Anyone know anything about the Razer Tarantula keyboard

[Starbuck1975]

I am looking for a gaming keyboard...right now I have a wireless Microsoft keyboard, and I hate it (received it as a gift so can't complain).

I had my eyes on the Saitek keyboard with the backlit keys, until I came across the Tarantula on Razer's website:

Razer Tarantula

What attracts me to this keyboard is that it has USB, microphone in and headphone out connectors ON THE KEYBOARD...what an absolute stroke of genius...I always game with headphones, and finally I dont have to worry about the headphone cord getting tangled and run over by my desk chair...that and its programmable features seem fairly extensive.

So, when does this thing become available for purchase?

 

[Starbuck1975]

No takers?

 

[Vertigo-1]

Nice...but I have to admit that the Home key cluster really puts me off. I'm way too use to the old school 6 key layout to go to this newer layout that keyboards have been using lately. That's one thing that I liked a lot about the Saitek, was that the Home key cluster was "normal".

 

[Gamite]

I'm beginning to think all gaming keyboards are overrated. I have the G15, and I felt that its not worth the extra money. a keyboard is a keyboard. no one ever uses the extra features in the long run.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Gamite
I'm beginning to think all gaming keyboards are overrated. I have the G15, and I felt that its not worth the extra money. a keyboard is a keyboard. no one ever uses the extra features in the long run.

I would use the backlight but that's it

 

[Gamite]

yea, I don't even play in the dark, so backlit keys isn't even an issue for me. :S

 

[Kakumba]

Originally posted by: Gamite
I'm beginning to think all gaming keyboards are overrated. I have the G15, and I felt that its not worth the extra money. a keyboard is a keyboard. no one ever uses the extra features in the long run.

Use them all the time. G15 is, to me, the best keyboard in history. Im not kidding, I love it. Build qulaity is superb, having control over songs when gaming is great (though it doesnt work with Oblivion on my mates computer...), and the macros are useful if you set them up. The slider to turn off windows keys = AWESOME. I have hit that key so many times, and now its ok if I do....

Tarantula, looks kinda cool, but I wouldnt buy one.

Saitek: Never used it, but again, wouldnt bother with it.

Yeah, I say go for the G15, but its nice to see some competition. I think that its about time keyboard development became a focus for peripheral manufacturers.

 

[Tu13erhead]

Gold plated USB connector for maximum conductivity.

 

[erikistired]

i like my saitek eclipse well enough. i thought i'd use the backlighting more, but honestly i know where all the keys i use in most games are already. the touch is nice, keys click when you hit them, everything is where it's supposed to be.

i'm fairly interested in the tarantula tho, it looks pretty nice.

The slider to turn off windows keys = AWESOME.

i dunno why people have such problems with this, i've never hit the windows key by mistake when doing anything (gaming, typing a paper, whatever).

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Tu13erhead

Gold plated USB connector for maximum conductivity.

Now if only they could make a silver that wouldn't tarnish...

 

[Kakumba]

Originally posted by: fisher
i like my saitek eclipse well enough. i thought i'd use the backlighting more, but honestly i know where all the keys i use in most games are already. the touch is nice, keys click when you hit them, everything is where it's supposed to be.

i'm fairly interested in the tarantula tho, it looks pretty nice.

The slider to turn off windows keys = AWESOME.

i dunno why people have such problems with this, i've never hit the windows key by mistake when doing anything (gaming, typing a paper, whatever).

You dont play enough games that use ctrl and alt.... anyways, i dont like clicky keys, gotta be quiet. and the backlighting is nice, but I dont think its that important. never look at keyboards anyway.

 

[RallyMaster]

Ergonomic keyboards FTW. No point in having lighting when it's just a normal uncomfortable keyboard. That's my take on it.

 

[Kakumba]

yeah, I used to prefer the ergo keyboards, still like them, but I dont feel the G15 is uncomfortable in any way. and yet, here i am at work, on a non-ergo keyboard, and I hate this one. its more cramped than the G15, which feels a lot bigger (because it is), and the keys are just that little bit bigger, so typing is more comfortable.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Actually, what appealed to me most about the Tarantula is that is has audio and USB ports on the keyboard. Kind of handy to run headphones and your mouse directly into the keyboard.

Does anyone know of any other keyboards that feature integrated audio and USB ports?

 

[Cobolman]

Re: Audio jacks on keyboard

Sounds like a fairly simple mod opportunity to me!


Edit: Or, get a USB headset...lotsa keyboards and/or monitors these days with USB ports.

 

[Kakumba]

the G15 has 2 USB ports on it, dont recall any audio jacks. Not an issue for me, but I can see that if you wanted to use headphones they would be useful.

The question is: how GOOD are the jacks? sound gear has to be good before I will use it. so, how does the audio on this keyboard work? what powers it? it might sound as bad as onboard, or worse. Thats not cool.

And Cobolman, very true. that wouldnt be the hardest ever, but may not be that easy to make it look good.

 

[AsianriceX]

Looks a lot like a corded S510 with 5 gaming keys on the right side...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ...=2162,contentid=10710,ViewCount=2,sh=1

 

[gi0rgi0]

Is the the S510 any good ? Looking for a nice wireless keyboard.

 

[LASTGUY2GETPS2]

I'm using a program called "Winkey Assasin" and am working on a Saitek backlight. The backlight is really just for showing off. When playing in the dark, the monitor illuminates the keyboard.