in a different manner. Also, It has a thing called Macro keys. These are five extra keys you can customize, so you don't have to go into other keys( It would be a pain going back and fourth between customizing and un-customizing your keys, so that's what the macro keys are for). The macro keys work amazingly. You can program Macro key 1 to be multiple keys at the same time. On the one of the games I play, I have to hit 'Q, E,R," to do an attack formation. I can program any macro so that I can hit it, and it will do the formation. This saves tons of time, and has saved me from losing a game multiple times.
You have probably looked at the price and was like " What, why's this so expensive?". That is because of Cherry MX Blue Mechanical Switches. These things are located under EVERY key, so your getting the same experience everywhere. Cherry MX Blues are very clicky. They feel nice and are have a very fast response time of 1ms, but the noise from the keyboard might upset someone on Skype of any other type of app. I don't use Skype at all, so I have no problems. The keys are big. I have big hands and I have had no problems hitting other keys on accident.
This keyboard also has a thing called Gaming Mode. Gaming Mode, when activated, turns off all unnecessary keys while your in the middle of a game ( Windows button, Alt+Tab, and Alt+F4). This eliminates all the chances of you accidentally hitting a key that could mess you up.
It also has a USB, Mic, and Headphone jack pass through. Just plug in the extra USB, Mic, and Headphone jack to your computer, and you're able to plug in anything that uses those ports into the Black Widow's right side ports, and you can use it as you would on a computer.
That is all I have for this review. The Razer Blackwidow is definitely the best keyboard I've ever used, and I would recommend it to anyone. I hope this was helpful to your decision of buying this product. Bye.
To start out, let's talk about aesthetics. It looks freaking awesome because of it's green LED back lighting for all of the keys. For me personally, I really enjoy this. But for someone who doesn't like bright light, you can dim or completely turn off the LED back lightning off in Razer Synapse 2.0. This is a great feature. Now, this thing has a little bit of weight to it, but that's to be expected.
This keyboard also has lots of keys. In Razer Synapse 2.0, you can customize every key to your liking. This is huge if you like to play games in a different manner. Also, It has a thing called Macro keys. These are five extra keys you can customize, so you don't have to go into other keys( It would be a pain going back and fourth between customizing and un-customizing your keys, so that's what the macro keys are for). The macro keys work amazingly. You can program Macro key 1 to be multiple keys at the same time. On the one of the games I play, I have to hit 'Q, E,R," to do an attack formation. I can program any macro so that I can hit it, and it will do the formation. This saves tons of time, and has saved me from losing a game multiple times.
You have probably looked at the price and was like " What, why's this so expensive?". That is because of Cherry MX Blue Mechanical Switches. These things are located under EVERY key, so your getting the same experience everywhere. Cherry MX Blues are very clicky. They feel nice and are have a very fast response time of 1ms, but the noise from the keyboard might upset someone on Skype of any other type of app. I don't use Skype at all, so I have no problems. The keys are big. I have big hands and I have had no problems hitting other keys on accident.
This keyboard also has a thing called Gaming Mode. Gaming Mode, when activated, turns off all unnecessary keys while your in the middle of a game ( Windows button, Alt+Tab, and Alt+F4). This eliminates all the chances of you accidentally hitting a key that could mess you up.
It also has a USB, Mic, and Headphone jack pass through. Just plug in the extra USB, Mic, and Headphone jack to your computer, and you're able to plug in anything that uses those ports into the Black Widow's right side ports, and you can use it as you would on a computer.
That is all I have for this review. The Razer Blackwidow is definitely the best keyboard I've ever used, and I would recommend it to anyone. I hope this was helpful to your decision of buying this product. Bye.
ByEvanemon November 1, 2013
I have used a ton of keyboards, but this one is awesome. I'm something of a Razer fanboy, but hear me out anyway.
