I ordered the clicky style of this keyboard, and so far I really like it. It has a nice solid build with a good heft to it, and it doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. The buttons are easier to press than the buttons on my Unicomp keyboard were, but that doesn't mean there's no tactile feedback. Quite the contrary! You can definitely feel these keys responding to your touch on the way down and on the way back up. You can also feel the actuation point. The keys make a very satisfying clicking sound (for those of us who like that sort of thing) that I'd say is a bit louder and higher pitched than the clicks of an IBM model M. If I had to choose one word to sum up how these keys feel, I'd say snappy.
As to the design, the keys are layered in tiers the same way an IBM model M or Unicomp keyboard is (rather than flat like some modern keyboards), are concave like those in an IBM model M or Unicomp keyboard, are smaller and closer together than those in an IBM modem M or a Unicomp, but I'd say the spacing between them is about the same. If you're switching from one of those to this there will be a slight adjustment period, but it shouldn't take you long to feel at home with this keyboard. The F and J keys have the familiar ridge on them to let you know you're on those keys without looking, and all of the keys have a smooth finish.
The keyboard also only comes in black. For those of us who have been using white or grey keyboards for years, it will take a bit of getting used to, and you'll either need to use the backlighting provided by the keyboard or turn on the lights in the room earlier than you would have with the lighter keyboard if you look at your keys as you type (I don't, generally, but do when going for rarely used keys like some of the numbers or symbols).
I'm using this keyboard on a GNU/Linux machine, and I'd read all over the place that you can't run the Razer Synapse software on GNU/Linux, and you do need that software to configure the lighting effects. Since I have a Windows computer for work, I hooked the keyboard up to that, downloaded and installed the software, and configured the lighting to just be static (it came with the breathing effect enabled by default). Once I had that configured in Windows, I plugged the keyboard into my GNU/LInux machine and can brighten, dim, and turn off the lights with the Fn and F11 or Fn and F12 keys whenever I like. I didn't try creating more than one lighting profile, but if I do, I'll update this review so others will know if you can access multiple profiles in GNU/Linux.
There are a couple of things about this keyboard that are strange. First, all of the letters on the keys are upper case except for the r, which is lower case. Second, the text on the number and symbol keys is transposed when compared with almost any other keyboard out there (example: the 9 key has a 9 on top and a ( on the bottom instead of the other way around). When the keyboard has its backlighting turned on, only the top text is lit, and you won't be able to see the bottom text and will need to have memorized it. Note that the number and symbol keys behave just like the keys on any other keyboard - it's just the text on the keys that's different.
If Razer ends up offering standard replacement keys (with all upper case letters and with the text on the number and symbol keys like all other keyboards I've ever seen) and if all of the text on the number and symbol keys lights up instead of just the top row, I'd instantly buy them. Meanwhile, that bit of strangeness isn't enough to make me regret having gotten this keyboard or convince me to look around for another one. I love how this keyboard feels, responds, and behaves. I'm relishing every moment I spend using it, and I look forward to pounding away on it for years to come.
| Brand | Razer |
|---|---|
| Series | Blackwidow Elite |
| Item model number | RZ03-01700200-R3U1 |
| Hardware Platform | PC;Mac |
| Item Weight | 3.3 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17.6 x 7.5 x 1.75 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 17.6 x 7.5 x 1.75 inches |
| Color | Backlit |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Manufacturer | Razer Inc. |
| ASIN | B0163H5F30 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | October 8, 2015 |