I had the Lycosa before this, and it is definitely a good keyboard (my sysadmin friend who hates mechanical keyboards turned me onto it). But after switching to mechanical I can never go back. But don't get me wrong- its not because its mechanical, there are plenty of mechanical keyboards. The functionality is just amazing. Between the macro buittons and the fact that you can remap each and every button, it is fully customizable for any set up. I really wish I could have gotten the blue one to match my whole setup, but meh. Also, the macro recording is amazing. I haven't had the need for any on the fly recording, but i'm sure it's on par. I have a Ghost M8000X mouse that I LOVE, however every time i want to record a macro with the included software, it just seems painful.
Yeah I know, i know...The razer synapse software is annoying because it is a tad buggy and all of your funcionality goes out the window if it stops running. But I have only had that happen one time, and All i had to do was restart the software. It wasn't really very bad. On the plus side, Razer Synapse gives you some extremely awesome functions, and if you use multiple razer products (i have the black widow and the naga molten) then it's an easy place to configure them all at the same time.
There may well be better keyboards out there. But trust me, if you are a gamer (or even a programmer) you will not be disappointed with this bad@55 piece of hardware.
I had the Lycosa before this, and it is definitely a good keyboard (my sysadmin friend who hates mechanical keyboards turned me onto it). But after switching to mechanical I can never go back. But don't get me wrong- its not because its mechanical, there are plenty of mechanical keyboards. The functionality is just amazing. Between the macro buittons and the fact that you can remap each and every button, it is fully customizable for any set up. I really wish I could have gotten the blue one to match my whole setup, but meh. Also, the macro recording is amazing. I haven't had the need for any on the fly recording, but i'm sure it's on par. I have a Ghost M8000X mouse that I LOVE, however every time i want to record a macro with the included software, it just seems painful.
Yeah I know, i know...The razer synapse software is annoying because it is a tad buggy and all of your funcionality goes out the window if it stops running. But I have only had that happen one time, and All i had to do was restart the software. It wasn't really very bad. On the plus side, Razer Synapse gives you some extremely awesome functions, and if you use multiple razer products (i have the black widow and the naga molten) then it's an easy place to configure them all at the same time.
There may well be better keyboards out there. But trust me, if you are a gamer (or even a programmer) you will not be disappointed with this bad@55 piece of hardware.
4.0 out of 5 starsBetter than anything else on the market as far as I can tell (but not as good as old keyboards you can't get anymore)
ByNeil Kirbyon June 9, 2014
I'm picky about keyboards. My personal preference is the Northgate Omnikey Ultra, no longer made. I spend hours a day with my fingers on a keyboard and have done so for decades.
As far as I can tell, the Razer is the best of what modern keyboards has to offer. If I got this right, it has Cherry MX Blue switches. I rate them acceptable/better than average. For any Northgate / Avant keyboard users out there, they aren't as good as the ALPS switches we know and love. They seem to have less travel and they bottom hard. The tactile feedback isn't as good.
If you've never typed on a Northgate / Avant Stellar / ancient IBM keyboard, this is the best in the business. I can touch type this thing reasonably accurately and it has actual key feel. If you've been cursed with crappy laptop keyboards all you life, buy this thing and plug it in. If you've only typed on cheap keyboards that flex, this one is decently solid. I've typed on a lot of other keyboards over the years that were far, far worse than this.
Backlighting: Pretty nice. I adjusted it to my room lighting conditions and it's pretty nice. They could improve it by having the alternate characters also be lit. The seven is lit but the ampersand is not (both on the same key). If you need to glance down to find something, you have to stop and think what key it's on. Another case of pretty good but not great. i like being able to type in room lighting adjusted to my screen, not to any need to see the keyboard. If you need to type in the dark, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
NOTE: If you aren't going to use the backlighting, don't buy this or any other black keyboard.
Keycap font: Oh, cut me a break! If you are going to make a custom font, it needs to be better than existing fonts! I find the R key particularly annoying as well the ampersand. I'm getting used to it, but they didn't need to go backwards on readability. Arcs and smooth curves make for nicer keys than all straight lines. Did they use a chisel to make this font? Check out the nearly identical D, O and 0 keys. Maybe "Gamerz" love it, but I don't. It's encouragement to not look down.
Programmability: Close but not quite, once again. My personal preference is to have the control key just left of A, not caps lock. Back when people used computer terminals, that's where it was. I did change the caps lock to control, but there is no key that sized in the kit. If the control key was the same size as caps lock, I'd have switched them (physically as well as in the map). Northgate keyboards came with spare keys for just this purpose. I can't reprogram the Windows key. I want to put tilde there so I can use it. I want to put esc where tilde is. But I can't move the Windows key. I don't recall if I can remap ESC or not. Getting caps lock turned into control was the big deal, the rest are annoyances.
I like the green glow. It works.
We'll see how it holds up in ten to twenty years, which is how long Northgate and Avant Stellar keyboards hold up.
As far as I can tell, the Razer is the best of what modern keyboards has to offer. If I got this right, it has Cherry MX Blue switches. I rate them acceptable/better than average. For any Northgate / Avant keyboard users out there, they aren't as good as the ALPS switches we know and love. They seem to have less travel and they bottom hard. The tactile feedback isn't as good.
If you've never typed on a Northgate / Avant Stellar / ancient IBM keyboard, this is the best in the business. I can touch type this thing reasonably accurately and it has actual key feel. If you've been cursed with crappy laptop keyboards all you life, buy this thing and plug it in. If you've only typed on cheap keyboards that flex, this one is decently solid. I've typed on a lot of other keyboards over the years that were far, far worse than this.
Backlighting: Pretty nice. I adjusted it to my room lighting conditions and it's pretty nice. They could improve it by having the alternate characters also be lit. The seven is lit but the ampersand is not (both on the same key). If you need to glance down to find something, you have to stop and think what key it's on. Another case of pretty good but not great. i like being able to type in room lighting adjusted to my screen, not to any need to see the keyboard. If you need to type in the dark, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
NOTE: If you aren't going to use the backlighting, don't buy this or any other black keyboard.
Keycap font: Oh, cut me a break! If you are going to make a custom font, it needs to be better than existing fonts! I find the R key particularly annoying as well the ampersand. I'm getting used to it, but they didn't need to go backwards on readability. Arcs and smooth curves make for nicer keys than all straight lines. Did they use a chisel to make this font? Check out the nearly identical D, O and 0 keys. Maybe "Gamerz" love it, but I don't. It's encouragement to not look down.
Programmability: Close but not quite, once again. My personal preference is to have the control key just left of A, not caps lock. Back when people used computer terminals, that's where it was. I did change the caps lock to control, but there is no key that sized in the kit. If the control key was the same size as caps lock, I'd have switched them (physically as well as in the map). Northgate keyboards came with spare keys for just this purpose. I can't reprogram the Windows key. I want to put tilde there so I can use it. I want to put esc where tilde is. But I can't move the Windows key. I don't recall if I can remap ESC or not. Getting caps lock turned into control was the big deal, the rest are annoyances.
I like the green glow. It works.
We'll see how it holds up in ten to twenty years, which is how long Northgate and Avant Stellar keyboards hold up.
Byreluctant techon January 31, 2014
Hithis isa consumermaking areview forAmazon Doyou likeit? M&M'asare myfavorit!
Hi this is a consumer making a review for Amazon. Do you like it? M&M's are my favorite!
That is what recording a macro to insert a string of test come out like. Tried many many times and delay setting snad even easy word combos, it doesn't work for me but maybe it is a software issue? See snapshot of screen that has end of macro if you would like to give any tips.
Their "cool" font is annoying to anyone that still looks at their keyboard, and the keys with two characters (indicating shift key character alternative) are inverted so for example the " is below the ' and on every other keyboard the bottom character is the default non-shift key character.
Using their drivers requires creating an account with them, the content you create can be used by them for commercial purposes without your consent. This is so you can store the macros and such online and reduce the const o onboard memory. Note you CAN use this in "offline" mode but you can't really save/alter any of your existing macros or preferences.
It would be great if:
the unused space above the keypad had a standard "calculator" button and/or other keys that are programmable. Coming from logitech I try and press that calculator button that isnt there all the time. Also if it was made in white or beige with black lettering. I'm using this for typing not gaming.
I will be returning it, for $100 I want more. In particular standard keyboard fonts and placements.
Hi this is a consumer making a review for Amazon. Do you like it? M&M's are my favorite!
That is what recording a macro to insert a string of test come out like. Tried many many times and delay setting snad even easy word combos, it doesn't work for me but maybe it is a software issue? See snapshot of screen that has end of macro if you would like to give any tips.
Their "cool" font is annoying to anyone that still looks at their keyboard, and the keys with two characters (indicating shift key character alternative) are inverted so for example the " is below the ' and on every other keyboard the bottom character is the default non-shift key character.
Using their drivers requires creating an account with them, the content you create can be used by them for commercial purposes without your consent. This is so you can store the macros and such online and reduce the const o onboard memory. Note you CAN use this in "offline" mode but you can't really save/alter any of your existing macros or preferences.
It would be great if:
the unused space above the keypad had a standard "calculator" button and/or other keys that are programmable. Coming from logitech I try and press that calculator button that isnt there all the time. Also if it was made in white or beige with black lettering. I'm using this for typing not gaming.
I will be returning it, for $100 I want more. In particular standard keyboard fonts and placements.
ByCollinon September 27, 2013
Razer has had a record of making over-priced items that don't have the quality to live up for that price (from what i hear all the time from others). After owning a Imperator mouse, Razer Naga 360 controller, and now this keyboard, i definitely disagree with that theory. This keyboard feels VERY high quality, also looks very sleek. It also came with a very nice keyboard sleeve!
Pros:
Mechanical switches (obviously)
key travel/noise (for me at least)
matt finish
very small profile, so i have room for my mouse.
love the Font on the keyboard, and the laser etched keys.
Cons:
keys aren't lighted (not too much of a con, since that's the reason its cheaper)
i honestly don't like the how the media keys are mixed with the F buttons and how you have to press FN to activate them. just a minor complaint, because my last keyboard has its own individual media keys. though, that would ruin the fact that this keyboard is so low profile so its hard to even mention this.
the cord could be micro USB instead of Mini, for better compatibility.
Overall. my typing experience has been much better with this keyboard. I actually didn't buy this mainly for gaming (i do game a little), i bought it mostly for writing papers, as odd as that might sound. I actually type much fast now, without the straight i would get on a membrane keyboard.
Pros:
Mechanical switches (obviously)
key travel/noise (for me at least)
matt finish
very small profile, so i have room for my mouse.
love the Font on the keyboard, and the laser etched keys.
Cons:
keys aren't lighted (not too much of a con, since that's the reason its cheaper)
i honestly don't like the how the media keys are mixed with the F buttons and how you have to press FN to activate them. just a minor complaint, because my last keyboard has its own individual media keys. though, that would ruin the fact that this keyboard is so low profile so its hard to even mention this.
the cord could be micro USB instead of Mini, for better compatibility.
Overall. my typing experience has been much better with this keyboard. I actually didn't buy this mainly for gaming (i do game a little), i bought it mostly for writing papers, as odd as that might sound. I actually type much fast now, without the straight i would get on a membrane keyboard.
ByPhilip Con March 30, 2015
LOVED the clicky nature of the keys (gotta be the Blue Cherry MX)...almost got past the funky font on the keys (kinda Battlestar-ish if you ask me), but that macro key column on the left was something that personally, I couldn't get by. My hands are just to used to certain keys being a certain distance from the edge of the keyboard. And that macro key column just threw me for a loop....mainly with gaming though. It didn't seem to be a factor with my other usages....Also I just couldn't get those macro keys to work with WoW on a Mac, so they were fairly useless for me. Maybe they have better drivers now, but I've moved on. Did love that this thing weighed a TON. For some reason I love a keyboard with a lot of heft...can feel safe it's not going anywhere :) Oh, and the backlit effect (and being adjustable) was nice.
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